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
(Issued by Hawaii Space Grant Consortium)
Release Date: 10/20/2021
HONOLULU, Oct. 20, 2021 – The 20th annual Astronaut Lacy Veach Day of Discovery – a free science-based event which honors the life and legacy of Hawaii’s second astronaut Charles Lacy Veach – will be held virtually on October 30, 2021, 12:00 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time on YouTube at http://www.spacegrant.hawaii.edu/index.php/lacy-veach-day/. The free online event is presented by the Hawaii 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 Hawaii Cherry Blossom Queen. Hawaii 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 Hawaii at Hilo where she also earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and physics. Kaluna was born and raised in Pahoa, Hawaii Island, and holds a Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Institute for Astronomy.
Other guest presenters include Hawaii-raised women in STEM:
- Amber Imai-Hong, avionics engineer, Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory, University of Hawaii at Manoa. Imai-Hong is a graduate of Waiakea High School and the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
- Brialyn Onodera, thermal systems engineer, National Solar Observatory, Maui. Onodera is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools Hawaii Campus (Keaau) and the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
- Nicole Yamase, Ph.D. candidate in marine biology, University of Hawaii at Manoa. 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 Hawaii at Manoa.
- Christina Felicitas, RF/microwave design engineer, Northrup Grumman in Redondo Beach, CA. Felicitas is a graduate of Farrington High School, the University of Hawaii at Manoa 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 |
20th Annual Astronaut Lacy Veach Day of Discovery Promo Video
