Wednesday, June 25, 2008 - Tour for Timothy Ferris
We received a request from Timothy Ferris to visit Mauna Kea Observatories to research a story he is developing on the Big Telescopes of the Present and Future. Although on short notice, we managed to put together an itinerary for him that included tours of Subaru Telescope, WM Keck Observatory and Gemini Observatory thanks to our friends at each respective organization. Subaru Bilingual Tour Associate Kumiko Hasegawa escorted us through the 8 meter Subaru Telescope, where we were able to witness the installation of MOIRCS (Multi-Object InfraRed Camera and Spectrograph) from the standby room to the cassegrain focus of the telescope. Timothy was most interested in the automated CIAX robot that transports 2000 kilogram instruments around on, and the automatic connectors on the instruments and cassegrain flange (which greatly simplify the process). After Subaru, it was off to Keck Observatory where we were greeted by Development Officer Debbie Goodwin. She allowed us to join another group she was hosting on the Nasmyth deck of Keck 2. Timothy was treated to a telescope "dance" where the telescope slewed in one direction and the dome rotated in the opposite direction. One who observes this becomes somewhat disoriented as it appears that they are moving, when indeed they are stationary and it is just an illusion. Quite the E ticket ride on Mauna Kea for sure. We visited the interferometer room in the basement, and the mirror barn before moving on to Gemini Observatory and Dr Scott Fisher. Scott gave a tour of the facility and finished up the interview with Timothy over dinner at Hale Pohaku. Overall a wonderful day on the mountain, and great opportunity for Timothy Ferris to get some information on the Big Scopes on Mauna Kea for his National Geographic article that is scheduled to run in the June 2009 issue. Dont miss it!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008 - Robotics, IYA Planning
We began the second session of our Hawaii Youth Robotics summer enrichment camp this week. We're starting all over again with a whole new batch of kids and teachers. Although our proposed Hawaii STEM Academy didn't get funded (which would have permitted us to operate additional camps in Kea'au and Pahoa), our program is impacting communities in Puna, Kona and Hamakua. Besides students from around the island, we are also training teachers from these areas as well, which will continue to provide opportunities for students to become involved in robotics. Meanwhile, Karen Teramura and Louise Good from IfA Publications Office in Manoa are visiting the Big Island with Susan Lemn, IRTF Staff Secretary. We are engaging in a series of dialogs and brainstorming sessions to develop a strategic plan for the institute's outreach endeavors over the course of the next fiscal year. The fact that the fiscal year transcends the International Year of Astronomy in 2009 is all the more reason to have a plan, and our meetings in Hilo come on the heels of my participation in the recent Astronomical Society of the Pacific/American Astronomical Society annual meeting in St Louis. I disseminated information I obtained from the conference to everyone and distributed official IYA 2009 brochures and placards for them to distribute on Oahu. The meetings were very fruitful, yielding excellent ideas for ways in which we can creatively communicate astronomy to the public.
Monday, June 23, 2008 - Kaipo and Daddy
Sorry for the dearth in log entries of lately, but we've been a bit busy here in chaos manor and I've been nursing a cold the past week. The good news is that I didn't miss much work and that my seven year old son Kaipo did not catch my cold. Together, Kaipo and I have been holding the fort down on the homefront while his mom visits Japan over the summer. Without a doubt I have a great respect and appreciation for all working single parents out there - taking care of kids while maintaining a career is no mean feat. But it does take cooperation, planning and management skills, as well as pay off in spending a good deal more quality time with your young one(s). We've enjoyed time together mowing the lawn, taking the trash to the dump, collecting and recycling plastics, cans and bottles, shopping, cooking, cleaning, doing laundry and reading. Kaipo has been a big help around the house, and because of it the house has never looked better. We work as a team and together we have able to accomplish a lot of work. But along with the work comes play, and we have no trouble accomplishing that too - surfing, swimming and paddle boarding at the beach, cruising the bookstores and library for reading material, going to the movies and just hanging out together. Life is busy, but you gotta make time for the keiki.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - Broke my Board (again)
Did I mention that I am very hard on my surf equipment? About a month and a half ago I busted a side biter fin box on my 9' Island Classic longboard (I believe my board and I represented an immovable object and an irresistible force as an aftermath of a crunching wipeout on a big day at Honoli'i). I got it fixed, but had removed the side biters and replaced the center fin with a Wavegrinder fin. All was good in the world until my dawn patrol session at Honoli'i this morning. The waves have been picking up steadily since my return from St Louis, and today was 4-6 feet with occasional bigger sets. After taking off on a big wave at Mid Channels and cranking a huge bottom turn, I felt something snap on my board. I managed to keep it together, and kicked out, inspected my board and found that my fin was leaning over at about a 70 degree angle from upright. Ouch. Closer inspection revealed that I had broken the fin box. I couldn't surf on this board in these waves, so I paddled back in and traded down for my 7'5" roundpin thruster which I also brought along in the XTerra. I enjoyed the rest of my session, but was bummed about my longboard. That Island Classic just worked for me - very light in weight, responsive and maneuverable, yet planes very well for catching waves and noseriding. I brought the board to Stan Lawrence at Orchidland Surf to get fixed and while I was there, noticed that his yellow 9' swallowtail quad+1 longboard was for sale. Hmmmm. After careful consideration, I bought it and plan on taking it out in tomorrow, surf permitting.
