{"id":140002,"date":"2021-04-22T12:28:58","date_gmt":"2021-04-22T22:28:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=140002"},"modified":"2021-04-22T12:52:30","modified_gmt":"2021-04-22T22:52:30","slug":"award-winning-student-inspired-by-ifa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2021\/04\/22\/award-winning-student-inspired-by-ifa\/","title":{"rendered":"Award winning student inspired by IfA<\/abbr>\u2019s ‘passion for astronomy’"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"Anica
Anica Ancheta<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Fourteen-year-old Anica Ancheta<\/strong> is off to a running start in her pursuit to study the complex cosmos. Guided by the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s Institute for Astronomy<\/a> (IfA<\/abbr>), Ancheta\u2019s research on active galactic nuclei (AGN<\/abbr>) earned her four exemplary awards at the 2021 Maui County District Science and Engineering Fair. <\/p>\n

“Anica is a brilliant young astrophysicist who always blows me away with her astute scientist’s eye and tenacity in tackling big questions,” said IfA<\/abbr> graduate student Anna Payne<\/strong>. “It is truly the best part of my job to be able to take part in working with Anica, whose outstanding research is unraveling some of the most extraordinary secrets of the universe.”<\/p>\n

Payne mentors the Baldwin High School freshman under HI STAR (Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Student\/Teacher Astronomy Research<\/a>), an IfA<\/abbr> program. Ancheta has been part of HI STAR since 2019 and uses data from the Las Cumbres Observatories to research AGN<\/abbr>s, regions at the center of a galaxy that are much brighter than normal. This year, the Maui teen\u2019s research has netted the Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> State Science and Engineering award, first place for Senior Division of Theoretical Sciences, third place for Senior Division Grand and the Air Force award. Ancheta is thankful for the opportunity to work with astronomers through IfA<\/abbr>\u2019s mentorship program because it has helped her to better grasp major astronomical concepts.<\/p>\n

“Since HI STAR is made up of people who are full of passion for astronomy, I can talk about astronomy without reservation and am inspired to further pursue astronomy,” Ancheta explained.<\/p>\n