{"id":64719,"date":"2017-09-06T09:21:44","date_gmt":"2017-09-06T19:21:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=64719"},"modified":"2020-01-09T16:15:38","modified_gmt":"2020-01-10T02:15:38","slug":"future-focus-forum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2017\/09\/06\/future-focus-forum\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA<\/abbr> astronaut to keynote Future Focus forum"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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NASA<\/abbr> Astronaut Col. E. Michael Fincke<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Business Roundtable and the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span><\/a> will be hosting the third annual Future Focus: The Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Innovation Initiative\u2019s Forum on Astronomy, Space Exploration, Cybersecurity and More<\/a>. The conference will be held October 4–5, 2017 at the Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Convention Center.<\/p>\n

As Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s innovation sector continues to make strides, one of the featured keynote speakers at this year\u2019s conference is NASA<\/abbr> Astronaut Col. E. Michael Fincke<\/a>. Fincke, who joined NASA<\/abbr> in 1996, served on two missions aboard the International Space Station and as a mission specialist aboard the last spaceflight of the Space Shuttle Endeavour in May 2011. His combined extra-vehicular activity time from all three missions of 48 hours and 37 minutes, places Fincke 10th on the list of most spacewalk time.<\/p>\n

“This year, we are fortunate that Col. Fincke will join our conference to discuss the outlook of space exploration and astronomy across the nation and its impacts on our state,” said Rich Wacker, Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Business Roundtable chairman. “The forum will also focus on matters relating to disaster management, cybersecurity and innovation to ensure that the local businesses and the academic communities understand these key growth areas for Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s economy.”<\/p>\n

The forum will feature presentations, interactive panel discussions, “poolside chats” and a networking reception, offering attendees opportunities to learn more about emerging technologies, research, and ways to engage in, and contribute to Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s growing innovation and technology industry.<\/p>\n

University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> President David Lassner<\/strong><\/a> added, “UH<\/abbr> is committed to continue partnering with local businesses and government to help drive innovation in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>. Future Focus provides us the opportunity to share our progress and capabilities as we also listen to and learn from leading experts in key growth areas in which our Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Innovation Initiative<\/a> is working to help diversify the state\u2019s economy and create more living-wage jobs.” <\/p>\n

Featured presenters include: <\/p>\n