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KIHEI - Local sustainable energy challenges were the focus this summer of the long-running inquiry-based science workshops for Maui County teachers offered by the Maui Economic Development Board.

Sponsored by the board's Women in Technology (WIT) Project, the workshop was held to help teachers engage students in renewable energy science and to make them more aware of the energy conservation techniques available. It introduced the new Island Energy Inquiry curriculum developed by WIT.

The workshop was facilitated by WIT Project Manager Diana Papini Warren and Kanesa Duncan, University of Hawaii assistant professor. Guest speakers included Leo Caires of Entegrity Wind Systems; William Bennett of Energy Consulting Associates; Mark Suehiro of Maui Electric's Renewable Energy Department; and Wayne Axelson, who is self-employed and plans to start a renewable energy-related company on Maui.

Participants were teachers in grades 5 through 12, who received kits with solar panels, wind turbines and energy-auditing equipment to take back to their classrooms.

The workshop was held in July at Kalama Intermediate and Maui High schools. The next workshop, on Oct. 5, will feature a field trip to the Kaheawa Wind Farm.

WIT has sponsored for several years workshops related to inquiry-based science, which begins with students being scientific investigators. They develop questions and hypotheses, and test them. It is a cyclical process because the students then build on what they learn with more questions, hypotheses and tests.

For more information, including about the next workshop, contact Papini Warren at 270-6804 or diana@medb.org

The workshops are sponsored by WIT in collaboration with UH-Manoa's Curriculum Research and Development Group and Hawaii Sea Grant.

WIT is an outreach initiative of MEDB and funded, in part, by the U.S. Department of Education.