3-day Spring Research Fair begins April 12

Holly Brink, a junior architectural engineering major, discusses her undergraduate research project on an ancient Roman temple reconstruction project with Keith Sawyers, professor emeritus of architecture, during the 2010 Research Fair.
Holly Brink, a junior architectural engineering major, discusses her undergraduate research project on an ancient Roman temple reconstruction project with Keith Sawyers, professor emeritus of architecture, during the 2010 Research Fair.

Discussions about the University of Nebraska’s high-powered computing resources and food, water and energy resources policy are the focus of the spring UNL Research Fair April 12-14.

The ninth annual Research Fair is a campuswide celebration of research, creativity and scholarship. The spring event features the Nebraska Supercomputing Symposium and the Food, Water and Energy Resources Policy Symposium. These focused sessions will enable faculty, staff and students to explore some of UNL’s research priorities in greater depth. The Research Fair also features events for undergraduate and graduate students and post doctorates, and will conclude with the spring Nebraska Lecture.

“Research Fair is our campuswide celebration of student and faculty success,” said Prem Paul, vice chancellor for research and economic development. “It’s also a great networking opportunity. This spring’s two symposia offer faculty the chance to learn more about our super-computing resources and to be involved in planning a major new research initiative. I urge all my colleagues to participate.”

Events are free to the public in the Nebraska and East unions. Some sessions require registration. For more information, including a complete schedule, speaker bios and registration forms go to http://researchfair.unl.edu.

The April 12 Nebraska Supercomputing Symposium is a universitywide discussion on high-performance computing topics. Caspar Ammann, deputy program manager for the National Center for Atmospheric Research, will discuss capacity building opportunities at a noon luncheon in the Nebraska Union’s Regency Suite. William G. “Gerry” McCartney, Purdue University’s vice president for information technology and chief information officer, is presenting at 3 p.m. in the Nebraska Union. Registration is required.

Other speakers include David Swanson, director of the Holland Computer Center and associate professor of computer science and engineering, and Paul.

The Food, Water and Energy Policy Symposium is April 13 at the East Union. The event is a continuation of an interdisciplinary faculty retreat held in December to plan for a major interdisciplinary research initiative on food, water and energy resources policy at UNL. The goal of the symposium is to further develop ideas proposed at the retreat and build a framework of interdisciplinary research goals. Registration is required.

The featured speaker is Shenggen Fan, director general of the International Food Policy Research Institute, who will give his plenary address at 8:30 a.m. Also presenting are Paul and Ronnie Green, University of Nebraska vice president and Harlan vice chancellor of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

A speed networking session will follow at 9:45 a.m. It will be an interactive way for attendees to become aware of food, water and energy research opportunities and to discuss how to leverage each other’s expertise. Participants will report on what they learned during a panel discussion led by the Nebraska Ag Builders and industry leaders.

This event will conclude with a talk from Kathie L. Olsen at 2:45 p.m. Olsen is founder and managing director of ScienceWorks LLC and a former National Science Foundation administrator.

Other speakers and events include:

• The Graduate Student Poster Session from 3-5 p.m. April 13. Registration by March 31 is required to enter a poster. A reception in conjunction with the poster session begins at 4:30 p.m.

• Richard Lombardo, director of the UNL Office of Postdoctoral Studies, will present “Planning and Preparing for Graduate School,” a workshop for undergraduates, at 5 p.m. April 13. Registration is required.

• The Office of Undergraduate Studies sponsors the Undergraduate Research Conference and poster session at 3 p.m. April 14, which showcases students’ research and creativity.

• Margaret Jacobs, professor of history and director of women’s and gender studies, wraps up Research Fair events with her Nebraska Lecture at 3 p.m. April 14.

- Ashley Washburn, Research and Economic Development




More details at: http://go.unl.edu/ydh