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Hawaii
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NSF and Hawaii
In FY 2002, NSF provided 126 awards totaling approximately $28 million to 10 institutions in the State of Hawaii.
Institutions that received NSF support in FY 2002 include the University of Hawaii Manoa, Black Pearls, Inc., and the East-West Center for Cultural and Technological Interchange.
Projects Currently Funded in the State of Hawaii Include:
- The Marine Bioproducts Engineering Center at the University
of Hawaii Manoa is building the foundations
of engineering research and education for a 21st
century marine biotechnology industry devoted
to high-value products destined for the chemical,
pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, cosmetic, food,
feed, and life sciences sectors. The Center
brings together two disparate topics, marine sciences
and process engineering, in order to address a
previously under-utilized bioproducts resource,
the world's oceans. The Center's research extends
from exploration of the oceans for new products,
through the development of production processes
such as bioreactors and separation technologies,
to the formulation and stability of newly discovered
marine bioproducts through combinatorial chemistry
and other techniques.
- Biodiversity Inventory of Asian Genera of Convolvulaceae (Morning Glory Family) — The Convolvulaceae is a moderate-sized family of mostly tropical plants, which has received only sporadic attention from taxonomists. Consequently, the identity of species and the classifications of these into reliably identifiable genera are problematic. This project at the Bernice P. Bishop Museum will include the compilation of an Internet-accessible and authenticated nomenclator for all described taxa of Convolvulaceae in tropical and subtropical Asia. Where a genus has an accepted classification and the taxonomy has been reconciled with recently collected specimens, those species and infraspecific taxon names will be incorporated into the nomenclator. The nomenclator will endeavor to trace all scientific names and provide their current disposition.
- Small Business Technology Transfer — An NSF STTR award to Rainbow Farms supports the research on the feasibility of long-term preservation of shrimp embryos using gene transfer technology. Encysted embryos of the brine shrimp, Artemia franciscana, are resistant to extreme environmental stress including temperature, salt, anoxia, and desiccation. A small heat shock crystalline protein (p26) gene identified from A. franciscana has been shown to play a major role in the brine shrimp's ability to tolerate environmental stress. This project proposed to introduce the p26 gene into the commercially important marine shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, through microinjection and electroporation techniques, resulting in the production of commercial transgenic shrimp capable of surviving harsh environmental conditions
- Hawaiian Values, Science and Technology: Advancing a New Paradigm for STEM Education — The University of Hawaii – Hilo will significantly increase enrollment and graduation rates of Native Hawaiian students in mathematics and science disciplines by implementing a new model for STEM education that is predicate on the integration of assets of culture and natural environment. The model involves the advancement of faculty development which enculturates Hawaiian values, ways of knowing and learning, and use of current technology in STEM
disciplines.
For more information on Hawaii and NSF, please
contact the Office of Legislative and Public Affairs
at 703-292-8070.
Useful Links:
Hawaii's
Home Page
Hawaii
Governor's Office
Hawaii's
High Technology Development Corporation
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