Zank, Cassibry set to help UAH celebrate research achievements

Dr. Gary Zank, director of the Center for Space Plasma and Aeronomic Research (CSPAR) and director of the Department of Space Science, is a featured guest speaker when the third annual Research Week at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) hits campus April 11-14.

Dr. Zank is the only current member of the University of Alabama System who is National Academy of Sciences member, and is a recipient of the Asia Oceania Geosciences Society Axford Medal, the highest honor the organization bestows.

Research Week kicks off on April 7 with a screening of the movie "Passengers," and UAH propulsion scientist Dr. Jason Cassibry, an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and leader of the university’s Charger-1 Pulsed Power Generator, will introduce the movie with a short talk about UAH’s role in propulsion in deep space.

Beginning in conjunction with College Honors Convocations on April 11, Research Week is a campus-wide celebration to promote and recognize the research and creative work of students at the university. All events are open to the general public.

"We want to celebrate our proud history of being a research university and create opportunities where everyone can network, share and have fun," says Dave Cook, coordinator of student research programs for UAH’s Office of Academic Affairs and an event co-organizer.

Research Week’s theme is "Science, Technology & Society: Today’s Fiction, Tomorrow’s Fact" and is meant to promote the fact that the research currently being done by UAH faculty, research staff and students will be vital to making a better future come true.

Research Week is coordinated by the Office of Sponsored Programs, the Office of Academic Affairs and the Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development.

"There is a lot of innovative research, scholarly activity and creative projects going on at UAH, and we're proud of the fact that students have the opportunity to get involved," says Cook.

"The events are meant to give our students a chance to share what they have been working on. Dissemination of research and creative projects is an important part of inquiry based learning," he says. "We also want students, faculty, researchers, staff and the local community to come together to look at this work in the hope of building relationships and collaborations."

Visitors from the local community are welcome at the Research Horizons Day Poster Session on April 12 from 4-6 p.m. Graduate and undergraduate students representing every college will be displaying research posters in the Student Success Center of the M. Louis Salmon Library and will be on hand to discuss their work and answer questions.

"We’re very excited about this opportunity to celebrate the next generation of research and creativity on our campus," Cook says. "We look forward to holding this event annually and growing the involvement of students, faculty, researchers, staff and the local community."

Scheduled activities:

Friday, April 7

Research Week Kick-Off Event at the Movies: Passengers

7:15 p.m., CU Theater’s ACE Friday Flicks

The starship Avalon is transporting over 5,000 colonists to the planet Homestead II, a journey that takes 120 years. That’s a long way! UAH’s world-renowned propulsion scientist, Dr. Jason Cassibry, will start the movie at 7:15 p.m. with a short talk about propulsion in deep space, UAH’s role and where we’re going in space.

Tuesday, April 11

Individual College Convocations and Student Poster Displays 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Honors College – 8 a.m., Charger Union

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences –­ 9:30 a.m., Wilson Hall

College of Business Administration — 10:45 a.m., Chan Auditorium (Room 125)

College of Education — 12:30 p.m., Frances Roberts Recital Hall

College of Science — 1:45 p.m., Materials Science Building (Room 100)

College of Engineering — 3 p.m., Chan Auditorium (Room 125)

College of Nursing — 4:30 p.m., Nursing Building (Room 103)

Wednesday, April 12

Campus-Wide Student Research & Creative Projects Poster Session & Reception

4-6 p.m., Student Success Center, M. Louis Salmon Library.

Graduate and undergraduate students, representing every college, will be on hand to discuss posters of their research and creative projects. Light refreshments. The public is welcome. Posters will remain on display in the Student Success Center until April 14.

Thursday, April 13

Student poster viewing all day (Student Success Center, M. Louis Salmon Library)

11-11:45 a.m., guest speaker Dr. Gary Zank, Department Chair, Space Science Department, Director, Center For Space Plasma And Aeronomic Research: "From Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Science Fiction to Science and Back to Science Fiction: An Alabama Connection," M. Louis Salmon Library Room. 111. Light refreshments.

Friday, April 14

2-4 p.m., "So You Think You Can Research," M. Louis Salmon Library Room 111. Networking and sharing of student creative projects and research with three-minute, one slide presentations. Up to $100 in gift certificate prizes! Hosted by: Kristin T. Scroggin, founder and owner of Workplace Training Solutions, and a Communication Arts Professor at UAH. All majors are welcome. Light refreshments.

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