In reading through an early draft of this fall newsletter, mulling over what I should discuss, it became abundantly clear that I needed to discuss one thing in particular - research. While I make no apologies for focusing my last few letters on experiential learning and entrepreneurship, it is clear that research is never far from my mind. Indeed, I have made no secret of the fact that one of the end games in our efforts to integrate teaching, experiential learning and research into the student experience is to reach a point where we can begin to replenish our faculty ranks with research active, junior faculty. In other words, research and learning in the college are inseparable, and each one supports the other as we work to enforce the role of Wright State as an innovative research leader for the region and beyond.
Within a two-week period this fall, CoSM held a series of profoundly successful research and innovation-focused events. On October 26th, we held our inaugural “Festival of Research”. As described in one of the enclosed articles, the festival occupied much of the common space in the Neuroscience and Engineering Collaborative building and featured posters, informational tables, research talks, pub science talks and improvisational sessions. The plenary talk by Provost Susan Edwards discussed the role of research in securing the future of the university. The event was truly spectacular and uplifting in every respect. The next day (October 27th), we celebrated our college scholarship recipients for the 2018/2019 academic year by hosting a Scholarship Recognition Reception that included the students, their families and some of the scholarship donors. Many of the scholarships presented were intended to support undergraduate research and experiential learning. The reception was a moving time set aside to learn more about the recipients and donors, and I left the event feeling exceedingly proud of the students and inspired by the donors. Finally, as discussed in another of the enclosed articles, we held our second CoSM “Innovation Weekend” event from November 2-4 that was as successful and impressive as the first one that we held last spring. The financial sponsor, Leidos, provided an exciting topic and great logistical support throughout the weekend. We plan two more of these events in the spring with different topic areas that will be announced soon after the start of spring semester.
2018 has been a very good year for external funding in the college. We have profiled a number of grant recipients in this and in prior newsletters, with other exciting funding news poised for release in upcoming editions. The funding sources have ranged from the National Institutes of Health, to the National Science Foundation, to the United States Department of Agriculture, to state and private sources, demonstrating clearly the significance of the work being done here. As research becomes more collaborative, we are working hard to find even more ways to connect people from across campus to tackle even bigger problems of regional and national importance. Maintaining a strong research enterprise is critical for the future of Wright State University and, of course, for the future of CoSM. Although not yet vetted by the full faculty, work on the university strategic plan over the past 10 months led those involved in the process to place “Strengthen and Elevate the Research Enterprise” as one of the top pillars for prioritization and immediate investment by the university. We are currently in the midst of a search for the next Vice Provost for Research and Innovation, a position that will be critical for achieving this goal and moving the research venture forward campus wide.
Now is the time for us to strategize on the research focus areas that will form the basis of our next 5-20 years. We have lost a little ground over the past few years as we have worked to get our financial house into order, but the events of this fall tell me that we in CoSM have not lost our passion for science. I’ll end by circling back to the first paragraph where I mention rebuilding. In this newsletter, we introduce two new CoSM faculty members who will be the first of what we hope will be many new investments in the math and science future of the institution and region. I welcome them, and wish everyone a festive holiday season and happy new year.
