Feature Story: Growing STEM in Hawaii, a Grassroots Collaborative Effort

The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Intercommunity Portal (SIP-Hawaii) project was launched on June 1, 2008 by the University of Hawaii College of Engineering and Referentia Systems, Incorporated, a Hawaii-based small business specializing in technology research and development. The project is supported by Act 111 and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education at UH Mānoa.

The SIP will engage stakeholders in the State of Hawaii in a sustained, collaborative effort to enhance STEM education for Hawaii’s students and increase the entry of young people into STEM industries. The SIP will provide an innovative toolset for collaboration among all STEM constituents and open gateways to learning, research and professional initiatives in Hawaii and beyond.  Stakeholders will be drawn from the University of Hawaii, the educational community (Hawaii DOE), Statewide STEM program developers, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and private sector companies.

SIP will leverage dual-use technology for Web collaboration developed by Referentia for the Office of Naval Research and the Space and Naval Warfare Command.  The project will deliver useful Web collaboration tools each month by following an “agile” software development process guided by evolving stakeholder needs.  The goal is to have SIP be a “community maintained” site where University researchers, STEM professionals, teachers, students, parents and interested newcomers work together to foster enhanced STEM opportunities for the greater Hawaii community.