Hayden Niles grew up 1,500 miles from the nearest ocean, in Waubay, South Dakota—a landlocked town of 500 where the closest thing to the deep sea was a swimming pool. This spring, he graduates from the University of �鶹��ý at Hilo with a bachelor’s in , a minor in , a , and his sights set on hydrothermal vents two miles below the surface.

When it came time for college, Niles, who graduated high school with a class of eight students, initially considered a practical path in nursing. But the ocean’s pull was undeniable. He chose UH Hilo, recognizing it as a realistic option that offered an incredible, accessible marine science program.

“The opportunities here genuinely are shocking,” Niles said, noting the constant stream of emails about internships and jobs. By his freshman year, he had already earned his scientific diving certification, diving headfirst into his passion. He praises UH Hilo’s intimate class sizes, which allowed for hands-on learning and tight-knit relationships with professors.

“You get a chance to really, really get to know your professors, and that helps a ton,” he explained.

Niles didn’t just study the ocean; he actively engaged with it. Before his senior year, he secured a highly competitive deep-sea exploration , an opportunity with only a 2% acceptance rate. This experience, which included crossing the equator and studying unmapped seamounts, solidified his desire to pursue deep-sea microbiology. He specifically hopes to research hydrothermal vent bacteria, noting that “there’s a lot of potential… specifically in the deep sea,” particularly for discoveries that could lead to treatments for diseases such as cancer.

But his ambitions extend beyond research. Niles is dedicated to giving back, currently working with the Bonner Program to manage hydroponic food baskets, aiming to bring sustainable agriculture models back to rural communities like his hometown in South Dakota. He believes in the power of agricultural change, stating, “We can make a difference by shaping people’s perspectives.”

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The recognized students, faculty and program contributors at its annual award ceremony on April 24.

The event honored 30 graduating seniors, along with 38 new learning assistants and three new faculty members joining the program. The ceremony also highlighted four award categories recognizing excellence in teaching innovation, program advocacy, and student support.

The Learning Assistant (LA) Program places undergraduate students in courses across campus to help facilitate active, discussion-based learning. Learning assistants work with faculty to support collaborative instruction in lectures, labs and discussion sections, helping shift traditionally lecture-based courses into active learning environments. The program, which began in STEM fields, has since expanded to include a wide range of disciplines across UH Mānoa.

For the first time, graduating seniors in the LA Program were presented with honors cords, recognizing their academic progress, skill development and contributions to student success. The cords were approved following the LA program’s transition into the , after serving as a successful pilot of the Provost’s office for the past several years.

Program organizers describe the cords as a symbol of dedication, perseverance, and belonging within the LA community. They recognize students who have significantly supported active learning environments while completing their own academic journeys.

“The honor cords recognize meaningful time supporting their peers and partnering with faculty to cultivate active learning communities across disciplines,” said LA Program Director and Professor Tara O’Neill. “This program is about creating meaningful learning experiences on both sides of the classroom—where students and instructors are shaping how knowledge is built and shared at UH Mānoa. As LAs, our students are not only strengthening their own content knowledge, they are transforming learning at UH Mānoa by creating spaces that encourage engagement, questions and innovation.”

Program awardees

• Outstanding Learning Assistant Award recognizing students for excellence in supporting course instruction and fostering engaging learning environments: Katie Thai, Jack Santos and Kevin Phan
• The Agent of Change Award promoting new approaches to active learning at UH Mānoa: Instructor Astrid Delorme
• Curriculum Innovation Award for course design work that integrates LAs to improve student learning experiences: Professor Monique Chyba
• LA Advocacy Award for leadership in advancing the program: Interim Vice Provost of Student Academic Success Amy Ebesu Hubbard

Researchers at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�’s have developed a new step-by-step chemical process that converts methane, the primary component of natural gas, into valuable chemicals.

Because the catalyst (a substance that speeds up chemical reactions) for this process is made from common, widely available elements instead of costly precious metals like palladium, it could be a more affordable option for large-scale use.

By allowing methane to be converted at lower temperatures, the research opens the door to cleaner and more efficient ways to use one of the world’s most abundant energy resources.

Abundant but difficult

Methane is abundant but difficult to transform because of its strong carbon-hydrogen bonds. In the gas phase, breaking these bonds usually requires temperatures near 1,500 Kelvin (about 2,240°F).

Additionally, most methods rely on oxygen, which can generate unwanted carbon dioxide and reduce overall efficiency. The new pathway overcomes both challenges.

The team developed a way to transform methane at much lower temperatures without using oxygen. Instead of burning the methane, their method links two methane molecules together to form ethylene, a key ingredient used to make everyday products such as plastics and other industrial materials.

Using a catalyst made of titanium, aluminum and boron, the researchers were able to get methane to react at about 800 Kelvin, about 1,260°F lower than what would normally be needed.

As the temperature increased, the process produced more ethylene.

“Our goal was to find a cleaner, more efficient way to use methane,” Department of Chemistry Professor Ralf I. Kaiser said. “By lowering the temperature and avoiding oxygen, we’ve opened a new pathway that could make methane upgrading more practical.”

The UH ����ԴDz� team worked collaboration with the research groups of Musahid Ahmed (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), Professor Anastassia Alexandrova (University of California, Los Angeles) and Albert Epshteyn (U.S. Naval Research Laboratory).

The experiments were performed at the Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory utilizing a catalytic microreactor coupled to a synchrotron single-photon photoionization reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer.

