For Dr. Rose Tseng, bringing scientific advancement to the University of Hawaii at Hilo is a delicate balancing act.
As chancellor since 1998, Tseng has responded sensitively to native Hawaiians who oft en worry they are being overlooked amid such advancement.
One of the higher-profile examples lies in the recent selection of the dormant volcano of Mauna Kea as the site for the world’s most advanced telescope. The university manages Mauna Kea’s summit, which is where the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) will be located. Once completed, it will allow astronomers to study the universe with nine times the collecting area of today’s largest optical telescopes.
The $1.2 billion project is a partnership between the California Institute of Technology, the University of California and a consortium of Canadian universities.
“As prestigious as TMT is, local people must be able to participate in order for TMT to become a true success,” Tseng says. “You cannot simply hire the locals as janitors. Locals must be encouraged to work in astronomy and engineering. Our students must be encouraged to participate, too.”
Tseng plans to step down as chancellor in June. She expects her successor to face challenges in marrying science and research to Hawaiian cultural practices and traditions. Mauna Kea, for instance, is considered sacred by some indigenous people. Among other things, it’s a religious site that houses burial grounds.
During her tenure, Tseng has increased Hilo’s federal research funding from $3 million to $20 million annually and has overseen expansion of its science and technology park, an entity that features a $28 million publicly accessible astronomy center.
