Board of Regents recognize UH researchers for scholarly contributions

University of Hawaiʻi
Contact:
Arlene Abiang, (808) 956-5637
External Affairs & University Relations
Posted: Aug 20, 2007

HONOLULU—The University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents have selected UH Mānoa researchers Robert Bidigare, Ralf Ingo Kaiser and Michael C. Liu as the recipients of the 2007 Regents‘ Medal for Excellence in Research. The award recognizes scholarly contributions that expand the boundaries of knowledge and enrich the lives of students and the community.

Robert Bidigare is a professor of oceanography at the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology. Bidigare‘s research in biological oceanography concerns the bio-optics, pigments, the foundation of the marine food web, and the effects of UVB radiation. His work has been recognized both nationally and internationally, and he has won best paper awards from the Geochemical Society and the Japanese Phycological Society. Bidigare has more than 170 refereed publications and his publications have been cited more than 3,000 times.

Ralf Ingo Kaiser is a professor of chemistry. Kaiser‘s research is making exceptional progress at understanding a very complex chemical area, how molecules form in extraterrestrial environments. The results emerging from Kaiser‘s laboratory are beginning to explain the astro-chemical and astro-biological evolution of our universe, and he has established himself as a leader in this field Since arriving at Mānoa less than five years ago, he has published 54 articles in international. peer-review journals. During this same period he has also brought in over $4 million in extramural funding.

Michael C. Liu is an associate researcher in the Institute for Astronomy. Liu has worked on observational projects as diverse as proto-planetary disks, brown dwarfs, distance scales to galaxies, star formation, and stellar population analysis to galaxies from infrared imaging. A common tread of his work is developing new technology to carry out high resolution imaging. Liu is one of the most cited young astronomers working in the highly competitive field of extra-solar research. His new role as the leader of the international AO project using the twin Gemini telescopes (Mauna Kea and Chile) is perhaps the best testament of his standing among the leaders in the field of extra-solar planets.

Recipients of the 2007 Regents‘ Medal for Excellence in Research will be recognized for their contributions to the university along with other UH award winners at a systemwide ceremony on September 5.