Dr. Tara O’Neill is an Associate Professor of Science Education, Director of the Institute for Teacher Education (ITE) Secondary Program and Chair of the College of Education Senate at the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM). She specializes in multicultural, place-based science, STEM and STEMS2 (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Social Sciences and Sense of Place) education.
 
One of her current projects, A‘o Hawaii, is working with K-12 educators developing STEMS2 units associated of the Worldwide voyage of Hōkūle‘a and Hikianalia. This work involves designing and evaluating multicultural STEM curricula around the Native Hawaiian theme of Malama Honua (to care for the earth and her people) and teacher professional development associated with the voyage.