{"id":195045,"date":"2024-04-04T16:07:08","date_gmt":"2024-04-05T02:07:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=195045"},"modified":"2024-04-10T08:31:47","modified_gmt":"2024-04-10T18:31:47","slug":"natsuyma-gift-uh-hilo-student-research","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2024\/04\/04\/natsuyma-gift-uh-hilo-student-research\/","title":{"rendered":"Gift from 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> alumna Harriet Natsuyama fuels 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Hilo student research"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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Harriet Natsuyama (left)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A generous gift from University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> alumna Harriet Natsuyama to 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Hilo<\/a> will enable undergraduate and graduate students to pursue major research projects geared toward future careers in sustainability.<\/p>\n

Natsuyama\u2019s gift established the Alexa and Sean Light of Nature Research Award, aimed at assisting 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Hilo students in any major with research related to conservation, sustainability, and the regeneration of terrestrial, oceanic, or atmospheric life and well-being.<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s so important for undergraduate students to see the possibilities that research can create,” said 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Hilo Chancellor Bonnie D. Irwin. “We are grateful for Harriet\u2019s forward-thinking gift that will have an impact on many students\u2019 lives.”<\/p>\n

The award will fund expenses related to supplies, materials, travel, and presenting research at conferences. Natsuyama, who was named a 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Distinguished Alumna in 1991, graduated from 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> M\u0101noa with a bachelor\u2019s in mathematics and master\u2019s in physics. She named the fund after her two grandchildren and included light in the award\u2019s name because it refers to the light of learning and knowledge.<\/p>\n

Natsuyama\u2019s connection to 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Hilo blossomed after getting involved in the campus\u2019 collaborative Adopt-a-Beehive<\/a> program with Chef Alan Wong, which promotes local solutions to sustain Hawaiʻi<\/span>\u2019s honey bee industry. During a visit to the campus, she met Bruce Mathews, associate vice-chancellor for research at 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Hilo, who introduced her to innovative research such as growing sugar cane for jet fuel. He expressed excitement about what the new fund will do.<\/p>\n