UH undergrads strut stuff
at research symposium
University of Hawaii oceanographer Jim Cowen called the student work "mind boggling."
He was describing research and creative projects by 67 UH undergraduates from all disciplines who participated in a symposium yesterday at the East-West Center.
They gave oral and/or poster presentations on research ranging from the effects of fairy tales and urban legends on behavior and ulterior motives of a suicide bomber to monitoring lava lakes from space.
Among others: French haute cuisine and obese Americans, mapping lowland wet forests on the Big Island, antique collecting, whether Saddam Hussein can get a fair trial, exploring British race, class and gender issues related to the Harry Potter series, and the design and manufacture of small satellites in the University Nanosat Program.
Some of the undergraduate work is on a par with master's degree research, said Jim Caron, UH-Manoa Honors Program director. The annual symposium gives them a chance "to shine" and learn how professional conferences are conducted, he said.
Faculty members serve as mentors for the undergraduate projects, which "get better every year," said Sherwood Maynard, marine option and biology program director.
However, he said he's disappointed that other UH campuses aren't participating. The symposium began as a Manoa Honors Program event but other UH colleges are invited to participate, with paid transportation offered from the neighbor islands, he said.
Annie Fukushima, an American studies and English major, was selected by faculty mentors as the honors outstanding graduating senior this year. She also won awards for her oral and poster presentations. Cynthia Brehm was chosen by classmates as their peer role model in the introduction to research class.
Others receiving awards for best oral presentations were Agnes Bahng, plant environmental biotechnology; Jonathan Callahan, English; Oriana Cederstrom, psychology and political science; Mandakini Goode, English; Jeff Mull, history; Josh Nagashima, chemistry; Graeme Reed, biology; Jon Samaniego, radiologic technology; Johnny Saucedo, information and computer sciences; Sage Takehiro, English and political science; and Joy Uyeno, English.
Awards for best poster presentations were: Social Sciences -- winner: Malia Noyes, psychology, and honorable mention: Esme Hammerle, anthropology; Arts and Humanities -- winner: Mandakini Goode, and honorable mention: John Toma, Japanese; Physical Sciences/Engineering -- winner: Sally White, global environmental science, and honorable mentions: Carolyn Berger, global environmental science, and Nel Venzon, biology.
Roland Davis, UH-Manoa Honors Program student graduating this year with a double major in music composition and philosophy, performed at the symposium with his jazz ensemble, "Harmony Artisans."
He has won West Coast and UH Composer of the Year awards and is a finalist for this year's DownBeat magazine's National Award for Best Jazz Soloist.
Karl Kim, Manoa interim vice chancellor of academic affairs, was the luncheon speaker.
The Manoa chancellor's office provided funding for the event. Sponsors were the Manoa Honors Program, UH Space Grant Consortium, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Marine Biology Program, Global Environmental Science Program, Biology Program, English Department and Marine Option Program.