University of Hawai'i- Manoa Vice Chancellor Gary Ostrander and Wuhan University President Jing Nan Liu have signed an academic exchange agreement between the John A. Burns School of Medicine's Office of Public Health Studies and the Wuhan University School of Public Health.

The five-year agreement includes student and faculty exchange, the development of joint doctoral programs, an executive training program for Chinese Public Health leaders and joint research projects to include co-authored publications.

Already, UH Professors John Grove and Al Katz are teaching courses in epidemiology and biostatistics this summer in Wuhan. Three UH students, Daniela Kittinger, Jack Kittinger and Chris Koontz, are completing practical training programs in China.

Three Chinese students and one faculty member will be coming to Hawai'i this fall. And two jointly authored publications are under review at top U.S. and international journals.

TAKITANI AWARDS WORTH $97,000

The Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation will award $97,000 in scholarships to 61 public and private high school seniors at its 16th annual Takitani Scholarship Awards Luncheon.

The foundation will present two $10,000, one $5,000, and seven $3,000 scholarships. In addition, 51 $1,000 scholarships will be awarded.

The awards luncheon will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Waialae Country Club. Hawai'i U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo will be the guest speaker.

KAILUA TEAM AT ROBOTICS CONTEST

Kailua High School's Surfrider Robotics Team will represent Hawai'i in the 2008 MATE International Underwater Robotic Competition on June 26 in San Diego.

This will be the third consecutive year that Kailua High School has been invited to the international competition, which will be held at the Scripps Aquarium from June 26 to 28. The competition is organized by the Marine Advanced Technology Education Center.

The underwater robotic competition differs from other robotic competitions mainly because the ROV, or remotely operated vehicle, is built to travel underwater.

Students get firsthand experience in designing and building all aspects of their robot. One of the main concerns is the atmospheric pressure which must be addressed for their designs to be workable.

For more information on the competition visit www.marinetech.org/rov_competition/index.php.

EDUCATORS LEARN 'TOOLS OF TRADE'

Teachers and counselors schools from O'ahu, the Big Island and Kaua'i are participants in a program that will teach them how to prepare students for careers in the construction industry.

The third annual "Tools of the Trade" internship program, sponsored by The Pacific Resource Partnership, is hosting 10 participants from the Department of Education. The program began this week and continues through June 27.

Educators will work with local developers and visit major construction sites, while learning the skills necessary for a career in the building industry.

Participants will attend a safety workshop, visit the Kapolei Commons construction site and take a final exam building project at Honolulu Community College.