SOEST honors teaching, research excellence
Top (l to r): Sloan Coates, Matthieu Dubarry. Bottom (l to r): Jennifer Griswold, Christina Karamperidou, Aláine Lee.
On May 21, the SOEST Dean presented certificates for SOEST awards to honor excellence in research, teaching, and student research. Sloan Coates, assistant professor of Earth Sciences and an affiliate of the International Pacific Research Center, and Matthieu Dubarry, associate researcher at Hawaiʻi Natural Energy Institute, were selected to receive the SOEST Excellence in Research Awards in recognition of their demonstrated excellence in research and outstanding scholarship. Jennifer Griswold, professor of Atmospheric Sciences, and Christina Karamperidou, professor of Atmospheric Sciences, were selected for the SOEST Excellence in Teaching Awards in recognition of their demonstrated excellence in teaching, academic leadership, and dedication to student success. Aláine Lee, was selected for the SOEST Excellence in Student Research Award.
Research Excellence Awards
Sloan Coates
Coates’s nominators highlighted these exemplary research accomplishments: “transformative contributions elucidating megadroughts, decadal ENSO variability, and last millennium climate; prolific publication record in top journals; one of the most talented, dedicated, and impactful early-career climate scientists in the field today; skill communicating complex topics clearly to diverse audiences; an in-demand collaborator because of his creative scientific approaches, a role model for all faculty across campus.”
Matthieu Dubarry
Dubarry’s nominators highlighted these exemplary research accomplishments: “pioneered the use of new techniques for the non-destructive analysis of the degradation of Li-ion cells; internationally recognized as ‘the person’ when it comes to analysis and understanding of battery degradation; known for the quality, originality, and significance of his research; consistently one step above the rest of the field; many of his publications are considered essential reads.”
Teaching Excellence Awards
Jennifer Griswold
Griswold’s instruction was praised by students and colleagues with expressions such as: “provides students opportunities to learn experientially within the context of our community; creates a sense of community, deeply committed to her students’ professional and personal development; pure joy and charisma for teaching and sharing her knowledge; focused on individual student needs; bright and infectious enthusiasm; fostering a love and curiosity for atmospheric sciences.”
Christina Karamperidou
Karamperidou’s instruction was praised by students and colleagues with expressions such as: “dedication to teaching and student success; innovative and student-centered methods; engage students in real and relevant scientific research; teach complex subject matter in a way that is both engaging and accessible; approachable and patient; seamlessly integrates complex climate theory with hands-on programming experience; patiently clarified challenging concepts; emphasizes interdisciplinary learning; invested in student learning.”
Student Research Excellence Award
Aláine Lee
Lee is an undergraduate majoring in astrophysics with a minor in human spaceflight in the College of Natural Sciences. She has worked as a research assistant throughout her degree at the UH Institute for Astronomy and the Hawaiʻi Institute of Geophysics and Planetology. Lee’s nominators highlighted these exemplary qualities: “mature and dedicated researcher; a passion for research; and excellence in your research endeavors.”