Issue 44   |   August 31, 2011

News & Events

Write On

The UHM Writing Center is now open and ready to provide free tutoring to all UH-Manoa students, faculty, and staff. Tutoring is by appointment only, so visit their Web site to make one. You may sign up for up to two 30-minute or one 1-hour sessions per week. The Writing Center tutors are trained to assist clients at any stage of the writing process, including brainstorming, planning, organizing, and revising. The Center is located in the Commons in the Student Success Center, which is in the back of the first floor of Sinclair Library. Email tutors@hawaii.edu for any questions.

Grants & Awards

Fish Gasses

The National Research Foundation of Korea, the equivalent of the National Science Foundation in the U.S., has awarded a 3-year, $300,000 research grant to a Global Research Network Program team of international researchers led by Samir Khanal (MBBE), along with Jaewoo Li of Korea University and Kartik Chandran of Columbia University. In this study, the nitrous oxide emissions from aquaculture in Hawai‘i will be compared with those of Korea and other Asian countries to develop a global mapping of N₂O emission from aquaculture and its effects on climate change. Samir received a Hatch grant to initiate the research in CTAHR, which eventually led to the development of a full-proposal for the funded project.

Spotlight on Our Community

A Warm Welcome

Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw recently welcomed three new CTAHR faculty, Thao Le and Young Jin Bahng (both FCS) and Steven Gray (NREM), at a new faculty reception. Chairs Cathy Chan-Halbrendt (NREM) and Bobbie Yee (FCS) also attended. Thao Le’s research areas include developing, implementing, and evaluating programs to foster positive youth development and resiliency across the lifespan. She is also interested in mindfulness/contemplative sciences; multicultural, indigenous, and Asian American populations; and military youth and families. Young Jin Bahng, Assistant Professor for International Merchandising in FCS, is currently teaching APDM437: Small Business Start-Up and APDM 471: International Apparel Trade Issues. Her research interests include developing retail buying models based on the use of retail inventory assortment decision factors, consumer market segmentation, and the effect of globalization on small businesses. Steven Gray’s research focuses on understanding the “human dimensions” of natural resource management by integrating human population datasets with datasets generated by traditional ecological studies. His current research project examines the relationship between how people make sense of complex environments, how this understanding influences decision-making, and how these decisions impact ecosystem structure and function. The three are enthusiastically welcomed to the CTAHR ‘ohana. Pictured, from left to right: Cathy Chan-Halbrendt, Steven Gray, Chancellor Hinshaw, Young Jin Bahng, Thao Le, and Bobbie Yee.

Yay, DNA Today!

Ania Wieczorek’s (TPSS) new Web site DNA Today is up and running. The site is a resource for the general public as well as for classrooms at the 7th- to 12th-grade level and emphasizes biotechnology in agriculture being used in Hawai‘i. With its bold graphics, bite-sized morsels of intriguing information, and even-handed approach to controversial topics, the site ought to be a hit—and a help.

4-H Helping Military Kids

For a week this summer, 75 military youth in Saipan ages 5 to 12 years old took part in the Army Reserve Enrichment Camp (AREC) at the Marianas Trekking Eco Camp located in Marpi, Saipan. Kiki Yoshimoto (Extension 4-H), Hawai‘i’s Operation: Military Kids (OMK) project coordinator, worked with the Army Reserves’ Child Youth and School Services Staff to provide campers with OMK learning activities that focused on life skills to help them during the deployment of a loved one. Ten Army Reserve Soldiers made a special visit to the camp to help conduct Military Day, on which campers could learn what their parents experience as military personnel. OMK, which is implemented through the 4-H/Youth Development Program, is the U.S. Army’s collaborative effort to support children and youth impacted by deployment. “I learned about teamwork and listening, and I liked when the Army Reserve showed up and taught us how to march and sing,” said Noah, a 10-year-old AREC participant. Ben, a 12-year-old camp participant, added, “My dad is deployed, and I liked how the soldiers took the time to come to the camp.”

In Memoriam

Dan Shigeta

We are saddened to report that former CTAHR Maui County Administrator Dan Shigeta passed away on Monday, August 22. Oldtimers in the college will remember Dan as an Extension Agent on Maui who went on to become County Chairman and then County Administrator in the 1960s through the early 1980s. Among his many accomplishments, Dan organized many 4-H clubs; he assisted Mayor Cravalho and staff in providing leadership to facilitate the transition on Moloka‘i from pineapple to diversified crop production, including taro, watermelons, and sweet potatoes; and he initiated educational programs to promote sustainable agriculture in partnership with the Mokichi Okada organization. Dan was also a retired major in the Army Reserve. Services were held on August 29 at Nakamura Mortuary in Wailuku.

Malini Gopalakrishnan

We extend our deep sympathy to Chennat “Gopal” Gopalakrishnan (NREM), whose wife Malini passed away on August 24 after a long illness. If you would like to send flowers or cards, the address is 2916 Date St. #10C, Honolulu, HI 96816. Gopal is up to receiving emails now, or you can call him in a few weeks at 734-1760.

Help our community to keep in touch! Please send news items -- awards, grants, special projects, special people -- and pictures to Frederika Bain at ctahrnotes@ctahr.hawaii.edu.

Do you have an upcoming event that you'd like to promote? CTAHR faculty and staff can post events to the CTAHR website's calendar.

All CTAHR Notes readers can browse the calendar to learn more about the college's activities.