Tag Archives: Science

Hawaii skies offer clear view of transit of Venus

This is a rare window to see firsthand that other planets are real: Venus will appear as a black dot crawling across the sun’s disk in the afternoon sky on June 5, 2012. Venus has been seen crossing the sun only six times before in history, prompting Captain Cook’s voyage to Tahiti in 1761 and allowing astronomers to measure accurately the size of the universe. It won’t be seen again for another 105 years.

“Venus has a carbon-dioxide rich atmosphere with complex circulation patterns that could help us better understand rising CO2 levels on earth,” explains astronomer Jay Pasachoff of Williams College, who will give a free public talk after the transit in Kamuela about his research on Venus as a part of the Keck astronomy lecture series.

Fake journals and copyright takeover: Why the public should care about open access to published scientific results

The University of Hawaii at Manoa Library celebrates open access week with a panel discussion and presentation on campus. Both are free and open to the public. “Open access week” sounds suspiciously like a boondoggle, not unlike “dairy week”  or “safety week”. Is this just another excuse for meetings and a free lunch, or is there something more to the issue? Continue reading Fake journals and copyright takeover: Why the public should care about open access to published scientific results

Hawaii Students Advance to Final Rounds of National Science Competitions

This fall two young men from O’ahu have made the cut and will advance to final rounds of national science competitions.

Jack Uesugi was selected as one of ten finalists in this year’s Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge, for creating a video that details the elements of a satellite’s orbit around planet Earth.  Jack will compete in the national competition in Washington, D.C., from October 4th to October 6th, 2008, for the chance to win a $50,000 U.S. Savings Bond, as well as earn the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist of the Year.”  NASA will host the competition finals at its world-renowned Goddard Space Flight Center.  Jack attends Island Pacific Academy.

(Jack Uesugi, finalist in the 2008 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge and student at Island Pacific Academy)

Judges selected Thomas Goodin as one of thirty finalists at the 2008 Society for Science & the Public Middle School Program science competition for his project, “Which Windmill Rotor Pitch Is the Most Efficient?” Thomas emerged as a finalist from more than 75,000 students who entered local science fairs nationwide during the last school year.  He is now on his way to Washington, D.C., to showcase his project at the Marian Koshland Science Museum of the National Academy of Sciences on Sunday, October 19th.  Thomas attends Mid-Pacific Institute.

(Thomas Goodin with his display and finalist in the 2008 Society for Science & the Public Middle School Program, courtesy of Mid-Pacific Institute)

Congratulations and all the best to you both!