University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo students partnered with local organizations to apply rhetoric, the art of persuasion, to Hawaiʻi’s goal of transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy.
Undergraduate students created abstracts, videos and infographics in collaboration with Blue Planet Foundation, a local nonprofit promoting renewable energy and sustainability in Hawaiʻi. Students are participating in Blue Planet’s “We Are 100” campaign to gather 100 stories statewide to support Hawaiʻi‘s journey to clean energy.
“Many of the student teams chose to highlight sustainability efforts by UH Hilo, including the solar panels on the Edwin H. Mookini Library, refill water stations, sustainability club and solar-powered charging stations,” said Patsy Iwasaki, UH Hilo English instructor.
Students’ creations will be featured on Blue Planet Foundation’s website and compiled into a published book as part of the organization’s “We Are 100” campaign.
Iwasaki has received positive feedback from Blue Planet Foundation and Hawaiʻi Energy, a customer-funded conservation and efficiency program administered by Leidos Engineering LLC. The program is sponsoring three students to attend Hawaiʻi Energy’s April 17 Innovation Symposium on Oʻahu.
“Hawaiʻi Energy was impressed with the students’ enthusiasm, communication skills and excellent projects,” said Iwasaki. “Two of the student videos will be featured in an ongoing loop at the conference.”
To read the full story see UH Hilo Stories.
–Written by Leah Sherwood, a graduate student in the tropical conservation biology and environmental science program at UH Hilo.
