{"id":207434,"date":"2024-12-06T13:56:11","date_gmt":"2024-12-06T23:56:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=207434"},"modified":"2024-12-06T16:31:35","modified_gmt":"2024-12-07T02:31:35","slug":"uh-students-national-diversity-stem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2024\/12\/06\/uh-students-national-diversity-stem\/","title":{"rendered":"UH<\/abbr> students honored at National Diversity in STEM<\/abbr> Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"Three
From left: Jairo Andres Jojoa Ortega, Moani Pomare, Cienna Paet-Gulstrom<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Students from four University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> campuses were recognized at the 2024 National Diversity in STEM<\/abbr> (NDiSTEM<\/abbr>) Conference held in Phoenix, Arizona, in November. NDiSTEM<\/abbr> is the largest multidisciplinary and multicultural STEM<\/abbr> diversity event in the country.<\/p>\n

The conference celebrated graduate and undergraduate students from historically underrepresented communities for their exemplary research and presentation skills across a range of scientific disciplines. The students who were recognized as “outstanding” came from UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa, UH<\/abbr> Hilo, and Kapiʻolani<\/span> and Leeward community colleges.<\/p>\n

Outstanding oral presentation<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Marine Sciences & Ecology\/Evolutionary Biology—Josephine Tupu, UH<\/abbr> Hilo
    \n“Utilizing bioacoustics to understand native bird abundance across the elevational gradient of Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge”<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Outstanding undergraduate poster presentations<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \"Faa
    Talofa Feʻa<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
      \n
    • Engineering—Cienna Paet-Gulstrom, Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr>
      \n“Automating Resilience: AI<\/abbr>-Driven Geospatial Analysis of Lalo Atolls in the Face of Climate Change”<\/li>\n
    • Life Sciences, Ecology\/Evolutionary Biology—Jairo Andres Jojoa Ortega, Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr>
      \n“Protection of Hawaiian Urban Native Birds from Invasive Species”<\/li>\n
    • Life Sciences, Microbiology—Eiren Tamayo, Leeward CC<\/abbr>
      \n“Isolation & Characterization of a Pectobacterium Isolate from a Radish (Raphanus sativus<\/em>) Root in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>”<\/li>\n
    • Mathematics—Moani Pomare, Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr>
      \n“Kakau and Mathematics: A Multicultural Perspective on Traditional Hawaiian Tattoos”<\/li>\n
    • Traditional Knowledge—Talofa Feʻa<\/span>, UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa
      \n“Ia Uluulu Matafolau: Exploring the Risk of Ciguatera in American Samoa”<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      “Receiving this award is an incredible honor and a reminder of the importance of representing my Hawaiian heritage in STEM<\/abbr>,” said Paet, an engineering student at Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr>. “Personally, it validates the hard work I\u2019ve put into merging my love for the ocean with technology. Professionally, it inspires me to continue developing innovative tools that address environmental challenges. This recognition also strengthens my commitment to mentoring others and fostering more diverse voices in engineering and sustainability.”<\/p>\n

      Future STEM<\/abbr> leaders<\/h2>\n
      \"Group
      Seated: Healani Chang, Standing from left: Cienna Paet-Gulstrom, Jairo Andres Jojoa Ortega, Dilbuil Floyd, Masen Lapinad-Sorgent, Moani Pomare, Lomani Rova, Koalani Okada, Taylor Kim<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

      The Society for the Advancement of Chicanos\/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) organizes the NDiSTEM<\/abbr>.<\/p>\n

      SACNAS President-elect Healani Chang, an associate specialist with the UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa Pacific Biosciences Research Center, said she was proud of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s representation at the 2024 NDiSTEM<\/abbr>.<\/p>\n

      “Congratulations to all who presented posters or oral platform sessions, and to our scholars across the UH<\/abbr> System who were further recognized with an award for their outstanding presentation in their respective disciplines!” Chang said. “This distinction reflects the students’ communication skills, dedication and efforts at the lab bench, as well as the lab support and mentoring received.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      National STEM<\/abbr> honorees included students from UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa, UH<\/abbr> Hilo, Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr> and Leeward CC<\/abbr>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[63,313,660,14,9],"class_list":["post-207434","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-research","tag-kapiolani-community-college","tag-stem","tag-student-recognition","tag-uh-hilo","tag-uh-manoa","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t