Imi Wai Ola –Seeking the Waters of Life

9th Annual Student Science Conference
May 15, 2026

8th Annual Conference Live Links!

The Imi Wai Ola Student Science Conference enables a diverse group of students from all over the state to engage with each other in intellectual conversation regarding environmental issues that directly pertain to them. It is those students who will be the architects of the solutions for the problems left to them by the generation before them.

Keeping in mind that people only take care of things they care for, these students scientists have develop a deep and profound care for their environment, aloha āina.

In ancient Hawaiʻi, it was said to “Plan Seven Generations Ahead.”
Maybe this conference is one way we can rekindle that thinking.

  • imi wai ola photo

Give us your feedback! We’re listening! 

Get Ready for the 2026 Conference Now!

Suggested Questions for Presenters/Posters:

  • How does your research relate to a conservation issues in general or to conservation issues in Hawaii?
  • Does your research relate to natural resource protection in Hawaii or the world? If so, how?
  • What subjects or specific lessons did you learn in school that helped you with this project?
  • If you were to continue this project, what would you like to do next?
  • Has your research influenced where you want to go to college (or graduate school), and what you might want to study in college?
  • Do you think that your research would help government officials, legislators, or other scientists to develop new laws or regulations?
  • How does your research relate to the global community of scientists (in other words, are there other people or places where a similar question is being asked or applies)?
  • If you were king or queen of the world for a day, how would you use your research to help solve a global problem or issue?
  • What are the variables that you looked at in your project? How did you measure them?
  • Did you help design any new technologies (or use cutting-edge technologies) to complete your project?


Suggested Questions for Breakout sessions:

  • How does your work/research relate to conservation issues in general or to conservation issues in Hawaii?
  • Does your work/research relate to natural resource protection in Hawaii or the world? If so, how?
  • What subjects or specific lessons did you learn in school that helped you the most to become a scientist?
  • If you could go back to school, are there any subjects that you would take that you did not take, that would be beneficial to your career?
  • How does your work/research relate to the global community of scientists (in other words, are there other people or places where a similar question is being asked applies)?
  • If you were king or queen of the world for a day, how would you use your work/research to help solve a global problem or issue?
  • Can you describe a typical day at work? Do you spend lots of time outside? In front of a computer? Teaching? Working with government officials? Travel?
  • What did you want to be when you were growing up? And did that change as you got older?
  • Did you have any mentors that helped you become a scientist? If so, please tell me about them or a really good memory you have of them.
  • Did you have to go to college to get your job? If so, what degree (or degrees) did you earn to be able to do your job?
  • Do you have to collaborate with people in other fields? If so, what do they do?

2026 ʻImi Wai Ola Schedule

Group A - Blue Group B - Yellow Group C - Red Group D - Green

Scroll sideways on smaller screens to view the full schedule.

Time Group A Group B Group C Group D
8:00 Buses pick up students from WCC, KCC, LCC, and Starbucks Salt Lake Blvd
8:45 - 9:15 Arrival, Registration, and Posters Setup Front Atrium
9:15 - 9:45 Welcome and Keynote Auditorium
9:55 - 10:40 Plenary Auditorium Tour Meet at Sphere Breakout 1 Room 1651 Breakout 2 Room 1564
10:45 - 11:30 Breakout 3 Room 1651 Breakout 4 Room 1564 Tour Meet at Sphere Plenary Auditorium
11:30 - 12:00 Lunch for All - Box Lunch at Outdoor Courtyard
12:00 - 12:30 Visiting Posters Presenting Posters Visiting Posters Presenting Posters
12:30 - 1:00 Presenting Posters Visiting Posters Presenting Posters Visiting Posters
1:10 - 1:55 Tour Meet at Sphere Plenary Auditorium Breakout 5 Room 1564 Breakout 6 Room 1651
2:00 - 2:45 Breakout 7 Room 1564 Breakout 8 Room 1651 Plenary Auditorium Tour Meet at Sphere
3:00 - 3:30 Closing and Exciting Upcoming Opportunities Auditorium
3:45 Bus departures back to WCC, KCC, LCC, and Starbucks Salt Lake Blvd