20th annual Astronaut Lacy Veach Day of Discovery
20th annual Astronaut Lacy Veach Day of Discovery, “The Stars are
Calling Us,” to be held virtually on Oct. 30, 2021
Governor David Ige proclaims date as the
Astronaut Veach Day of Discovery
HONOLULU (Oct. 19, 2021) – The 20th annual Astronaut Lacy Veach Day
of Discovery – a free science-based event which honors the life and legacy
of Hawaiʻi’s second astronaut Charles Lacy Veach – will be held virtually on
October 30, 2021, 12:00 p.m. Hawaiʻi Standard Time on YouTube at
http://www.spacegrant.hawaii.edu/index.php/lacy-veach-day/. The free
online event is presented by the Hawaiʻi Space Grant Consortium with the
support of Hawaiian Electric, the founding and sustaining sponsor for 20
years, along with community organizations and individuals.
Astronaut Lacy Veach Day of Discovery is intended for students of all ages
and parents and educators interested in science, technology, engineering
and math (STEM) topics. Highlights of the virtual event include
inspirational guest speakers, workshops and demonstrations that
participants can do using materials available in the home. This year’s
theme is “The Stars are Calling Us” which draws upon the reinvigorated
interest in space exploration and discoveries.
Among the featured speakers are women in STEM careers with
welcome messages by NASA Astronaut Megan McArthur from the
International Space Station; Shelee Kimura, appointed the first woman to
lead Hawaiian Electric as president/CEO; and Hawaiian Electric engineer
Brianne Yamada, who is also the 2021 Hawaiʻi Cherry Blossom Queen.
Hawaiʻi Governor David Ige, who proclaimed October 30, 2021 as the
Astronaut Veach Day of Discovery, also will provide remarks.
The keynote address will be provided by Dr. Heather Kaluna, assistant
professor of astronomy at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo where she also
earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and physics. Kaluna was born
and raised in Pahoa, Hawaiʻi Island, and holds a Ph.D. in astronomy from
the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Institute for Astronomy.
Other guest presenters include Hawaiʻi-raised women in STEM:
• Amber Imai-Hong, avionics engineer, Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory,
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Imai-Hong is a graduate of Waiākea
High School and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
• Brialyn Onodera, thermal systems engineer, National Solar
Observatory, Maui. Onodera is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools
Hawaiʻi Campus (Keaʻau) and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
• Nicole Yamase, Ph.D. candidate in marine biology, University of Hawaiʻi
at Mānoa. Yamase is the first Pacific Islander to voyage to the deepest
part of the Earth, The Mariana Trench, and its deepest region, the
Challenger Deep (35,827 feet), on March 11, 2021.
• Christianne Izumigawa, computer engineer, Naval Information Warfare
Center (formerly SPAWAR) in San Diego, CA. Izumigawa is a graduate
of Pearl City High School and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
• Christina Felicitas, RF/microwave design engineer, Northrup Grumman
in Redondo Beach, CA. Felicitas is a graduate of Farrington High
School, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and the Worchester
Polytechnic Institute.
Hands-on STEM Workshops using materials available in the home include:
Topic/Workshop Led by:
Bernoulli: How things fly Bryan Silver, Kalani High School
Microgravity: Why do you float in space? Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory
Chromatography: Separating pigments Dr. Kate Perrault, Chaminade University
Forensic Science: Fingerprints Cynthia Cheung, Chaminade University
Chemistry of Butter Dr. Francis Sakai-Kawada, Chaminade
University
Chemistry of Ice Cream Dr. Kate Perrault, Chaminade University
Making Circuits using dough Jaymar Bucasas, Hawaiian Electric
Nature Math: Fibonacci Sequence Ethan and Maya Kimura
STEM Magic Harvey Ouchi and Ron Ishimaru, Hawaii
Magicians
Data Science: Clustering your kitchen
utensils
Dr. Laura Tipton, Chaminade University
http://www.spacegrant.hawaii.edu/index.php/lacy-veach-day/
