University students from Hawaiʻi and the Pacific region took part last month in an international STEM symposium organized by the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo.

Administered by UH Hilo, the scientific work of the students is supported by a federal program aimed to increase and nurture underrepresented populations in science, technology, engineering, and math, commonly called STEM, careers. The Pacific group is called the Islands of Opportunity Alliance, a wide-reaching collaboration of educators, scholars, students, and researchers from American Sāmoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Hawaiʻi, the Marshall Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Palau.

This year’s event took place at Kīlauea (organizers wish to acknowledge the Indigenous place name rather than Volcano Village) at the Kīlauea Military Camp, July 24-26.

Participating students and attendees were from member institutions of the Islands of Opportunity Alliance: UH Hilo, UH Mānoa, Kapiʻolani Community College, Hawaiʻi Community College, Chaminade University of Honolulu, Hawaiʻi Pacific University, American Samoa Community College, Guam Community College, University of Guam, Northern Marianas College, Palau Community College, and College of the Marshall Islands. Students from Kapiʻolani Community College and Hawaiʻi Community College also attended as members of a similar federal grant, B2B-STAMP.

“The theme of the symposium was Weaving the Fabric of Community, building upon our last year’s theme of Bridging Generations. Whereas we bridged the present with the past, now we bridge relationships and connections with one another.”

says Axel Defngin, a UH Hilo alumnus and the Hilo-based project manager for the alliance.

The hoʻokipa welcoming and opening ceremony was performed by UH Hilo alliance students near Kīlauea crater rim and the KMC “to ground us to place and Pele,” says Defngin. Opening welcome remarks were given by UH Hilo Chancellor Bonnie Irwin.

Keynote speaker was Jermy Uowolo, who was born and raised on Fais Island in Yap, Federated States of Micronesia. He received a bachelor of arts degree in geography from UH Hilo and is currently continuing at the university in pursuit of a master of arts in heritage management.

The first two days of the symposium were dedicated to poster presentations and huakaʻi (place-based research journeys). The group visited Nāhuku lava tube and Uēkahuna summit region of Kīlauea volcano hosted by park ranger Dani Ciccone on the first day, and UH Hilo’s ʻImiloa Astronomy Center for Māori navigator Nick Marr‘s presentation on wayfinding, navigation, and the Alingano Maisu double-hulled voyaging canoe on the second day.

The third day was spent on independent and self-guided pilina (connection)-building activities.

“The camaraderie and solidarity to be found in Indigenous research is like no other. Our ability as Indigenous islanders to connect spiritually and emotionally even in the fields of STEM is more than enough reason for me to encourage more of our island brothers and sisters to consider carrying their island wisdom with them for every step of their research journey.”

says Maku Terlaje-Pangelinan, a student presenter from Northern Marianas College.

Read more at UH Hilo Stories