Monday, June 9, 2008 - Hawaii Youth Robotics
Our third annual Hawaii Youth Robotics summer camp began today at the Connections Public Charter School. We're running solo without our mentors from Rensellaer Polytechnic Institute, and doing some tweaking to the format. Our lead instructors are Kurt Jarrett (Connections PCS), Steve Wilhelm (Waters of Life PCS) and Loke Roseguo (Nawahi). We also have returning student assistants Noa Flaherty, Reyn Yoshioka and Agyei Marshall - joining them are Jade Miyashiro and her friends Megan, Kiley and Shay. This year, we are holding the camp in the science room and math rooms of the second floor of Connections. These two rooms are within the air conditioned zone, making the camp experience more comfortable for everyone involved. In years past, we were operating out of the music room, which was larger in floor space but hot as heck. We have a good number of returning students who have participated in our program for one or more years. Our instructional team have developed activities that will engage and challenge these intermediate and advanced students throughout the camp. Our friends at Rensellaer Polytechnic Institute have also provided their Lego Mindstorms NXT curriculum for us to use, and we will share some of our activities and challenges with them. Kenyan is supervising the camp on a daily basis and I am comfortable with him taking on more responsibility. By delegating the camp oversight to Kenyan, I will be able to address the many other obligations that have been placed on the back burner. Additionally it allows me to keep my seven year old son Kaipo busy during the summer while mommy is away in Japan. So far so good (Kaipo and I are both still alive and healthy), but I have renewed respect and admiration for all single parents out there.
Thursday, June 5, 2008 - Travel Day, Home Sweet Home
After a night on the town with Kris Koenig, and his staff at Interstellar Studios, I managed to drag myself out of bed, pack and check out of my hotel in time to catch a cab to the airport. Memories of last night are somewhat fuzzy, but I do remember dinner with Rick Feinberg of Sky & Telescope magazine, followed by revelry at a rockin' dance club. It was certainly a sight to see, astronomers and astronomy outreach people letting it all hang out amidst pounding music and strobing lasers. The NASA meatball logo was prominently displayed on bodies and body parts - it was interesting seeing serious people out of their usual context. But while I sit in the St Louis Airport terminal waiting for my flight, it occurs to me that I am paying for my indulgences of last night - I haven't felt this hungover in years. My trip back home will consist of three legs: the first from St Louis to Los Angeles will take about 3 hours, then another 5.5 hours from LAX to Honolulu, and finally a short jump from Honolulu to Hilo that takes about an hour. I then pick up my son Kaipo, who has been staying at a friend's house during my business trip. I've been calling him (which was tough on me because I would have to call after midnight St Louis time) and writing postcards every day. I can't wait to get back and give him a big hug! The trip and conference was great, but it will certainly be good to be home and sleep in my own bed again.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008 - ASP Wrapup
Well its been a most informative and enjoyable time here In Saint Louis - good food, good setting and good people. Although I did not have an opportunity to do all of the things I was hoping to accomplish (visit the Fox Theater, return to the St Louis Science Center, etc), I did make the most of this joint conference of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP) and the American Astronomical Society (AAS). I attended many breakout sessions on astronomy education and outreach, which has given me ideas on activities and events we could do in Hawaii. I've also been very busy collecting collateral material for distribution to K-12 educators, amateur astronomy clubs, and astronomy outreach colleagues back home. So much in fact, that I needed to ship back three large and heavy boxes of material through UPS. Luckily the hotel I am staying at is right across the street from the convention center, in which there is a UPS store. I've got a bunch of IYA 2009 placards and brochures for distribution in Hawaii - my colleagues at the Institute for Astronomy Manoa and Maui, amateur astronomy clubs, outreach offices of Mauna Kea Observatories, schools and science centers. My intention is to bring awareness of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 to the entire Hawaii community as soon as possible so that we may begin to prepare for the year-long celebration of the 400 years of astronomy since Galileo first set his telescope to the heavens.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008 - ASP Awards Banquet
