Panelists: OIST Pres. Peter Gruss, UH Pres. David Lassner, Prof. Kenneth Kaneshiro, Mr. Glenn Lee, and Gov. David Ige

On 26 March 2018, a distinguished panel spoke on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education and research in Hawai`i and Okinawa.  On the panel were Hawai‘i Governor David Ige and University of Hawai‘i President David Lassner, with Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology President Peter Gruss.  Also on the panel were prominent local biologist Kenneth Kaneshiro and outstanding educator Glenn Lee, whose students have won numerous robotics competition titles.

Uchinanchu Talk Story VII “Views From the Cutting Edge” was sponsored by WUB Hawai`i chapter, the East-West Center, Okinawa Institute for Science and Technology, and the Center for Okinawan Studies of the University of Hawai‘i.

Keynote speaker Peter Gruss said that with the growth of knowledge and information complexity in the world accelerating at an exponential rate, scientific research and education are vital for communities to ensure future economic opportunity. STEM knowledge is also the key, he said, to addressing what he called  global “mega-challenges,” including food, water and energy supplies; climate change; urbanization; and health care.

Dr. Gruss heads the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) which was founded by the government of Japan to be Japan’s MIT – a world class center for research and education.  His visit to Hawaii was for the following purposes:

• Develop stronger relations between Hawaii and Okinawa,
• Explore ways to encourage more students to consider careers in STEM, and
• Encourage Hawai`i students to consider studying at OIST.

Governor Ige, a former engineer, said:

The challenge in our economy going forward is really about creating high-quality jobs that allow our young people to find challenging, successful careers here at home. And I truly believe STEM education is fundamental to achieving that.

UH President David Lassner cited San Diego as an example of a city with similarities to Honolulu that has transformed its economy from being tourism-dependent to being an innovation hub, and that the key to the change has been “collaboration between the government, the private sector and a great research university.” Lassner notes:

We used to talk about luring great companies here. Now we talk more about growing them here.

Uchinanchu Talk Story VII — March 27, 2018