| Instructional and Research Facilities
Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology
The Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology (HIGP) conducts geological, geochemical, geophysical, and oceanographic and atmospheric laser and passive remote sensing research, as well as remote sensing research in earth, space, and marine sciences. Programs embrace research and advanced training in marine geology and geophysics, marine geochemistry, materials science and high-pressure geophysics, oceanic biology, evolution of the solar system, seismology and solid earth geophysics, planetary geology, volcanology, and petrology. The institute maintains various specialized facilities in support of its research endeavors. HIGP includes the Hawai'i Space Grant College, which runs a wide variety of education and fellowship programs at the K-12, undergraduate, and professional levels and also provides outreach to the Hawai'i community.
Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology
The Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) provides facilities and services for faculty members, graduate and undergraduate students, and visiting scholars for research and education in marine biology and related topics. Marine biology is concerned with the life processes of marine organisms, including plants, animals, and microbes. Research at HIMB covers a broad range of topics, including coral reef biology and ecology, tropical aquaculture, fish endocrinology, behavior of reef animals, pollution and management of marine ecosystems, coastal biogeochemical processes, and fisheries.
HIMB is unique in that it lies close to a well-equipped laboratory, to a major university campus, and to subtropical environments. The primary focus of HIMB activities is on Coconut Island in Kane'ohe Bay (on the east coast of O'ahu), which provides a unique setting for graduate-level topics courses and field-trip and demonstration opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. The island is surrounded by a 64-acre coral reef dedicated to scientific research. Facilities at the marine laboratory include research vessels and skiffs; ponds, aquaria, and tanks; a flow-through seawater system; remote monitoring capabilities; reef microcosm systems; a wide array of computerized analytical equipment; and support services. HIMB also operates the Mariculture Research and Training Center, with both saltwater and freshwater capabilities for pond aquaculture and research activities.
Hawai'i Natural Energy Institute
The Hawai'i Natural Energy Institute (HNEI) was established by the state Legislature in 1974 as a research institute at the University to provide leadership, focus, and support for natural energy research, development, and demonstration. HNEI works closely with the federal, state, and county governments; private industry; the utilities, community and international organizations; and individuals to initiate and complete renewable energy and ocean resources activities. HNEI attracts government and industrial funds for basic research, demonstration projects, feasibility studies, and field evaluation programs.
As part of SOEST, the institute draws on the expertise of faculty and staff from throughout the campus to investigate technical, cultural, environmental, social, legal, and economic aspects of renewable energy and ocean resources.
Hawai'i Undersea Research Laboratory
The Hawai'i Undersea Research Laboratory (HURL) was established in 1980 by a cooperative agreement between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the University of Hawai'i. HURL is one of six National Undersea Research Centers sponsored by NOAA's National Undersea Research Program (NURP). HURL operates the Pisces IV and Pisces V research submersibles and the RCV-150 remotely-operated vehicle to conduct marine research to oceanic depths of 2,000 meters. These underwater vehicles are operated from HURL's dedicated support ship, the 222-foot R/V Ka'imikai-o-Kanaloa. Extensive data are archived and available to the scientific and academic community for biology, geology and marine chemistry research from submersible dives dating back to 1980.
James K. K. Look Laboratory
The James K. K. Look Laboratory of Oceanographic Engineering, part of the Department of Ocean and Resources Engineering, conducts research on ocean engineering problems related to structures in and physical characteristics of the coastal zone and open ocean, and it provides service to researchers on problems related to ocean resources and the calibration of wind-measuring instruments. The Look Laboratory is also used for instruction of courses involving field measurements of ocean characteristics and hydraulic scale models. Facilities at Look Laboratory include two- and three-dimensional hydraulic scale model spaces, an in-ocean test range, a wet chemistry and biology laboratory, and supporting electronics and machine shops.
Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research
The Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (JIMAR) was formed in 1977 under a memorandum of understanding between the NOAA and the University of Hawai'i. The principal research interests of JIMAR are tsunamis, equatorial oceanography, climate, fisheries oceanography, and tropical meteorology.
International Pacific Research Center
The International Pacific Research Center was established in 1997 under the U.S.- Japan Common Agenda for Cooperation in Global Perspective. Its mission is to provide an international, state-of-the-art research environment to improve understanding of the nature and predictability of climate variability in the Asia-Pacific sector, including regional aspects of global environmental change.
Pacific Mapping Program
The Pacific Mapping Program (PMP) was established in 1990 to facilitate the exploration and development of the Pacific Islands Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). It was initially funded by the U. S. Geological Survey (USGS), the National Ocean Service/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOS/NOAA), and the Pacific International Center for High Technology Research (PICHTR). It is a self-contained research facility with the state-of-the-art computer hardware and software to conduct research, service and graduate education in ocean mapping and marine geographic information systems (GIS). The principal research interests of the PMP are shallow water mapping, GIS, remote sensing and data integration.
Sea Grant College Program
The Sea Grant College Program develops and administers a multidisciplinary institutional research and extension program dedicated to the wise use and management of the marine environment and its resources. The research is conducted by UH faculty and staff in 26 departments in 10 colleges and institutes at the Manoa campus, the Hilo campus, and the Community Colleges; graduate and undergraduate education is supported through the research projects. Results of the research are disseminated to marine agencies, the marine industry, and the general public through the program's extension service and communications program. The program has strong linkages with the 29 Sea Grant programs across the nation and with the United States flag territories and freely associated states of the western Pacific.
Space Grant College Program
The Space Grant College Program is a wide-ranging community educational program supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) that promotes studies in scientific fields related to space. These fields include astronomy, geology, meteorology, oceanography, mathematics, physics, engineering, computer science, and life sciences. Affiliate campuses are UH Hilo, all seven Community Colleges, and the University of Guam. Some of the programs supported by Space Grant include an Undergraduate Fellowship Program (approximately 20 students per semester are supported); the Future Flight Program for teachers, school students and their parents; teacher workshops; undergraduate remote-sensing field trip to California; an undergraduate telescope facility; maintenance of several World Wide Web sites including "Virtually Hawai'i" and "Planetary Science Research Discoveries"; and outreach to state and federal agencies related to the use of satellite and aircraft remote-sensing data. A significant goal of the program is to encourage interdisciplinary studies and research and to train future generations of space scientists in the physical sciences. Students, teachers, and researchers in Hawai'i are encouraged to contact the Manoa Space Grant office at (808) 956-3138) to learn more about the opportunities. |
