AstroDay West transformed Kona Commons Shopping Center into a hub of discovery on November 2, captivating hundreds of eager attendees with science and technology exhibits at the annual day-long celebration on Hawaiʻi Island. Scientists, faculty and students from the University of Hawaiʻi’s Institute for Astronomy (IfA) were on hand to share their expertise with attendees of all-ages.
Organized by the Maunakea Observatories, the free event featured hands-on demonstrations and displays related to astronomy, robotics and natural sciences. IfA was among the 26 organizations on site such as Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and the National Weather Service.
IfA shared a rare experience: for the first time at AstroDay West, the public could peer into a solar telescope and safely view the Sun’s surface.
“AstroDay was a lot of fun, it’s great to interact with the community, especially keiki,” said Ellen Lee, a grad student at IfA. “I love going out and talking about space with people.”
IfA grad student Maria Vincent also enjoyed helping to inspire the next generation.
“My favorite part of AstroDay was answering the really far out there questions from keiki,” Vincent said. “They have hypothetical situations that I typically don’t think about, but really enjoy explaining.”
Spotlighting opportunities
AstroDay West also spotlighted UH’s new Space Science Engineering Initiative to encourage local students to pursue careers in astronomy and engineering. Launched this fall at UH Hilo, the initiative offers pre-engineering courses on the Hilo campus providing pathways to UH Mānoa for students aiming for degrees in engineering. The program is tied to a planned space engineering and instrument development center, which will be housed at IfA’s facilities on the UH Hilo campus.
- Related UH News story: UH launching space tech development center, student-training hub, January 7, 2024
For nearly a decade, AstroDay West has provided a platform for Hawaiʻi’s scientific community to engage with the public. Each spring, AstroDay events are also held in Hilo commemorating International Astronomy Day.