The University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� celebrated the legacy of renowned alumna Alice Augusta Ball at the annual recognition ceremony on February 26. This year’s event was especially meaningful, as her discovery dubbed the “Ball Method” treatment for Hansen’s disease has been designated a National Historic Chemical Landmark by the American Chemical Society (ACS).

Spearheaded by the UH Office of the President and the UH ����ԴDz� Office of the Provost with support from various campus and community partners, the ceremony invited the campus community to the chaulmoogra tree on the ma uka side of Bachman Hall, where a plaque honors Ball’s legacy.

The event began with an oli led by the �鶹��ý Papa o ke Ao Native Hawaiian Place of Learning Advancement Office and the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience’s Native Hawaiian Place of Learning Coordinator.

Emcee LaJoya Shelly, a lecturer in ethnic studies and educational administration, led the event. UH President Wendy Hensel was among several distinguished speakers who commemorated Ball.

“She’s a true role model for all of us,” said Hensel, “Every year is exciting because she’s such an incredible trailblazer, and to be able to recognize her repeatedly for those contributions is always really special.”

Hensel also read Gov. Josh Green’s official proclamation declaring February 28, 2026, as Alice Augusta Ball Day.

Long-awaited official recognition

Katrina-Ann Kapā Oliveira, Interim Vice Provost for Student Success, presented the National Historic Chemical Landmark Designation on behalf of ACS President Rigoberto Hernandez.

“This landmark dedication reflects ACS‘s commitment to honoring chemists like Ball whose discoveries have improved countless lives,” read Oliveira. “The National Historic Chemical Landmarks program preserves and promotes these histories so that present and future generations can understand the transformative power of chemistry.”

In 2024, the American Chemical Society approved the nomination—submitted by David Lassner, UH president emeritus, and Paul Wermager, retired department head of science and technology at Hamilton Library—to award the National Historic Chemical Landmark designation to Ball for her technique of isolating ethyl esterification from the fatty acids of chaulmoogra oil so it could be effectively administered to Hansen’s disease patients by injection.

• Related �鶹��ýNews story: Sculpture honors pioneering scientist Alice Ball

This isolation technique, later called the “Ball Method,” was the first successful treatment for Hansen’s disease that was used on thousands of patients around the world until the introduction of sulfone drugs in the mid-1940s.

The Ball Method was used to treat patients in Kalaupapa, permitting them to return to their families after being banished to isolation facilities on the remote Molokaʻi peninsula. This treatment was the difference between a life of discomfort and isolation, and a life of fulfillment and connection with family and community.

Inspiring future generations of scientists

Ball was the first woman and first African-American to graduate from the College of �鶹��ý—now known as the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�—with a master’s degree in chemistry. Ball had also become the first African American female chemistry instructor and department head.

“What inspires me really, especially during Black History Month, is her being a black woman in STEM,” said Raven Kelley, the student speaker for the Black Student Association, “When we look at U.S. history, women in STEM, in general, rarely ever get the recognition that they truly deserve.”

Ball died on December 31, 1916, at the age of 24, before publishing her groundbreaking work. More than a century later, the university remains committed to honoring her legacy.

“As a black woman in STEM myself, it gives me a sense of pride and honor to see her truly recognized for her work,” said Kelley.

Other program speakers included Phillip Williams, interim dean and professor of chemistry at the UH ����ԴDz� College of Natural Sciences; Diana Felton, chief of the Communicable Disease and Public Health Nursing Division at the �鶹��ý State Department of Health; and DeGray Vanderbilt of Ka ʻOhana O Kalaupapa.

The ceremony was followed by the annual Alice Augusta Ball Remembrance Walk, led by Sister Circle at ����ԴDz� and Native Hawaiian Student Services, which included a trip to Hamilton Library to see the life-sized bronze bust of Alice Ball. The walk ended at the Queen Liliʻuokalani Center for Student Services for a screening of The Ball Method film.

—by Josslyn Rose

Five subject areas were placed in the world’s top 1%, and an additional four earned top 2% honors in the 2026 , released on January 21.

Education led the way, ranked in the No. 101–125 tier, followed by physical sciences at No. 126–150, arts and humanities at No. 151–175, and law and life sciences each at No. 201–250. To qualify in the world’s top 1%, rankings must be within the top 250 in the world () UH Mānoa was ranked in all 11 of the 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject lists.

“We are proud that UH Mānoa continues to be recognized globally, reflecting our commitment to academic excellence, research and the student experience,” UH Mānoa Interim Provost Vassilis L. Syrmos said. “These rankings underscore the hard work and dedication of our faculty, students and staff, who make UH Mānoa a truly exceptional place.”

All UH Mānoa rankings:

• Education studies: No. 101–125
• Physical sciences: No. 126–150
• Arts and humanities: No. 151–175
• Law: No. 201–250
• Life sciences: No. 201–250
• Social sciences: No. 251–300
• Medical and health: No. 301–400
• Psychology: No. 301–400
• Business and economics: No. 401–500
• Computer science: No. 501–600
• Engineering: No. 501–600

Times Higher Education considers the following factors for its rankings: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry income and international outlook. Regarded as one of the leading national and international university rankings focused on research and academic excellence, Times Higher Education considered between 425–1,555 of the top institutions for each of its subject rankings, out of more than 25,000 institutions worldwide, to be eligible for its World University Rankings by Subject.

