$25M grant to UH for research lab
Advertiser Staff and Wire Reports
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The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has awarded the University of Hawai'i a grant of nearly $25 million for construction of a regional biocontainment laboratory.
The lab, planned for Waimano Ridge in Pearl City, will conduct biodefense and emerging infectious disease research.
Work at the Level-3 lab would involve monitoring infectious diseases, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), West Nile virus, dengue fever and avian influenza, for early detection and response, officials have said.
U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye, D-Hawai'i, said Friday in a news release that the grant is important to the university, the state and the nation.
"The research that will be done at this regional biocontainment laboratory will be vital to developing the shields and a coordinated response to biological and chemical attacks and emerging infectious disease threat that may possibly occur in Hawai'i or the United States in the future," Inouye said.
It will take about 18 months for an environmental assessment to be completed before groundbreaking can occur, officials have said. The completion date would be 2010.
SALT LAKE
LIBRARY DISPLAYS SCIENCE BOOKS
Nearly 200 science books for children will be on display at the Salt Lake-Moanalua Public Library from Wednesday through Oct. 19.
The books for preschoolers to middle school-aged children are arranged by 17 subjects including animals, earth sciences, marine life and technology/engineering.
All library branches will offer an annotated bibliography reviewing and rating the titles while supplies last.
The Salt Lake-Moanalua Public Library is at 3225 Salt Lake Blvd., across the street from the Salt Lake Shopping Center.
For more information, call the library at 831-6831.
WAHIAWA
WAHIAWA LIBRARY HAS STORYTIME
Wahiawa Public Library will host a free preschool storytime on Wednesday mornings from Sept. 7 through Oct. 12.
The storytimes are designed for children up to 4 years old with a parent or caregiver.
The 30-minute program begins at 10:30 a.m. and features stories and craft-making.
Wahiawa Public Library is at 820 California Ave.
For more information or to register, call the library's Youth Services Librarian at 622-6345.
STATEWIDE
TRIP TO D.C. GOES TO WRITING WINNER
Students can compete for an expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for themselves and their parents by writing personal letters to an author explaining how his or her work changed their view of the world or themselves.
The Hawai'i Center for the Book will select a state winner to advance to the national Letters about Literature sponsored by the Library of Congress. Entrants must be in grades four through 12. The deadline for entries is Dec. 1. For more information or to download an entry form, visit www.librarieshawaii.org.
KUNIA
BRUSHFIRE BURNS ABOUT 100 ACRES
Firefighters were monitoring a brushfire overnight that burned more than 100 acres in Kunia yesterday.
"We'll do an assessment at first light," said Fire Capt. Emmit Kane, a department spokesman.
Kane said the fire, which was reported at 1:30 p.m. yesterday, burned in a mostly inaccessible area behind overgrown pineapple fields on the Wai'anae side of Kunia Road.
About 25 companies fought the blaze yesterday, he said, and a fire watch was posted overnight.
The department has asked Civil Defense to request air support from other organizations, Kane said.
