GOVERNOR LINGLE TO DISCUSS INNOVATION INITIATIVE WITH NATION'S GOVERNORS
For Immediate Release: February 16, 2007
HONOLULU — Governor Linda Lingle will join the nation’s governors in Washington, D.C., for the National Governors Association’s (NGA) annual winter meeting. The focus of this year’s NGA conference is “Innovation America,” which complements the Lingle-Aiona Administration’s “Hawai‘i Innovation Initiative.”
NGA Chair Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano established the Innovation America initiative to provide governors with tools to develop and implement policies and strategies to enhance innovation within individual states and to increase their ability to compete in the global economy. Like the Hawai‘i Innovation Initiative, Innovation America emphasizes improving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education skills in grades K-12 as well as at the university level. Innovation America also focuses on helping states develop innovation-based economies by encouraging business innovation in workforce development and global competitiveness.
“As the nation’s governors turn their attention to increasing the innovation capacity of their individual states and America as a nation, Hawai‘i is in a unique position to play an important role in leading this national effort to foster innovation in economic development, education, workforce development and global competition,” said Governor Lingle. “This year’s National Governors Association conference will provide a good opportunity to exchange ideas and seek partnerships with other states, federal officials, private businesses, STEM skills leaders, and national educational institutions that will help us further advance the Hawai‘i Innovation Initiative and ultimately raise the standard of living for all our residents.”
The governors will hear from Dean Kamen, an inventor, entrepreneur and founder of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), who will be one of the key participants during a plenary panel, “Leading the Way on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math,” on Sunday, Feb. 25, 3:00 p.m. EST. FIRST is the major sponsor of the international FIRST Robotics Competition, which this year features four teams from Hawai‘i (Waialua, Waiakea, McKinley and Punahou). Governor Lingle met with Kamen last month in New Hampshire to discuss the Hawai‘i Innovation Initiative as well as to attend the kickoff of the FIRST Robotics Competition. While in New Hampshire, the Governor secured a commitment from NASA for $1 million to host a regional FIRST Robotics Competition in Hawai‘i for four years. The inaugural event is scheduled for March 26-28, 2008 at the Stan Sheriff Arena.
The NGA panel will also feature Mary Ann Kankin, dean of the College of Natural Sciences at the University of Texas-Austin and William Schmidt, professor of education psychology and measurement and quantitative methods at Michigan State University. James Simons, president of Renaissance Technology Corp. and founder of Math for America, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality math education in the nation’s public schools, will provide the keynote address.
Another speaker, Dr. Mae Jemison, who made history as a member of the 1992 space shuttle Endeavour mission as the nation's first African-American female astronaut, will recount her personal story of achievement in STEM skills at a time when women of color were almost non-existent in STEM studies and fields. She will also discuss strategies for increasing STEM skills among women and underrepresented minorities.
Other major topics to be addressed during the NGA conference, many of which complement the Lingle Administration’s top priorities, include regional economic growth, early childhood education, children’s healthcare, energy investments and identify theft.
In addition, the governors will meet with President George W. Bush and members of his cabinet at the White House for discussions on No Child Left Behind, healthcare reform, and other issues. They will also hold a dialogue with members of Congress to address global competitiveness.
Governor Lingle will also meet with federal officials on issues of importance to Hawai`i. They include Jim Connaughton, chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, to discuss the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Monument; Jon Dudas, Undersecretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property, to discuss innovation; Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter and Rear Admiral Robert Conway to address issues relating to the future of Kalaeloa; and Assistant Attorney General Regina Schofield and Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance Domingo Herraiz to continue collaborative efforts relating to Hawai‘i’s prison system. She is also scheduled to meet with Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters, Secretary of Health and Human Services Mike Leavitt, and Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns.
The Governor will arrive in Washington on Feb. 21 and will return to Honolulu on Feb. 27.
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For more information, contact:
Lenny Klompus
Senior Advisor – Communications
Phone: (808) 586-7708
Russell Pang
Chief of Media Relations
Phone: (808) 586-0043