Other rankings

UH Mānoa also received these notable rankings:

• 2025 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects, January 4, 2026
• 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, October 9, 2025
• Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. rankings, October 2, 2025
• U.S. News and World Report 2026 Best Colleges rankings, September 23, 2025

For more information, .

A new chemical method that could speed up the creation of medicines, materials and products people rely on every day has been developed by University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa researchers. The work, , a journal of the German Chemical Society, shows how common ingredients called aldehydes can be transformed into more complex molecules using visible light and a specialized catalyst.

Lighting the way

Aldehydes are simple, widely available starting materials used across many chemical processes. Traditionally, turning them into useful advanced compounds requires multiple steps, harsh conditions or costly materials. The UH Mānoa team introduced a light-powered, energy-efficient approach that guides aldehydes through a controlled reaction, producing valuable molecular structures used in drug development, natural product research and chemical manufacturing.

The process relies on light and a specialized palladium catalyst to drive the chemical changes. It enables chemists to quickly and reliably make two useful types of molecules. The approach is also flexible, working on a wide range of starting materials, including complex molecules found in pharmaceuticals.

Making a big impact

For the general public, the importance lies in what this advancement could make possible. Faster and more efficient ways to build complex molecules can shorten the development timeline for new medicines, reduce costs in chemical manufacturing and improve access to products ranging from therapeutics to advanced materials. By enabling more sustainable and streamlined chemistry, the study offers a step toward innovations that could benefit health, technology and everyday life.

“We’re always looking for ways to make complex chemistry feel less like a barrier and more like an opportunity,” said Assistant Professor and co-author Zuxiao Zhang. “What excites us most is how this platform opens a new creative space for scientists—giving them tools to build molecules in ways that simply weren’t practical before. Discoveries like this help lay the groundwork for future breakthroughs we can’t yet imagine.”

The Department of Chemistry is housed in UH ��ā�ԴDz�’s .

Studying safer, cheaper rocket and missile fuels that could reduce health and environmental risks is the focus of a new $800,000 grant awarded to the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa by the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research. The project will be led by principal investigator Professor Rui Sun with co-principal investigator Professor Ralf I. Kaiser.

The grant falls under a broader push toward green chemistry—designing chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate hazardous substances. Current propellants can be expensive and toxic, creating risks during manufacture, storage and transport. The research seeks to help lower costs for space exploration while reducing risks to workers and communities.

The work will focus on ethaline-based Deep Eutectic Propellants (DeEPs), which are mixtures made from relatively nontoxic, low-cost components. DeEPs have low vapor pressure (they are less likely to evaporate), tunable physical and chemical properties, and can be formulated to ignite reliably in liquid rocket engines—traits that make them a promising, safer and cheaper alternative to the current propellants used in space missions and national defense.

“This project lets us assemble a multidisciplinary team of chemists, computational scientists and students to tackle a long-neglected area of chemistry,” Sun said. “It will create hands-on training opportunities for �鶹��ý students and postdocs and build partnerships with Department of Defense laboratories and industry so promising findings can move quickly from the bench into real-world testing.”

Researchers plan to combine lab experiments utilizing novel droplet merging techniques with advanced computer modeling and machine learning to understand how these propellants ignite and break down. The study aims to reveal the basic chemical steps (the reaction mechanisms) and the speed at which they happen (reaction kinetics). That basic information will play a key role in developing the next generation fuels for space missions and national defense.

The Department of Chemistry is housed in UH ��ā�ԴDz�’s .

University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� researchers in the have created a molecule once thought too unstable to exist called methanetetrol using extreme, space-like conditions. The discovery could reshape our understanding of chemistry in the universe and shed light on the complex reactions happening in deep space.

Methanetetrol is the only alcohol which has four hydroxyl groups (OH) at a single carbon atom. Scientists have theorized its existence for more than a century, but no one had ever observed it, until now. Using ultra-cold temperatures, near-perfect vacuum and high-energy radiation to simulate the environment inside interstellar clouds, researchers produced this elusive molecule.

Complex compounds, building blocks of life

This finding shows that outer space may host a far more diverse and unexpected set of chemical reactions than previously believed. These reactions are critical to understanding the formation of organic molecules (building blocks of life) across the galaxy. By proving that methanetetrol can form under cosmic conditions, the team has revealed a surprising pathway for how complex compounds might evolve in the icy dust clouds where stars and planets form.

The team used powerful vacuum ultraviolet light to detect tiny amounts of methanetetrol made from water and carbon dioxide. They found that high-energy particles mimicking high energy cosmic rays triggered a series of chemical reactions leading to the creation of methanetetrol and related compounds.

“In collaborations with scientists from Mississippi, Samara University and Shanghai, this work pushes the boundaries of what we know about chemistry in space,” said Department of Chemistry Professor Ralf I. Kaiser.

While this alcohol does not occur naturally on Earth due to its instability in everyday conditions, its formation in space demonstrates that the universe is far more chemically dynamic than previously imagined. The findings push the boundaries of both chemistry and astronomy, and open the door to further discoveries and astronomical observations about how life’s ingredients can emerge in the coldest, darkest corners of space.

The study was . The Department of Chemistry is housed in UH ����ԴDz�’s .

The University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� is helping spark the next generation of chemists through its support of the (USNCO), a nationwide competition for high school students.

This year, about 60 students from five �鶹��ý high schools took part in the local round of the competition, coordinated by UH ����ԴDz� Associate Professor Jakub Hyvl. The top 10 performers advanced to the national exam, which was hosted in the chemistry department’s teaching labs in April.

