Thursday, March 28, 2024
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Saturday, May 8, 2010
Aiona saves State Science & Engineering Fair
By News Release @ 1:43 PM :: 5939 Views :: Energy, Environment, National News, Ethics

LT. GOVERNOR AIONA ANNOUNCES FUNDS TO HELP SAVE STATE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR

Announcement comes as Hawai‘i’s top engineering and science students prepare for international competition in California

HONOLULU – Lt. Governor James R. “Duke” Aiona, Jr. today announced $425,000 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds will go to the Hawai‘i State Science and Engineering Fair (HSSEF) to continue the annual event, expand teacher training programs and provide support for the Neighbor Islands to assist students and teachers to attend the state and international events annually.

The funding is being made available under the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, Part B as part of the ARRA that was passed by Congress in February.  Hawai‘i received a total of approximately $35 million in Part B funds.  Governors have discretion over how to use these funds.  The Lingle-Aiona Administration has elected to dedicate all of the Part B funds toward improving the quality of public education, with a focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

The Lt. Governor also congratulated the HSSEF student finalists who will be competing in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), the world’s largest international pre-college science competition, in San Jose, CA from May 9-14.

“The science fair is a unique education event that brings together scientists, teachers, parents and students in the common cause of scientific exploration,” said Lt. Governor Aiona. “We must continue to support programs that promote STEM education and provide the skills needed for high paying jobs in our global economy.”

The HSSEF, sponsored by the Hawai‘i Academy of Science (HAS), provides 6-12th grade students the opportunity to conduct scientific research and present their work in a professional setting evaluated by scientists. Nearly 7,000 students participate each year; 500 attend and participate in the State Science Fair; and 20 finalists compete in the international science fair.

“It has been a pleasure to have Lt. Governor Aiona’s support over the years, especially as a science fair celebrity judge,” said Dr. Gareth Wynn-Williams, president of Hawai‘i Academy of Science. “These funds will go a long way in extending our efforts to bring more science education to our communities.”

Since 1991, the Legislature annually funded the HSEEF through a Grants-in-Aid (GIA) appropriation. In 2009, the Legislature ended funding and this year’s HSSEF had to use left over funds from prior GIAs and raised $55,000 in private donations, including $10,000 from Queens Medical Center.  The Part B State Fiscal Stabilization Funds will allow this program to continue serving students while longer-term private financial support is solidified.

The HAS is a private, nonprofit, professional society whose mission is to promote scientific research and science education in Hawai‘i and the Pacific region. Founded in 1925, HAS is an affiliate of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The membership is comprised primarily of working scientists but is open to anyone with an interest in furthering STEM education.

“We have some of the best and brightest minds right here in Hawai‘i,” said Lt. Governor Aiona. “Our long-term economic diversity and growth will depend in part on our ability to transform Hawai‘i into an economy based on knowledge and innovation.”

###

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

808 Silent Majority

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Build More Hawaiian Homes Working Group

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federalist Society

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Homeschool Association

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Smokers Alliance

Hawaii State Data Lab

Hawaii Together

HIEC.Coop

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Moms for Liberty

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

Investigative Project on Terrorism

July 4 in Hawaii

Kakaako Cares

Keep Hawaii's Heroes

Land and Power in Hawaii

Legislative Committee Analysis Tool

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

Malama Pregnancy Center of Maui

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Military Home Educators' Network Oahu

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Christian Foundation Hawaii

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii News

No GMO Means No Aloha

Not Dead Yet, Hawaii

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Oahu Alternative Transport

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

OurFutureHawaii.com

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

PEACE Hawaii

People vs Machine

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

P.U.E.O.

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

ReRoute the Rail

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

Robotics Organizing Committee

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Sink the Jones Act

Statehood for Guam

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

UCC Truths

US Tax Foundation Hawaii Info

VAREP Honolulu

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii

Yes2TMT