Hundreds of eager and curious students from throughout the state gathered at Punahou School on Oct. 27, 2012, for the 11th annual Astronaut Lacy Veach Day of Discovery. Named in honor of late astronaut Charles Lacy Veach ’62, the daylong event guided students through a day of scientific inquiry via hands-on learning.

11th annual Astronaut Lacy Veach Day of Discovery (slideshow)

“The 2012 Astronaut Lacy Veach Day of Discovery provides an opportunity for children, parents and teachers to share their love of science and technology through engaging workshops, displays, keynote speakers and science demonstrations that are provided by more than 200 facilitators and volunteers from more than 30 organizations,” said Art Kimura, education specialist for Hawai‘i Space Grant Consortium.

The free event, open to students in grades four through 12, attracted more than 600 students, parents and teachers from public and private schools throughout Hawai‘i. Students selected from among 18 hands-on science, engineering and technology workshops and enjoyed displays such as student-engineered robots, a sun telescope and a flight simulator.

The event, which lasted from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., also included two general assemblies. Kaiu Kimura, director of the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center on the island of Hawai‘i, delivered the morning keynote address, while Ian Kitajima, senior executive for Oceanit, one of Hawai‘i’s largest and most diversified science and engineering companies, spoke in the afternoon. The day concluded with a lively science demonstration by Future Flight Hawai‘i’s Dale Olive and Roger Kwok.

The Astronaut Lacy Veach Day of Discovery is sponsored by Punahou School, Hawai‘i Space Grant Consortium, Hawaiian Electric Company, the family of Lacy Veach, and The Chatlos Foundation, in cooperation with the Hawai‘i Science Teachers Association and the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center.