For Immediate Release: November 14, 2008
DBEDT News Release 08-36

HONOLULU--The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the University of Hawai‘i will be holding three workshops in Hawai‘i on December 3, 4, and 5 about the NSF and its programs.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; and to secure the national defense."

With an annual budget of about $6.06 billion, NSF is the funding source for approximately 20 percent of all federally supported basic research conducted by America's colleges and universities. In many fields such as mathematics, computer science and the social sciences, NSF is the major source of federal backing.

Hawai‘i is one of six states the NSF has selected to host an NSF Day this year. The goal of this event is to stimulate interest in NSF programs at educational institutions of all levels.

"NSF is the only federal agency whose mission includes support for all fields of fundamental science and engineering," said DBEDT Director Theodore E. Liu. "It is tasked with keeping the United States at the leading edge of discovery in areas from astronomy to geology to zoology. In addition to funding research in the traditional academic areas, the agency also supports 'high-risk, high pay-off' ideas, novel collaborations and numerous projects that may seem like science fiction today, but which the public will take for granted tomorrow."

In June 2007, the state of Hawai‘i and the NSF's governing board, the National Science Board, entered a cooperative partnership to develop programs and initiatives as part of the Lingle-Aiona Administration's Hawai‘i Innovation Initiative. The partnership is designed to explore opportunities to promote science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education programs in Hawai‘i's schools, universities and community colleges. In addition, NSF is working with the state develop programs to support Hawai‘i's science- and technology-related businesses, including research, education and workforce development. The NSB also advises the Administration on its efforts to transform the state's economy from one based on land development to one based on the innovation.

The NSF workshop on Dec. 3 will be held at Maui Community College and will provide an overview of the Foundation and focus on NSF programs of interest to community colleges and on proposal preparation.

A similar workshop will be held at Honolulu Community College on Dec. 4.

The workshop on Dec. 5 will focus on four-year undergraduate and research institutions and will be held at the Hawai‘i Convention Center.

This workshop will provide an overview of the Foundation, its mission, priorities, budget and cover the NSF proposal and merit review process as well as NSF programs that cut across disciplines.

The NSF workshop on Dec. 5 will occur concurrently to the VEX Robotics Pan-Pacific Championships at the Convention Center. VEX robotics is a team-based learning competition that puts high school and middle school students' science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills to the test. With guidance from teachers and mentors, students aim to build innovative robots and solve a challenge in this year's game, "Elevation."

There is no registration fee to attend these workshops; however, pre-registration is required. Register by email to gwilson@nsf.gov.

Schedule of Workshops

For more information, contact:
Dave Young, DBEDT Communications
Phone: (808) 587-1212
Email: dyoung@dbedt.hawaii.gov