A blessing ceremony is slated for the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus to mark the completion of a new research facility called C-MORE Hale.

U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye is expected to attend the Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education, or C-MORE, blessing at 10:30 a.m. Monday. The director of the National Science Foundation in Washington, Subra Suresh, is also expected to be present.

C-MORE is one of 17 NSF Centers of Science and Technology. Its research is focused on examining the role marine microbes play in sustaining planetary habitability.

C-MORE Hale will house state-of-the-art scientific equipment to be used in conjunction with a fleet of research vessels.