Wāhine in science program cut at UH Mānoa
HONOLULU (KHON2) — A University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa program known for supporting career development activities for wāhine studying science and community outreach has been terminated following the loss of federal funding.
Project lead and faculty member Barbara Bruno received a termination notice in April to immediately close the program funded by the National Science Foundation. Two-thirds of the almost $200,000 budget was forfeited.
UH program that helps struggling ʻohana on federal chopping block
'[The School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology] is Hawaiʻi's largest producer of geoscience graduates — alumni who go on to monitor volcanic hazards, predict extreme weather, conduct assessments of environmental impacts, ensure sustainable use of Hawaiʻi's freshwater resources and more,' Bruno said.
She then went on to highlight the importance of supporting wāhine in their academic journeys.
'I think the biggest impact of this termination is the loss of professional development opportunities for women,' she said. 'STEM is hemorrhaging women — we need programs to keep them.'The program, the Catayst Awards for Science Advancement, allowed female students, researchers, staff and faculty to attend professional meetings, workshops and work in the field.
'We were also actively soliciting applications for the next round of CASA funding when we received the termination notice,' Bruno said. 'Ending this grant eliminates the support for future professional development opportunities and K-12 and community engagement.'
Hawaiʻi Attorney General Anne Lopez, alongside 15 other attorneys general, filed a lawsuit to stop illegal attempts to cut critical science programs on May 28. In the meantime, Bruno is actively searching for funding alternatives.
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