ARCS Scientist of the Year

Honolulu Chapter Honors Outstanding University of Hawai‘i Faculty

Patricia Lee and Margaret McFall-Ngai in lei

Since 1983, ARCS Honolulu Chapter annually honors one University of Hawai‘i at Manoa faculty member as its Scientist of the Year.

The award recognizes recipients both for their own remarkable research careers and for their role as outstanding mentors to young scientists, so it is no suprise that many have also been advisors to ARCS Honolulu Scholars. Scientists of the Year are invited to speak at the Scholar Banquet or another ARCS Event (or safely distanced recorded online talks during the pandemic).

At right, ARCS Honolulu member Patricia "Patty" Lee, left, congratulated 2019 ARCS Scientist of the Year Dr. Margaret McFall-Ngai, who spoke of the important opportunities unrestricted ARCS Scholar funding provides and tendered her support by subsequently becaming a member of the chapter.

ARCS Anthurium with Haruyuki Kamemoto headshot inset
BRED IN HAWAI‘I – THE ARCS ANTHURIUM
1990 Scientist of the Year and ground-breaking horticulturalist Haruyuki Kamemoto created a purple anthurium through complex cross-breeding and named it in honor of the ARCS Foundation’s support for students in the University of Hawai‘i’s College of Tropical Agriculture and other programs. The late Dr. Kamemoto and his protege, 2008 Scientist of the Year Adelheid Kuehnle, who introduced molecular breeding techniques, played important roles in Hawai‘i’s transition from plantation economy to diversified agriculture.
Dr. George Walker inset on East Iceland map and museum
ARCS HONOLULU'S ICELAND CONNECTION
The ARCS Foundation name can be found in the oldest building in Breiðdalsvík, Iceland thanks to 1987 Scientist of the Year George P. L. Walker, the acclaimed University of Hawai‘i geologist widely considered to be the father of modern volcanology. Tucked atop a file cabinet In a recreation of Dr. Walker's academic office exhibited at the Breiðdalssetur Research and Heritage Center is the engraved koa bowl presented to him by the Honolulu Chapter. His many international honors include Iceland’s Order of the Falcon (the equivalent of a knighthood) for revolutionizing understanding of the island’s geology.

ARCS Honolulu
Scientists of the Year

Video Presentations

2023 Scientist of the Year Dr. Rachel Novotny on Children's Healthy Living in the Pacific

2021 Scientist of the Year Mark Hixon
2020 Scientist of the Year Loic LeMarchand
Other Talks by Scientists of the Year

 

Dr. Karen Meech2018 Scientist of the Year and NASA missions co-investigator Dr. Karen Meech discusses comet ‘Oumuamua, the first object from another star to traverse our solar system. View the highlights video or watch the full 55-minute interview.

She also discussed possible end-of-earth scenarios as a panel member for a UH College of Natural Sciences Pilina Ao program. Watch the YouTube video.