The 14th-anniversary edition of the Astronaut Ellison Onizuka Science Day will be presented from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday at the University of Hawaii at Hilo.
The 14th-anniversary edition of the Astronaut Ellison Onizuka Science Day will be presented from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday at the University of Hawaii at Hilo.
U.S. Air Force Col. (Ret.) Rex J. Walheim, a NASA astronaut, will be the keynote speaker.
“A seasoned veteran of NASA, Colonel Walheim has served as CAPCOM in the Mission Control Center and was also the chief of the EVA (Extra Vehicular Activity) Branch. A veteran of three space flights, he has logged over 36 days in space, including more than 36 EVA hours in five spacewalks,” said UHH spokeswoman Judith Fox-Goldstein. “He served on the EVA crew of both STS-110, 2002 and STS-122 in 2008. Walheim was also a mission specialist on the crew of STS-135 and currently, he is serving as chief of the Exploration Branch of the Astronaut Office.”
The morning session will begin in the UH-Hilo Performing Arts Center. Prior to the 9 a.m. start, visitors may view the exhibits set up on the library lanai and the Campus Center Plaza.
“The entire day will be filled with exciting, interactive workshops and the exhibits will remain open until 12:30 p.m. Please join us at back at the PAC at 2 p.m. for the magical conclusion with Hawaii’s super science teacher, Dale Olive,” said Fox-Goldstein. “This is an extraordinary opportunity for everyone so please join with us in celebrating Ellison’s dream to share his passion for science as we spend the day inspiring others to catch the dream.”