Since 2015, Maunakea Scholars is an innovative program bringing Hawai‘i’s aspiring young astronomers into the observatory community, competitively allocating observing time on world-class telescopes to local students. This is the first program of its kind internationally, leveraging the most powerful collection of telescopes in the world for the direct educational advancement of Hawai‘i’s high school students. The program is a collaboration of the University of Hawai‘i Institute for Astronomy, Maunakea Observatories, and the Hawai‘i Department of Education.
Budget and logistics permitting, we bring students to Hawaiʻi Island to visit the observatories and conduct real-time observations alongside support astronomers—an experience mirroring that of professional researchers. Since its inception, Maunakea Scholars has also grown to include telescopes worldwide that contribute viewing time and mentorship opportunities.
Over the nine-year history of the Maunakea Scholars program, 1,300+ students participated. We have watched Maunakea Scholars alumni leverage the knowledge and confidence gained through the program to pursue a wide range of careers. Our goal is not solely to produce astrophysicists; we strive to broaden students' horizons and empower them to explore new opportunities. Graduates go on to fields such as astronomy, education, engineering, and technology, with many securing internships or jobs in Hawaiʻi.
Two program alumni currently work in Hawai‘i astronomy with positions on Hawai‘i Island. Another has recently been accepted to several graduate schools with the goal of pursuing her PhD in astronomy. Project alumni are working in engineering fields in Japan and on the continent with the hopes of gaining the experience to return home to Hawai‘i. Two more alumni are educators, striving to inspire their students to embrace STEM fields.
