National Science Board to meet with University of Hawaii on science and engineering research and education initiatives

University of Hawaiʻi
Contact:
Carolyn Tanaka, (808) 956-9803
External Affairs & University Relations
Posted: May 31, 2007

HONOLULU — A contingent of National Science Board (NSB) members will be in Hawaiʻi from June 3-9, 2007 to learn about recent science and engineering (S&E) research and education initiatives taking place at the University of Hawaiʻi and throughout the state. The last time the NSB visited UH was nearly 50 years ago in 1961 to participate in groundbreaking ceremonies for the new Hawaiʻi Institute for Geophysics at UH Mānoa.

The NSB is the governing body of the National Science Foundation and is an independent advisory body to the President and Congress on national policy matters related to S&E research and education. In 2006, NSF provided S&E research and education competitive awards of more than $40 million to Hawaiʻi, mainly to the University of Hawaiʻi.

Six NSB members, in addition to Chairman Steven Beering and Executive Director Michael Crosby, will meet with UH administrators and faculty to receive an overview of S&E research and education activities from the School of Ocean Earth Science & Technology; Native Hawaiian Science & Engineering Mentorship Program; UH Marine Centers; Waikīkī Aquarium; and Maui Community College, Hawaiʻi Community College and UH Hilo research and education programs.

"We are looking forward to the National Science Board's visit and the opportunity to highlight the globally-significant scientific research and education work in progress at UH under the leadership of our remarkable faculty," said President David McClain. "We're grateful to the NSB and the NSF for their support of our efforts to push back the frontiers of knowledge as we serve the people of Hawaiʻ i, the nation and the world."

In addition to learning about the various initiatives statewide, the intent of the board‘s visit is to familiarize members of the Hawaiʻi science and engineering community with their recent, ongoing and future activities related to the development of NSF guidelines and national science and engineering policy.

"Our Board Visitation Team is pleased to return to the University of Hawai‘i to commemorate 100 years of excellence in research and education, as well as to recognize the remarkable growth of the university system throughout the Hawaiian Islands," said NSB Chairman Steven C. Beering. "We expect to learn much from our discussions with representatives, researchers and educators from state government, university, business, and Native Hawaiian groups engaged in broadening participation in STEM fields. With this knowledge of your experiences and model initiatives, the Board hopes to be better positioned to address national policy issues related to S&E research and education, as well as improving our guidance and policies for the NSF as it continues to enhance its critical support of such effort in Hawai‘i and throughout our Nation."

NSB members joining Beering and Crosby on the Hawaiʻi Visitation Team are Vice Chairman Kathryn Sullivan, Director, Battelle Center for Mathematics and Science Education Policy, John Glenn School of Public Affairs, Ohio State University; Strategy and Budget Chairman Ray Bowen, President Emeritus, Texas A&M University; Education and Human Resource Chairman Elizabeth Hoffman, Executive Vice President and Provost, Iowa State University; Audit and Oversight Chairman Dan Arvizu, Director and Chief Executive, National Renewable Energy Laboratory; Program and Plans Representative Kelvin Droegemeier, Associate Vice President for Research/Regents‘ Professor of Meteorology and Weathernews Chair, University of Oklahoma; and Karl Hess, Advanced Study Professor Emeritus in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

About the National Science Board

The National Science Board is the governing body of the National Science Foundation and is an independent policy body established by Congress in 1950. The Board is comprised of 24 members appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Members are selected based on their national distinction and eminence in basic, medical or social sciences, engineering, agriculture, education, research management or public affairs. For more information, visit www.nsf.gov/nsb/.

For more information, visit: http://www.nsf.gov/nsb/