“UH ����ԴDz� is proud to provide a platform where young students can challenge themselves and explore their passion for chemistry,” said Hyvl, who coordinated the local competition for the past two years. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see the enthusiasm and talent these students bring.”

The national exam is part of a multi-tiered process that identifies the top 20 chemistry students across the country. Those students are invited to a study camp at the University of Maryland, College Park, where four are selected to represent the U.S. at the International Chemistry Olympiad.

Hyvl said the competition not only highlights academic excellence but also builds community among students and mentors.

“Some of these students may go on to become researchers, educators or industry leaders,” he said. “This experience gives them a glimpse into what’s possible—and UH ����ԴDz� is honored to be part of that journey.”

By hosting the national exam and connecting with local schools, UH ����ԴDz� continues to foster STEM education and inspire �鶹��ý’s youth to pursue scientific careers.

The Department of Chemistry is housed in UH ����ԴDz�’s .

The University of �鶹��ý Maui College has become the first UH campus to sign the national (GCC), boosting its role as a leader in sustainable science education.

GCC connects colleges and universities across the globe in a shared mission to integrate green chemistry principles into teaching and research. It gives UH Maui College access to a wide network of like-minded educators and scientists, and provides valuable tools and resources to further sustainability goals.

“I’m thrilled that our department has taken on the Green Chemistry Commitment,” said Sean Calder, UH Maui College STEM division chair. “This will enable the college to lower our chemical waste generation and help us become better stewards of the environment, creating a more sustainable future for Maui.”

Modern, industry-relevant skills

UH Maui College has long embedded sustainability into its curriculum, driven by a dedicated team of faculty. GCC now provides a framework to equip students with modern, industry-relevant skills in sustainable chemistry.

Students enrolled in courses such as Chemistry and Society, General Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry will benefit from learning how to design safer, more sustainable chemical processes. These skills not only increase their career readiness but also cultivate a deeper understanding of the environmental and health impacts of chemistry.

GCC underscores UH Maui College’s commitment to sustainability on campus and in the community.

Learn more information about , or contact Sean Calder at (808) 984-3220.

Prebiotic molecules central to life’s earliest metabolic processes—chemical reactions in cells that change food into energy—may have been born in deep space long before Earth existed, according to new research from the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� .

Scientists in the have recreated the extreme conditions found in dense interstellar clouds and discovered a way for the complete set of complex carboxylic acids—critical ingredients in modern metabolism—to form without life on timescales equivalent to a few million years.

The study focused on molecules such as those in the Krebs cycle, a fundamental metabolic pathway used by nearly all living organisms. These molecules, which help break down nutrients to release energy, may have cosmic origins, forming in the icy, low-temperature environments of interstellar space.

In their lab, researchers simulated those conditions by freezing simple gases to near absolute zero and exposed them to ubiquitous galactic cosmic ray proxies, then slowly warming them to mimic the heating that occurs as new stars form. Under these conditions, a complete suite of organic acids, including mono-, di- and tricarboxylic acids, of the Krebs cycle was formed. These are the same compounds found in carbon-rich asteroids and meteorites such as Ryugu and Murchison, which have been linked to the early chemistry of life on Earth.

The findings support the idea that early Earth may have inherited a “starter kit” of life’s building blocks from space. As planets form from the dust and gas around newborn stars, these prebiotic molecules could be delivered by comets or asteroids—jumpstarting chemical processes that eventually lead to life.

“This work shows that the basic ingredients for life’s chemistry could have been made in space, long before Earth even formed,” said UH ����ԴDz� Department of Chemistry Professor Ralf I. Kaiser. “By simulating these deep space environments right here in �鶹��ý, UH scientists are helping uncover how life might start not just on Earth, but anywhere in the universe.”

Mason Mcanally, Department of Chemistry graduate student and lead author of the study added, “The unique research happening in the islands puts �鶹��ý at the forefront of astrobiology and space chemistry.”

The study was published in the in April 2025.

Associate Professor from the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� organized an international workshop on machine learning in molecular and multiscale simulations in Mesilla, New Mexico. This research helps scientists understand how molecules behave, much like predicting how ingredients mix in a recipe—but on a microscopic scale, shaping everything from new medicines to sustainable materials.

The workshop, held March 9–12 in Mesilla, New Mexico, brought together scientists from around the world, including experts from the U.S., Asia and Europe, to explore groundbreaking applications of artificial intelligence in chemistry. The workshop featured a diverse range of topics, from reaction dynamics of a few atoms to large-scale biophysical simulations involving millions of atoms. Discussions focused on how machine learning can advance the understanding of complex molecular interactions and revolutionize chemical research.

“This workshop brought together brilliant minds from around the world to push the boundaries of machine learning in chemistry,” said Sun. “The discussions and collaborations here will drive the next wave of breakthroughs in the field.”

Under Sun’s leadership, this year’s workshop upheld the tradition of excellence of Mesilla Chemistry Workshop—an annual, international gathering of leading scientists, founded by William L. Hase in 1997, focused on discussing a different topic at the frontiers of chemistry each year. Sun’s involvement in the workshop reinforces UH ����ԴDz�’s role as a leader in computational chemistry and AI-driven scientific research.

The Department of Chemistry is housed in UH ����ԴDz�’s .

