BY DAVE KARL – The UH Mānoa Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education (C-MORE) held a blessing ceremony today at 10:30 a.m. to celebrate the completion of a new research facility. The new building will support the missions of C-MORE, a National Science Foundation-sponsored Science and Technology Center.
Among those in attendance were U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye and Dr. Subra Suresh, recently appointed director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) inWashington D.C.
“The grand opening of this majestic research laboratory is a dream come true and represents a once in a scientific lifetime opportunity,” said C-MORE Director Dave Karl. “I am grateful for the vision and support of the UH leadership, especially Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw and Gary Ostrander, Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education.”
The new research facility, C-MORE Hale, will house state-of-the-art scientific equipment that will be used in conjunction with existing modern fleet of research vessels to study the vital role that marine microbes play in sustaining planetary habitability. The merger of the new land-based laboratory with world-class sea-going support vessels will help position UH Mānoa on the world map as a leader in oceanographic research.
Added Chancellor Virginia S. Hinshaw, “C-MORE Hale brings together an interdisciplinary team to provide educational training opportunities in the field of microbial oceanography to students. The Center further strengthens UH Mānoa as a pioneering and exceptional research institution.”
C-MORE is one of 17 NSF Centers of Science and Technology across the nation, and the only one in Hawai‘i. Its research is focused on examining the role that marine microbes play in sustaining planetary habitability.
“From globally significant science to a vital education and outreach program, C-MORE encompasses the best of Hawai‘i’s research infrastructure and the NSF Science and Technology Center Program,” said Dr. Subra Suresh, director of the NSF.
For more information, please see https://cmore.soest.hawaii.edu