FOCUS MAUI NUI

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Moving to the Future, One Lego at a Time

Nov 17, 2010 | Innovation

Earlier this month, 27 robotics teams competed in the FIRST Lego League (FLL) 2010 Maui District Tournament. It was a fun, challenging, and exciting event for more than 300 students as well as teachers, advisers, and parents at the Maui High School Gymnasium.

It was just five years ago that MEDB’s Women in Technology program made grants to two Central Maui 4-H robotics teams—the Bunnies and the Ladybugs—to battle it out in the first Maui FLL qualifier in a pilot project funded by the USDA. The Bunnies became the Maui Girls and the 4-H club, with the same leaders, are still going strong, winning the Robot Performance award this month and qualifying for the State FLL Championships next month.

Since those early days, MEDB has leveraged further funding and resources from USDA, the Department of Education, the Air Force Research Labs (AFRL), and established the Ke Alahele Education Fund to support robotics programs across the County, both by direct funding and provision of equipment and computers. The Ke Alahele Fund is supported, in turn, by many businesses, non-profits, and individuals seeking to develop the STEM skill base of Maui’s students.

In 2010, MEDB estimates it has already directed approximately $150,000 to robotics programs, events, and training, in support of FIRST Lego League, VEX robotics, Botball, and FIRST robotics.

“The rapid growth in robotics participation and student proficiency is highly gratifying,” observes Leslie Wilkins, Program Director for Women in Technology. “It validates and confirms the importance of our community investment and commitment over the last few years. It bodes very well for our future.”

PDC Launches Alert Service Phone App

PDC Launches Alert Service Phone App

Aug 16, 2010 | Innovation

Preparedness counts when a natural disaster happens. So does getting fast, reliable information on which the public as well as emergency responders can act. The Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) is stepping up to support both.

With communications technology boosting the process, PDC is moving to speed information on threats and hazards to the public, introducing in July 2010 a Disaster Alert application for the iPhone and iPad.

“Disaster Alert puts the latest reliable hazard and disaster information in the hands of the public anywhere in the world,” said PDC Executive Director Ray Shirkhodai.

The apps are the first developed for smart phone based platforms, but PDC will seek development of apps for other mobile systems. The iPhone app is available free in the Apple iTunes store.

PDC, located in Kihei, has long been an information resource on natural hazards through its Disaster Alert and Hazards Atlas – an interactive map displaying data on events around the globe and updated 24/7 through a Disaster AWARE decision support system. A Disaster Alert system was already in operation through Facebook and Twitter connections, sending email messages and Tweets to subscribers directing them latest information on the Atlas. With the iPhone/iPad application, subscribers can review the data on their mobile communications platforms immediately.

The agency is well established as an information management agency in helping states and communities plan for threats of natural events — tropical cyclones, earthquakes, volcanic explosions – as well as hazards caused by man such as wildfires and chemical spills.