Execute a balanced science program based on discipline-specific guidance from the national academies of sciences, engineering, and medicine, administration priorities, and direction from congress.…

The University of Hawaii at Manoa received a grant award valued at $3.93 million from a civilian federal agency's Shared Services Center to execute a balanced science program aligned with guidance from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and congressional direction. The award supports the university's participation as a key partner in the agency's exploration initiative, focusing on scientific research related to the Moon, lunar orbit, Mars, and beyond. The research effort will advance discovery in emerging cross-disciplinary fields and develop a target user-focused approach to applied programs, including Earth science applications, space weather, planetary defense, and space situational awareness. The contract is structured as a grant for research with a completion date of October 6, 2027, and was awarded on October 7, 2024, with no set-aside designation applied.

This award builds upon the University of Hawaii's established track record as a critical federal research partner with extensive capabilities in astronomy, planetary science, oceanography, and environmental research. The university maintains a significant $85.5 million Indefinite Delivery Contract with NASA Headquarters for managing the Infrared Telescope Facility, demonstrating its specialized expertise in astronomical research infrastructure and long-standing collaboration with federal agencies in space exploration and scientific discovery. The current grant award supports the university's continued contributions to scientific research and represents an extension of its role in advancing knowledge across multiple disciplines with federal agency partnerships.

Execute a balanced science program based on discipline-specific guidance from the national academies of sciences, engineering, and medicine, administration priorities, and direction from congress. Participate as a key partner and enabler in the agency s exploration initiative, focusing on scientific research of, on, and from the moon, lunar orbit, mars, and beyond. Advance discovery in emerging fields by identifying and exploiting cross-disciplinary opportunities between traditional science disciplines develop a directorate-wide, target-user focused approach to applied programs, including earth science applications, space weather, planetary defense, and space situational awareness.