The University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� honored the legacy of Alice Augusta Ball on February 28 with a moving ceremony at the chaulmoogra tree next to Bachman Hall. Held annually, Alice Ball Day serves as a powerful tribute to perseverance, innovation and the lasting impact of Ball’s contributions to science and history.

A UH alumna and groundbreaking chemist, Ball developed the first effective treatment for Hansen’s disease (also known as leprosy), transforming countless lives. Ball died on December 31, 1916, at the age of 24, before publishing her groundbreaking work. Students, faculty and community members gathered to reflect on her achievements and the barriers she overcame.

Emcee LaJoya Shelly, a lecturer in ethnic studies and educational administration, led the event. Featured speakers included UH President Wendy Hensel, UH ����ԴDz� Provost Michael Bruno, Valerie Monson, executive director of Ka ʻOhana O Kalaupapa, and other distinguished guests. Shelly recited a poem about Ball by Kathryn Waddell Takara, emeritus professor of ethnic studies, who was unable to attend.

Former UH President David Lassner, who established this annual event and helped elevate Ball’s legacy, was also in attendance. Lassner played a key role in supporting the installation of a life-sized bronze bust of Alice Ball at Hamilton Library in December 2024.

“Her contributions may have been overlooked for decades, but together, we stand here today to ensure that Alice Augusta Ball is remembered and celebrated,” Hensel said before reading Gov. Josh Green’s official proclamation declaring February 28, 2025, as Alice Augusta Ball Day.

Among the speakers was Naava Lee Simckes, a UH ����ԴDz� undergraduate in mechanical engineering, who shared how Ball’s story has inspired her own academic journey.

“Alice Ball’s determination proves that we, too, can push boundaries and create change,” Simckes said. “Her legacy drives me to push myself further as a woman in STEM, appreciate the opportunities I have, and never take them for granted. She inspires me to follow in her footsteps.”

The ceremony also recognized Paul Wermager, a retired UH science librarian who founded the Alice Augusta Ball Endowed Scholarship in 2017 and is finishing up a comprehensive biography of Ball. While Wermager was unable to attend, Bruno applauded his dedication.

“Paul has dedicated years to uplifting Alice’s story and ensuring future generations are inspired by her,” Bruno said, as current scholarship recipient Rachel Jun was presented with a lei.

The event concluded with an oli led by Nōweo Kai, campus arboretum curator, as attendees placed lei and flowers at Ball’s plaque beneath the chaulmoogra tree. Donated in 1931 by the King of Siam in gratitude for �鶹��ý’s efforts in combating Hansen’s disease, the tree stands as a tribute to Ball, whose groundbreaking work continues to inspire students and researchers alike.

Expanding recognition for Ball’s contributions

Ball’s legacy also extends with the annual Remembrance Walk organized by the Black Student Association and Sister Circle at ����ԴDz�. Participants visited the bronze bust of Ball at Hamilton Library before gathering at the Queen Liliʻuokalani Center for Student Services for a screening of The Ball Method film.

Announced by Lassner at the 2024 event, the American Chemical Society had unanimously approved Alice Augusta Ball’s nomination for the National Historic Chemical Landmark designation in recognition of her groundbreaking treatment for Hansen’s Disease. Further details on the official recognition will be shared at a later date.

More �鶹��ýNews stories on Alice Ball.

A team of researchers from the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�’s has received a grant to help turn their innovative wound healing technology into a real-world solution for chronic wounds.

Associate Professor Ellinor Haglund, serving as the project’s technical lead, and graduate student Ivy Vo, the entrepreneurial lead, are developing their project, WoundWhiz: Genius Wound Healing Technology. The initiative focuses on using cutting-edge protein science to develop an enzyme-based therapeutic designed to accelerate the healing process of chronic wounds.

Chronic wounds affect approximately 6.5 million people in the U.S. each year, contributing to an estimated $25 billion in healthcare costs. A primary factor in delayed healing is an increase in oxidative stress and inflammation, which impede the body’s natural recovery processes. WoundWhiz aims to address this challenge by promoting faster and more effective wound healing.

“This project has the potential to transform wound care not only in �鶹��ý but across the U.S. and globally, improving healing outcomes for millions suffering from chronic wounds,” Haglund said. “By advancing this technology, we aim to reduce healthcare costs and enhance the quality of life for patients worldwide.”

Nathan Friedman from W. L. Gore & Associates serves as the industry mentor, with over twenty years of leadership and product development experience within the medical device sector.

The NSF I-Corps program is an entrepreneurship training initiative designed to help researchers commercialize their scientific innovations. Through the program, Haglund and Vo will receive mentorship, hands-on training, and $50,000 in funding for customer discovery and market validation. The program will assist them in identifying key industry needs, refining their business strategy, and navigating the transition from research to commercialization.

The Department of Chemistry is housed in UH ����ԴDz�’s .

• Related UH News story: $1M award transforms world-class research into public-impact solutions, September 13, 2022

A groundbreaking University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� study on the freezing of water droplets suspended in air sheds light on a key process in Earth’s water cycle: the transformation of supercooled water into ice.

Conducted using a novel cryogenically cooled ultrasonic levitation chamber, the research captures real-time molecular-level changes during the freezing process, mimicking conditions in the Earth’s atmosphere. This innovative setup enables researchers to observe how water droplets transition to ice at subzero temperatures, providing valuable insights into cloud formation and precipitation.

This research ties into the larger effort by UH ����ԴDz� researchers and their collaborators to address climate challenges through a $26 million project to develop sustainable refrigerant technologies.

