THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

108

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the board of regents of the university of hawaii to renamE the university of hawaii institute for astronomy to the paul h.i. coleman astronomy center.

 

 


     WHEREAS, Paul H.I. Coleman was the first and only Native Hawaiian with a doctorate in astrophysics; and

 

     WHEREAS, Dr. Coleman's doctorate research focused on the sizes of distant galaxies observed at radio wavelengths and the implications of these for cosmological models; and

 

     WHEREAS, Dr. Coleman's career took him around the world to several institutions, including the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Kapteyn Astronomical Institute in The Netherlands, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Yale University, and the University of Puerto Rico; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 2002, Dr. Coleman joined the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy; and

 

     WHEREAS, in his sixteen years with the Institute for Astronomy, Dr. Coleman played a key role in the Institute's education and public outreach efforts, speaking passionately about astronomy, its importance to Hawaii, its history in Native Hawaiian voyaging and wayfinding, and how Hawaiians could play a major role in the field; and

 

     WHEREAS, Dr. Coleman also participated as a member of many committees and councils dedicated to increasing Native Hawaiian participation, education, and careers in the sciences; and

 

     WHEREAS, Dr. Coleman was a tireless advocate for astronomy in Hawaii, advocating for the University of Hawaii and Institute for Astronomy to business groups, rotary clubs, and chambers of commerce across the State; and

 

     WHEREAS, Dr. Coleman embraced a vision for Native Hawaiians to become engaged in the sciences, including astronomy, and connecting the future of astronomy with the rich history of Polynesian voyaging; and

 

     WHEREAS, Dr. Coleman led the National Science Foundation funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program for nearly a decade, a competitive program that brings a dozen undergraduates from around the country to conduct research with Institute for Astronomy researchers during the summer; and

 

     WHEREAS, most importantly, Dr. Coleman served as a mentor to a new generation of Native Hawaiian scientists and his dedication to the Native Hawaiian community, especially youth interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, was irreplaceable and unparalleled; and

 

     WHEREAS, Dr. Coleman passed away on January 16, 2018, at the age of sixty-two, leaving behind a legacy in the field of astronomy and the Native Hawaiian community in Hawaii and throughout the world; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2018, that the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii is requested to rename the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy to the "Paul H.I. Coleman Astronomy Center"; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chair of the Board of Regents for the University of Hawaii.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy; Paul H.I. Coleman; Rename