University of Hawai?i at Manoa

02/06/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/06/2024 18:03

VNR: UH Mānoa research excellence showcased at Hawaiʻi State Capitol

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

Contact:

Link to video and sound (details below): https://go.hawaii.edu/ndc

WHAT: University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa's research on some of Hawaiʻi's most pressing issues: Maui wildfire disaster, homelessness, mental health challenges, educational reform and more was showcased at the second annual UH Mānoa Research Day at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol by undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff across a variety of different disciplines.

This year's research day theme was UH Mānoa's Kuleana to Hawai'i and the World: Our Commitment to Excellence in Research.

Researchers and students delivered oral presentations, hosted informational tables and conducted interactive activities on the 4th floor of the State Capitol. Some of the research projects included: Investigating Maui wildfire impacts on nearshore beaches and waters, using AI to improve risk detection of depression among Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, and alternative models for rehabilitation and restorative justice for Hawaiʻi.

WHEN: Tuesday, February 6, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

WHO: More than 100 UH Mānoa students, researchers, faculty and staff participated in the oral presentations, demonstrations and informational tables.

WHY: Hawaiʻi lawmakers and representatives were invited to engage with UH Mānoa students, faculty and staff to learn about the wide variety of initiatives and impact research has on our communities.

ADDITIONAL INFO:

  • UH Mānoa is among the nation's top 10% of higher education institutions in six key research categories (Ocean sciences and marine sciences, astronomy and astrophysics, geological and earth sciences, computer and information sciences, atmospheric science and meteorology, and social work), according to the latest National Science Foundation Higher Education Research and Development Data, which measures research and development expenditures across a variety of disciplines. See more in this news release.
  • UH Mānoa is one of only four U.S. universities with the simultaneous designation as a land, sea, space, and sun grant institution.
  • UH Mānoa is one of only 95 doctoral universities categorized among public institutions with the highest research activity (Carnegie R1 designation).
  • UH brought in a record $515.9 million in extramural funding in fiscal year 2023. Extramural funding is external investments from the federal government, industry and non-profit organizations that support research and academic activities conducted by university faculty and staff. UH Mānoa accounted for $342.7 million of the extramural awards.
  • UH Mānoa is consistently ranked among the top 2% globally by major higher education rankings services.

For more information about UH Mānoa Research Day, visit this website.

Link to video and sound (details below): https://go.hawaii.edu/ndc

VIDEO:

BROLL: 2:00

Shots of UH Mānoa Research Day at the State Capitol

SOUNDBITES:

Christopher Sabine, UH Mānoa Interim Vice Provost for Research and Scholarship

(:19)

"Being involved in research improves the education of our children, of our students, and we want to demonstrate the value of that to our legislators. And so what we do is we bring the research here to them so they can be exposed to it as well."

Julynn Iʻi, UH Mānoa Water Resources Research Center field technician

(Iʻi and other team members are working on a project to identify drinking water contamination and social vulnerability impacts from urban fires, with a focus on the Lahaina wildfire.)

(:21)

"To be able to be a person of the community as well as a person of my ʻohana to help keep us safe, it means a lot to me and I want to assure that we continue doing this movement to better bring peace to everybody in Lahaina."

State Rep. Gregg Takayama

(:20)

"The University of Hawaiʻi has such a wide range of research and knowledge and a whole variety of topics that affect all of our lives, not just the scientific community, but affects consumers and those of us who buy foods in our everyday lives and trying to save endangered species."