“By uncovering the mechanisms of supercooled water freezing, we open pathways to innovations in low-temperature chemistry and climate-friendly cooling technologies,” said UH ����ԴDz� Professor Ralf I. Kaiser. “This research holds particular importance for �鶹��ý, where sustainable cooling solutions are vital to addressing the region’s unique environmental and energy challenges.”

The research findings were published in the .

More about the research

By recreating atmospheric conditions, including pressure and temperature variations, the study also opens the door for future experiments involving chemically reactive trace gases, advancing our understanding of ice nucleation (process where ice begins to form, starting with tiny ice crystals developing in supercooled water) under realistic scenarios. Understanding the molecular interactions driving ice formation can help refine models of cloud dynamics and precipitation patterns, both of which play critical roles in predicting weather and climate changes.

The refrigerant project focuses on reducing harmful emissions from heating and cooling systems, a major contributor to global greenhouse gases. By integrating findings from studies such as the water droplet research, scientists can better predict how new refrigerants interact with atmospheric ice particles, ultimately informing climate-friendly innovations.

As rising global temperatures drive increased demand for cooling, these research efforts underscore the need for interdisciplinary approaches to mitigate environmental impact while advancing scientific understanding of Earth’s complex systems.

Read more about the ERC EARTH project in this UH News story.

As part of a groundbreaking national initiative to create sustainable refrigerants, a University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� student is taking the lead on integrating cultural and a broader range of perspectives into climate change solutions.

Allen Vincent, a PhD student in the , is the president of the , which stands for .

The fourth-generation hub was established by the National Science Foundation (NSF), which recently awarded $26 million to UH and five other universities to launch the project. This is the first time UH ����ԴDz� has been part of a NSF ERC, marking a historic milestone for the university.

ERC EARTH strives to create a transformative “sustainable refrigerant lifecycle” by lowering hydrofluorocarbon emissions; creating safe, property-balanced replacement refrigerants; and increasing the energy efficiency of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration systems.

Student-focused collaboration

As president of the SLC, Vincent leads approximately 30 students from UH and the partner institutions who are involved in the project’s research and academic activities. Its goal is to foster student engagement, collaboration in ERC EARTH activities and enhance ERC EARTH’s culture and recruitment of students.

Vincent instilled values of exploration, camaraderie, advancement and competence in the SLC’s activities, reflecting ERC EARTH’s overarching goals. The has already developed frameworks for collaboration and organized student workshops aligning with ERC EARTH’s goals.

“I took the lead to build the SLC up from scratch, to have the SLC and its activities structured around the four pillars of ERC EARTH,” Vincent said. “I am looking forward to helping ERC EARTH reach out to the communities in �鶹��ý through UH ����ԴDz� and get more students involved.”

In the fifth year of his doctoral program, under the guidance of Professor Rui Sun, Vincent studies gas phase reaction dynamics—how chemical reactions occur between molecules in the atmosphere and interstellar medium, focusing on their reaction mechanisms, thermodynamics and kinetics using quantum chemistry and molecular dynamics simulations. He emphasized how impactful this leadership role has been.

“Over the past two years as the president of the SLC, I have been able to network with PhD students and professors from the other five core universities, which is a unique and amazing experience to have,” Vincent said. “As I aspire to be a professor in the future, apart from the academic skills that I am gaining through research, there is a great deal of people skills that I have been able to pick up from everyone on the ERC EARTH team.”

—By Marc Arakaki

A life-sized bust of Alice Augusta Ball, a trailblazing chemist and University of �鶹��ý alumna, was unveiled December 20, at Hamilton Library on the UH ����ԴDz� campus, commemorating her groundbreaking contributions to science and her enduring legacy.

In 1915, Ball became the first African-American and woman to graduate from both UH ����ԴDz� and the U.S. with a master’s degree in chemistry. At the age of 23, she discovered an injectable form of oil from the Chaulmoogra tree, which became the most effective treatment for Hansen’s disease (leprosy) in the first half of the twentieth century. Sadly, Ball died on December 31, 1916, at the age of 24, before publishing her groundbreaking work.

The unveiling ceremony, attended by more than 75 guests, included remarks from UH President David Lassner and local artist and UH alumna Lynn Liverton, who sculpted the bust. Ten students participating in the Alice Ball Memorial Black Graduation earlier in the day were featured. Four students led the unveiling, draping a stole over the bust, symbolizing Ball’s academic and cultural achievements.

“When I think about her legacy and how I’m a part of it, it was because she was the first and so I’m really grateful to her,” said LaJoya Shelly, a fall 2024 PhD graduate in educational administration. “I have immense pride to be a Black woman attending the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�, immense pride to be a scholar that graduated from this institution because of Alice.”

“Bringing recognition to her as a UH student, UH instructor, Black woman at a time when this kind of achievement was unheard of just seemed so important for us as a university to honor someone really special,” Lassner said.

UH ����ԴDz� Provost Michael Bruno followed by adorning the sculpture with a maile lei. The sculpture sits atop a custom plinth crafted by local woodworker Billy Jack Davis and both were funded through a UH Foundation’s Special Projects Fund established by Lassner.

“The Faculty Senate said maybe we should think about a bust or a statue or something, and I just decided to run with the idea,” Lassner said. “I talked with Lynn Liverton and commissioned her to do this and it all has come together 10 days before I retire as president, so I couldn’t have been happier, especially that we were able to do this on the same day as the Alice Ball Black Graduation celebrated by our Black student graduates each year.”

