{"id":139866,"date":"2021-04-21T08:26:48","date_gmt":"2021-04-21T18:26:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=139866"},"modified":"2021-04-21T08:26:48","modified_gmt":"2021-04-21T18:26:48","slug":"new-uh-indopacom-collaboration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2021\/04\/21\/new-uh-indopacom-collaboration\/","title":{"rendered":"Climate change, tech and workforce development focus of new collaboration"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 3<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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UH<\/abbr> President David Lassner and Admiral Phil Davidson, Commander U.S.<\/abbr> Indo-Pacific Command, exchange a handshake during a signing ceremony. Both signed a memorandum of understanding, deepening cooperation between U.S.<\/abbr> INDOPACOM<\/abbr> and the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>. (Photo credit: Petty Officer 2nd Class Anthony J. Rivera)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Development of new technologies, climate-change solutions, and student educational and career opportunities are just some of the aims of a new agreement between the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span><\/a> and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command<\/a> (INDOPACOM<\/abbr>).<\/p>\n

INDOPACOM<\/abbr> is tasked with using and integrating the four branches of the military within the Indo-Pacific region to achieve U.S.<\/abbr> national security objectives while protecting national interests. A memorandum of understanding was signed at an April 20 ceremony setting the foundation for INDOPACOM<\/abbr> and UH<\/abbr> to collaborate in multiple areas and share ideas, initiatives, expertise and values.<\/p>\n

UH<\/abbr> is a leader in fulfilling the State of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s mission to grow and diversify the economy with research and training skilled workers, which aligns with the values of INDOPACOM<\/abbr>. The university\u2019s location in the middle of the Pacific bridges the east and west, creating opportunities for influence across its network of international partners and alumni.<\/p>\n

“This MOU<\/abbr> institutionalizes the shared commitment of UH<\/abbr> and INDOPACOM<\/abbr> to advance collaboration in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> and across the Indo-Pacific to promote regional stability, sustainability and resilience through research and education,” said UH<\/abbr> President David Lassner<\/strong>. “We are excited about the opportunities for our students and faculty to contribute. And as Admiral Davidson prepares to transition out of his current role, we thank him for all he has done for our region and Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>.”<\/p>\n

Both institutions will explore potential collaborative efforts in the areas of: community resilience and climate change; technology, experimentation and innovation; and international, intelligence, and futures studies education and workforce development.<\/p>\n

“This is an exciting opportunity for INDOPACOM<\/abbr> to build on our collaborative relationship with the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>,” said U.S.<\/abbr> Navy Admiral and INDOPACOM<\/abbr> Commander Phil Davidson. “We continue to seek opportunities that leverage the unique strengths of the UH<\/abbr> faculty and students to advance the stability, security, and sustainability of the Indo-Pacific.”<\/p>\n

Areas of collaboration<\/h2>\n

Community resilience and climate change include natural resource management, disaster response and resiliency, and climate change adaptation to build resiliency that enables the security and prosperity of communities around the region. Examples include assessing sea level rise and coastal inundation impacts on the community.<\/p>\n

The partnership will also pursue areas of innovation and technology development across multiple disciplines (engineering, cyber security, artificial intelligence, energy, water, communications, waste, mobility and food). One example is further developing the Hacking for Defense program to include more subject areas. Currently, UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa\u2019s College of Engineering<\/a> is involved in the program, which provides opportunities for students to develop innovations to address existing national security issues presented by the U.S.<\/abbr> Department of Defense. Plans are being made to expand the program into a multidisciplinary course in fall 2021 that will include the UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa Department of Information and Computer Sciences<\/a> and Shidler College of Business<\/a>.<\/p>\n