Dr. Tsai is a legendary figure whose pioneering breakthroughs in composite materials transformed aerospace and laid the foundation for modern materials science. His discoveries revolutionized how lightweight, ultra-strong materials are designed and manufactured – advancements that continue to shape industries worldwide.

Kelly Younger is the writer of the Amazon feature film CANDY CANE LANE, starring Eddie Murphy, which premiered in December 2023 and quickly became the biggest Amazon MGM Studios-produced title of all time domestically. He also serves as a member of the Disney Animation Story Trust, working on such films as Moana, Ralph Breaks the Internet, Frozen 2, Raya and the Last Dragon, Encanto, and others, and was part of the Pixar Animation Brain Trust on Cars 3, Incredibles 2, Toy Story 4, Onward, and other forthcoming Pixar films. He is currently a tenured professor in the Departments of English and Theater at Loyola Marymount University where he leads writing workshops and teaches seminars in fairy tales.

Dr. Jason Leigh is the Director of LAVA: the Laboratory for Advanced Visualization & Applications, Co-Director of the Hawaii Data Science Institute, Director of Create(x) at University of Hawaii at West Oahu, and Professor of Information & Computer Sciences at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. He is also Director Emeritus of the Electronic Visualization Lab and the Software Technologies Research Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

The aviation industry is a highly visible emitter of carbon, accounting for approximately 2.5% of global CO2 emissions. Aaron Robinson manages United Airlines’ Eco-Skies and Eco-Alliance programs, focusing on sustainable fuel development and emissions reductions. United has committed to being 100% green by 2050 – reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 100%. Aaron currently works for International Airlines Group (IAG), bringing sustainable aviation fuel to the forefront of their efforts to decarbonize.

Dr. Noam Chomsky is often called “the father of modern linguistics,” but his contributions to human understanding also extend deeply into philosophy, cognitive science, and political science. Dr. Chomsky is one of the most cited scholars alive and has published more than 150 books. After a long career teaching at MIT, he is currently part of the philosophy faculty at the University of Arizona.

Bill Burnett is the executive director of Standford’s D-School and a pioneer in the field of Design Thinking, a human-centered design methodology shaping innovations in technology and engineering. Oceanit brought Design Thinking to Hawaii in the early 2010s and count several Stanford D-School grads among our Ohana. At Oceanit, Bill spoke about creative competency in education and why it is essential to build a competitive 21st century workforce.

Dean Kamen is a prolific inventor best known for the Segway PT (electric, self-balancing mobility tool) and the all-terrain electric wheelchair iBOT. In 1989, he founded the FIRST organization to foster students’ interest in STEM, and today, FIRST robotics leagues are found around the US. A tireless advocate for technology, Kamen’s varied pursuits have been united by a desire to improve lives through technology and innovation, which he spoke about during his visit to Oceanit.

Sir Harold Kroto won the 1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery of fullerenes (or Buckminsterfullerenes after the architect, Buckminster Fuller, who conceived of geodesic domes), a structural form of carbon also known as buckyballs. During his talk at Oceanit, he discussed the impacts of science on society—almost prophetically as today, his Nobel-winning discovery is being examined for applications in areas as diverse as solar panels, military armor, and medicine.

Roz Savage holds four Guinness World Records for ocean rowing and was the first woman to row solo across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Roz has cumulatively spent over 500 days at sea in her 23-foot rowing boat. She is a prolific environmental advocate focusing largely on ocean issues and plastic pollution. At Oceanit, she spoke about tackling overwhelming challenges in unpredictable conditions.

Lance Hansche is the founder of Phoenix Technologies, the initial PC BIOS (basic input/output system). During his talk at Oceanit, he spoke about learning from missteps, serendipitous market events, and wasted opportunities in the rapid growth of new technology market segments. Phoenix Technologies built a virtual monopoly in BIOS products and services in the personal computer industry.

Dr. Pulickel Ajayan is the founding chair of Rice University’s Materials Science and NanoEngineering Department. He is a pioneer in the field of carbon nanotubes and is considered one of the world’s most cited materials scientists. His PhD work (1989) involved the characterization of gold nano-particles on oxide substrates and their phase instabilities. When he visited Oceanit, he spoke about the future of nanotechnology.

George Ariyoshi was born in Honolulu to Japanese immigrant parents and served as Hawaii’s third governor from 1974-1986 and has been active in politics from 1954 until the present. He was Hawaii’s longest-serving governor and the first Asian American to serve as governor of a U.S. State. Ariyoshi later served as president of the Hawaii Bar Association and on the Board of Directors for First Hawaiian Bank. He has dedicated his life to the betterment of the state, and in 2020 he released his third book, Hawaii’s Future. When he spoke at Oceanit, Governor Ariyoshi discussed standing firm in the face of adversity.

John Dean is the former director, chairman, and CEO of Central Pacific Bank as well as the former chairman and CEO of Silicon Valley Bank from 1993 to 2001. During this time, Silicon Valley Bank was a leading provider of financial services to early stage technology companies. He is credited with the turnaround of four major banks throughout the United States and is heavily engaged with a wide range of community programs in Hawaii. He spoke at Oceanit about the characteristics of a leader and keys to success.

Earl Bakken was the founder of Medtronic, where he developed the first wearable external pacemaker. He moved to Hawaii in the 1990s and quickly dedicated his efforts to promoting high-tech and holistic medicine in the islands. His contributions were instrumental to the design of the North Hawaii Community Hospital and its vision to be “the most healing hospital in the world.” His talk at Oceanit focused on the future of high-tech medicine in Hawaii.

Chris Lee is the founder and director of the University of Hawaii’s Academy for Creative Media and has worked tirelessly to grow Hawaii’s film production industry. Previously, he was the president of production at Columbia and TriStar Pictures where he oversaw movies such as Jerry Maguire, Philadelphia, and As Good As It Gets. At Oceanit, he spoke about the future of digital animation and movie making.

Dr. Alfred Yee was the founder and president of Yee Precast Design Group. He pioneered the use of precast concrete construction, and for many years his design of the Ala Moana Hotel held the designation of the tallest all precast structure in the US. His innovations in engineering are staples in the precast industry throughout the world.