14th Annual Fisk Research Symposium (2012) April 4-5, 2012 Appleton Room, Jubilee Hall, Fisk University, Nashville, TN Call for Abstracts: cfp.txt (text file), Flyer-Symposium-2012.pdf (1 page, PDF file)

The 14th Annual Fisk University Research Symposium will be held on April 4-5, 2012, in the Appleton Room of Jubilee Hall, Fisk University. The objective of the symposium is to promote research and inter-disciplinary collaboration. The symposium provides an opportunity for our students and faculty to share the results of their recent research efforts with their peers and the university community. Students, faculty, and administrators from all disciplines are invited to submit their abstracts and posters.

 

• Faculty & Admin (Posters & Presentations): Wednesday, April 4, 2012
• Student Posters: Thursday, April 5, 2012
• Keynote Presentation: Thursday, April 5, 2012 @ 1:00 PM

 

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Herman B. White Jr

Title: Predicting the True Value of Scientific Research

Abstract

What is the difference between the scientific research conducted by George Washington Carver, Albert Einstein, Joanne E. Berger-Sweeney, and Samuel Massie, and others? In all cases, the work of these great scientists is ultimately an investment in knowledge, solving problems, and improving our way of life. They had different means to pursue their scientific research, but I contend that the similarities are still easy to recognize. In this presentation, I will distinguish the differences between applied scientific research and fundamental basic research, with an emphasis on the motivation of the research, the timing of completing the research and ultimately the impact of the scientific research on society and our knowledge base.

Short Bio

Dr. Herman White is a senior scientist at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and an Adjunct Professor of Physics at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois. He received the 2010 Edward A. Bouchet Award which recognizes distinguished minority physicists who have made significant contributions to physics research. The award citation read: "For his contributions to KTeV experiments and the establishment of a new kind of interaction distinguishing matter from antimatter, as well as his outstanding public service and mentorship roles."

During his 36-year career at Fermilab, Dr. White has helped design, commission and analyze data from some of the world’s most well-known particle physics experiments. Early in his career, he contributed to the development of an empirical formula (Stefanski and White) widely used at that time in the calculation of neutrino f lux in high-energy particle interactions. (He is the first African-American in history to have a scientific equation that bears his name.) His work in high-energy physics has included a wide variety of experiments.

 

In addition to his Fermilab position, for the past 16 years he has served as an Illinois Research Corridor Fellow and adjunct professor of physics at North Central College where he is also vice chairman of the Board of Trustees. For many years, White has led communication efforts to bring a focus on physics and physical science research to Congress and governmental agencies, including service on advisory panels for the U.S. Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, NASA and The National Academies. He is a member of a number of other governing boards of directors.

Dr. White earned an A.B. degree in physics from Earlham College, an M.S. degree in nuclear and accelerator physics from Michigan State University and a Ph.D. in elementary particle physics from Florida State University. He was a resident research associate in nuclear physics at Argonne National Laboratory (1971), an Alfred P. Sloan Travel Fellow at the CERN Laboratory (1972) and University Fellow at Yale from 1976 to 1978.

 

Best Paper Award

The "Best Paper" will be selected in each major, for which a sufficient number of abstracts are received. Majors may be combined within a School to create a category for the award. All posters will be evaluated by a team of judges.

 

About Symposium

Fisk is renowned for engaging students in research and scholarly activities. Empirical research and scholarship are grounded in our academic curriculum, campus support services, and community activities. Our faculty, students and administrators emphasize the discovery and advancement of knowledge through research in the natural and social sciences, business and the humanities.

The research symposium is a venue to disseminate and share scholarly contributions with other researchers and scholars. As research contributions and best practices are presented from several disciplines, it provides opportunities for inter-disciplinary research and collaboration. The poster presentations and dialogue with the researchers shows Fisk’s commitment for critical thinking and inquiry-based learning. Further, it strengthens the idea of serendipitous education – acquisition of knowledge in a positive and affirming learning environment.

In 2011, there were forty-nine (49) poster presentations (with 124 co-authors) from departments in both schools: “School of Humanities and Social Sciences” and “School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Business”. Also, there were posters by students from Graduate Studies. The students' research was supported by twenty-one (21) faculty mentors. Further, the posters included the research collaboration from seven (7) external departments: Departments of Pharmacology, Macromolecular Science & Engineering, and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Case Western Reserve University; Department of Surgery, Meharry Medical College; Computer Science, North Carolina A&T State University; Vanderbilt University; and Shannon Point Marine Center, Western Washington University.

Check Symposium-2011 web page for more information.

 

Financial Support

We highly appreciate the financial support from our sponsors.

• Dr. Eugene Collins, director of the Fisk Center for Physics and Chemistry of Materials (CPCoM), a Center for Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) at Fisk University, has graciously confirmed that, as done in the past, CPCoM will co-sponsor the Symposium by covering the costs of printing the Symposium booklet. CPCoM will also cover the expenses of the printing supplies (special poster paper and plotter ink cartridges) for students and faculty opting to use the CPCoM printing room in Dubois Hall.
• Dr. Arnold Burger has announced that Title VII Grant will provide the financial support to partially cover the cost of refreshments during symposium.

 

 

About Fisk

Every year top students from the United States and across the globe choose Fisk as their portal to excel in their academic and professional careers. Here are just a few of our recent accomplishments:

• The Washington Monthly, September/October 2011, ranked Fisk as the "#1 Liberal Arts Institution in Research in the South" and the 16th Best Liberal Arts University in the nation in its "Top Liberal Arts Colleges and Universities" rankings”. Fisk ranks in the top 10 percent of the 250 leading liberal arts institutions based on social mobility, research and service.
• U.S. News & World Report’s Top Colleges and Universities 2012, ranked Fisk in Tier One at #144 of more than 1,400 Liberal Arts Institutions in the United States. Among the Liberal Arts Tier One rankings are only three HBCUs: Fisk, Morehouse and Spelman.
• For the 20th consecutive year, the Princeton Review included Fisk on its 2012 list of “The Best 373 Colleges” in the nation and on its list of “The Best Southeastern Colleges.”
• Fisk ranked among the top 25 percent of 650 higher education institutions listed in Forbes’ 2011 Top College List.
• For the past 19 years, Money Magazine has included Fisk on its “100 Best College Buys” list.
• The most recent National Science Foundation study reveals that Fisk alumni earned more doctoral degrees in the natural sciences than African-American graduates from any other college or university in the nation (National Science Foundation, Academic Institutional Profile, 2007).
• Fisk ranks in the 77th percentile of all institutions in the United States receiving federal science and engineering research funds (National Science Foundation, Academic Institutional Profile, 2007).
• Fisk is the number one producer of African Americans who obtain their master’s degrees in physics (National Science Foundation, 2007).
• Fisk ranks among the top 50 U.S. institutions whose graduates earn Ph.D. degrees in science and engineering (National Science Foundation, 2007).
• Fisk received a charter for the first chapter of The Phi Beta Kappa Society on a predominantly black campus in 1952. Fisk’s 2011 graduating class included eight students who were inducted into The Phi Beta Kappa Society.

 

Check "About Fisk" web page for more information.