{"id":195045,"date":"2024-04-04T16:07:08","date_gmt":"2024-04-05T02:07:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=195045"},"modified":"2024-04-10T08:31:47","modified_gmt":"2024-04-10T18:31:47","slug":"natsuyma-gift-uh-hilo-student-research","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2024\/04\/04\/natsuyma-gift-uh-hilo-student-research\/","title":{"rendered":"Gift from UH<\/abbr> alumna Harriet Natsuyama fuels UH<\/abbr> Hilo student research"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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Harriet Natsuyama (left)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A generous gift from University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> alumna Harriet Natsuyama to UH<\/abbr> Hilo<\/a> will enable undergraduate and graduate students to pursue major research projects geared toward future careers in sustainability.<\/p>\n

Natsuyama\u2019s gift established the Alexa and Sean Light of Nature Research Award, aimed at assisting UH<\/abbr> Hilo students in any major with research related to conservation, sustainability, and the regeneration of terrestrial, oceanic, or atmospheric life and well-being.<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s so important for undergraduate students to see the possibilities that research can create,” said UH<\/abbr> Hilo Chancellor Bonnie D. Irwin. “We are grateful for Harriet\u2019s forward-thinking gift that will have an impact on many students\u2019 lives.”<\/p>\n

The award will fund expenses related to supplies, materials, travel, and presenting research at conferences. Natsuyama, who was named a UH<\/abbr> Distinguished Alumna in 1991, graduated from UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa with a bachelor\u2019s in mathematics and master\u2019s in physics. She named the fund after her two grandchildren and included light in the award\u2019s name because it refers to the light of learning and knowledge.<\/p>\n

Natsuyama\u2019s connection to UH<\/abbr> Hilo blossomed after getting involved in the campus\u2019 collaborative Adopt-a-Beehive<\/a> program with Chef Alan Wong, which promotes local solutions to sustain Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s honey bee industry. During a visit to the campus, she met Bruce Mathews, associate vice-chancellor for research at UH<\/abbr> Hilo, who introduced her to innovative research such as growing sugar cane for jet fuel. He expressed excitement about what the new fund will do.<\/p>\n