{"id":159159,"date":"2022-05-16T13:14:29","date_gmt":"2022-05-16T23:14:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=159159"},"modified":"2022-05-16T13:14:29","modified_gmt":"2022-05-16T23:14:29","slug":"be-a-scientist-night-ihs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2022\/05\/16\/be-a-scientist-night-ihs\/","title":{"rendered":"UH<\/abbr>, community partners host STEM<\/abbr> learning event for IHS<\/abbr> at-risk keiki, women"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

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After a two year hiatus due to the pandemic, the popular “Be a Scientist” night, providing valuable STEM<\/abbr> (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education and activities for at-risk keiki and women, returned to the Institute for Human Services<\/a> (IHS<\/abbr>) on May 6.<\/p>\n

The effort was led by the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at M\u0101noa\u2019s Department of Mathematics<\/a>, in collaboration with the Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Pandemic Applied Modeling Work Group<\/a>, UH<\/abbr>\u2019s Institute for Astronomy<\/a>, UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa\u2019s School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology<\/a> Assistant Researcher Frances Zhu<\/strong>\u2019s Lab<\/a>, UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa\u2019s Center on Disability Studies<\/a>, the Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> State Department of Education, and Oceanit.<\/p>\n

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Students, faculty and staff from the organizations taught approximately two dozen (smaller number than previous years due to COVID-19 safety protocols) children and women about mathematics, epidemiology modeling, robotics and astronomy through many different hands-on activities. Professor Monique Chyba<\/strong> has been working with IHS<\/abbr> for more than 10 years on events like this and says that proper education for keiki is important, especially during COVID-19.<\/p>\n

“The pandemic has been extremely difficult on many families and created an even bigger gap in education for the children without permanent housing and access to computers\/internet,” Chyba said. “While this is only a one time event, we are continuously in touch with IHS<\/abbr> to provide other resources when needed (such as tutoring or summer programs). It is also a great opportunity for UH<\/abbr> to come together for our community.”<\/p>\n

UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa undergraduate students Ionica Macadangdang<\/strong> (biological engineering major) and Ralph Martin Adra<\/strong> (astrophysics major) took the lead in organizing the event, with guidance from Chyba. Both students are also involved in the COVID-19 mathematics modeling team that has provided valuable insights about the prevalence of the virus within our communities.<\/p>\n

“Being a part of ‘Be a Scientist’ night at IHS<\/abbr> is always a fun and worthwhile experience,” Macadangdang said. “Especially after returning to IHS<\/abbr> with such a big turnout of both participants and UH<\/abbr> volunteers, you could really sense that everyone involved was eager to interact with the kids and other community members and get them excited about STEM<\/abbr>. I\u2019m certainly looking forward to seeing how this event will grow and continue to support our keiki!”<\/p>\n

Adra added, “Planning this event was nonetheless difficult but worth it! Helping the keiki reminded me of how I first aspired to choose my major of astrophysics. Their bright eyes of passion and love towards science were the same ones I had back then, and this experience has really inspired me to keep going towards my goals in my future.”<\/p>\n

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Oceanit provided a catered dinner for the shelter\u2019s population. In addition, UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa\u2019s math department collected approximately $800 to purchase toiletries, which was donated to IHS<\/abbr>.<\/p>\n

“We are so grateful to UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa for putting together this amazing event for our families and women here at IHS<\/abbr>. These past two years have been hard because we had to stop all events and classes that bring IHS<\/abbr> together,” IHS<\/abbr> Children\u2019s Program Specialist Candice Moore said. “Seeing the smiles and excitement at this event is so heartwarming.”<\/p>\n

This outreach event is an example of UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa\u2019s goal of Excellence in Research: Advancing the Research and Creative Work Enterprise<\/a> (PDF<\/abbr><\/span>), one of four goals identified in the 2015–25 Â鶹´«Ã½<\/a> (PDF<\/abbr><\/span>), updated in December 2020.<\/p>\n

—By Marc Arakaki<\/em><\/p>\n

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