The Oceanic Institute, an affiliate of Hawai‘i Pacific University, recently dedicated its newest building, the $1.9 million Information Technology and Training Facility (ITTF) in Waimanalo at the Institute’s headquarters.

The ITTF features a large conference room that converts into two classrooms, a wet laboratory and computer room, indoor aquariums and displays, and an outdoor, marinelife viewing pond.

These will enable the Institute to broaden its training programs for aquaculture farmers, for forums for ocean industry professionals and U.S. and foreign industry leaders, and for marine science educational programs for secondary school students.

The new facility will also provide classroom space for courses conducted as part of The Oceanic Institute’s partnership with HPU. The first collaborative course offerings will be made available to HPU students in the summer of 2004.

The ITTF is part of the present expansion of the $24.4 million Center for Applied Aquaculture and Marine Biotechnology, one of the largest aquaculture research centers in the U.S. To date, five new research, laboratory, demonstration, and education facilities have been constructed, with future expansion projects slated for the Big Island and Moloka‘i.