Hawaii’s Congressional delegation has announced a new $1.5 million grant for physics research at the University of Hawaii.

The money will go to high energy physics research. The delegation said in a news release Thursday that a total of $8.9 million will eventually be invested.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz says particle physics research is what led to the discovery of the electron more than 100 years ago.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard says investment in science and technology is an investment in our future. She says the money will enable the University of Hawaii to continue to lead in the field of high energy physics.

That field examines properties of matter and our understanding of the physical universe.