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Events Highlights

Recent ARCS Events

  • Elizabeth Wainwright wearing lei

    ARCS National President Beth Wainwright at opening reception

  • ARCS Board members at buffet table

    National Board Members Diana Gordon, Christine Hawes and Caron Ogg enjoy University of Hawai‘i Presiident's reception

  • ARCS President Beth Wainwright in Hawaii

    ARCS Foundation, Inc., National President Beth Wainwright in Hawai‘i

  • Tour group in auditorium

    ARCS members and guests met ARCS Scholars and alums at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa's Institute for Astronomy, indlucing IfA Director Doug Simons.

  • Contemplating a bo tree, like the one Buddha sat under when receiving enlightenment—one of many exceptional trees on the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa campus, a certified ar boretum

  • Touring the Microbe Diversity, Ecology and Environment lab of ARCS Scholar alum Dr. Anthony Amend

  • ARCS Scholar alumna Dr. Allexa Dow runs one of the core Pacific Biosciences Research Center facilities at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa

  • Core facilities include an electron microscopy laboratory that serves campus and community users

  • An insect lab breeds bugs for environmental, evolutionary and genetic studies

  • ARCS Oregon member Diana Gordon gets a close up look at distinctive picture wing flies

  • A Honolulu ARCS Scientist of the Year Dr. David Karl, director of the University of Hawai‘i's Center for Microbial Oceanography Research and Education

  • Dr. Karl's long-term Hawai‘i Ocean Series experiments were the first to document acifification of warmer ocean waters linked to rising greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

  • The Honolulu Chapter's 50th Anniversary Kickoff Luncheon was held at the university's John A. Burns School of Medicine. From left, Scholars Jourdan McMillan and Tyler Goodearly, Co-President Wendy Lagareta, Scholars Helen Sung and April Darrow, member Sui-Lan Ellsworth

  • ARCS Scholar alumna Dr. Jourdan Posner McMillan is now on the medical school faculty

  • Scholar Helen Sung discussed her research

  • Scholar Alexandru Sasuclark described his research

  • Honolulu Co-President Cheryl Ernst opened the luncheon with a traditional Hawaiian chant

  • Dr. Lee Buenconsejo-Lum at podium

    Interim Medical School Lee Buenconsejo-Lum welcomed guests

  • Dr. Jane Schoonmaker at podium

    Honolulu member Dr. Jane Schoonmaker described professional and personal accomplishments of the luncheon speaker

  • Dr. Philomene Verlaan at podium

    ARCS Scholar alumna Philomene Verlaan provided the keynote talk

  • Dr. Philomene Verlaan gesturing

    An attorney, oceanographer and Law of the Sea expert, Philomene talked about the crucial role of scientists in providing unbiased, unopionated data to inform policy decisions

  • Waialua Estate Chocolate bars

    An optional tour explored signts and tastes of O‘ahu

  • Michelle Yamaguchi discussed chocolate, one of the value added crops taking the place of plantation sugar and pineapple

  • Attendees gathered in a cacao orchard

  • Cacao pod broken open

    Tasting included the fruit around the cacao bean as well as finished chocolate

  • Ko‘olau Distillery CEO Eric Dill described whiskey making chemistry and lore, including the tradition lf naming the still as a way to "own" bad luck. His largest still is "Rona," because the corona virus hit as it was being installed and the company ran near round-the-clock production of hand sanitizer, all given away.

  • Tasting tours include hands-on experience. Beth Wainwright labels a whiskey bottle

  • Beth Wainwright bottles whiskey

    Beth bottles whiskey

  • Beth and Patty Lee work the bottling line

  • Patty caps a bottle

  • Caron Ogg bottles whiskey

  • Caron caps the bottle

  • Julie Branford and Cheryl Ernst

Science Communicator Christie Wilcox Tells it Like It Is

Christie Wilcox, PhD

Christie Wilcox, PhD, on her Honolulu ARCS Scholar Award: "The life of a graduate student is not enviable… For me, it was essential. It was what I needed, the kind of funding to pursue these curiosities that I had. And I was grateful for it.” Read more about the the award winning science communicator.

To Quote a Scholar: Mason Russo

Mason Russo in front of poster

"I have conducted comprehensive studies on two invasive insect pests in the Hawaiian Islands that are severely impacting Hawaiian ecosystems. The coconut rhinoceros beetle is spreading fast across Oahu and has reached other islands. The hala scale impacts native coastal hala forests."

Besides offsetting the high cost of living in Hawai‘i, funds from the 2024 Maybelle F. Roth ARCS Scholar and Honolulu Scholar of the Year awards would allow Mason Russo to return to Asia if an initial survey produces promising biological control agents for the battle against destructive insects that threaten Hawai‘i trees.

Scholar Update: Marine Biologist Shayle Matsuda

Shayle Matsuda at ocean overlook“The increasing frequency and severity of global coral bleaching events, the devastation to reef ecosystems and the communities who rely on them led to my dedication to coral reef conservation.”

As a University of Hawai‘i at Manoa doctoral candidate, 2019 Honolulu ARCS Scholar Shayle Matsuda pioneered new molecular techniques to study symbioses between coral, algae and bacteria. He continues that work as part of an international coral reef restoration project under a 2021 David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellowship—a premier postdoctoral program in conservation science that supports early-career scientists and seeks solutions to the most pressing conservation challenges.