Liverton added, “I’m just so grateful that she finally got her due. I wish that she was around. Hopefully her spirit is here, understanding what is happening and that she’s being honored. For me it was one of my favorite busts to work on.”

• Click here to see Alice Ball’s thesis.

Ball is celebrated for her groundbreaking “Ball Method,” a technique for isolating chaulmoogra oil compounds that became the first effective treatment for Hansen’s disease. Her work, posthumously credited, has been recognized globally, including a designation as a National Historic Chemical Landmark by the American Chemical Society.

For more about Alice Ball’s legacy, see this UH News story.

To spark interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics among young learners through interactive activities, the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� hosted more than 75 fifth-grade students from Liholiho Elementary School on October 17 for a day of hands-on STEM exploration.

“This event provided a unique opportunity for elementary students to experience hands-on applications of STEM fields in a variety of disciplines,” UH ����ԴDz� Associate Dean Alison Sherwood said. “Through these engaging activities, the university aims to inspire the next generation of scientists, technologists, engineers, and mathematicians, showcasing the excitement and relevance of these disciplines in everyday life.”

In the , students delved into the wonders of marine biodiversity. They encountered fascinating specimens from the ocean’s depths, including a giant clam and deep-sea spiders, gaining insight into the diverse marine life from polar seas to Waikīkī’s shores.

At the , students constructed catapults, learning about the design process used by mechanical engineers. They also competed to build the tallest spaghetti tower, gaining hands-on experience with civil engineering principles.

The captivated the young visitors with exciting experiments such as the combustion of gummy bears and the generation of molten iron, and the effects of extreme cold on everyday objects.

With the , students engaged in game development and coding activities. They designed video game characters and brought them to life, while others explored block coding to create digital Jack-o’-lanterns and program LEGO bots to navigate playing fields.

“Exposing �鶹��ý’s youth to engineering concepts through hands-on activities is crucial for nurturing future innovators and leaders,” UH ����ԴDz� College of Engineering Dean Brennon Morioka said. “These kinds of early experiences spark curiosity, foster problem-solving skills, and show students that engineering is not just about complex equations, but about creatively improving the world around us.”

A team from the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� is tackling an important cause of human-made climate change—common refrigerants used for everything from cooling homes and businesses to freezing and preserving food and medicine. The (NSF) (ERC) to create sustainable refrigerant technology.

The majority of refrigerants, called hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), are used in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) systems. HVACR systems account for almost 10% of global greenhouse-gas emissions because of leaks that release HFCs into the atmosphere and the significant amount of energy it takes to operate them.

The new (EARTH) aims to create a transformative “sustainable refrigerant lifecycle” by lowering HFC emissions; creating safe, property-balanced replacement refrigerants; and increasing the energy efficiency of HVACR systems.

“Understanding the underlying chemistry of new refrigerants in the atmosphere is central to defining the impact onto our climate and ultimately the rise of sea levels,” said UH ����ԴDz� Professor Ralf I. Kaiser (, ), the UH project lead. “We will be developing a tightly integrated collaborative network to predict for the first time the atmospheric impact of potential new refrigerants before they are incorporated into HVACR systems. This is just one aspect of UHʻs role in this important project.”

Gen-4 NSF Engineering Research Center

Along with UH, ERC EARTH includes teams from University of Notre Dame, Lehigh University, University of South Dakota, University of Maryland and project lead University of Kansas. The group was selected from among hundreds of other proposed centers following a highly competitive two-year review process. NSF currently supports just 15 ERCs in advanced manufacturing, energy and environment, health and infrastructure.

“For UH to be part of a team selected for a NSF Engineering Research Center just speaks volumes to the quality of our researchers and personnel,” said UH ����ԴDz� Provost Michael Bruno. “I cannot overstate its significance, and this groundbreaking project positions UH at the forefront of climate change mitigation while addressing a critical challenge to �鶹��ý and the world.”

NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan said ERCs ask big questions in order to catalyze solutions with far reaching impacts.

“NSF Engineering Research Centers are powerhouses of discovery and innovation, bringing America’s great engineering minds to bear on our toughest challenges,” said Panchanathan. “By collaborating with industry and training the workforce of the future, ERCs create an innovation ecosystem that can accelerate engineering innovations, producing tremendous economic and societal benefits for the nation.”

UHʻs many project responsibilities

The UH ����ԴDz� team includes Professors Kaiser, Rui Sun (, ), Christina Karamperidou (, ), Kieko Matteson (, ) and Jennifer Pagala Barnett (). Kaiser says it is fitting that UH is playing such an important role in the project.

“�鶹��ý is increasingly vulnerable to global warming and its impacts, including more frequent and severe weather extremes and sea level rise,” Kaiser said. “Sea level rise, which exacerbates flooding, coastal inundation and erosion, poses a serious threat not only to �鶹��ý, but also to major population centers along the Pacific Rim, such as Japan and Australia.”

Kaiser and Sun’s groups will study the atmospheric chemistry of gas phase refrigerants and their interaction with atmospheric ice particles. Kaiser’s group will employ crossed molecular beams and acoustic levitators to study the fate of refrigerants in the atmosphere. The efforts are complimented by Sun’s computer simulations with artificial intelligence to understand the reaction at the atomistic detail.

