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SENATE COMMITTEE TACKLES THE SMALLEST ISSUES

The Hawaiian Bobtail Squid - a two inch, glow in the dark creature - will have its moment in the spotlight tomorrow afternoon, Tuesday, February 25. The Senate's Committee on Technology and the Arts (TEC) will hear a bill designating vibrio fischeri as Hawaii's official microbe.

Vibrio fischeri is a bacteria which lives in a symbiotic relationship with the Hawaiian bobtail squid, giving the animal the power to produce bioluminescence, or light from a living organism. The squid is endemic to Hawaii and hunts at night on reef flats. However, moonlight casts a shadow onto the sea floor, which alerts predators to the squid's presence. To counter this effect, the Hawaiian bobtail squid cultures vibrio fischeri in a special light-emitting organ, which allows it to become stealthy by projecting light that minimizes the dark shadow of its body.

The study of this chemical reaction has numerous medical and practical applications, such as testing for toxic compounds in water.

"We anticipate having a State Microbe will ignite interest in science for our kids. What could be more appropriate than a bacteria that creates a glowing blue squid that thrives just off our shores," says Sen. Glenn Wakai, Chairman of the TEC Committee, "With 70% of our planet covered in water, it makes perfect sense to have Hawaii's microbe tied to the ocean."

What: Hearing on SB 3124, designating a State Microbe

When: 1:15 p.m., Tuesday, February 25

Where: Capitol, room 414

More information on the bill can be found by clicking here.

Click here to view a very easy to understand video about the squid's abilities.

The Hawaii State Senate will launch its Statewide Videoconferencing Pilot Program beginning with the Senate Committee on Education's first hearing on Monday, January 27, 2014 at 1:15 p.m. and continue with hearings from both the Senate Education Committee and the Senate Committee on Technology and the Arts throughout the 2014 Legislative Session.

"It's not uncommon for people to have to sit through a two-hour hearing just to speak for one minute on one measure," added Senator Glenn Wakai, chairman of the Senate Technology and Arts Committee. "If we can reduce the barriers to civic engagement by reducing the cost and time people spend to voice their concerns, we are on our way to creating a better Hawaii."

In its inaugural year, the Neighbor Island Videoconferencing Program was piloted by the Senate Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Technology and the Arts. In its second year, the two committees will continue to pilot this project, increasing the amount of constituents that can be reached and who can tes

Committee on Technology and the Arts Feed