There were some great workshops and some great reunions today. Phil Sakimoto (Notre Dame) was joined by Isabel Hawkins (UC Berkeley) Nancy Maryboy (NAU), and David Begay (NAU) giving a presentation on Cross-Cultural Astronomy. Lynn Narasimhan was in attendance, along with Eddie Gonzalez (JPL) and John Hamilton and me. Almost seemed like an AstroDay reunion, as all were in Hilo for our festivities in 2007. Later, I got a chance to meet Marcia Rieke of the James Webb Space Telescope mission, who was presenting on NIRCAM a near-infrared camera whose detector chips were characterized by Don Hall and his team at the IfA in Hilo. I introduced myself, announced our mutual associations and indicated my interest in future outreach collaborations, to which she seemed receptive. With a launch date of 2013, we've got a bit of time to develop a meaningful program. Back to my hotel room for a shower and a quick change into more formal attire. Well, not so formal - how about aloha shirt, slacks and shoes? That's just about as formal as you'll ever get me. I work my way to the reception area across from the banquet hall. Inside, I see the bar which is serving the pre-release of Galileo Astronomical Ale from Sierra Nevada Brewing. Someone asks if I am in line and instinct tells me to react affirmatively. He cuts off the person behind me and I just get the last beer being served at the reception. A little late but just in time. After a while of mingling and talking story with folks, the banquet gets underway. I am seated at one of the head tables with Tim and Stephanie Slater and some important people in the ASP. I got a chance to talk story with several of them, and share a bit of local humor and storytelling. Soon, the awards ceremony was underway, and before long my buddy Scott Roberts was actin' funny. Well, suffice it to say there was a lot of giving going on, and speechmaking and picture-taking and in the end no one got hurt. The event was real cool, and it was an honor for me to be among such outstanding people who have made such substantial contributions toward the science and outreach of astronomy. Humbling too.
Monday, June 2, 2008 - ASP Annual Meeting
Geeez I miss the ocean! I can see water down the road from here, but its not that which I am used to - it's dirty, it's brown, and it's a river (not that there's anything wrong with that). My right floating rib is doing better after injured it last week Tuesday at Honoli'i, during a sick session in some clean 2-3 footers. It's feeling better now although still tender,and should be healed up by the time I return to Hilo in a a couple days, just in time for a predicted East swell. The Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP) annual meeting started today in Saint Louis, Missouri Convention Center. The event is a joint meeting of the ASP and the American Astronomical Society (AAS), and many notable researchers, educators, outreach officers and amateur astronomers were in attendance today. There were a multitude of great breakout workshops held throughout the day, but as with many conferences like AAS/ASP, one has to pick from a choice of several parallel sessions. Because the quality of subject and speaker are so high, making that choice can often be difficult, and its not unusual to see some folks jumping between sessions. Today, I attended the opening plenary sessions of the ASP and AAS, both of which introduced the International Year of Astronomy (IYA) plans and preparations. The goals are lofty, but not unattainable, and through the leadership of the working group chairmen have every expectation that IYA will be one heck of a yearlong shindig. Between sessions, I have been packing my bags with collateral collected from the numerous exhibitors at the conference to share with educators, outreach people, and colleagues from my institute. I have collected so much in fact, that I will need to ship most of it back in boxes.
Sunday, June 1, 2008 - ASP Weekend Workshops
Preceding the Astronomical Society of the Pacific Annual Meeting are a series of workshops for formal and informal educators, amateur astronomers, and astronomy outreach officers. Although picking one was quite difficult (they all seemed so interesting), I attended the "Discover the Universe with NASA" workshop on Saturday. The all-day session featured many activities and instruction for K-12 and post-secondary students. Carolyn Kaichi from Bishop Museum, John Hamilton of University of Hawaii at Hilo and Janice Harvey of Gemini Observatory were also in this session. On Sunday, I attended the "Building a Telescope from the Ground Up" session, which was an expansion of one of the workshops I attended a couple of weeks ago at the Astronomy From the Ground Up (AFGU) in Seattle. Rob Sparks and Stephen Pompea of NOAA ran the workshop, which was based on optics using convex lenses, laser pointers, diffusion screen, and building a refracting telescope using the cardboard LTI product that we also use in our office. Participants who attend this session are given a bag full of goodies similar to the one we got in AFGU - which is great, since I was hoping to expand on our telescope building activity. Another workshop I attended was the "User's Guide for Plugging into the New Media Community". Although we have utilized some of the new media explained and demonstrated during the session (podcasting), I really need to continue to learn more about, and adopt these new media streams that young people are using in ever increasing numbers. In particular, I have been wanting to upgrade to a dynamic web logging software that permits user comments, a forum for online discussions and information sharing (but have never had the time to implement). The only challenge to this goal is that there never seems to be enough time in the day to maintain all of the things I am currently engaged in, much less add to the mix additional endeavors. So perhaps I need to think outside the box with regard to finding help in developing these ideas - maybe a college workstudy position?