“By following this approach, we will avoid the mistakes done in the 1970s, when chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), an otherwise excellent refrigerant, resulted in catastrophic ozone depletion,” Sun said.

Karamperidou, a co-leader of the ERC’s research thrust on novel and safe refrigerants, will integrate the experimental and computational data into climate models to study the impacts of HFCs, their replacement compounds, and novel cooling technologies and practices on climate and atmospheric circulation.

“As temperatures continue to rise and with them the frequency and intensity of heat waves, so does the need for refrigeration and air conditioning,” said Karamperidou. “This leads to increased refrigerant use and related greenhouse gas emissions, and a vicious cycle between HVACR and global warming that needs to be better understood and ultimately broken.”

Matteson will place the modern demand for cooling and its social, environmental, and economic impacts into historical context. She notes that air conditioning technology was first developed in the early twentieth century and didn’t become widespread in U.S. homes until the 1970s.

“Now, extreme heat is affecting our health, learning and productivity, and exacerbating disparities between the haves and have-nots,” said Matteson. “Mitigating HFCs’ harmful effects while ensuring that everyone can function at a livable temperature is a vital social justice issue that needs to be driven by historical understanding as much as science.”

As part of the center, UH ����ԴDz� will also establish a new interdisciplinary graduate program in atmospheric chemistry (College of Natural Sciences and SOEST) to train future leaders in chemistry, atmospheric science and environmental science.

Diversity and Culture of Inclusion

Barnett will manage the Diversity and Culture of Inclusion (DCI) for the ERC, spearheading initiatives to support and advance EARTH’s diversity goals for students, faculty and staff. A major focus is to recruit and increase participation of Indigenous and tribal communities.

“I am looking forward to this opportunity to bring our commitment to diversity to our partner universities and to this important effort,” said Barnett. “This is a global issue that we are trying to address and one of the keys to success is to ensure that all voices are being considered and heard and offered an equitable opportunity to affect change.”

“For our team to be leading the DCI initiatives for the entire ERC shows how UH, and �鶹��ý in general, lead the nation in these types of efforts,” said Bruno. “We are committed to being a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning and fully embracing our multicultural and multi-ethnic communities. This is an opportunity to extend that forward thinking to the continent.”

Allen Vincent, a 4th year Chemistry PhD student in Sun’s lab, is the President of the Student Leadership Council (SLC) for ERC EARTH. He leads an active council of 26 students from the partner institutions who are all involved in research and academic activities for the ERC. The SLC will work closely with DCI efforts to address the ERC culture, diversity and recruitment of students.

Workforce training

ERC EARTH will work with industry to develop workforce goals that will involve community colleges to address workforce gaps. The UH team will work with the UH community colleges through coordinated outreach and training to prepare the next generation of HVACR workers.

“This project demonstrates the amazing synergies we can achieve when our campuses work together,” said UH President David Lassner. “Our world-class researchers will be developing solutions to a major challenge facing the planet with the commitment to train not just the next generation of researchers but also helping our community colleges train local residents for the high-quality jobs that will need to be filled to install and maintain newer systems that are more climate-friendly to our planet.”

More about ERC EARTH

The initial $26-million award is eligible for renewal for five additional years until 2034. NSF’s ERC program brings technology-based industry and universities together to strengthen the competitive position of American industry in the global marketplace. This ERC has interacting foundational components that go beyond the research project, including engineering workforce development and value creation within an innovation ecosystem that will outlast the lifetime of the ERC.

Arrokoth is the most distant object ever explored by a spacecraft from Earth, and it revealed clues to how the solar system has evolved, according to a team of University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� researchers.

Located in the Kuiper Belt (a region of the Solar System beyond the orbit of Neptune), NASA‘s New Horizons spacecraft visited Arrokoth in 2019 and revealed its reddish appearance, hinting at a complex chemical composition beneath the surface. The presence of methanol-rich surface ices was also discovered, raising questions about the processes responsible for the surface coloring.

A team of scientists from UH ����ԴDz�, Université Côte d’Azur (France) and Southwest Research Institute discovered that Arrokoth’s surface contains sugars such as ribose and glucose—biologically significant molecules essential for the building blocks of life.

“Arrokoth provides crucial insights into the processes that influenced the formation of celestial bodies like the Kuiper Belt,” said Professor Ralf I. Kaiser. “By examining the chemical makeup of Arrokoth and other distant objects, we learn more about the intricate interactions of chemistry, radiation and cosmic dynamics shaping their surfaces. Each discovery brings us closer to unraveling the origins of our solar system and the potential for life beyond Earth.”

The researchers made the discovery through a simulation of the effects of galactic cosmic rays on methanol ices, mimicking the conditions experienced by Arrokoth in the depths of space.

The exposed methanol ices replicated the distinctive colors observed on Arrokoth’s surface, providing a crucial clue to its chemical makeup. Additionally, aromatic hydrocarbons (a type of chemical compound made up of carbon and hydrogen atoms, commonly found in products like gasoline and plastics) played a pivotal role in producing the reddish appearance on Arrokoth’s surface.

The research team consisted of Kaiser, Chaojiang Zhang, Andrew M. Turner, Jia Wang, Mason Mcanally and Ashanie Herath from UH ����ԴDz�’s Department of Chemistry; Vanessa Leyva and Cornelia Meinert from Université Côte d’Azur; and Leslie A. Young from the Southwest Research Institute in Colorado.

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The Department of Chemistry is housed in UH ����ԴDz�’s .