Research Week 2013 Recognizes USU's Best Faculty and Student Researchers
Utah State University’s ninth annual Research Week, to be held April 8-12, will feature longstanding popular events as well as new highlights. The weeklong celebration highlights faculty, graduate and undergraduate researchers, scholars and artists with themed days focusing on different aspects of research.
“USU’s position as the state’s land-grant institution makes research a vital component of our mission,” said Mark McLellan, vice president for research and dean of the School of Graduate Studies. “It’s a pleasure to spend an entire week celebrating the hundreds of faculty and students who have been engaged in projects this year.”
Research Week’s most attended events are the student symposia Student Showcase (Thursday, April 11) and the Graduate Research Symposium (Friday, April 2). New this year is Ignite, an evening event to bridge the two groups.
“We know that the benefits of research extend far beyond the results that appear on students’ posters and oral presentations,” said Scott Bates, associate vice president for graduate and undergraduate research. “Ignite will provide a light-hearted atmosphere for students to share more of those intangible benefits.”
Ignite is a national speaking event with the tagline, “enlighten us, but make it quick.” Instead of the 15-20 minutes allotted to traditional oral presentations, speakers are held to five minutes, with slides that automatically advance.
Ignite will be held in the TSC Skyroom on the evening of Thursday, April 11. Attendees will be served beverages and compete in a collaborative “build” project before USU graduate and undergraduate researchers share the lighter side of their discoveries in five minutes or less. Preference for Ignite attendance will be given to those presenting at Student Showcase and the Graduate Research Symposium, though anyone will be able to request a ticket.
“We are pleased to be involved with the Ignite speaking series, especially after the positive response we received with TEDxUSU last fall,” said Bates. “The success of these events demonstrates how USU research extends beyond the published results into real solutions and insights.”
Due to its great success and overwhelming response last year, the Research Recognition Night was held this year for the second time. It was Monday, April 8, as part of Faculty Research Day. The by-invitation event recognized college researchers of the year, large grant recipients, USU’s Graduate Mentor of the Year and the D. Wynne Thorne Career Research Award recipient. Video previews featuring college researchers of the year were shown. The public will have the opportunity to view the videos throughout the summer.
“These faculty members have been nominated by each department for their excellence and past accomplishments,” said McLellan. “They are the cream of the crop within the Utah State’s research community and we want them to know that we value their contributions to the university.”
In addition to these events, other events such as the D. Wynne Thorne Lecture, Faculty Book Celebration and workshops will also take place during Research Week.
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Contact: Anna McEntire, 435-797-7631, anna.mcentire@usu.edu
Writer: Nadiah Johari, 435-797-7680, Nadiah.johari@usu.edu
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