Department of Physics and Astronomy Faculty Research Pages
Richard A. Crowe
Ph.D.,University of Toronto, 1984
Research
Synergistic Activities
In 1991, Dr. Crowe was selected as a Fujio Matsuda Fellow of the University
of Hawai`i for his scholarly work. He was Chair of the UHH Physics and Astronomy
Department from 1992-2002. He was Principal Investigator on the New Opportunities
through Minority Initiatives in Space Science (NOMISS) grant ($675,000)
funded by NASA, and a Co- Investigator on the Keaholoa grant ($2,413,000)
funded by the National Science Foundation. These grant programs are designed
to encourage local and Hawaiian students from K-16 to enter careers in space
science by integrating astronomy with Polynesian skylore, voyaging, and
Hawaiian culture. Dr. Crowe also regularly trains UHH student observers
using the UH 24- inch telescope on Mauna Kea, and conducts research programs
on that telescope. In 2002, he completed a new revised version of Ed Bryan's
original “Stars Over Hawai`i” a popular book that integrates
modern astronomy with Hawaiian skylore and navigation. He is an officer
of the Rotary Club of Hilo Bay, the UHH Chapter of the Sigma Xi Scientific
Research Society, and has played clarinet in the Hawai`I County Band since
1986. In 2001, Dr. Crowe and Dr. Alice Kawakami won City Bank's TIGR Award
in Astronomy for NOMISS community outreach efforts.
Grant Activities
Principal Investigator on "New Opportunities for Minority Initiatives
in Space Science". Total funding for this NASA-funded project (2001-04) was
$675,000. This astronomy outreach and curriculum development
program targeted students of Hawaiian ancestry and their teachers in bringing the
significance of the astronomy research conducted on Mauna Kea to the
wider community. The program also includes observational astronomy
research training for undergraduate students.
Co-investigator on "Hawaiian Values, Science and Technology: Advancing
a New Paradigm for STEM Education". Total budget for this NSF-funded
project (2003-07) is 2,413,120. This grant program is designed to
encourage Hawaiian students to enter careers in science by integrating astronomy
with Polynesian skylore, voyaging, and culture (Principal Investigator:
Sonia Juvik, UH Hilo).
Co-investigator on "Acquisition of a Smal Astronomical Observatory
on Mauna Kea". Total budget for this NSF-
funded project (2003-05) is $465,000 (2003-05). This project aims to place a 0.8-meter
telescope (remotely-operable) on Mauna Kea, to replace the UH 0.6-m, in 2005
(Principal Investigator: William Heacox, UH Hilo).
Co- Team Leader on "Journey Through the Universe"
(NASA Challenger Center for Space Science Education), Hawaii Island. No
formal budget. This NASA outreach program (2005-2007)
builds on local school and community interest in astronomy and
space science, and involves a team of professionals to
deliver K-12 astronomy curriculum and training to schools (Team Leaders:
Janice Harvey and Laura Kraft).