Inaugural Research Week to Be Held March 30 to April 3

Sarah Grace Brown

The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation announces the U of A's inaugural Research Week. Events will take place from Monday through Friday, March 30 to April 3. Research departments and research and innovation units will host a variety of events representing the vast amount of interdisciplinary research activity on campus. 

Daniel Sui, vice chancellor for research and innovation, is elated to facilitate this university-wide event.

"U of A's inaugural research week is really special because we are not only trying to provide the best possible support for the campus research community through the multiple events and activities during research week but also trying to recognize and celebrate the outstanding accomplishments by U of A faculty, staff, and students," said Sui.

Expanding the university's research enterprise is a component of the chancellor's "2020: Focus on the Future" series. Action Item No. 4 specifically addresses advancing interdisciplinary research at the U of A.

In this article, Chancellor Joe Steinmetz stated, "In its purest practice, research and discovery seek to increase and spread knowledge, improve health and safety, reduce work or costs, and stimulate innovation. In other words, research makes the world a better place. And by extension, as a public research university, so do we. It's a critical part of our mission as the state's flagship and land-grant university."

Programs and activities during the UA Research Week are developed as an integral part of the Chancellor's 2020: Focus on the future action series with the ultimate goal of "promoting innovation, stimulating creativity." Participating units include the Office of Research Compliance, the Office of Sponsored Programs, Office of Innovation and Industry Partnership, the Office of Undergraduate Research, Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, the Honors College, the High Performance Computing Center, the Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies, University Libraries, Office of Tech Ventures, The Brewer Family Entrepreneurship Hub, Office of Economic Development, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and the Division of Agriculture.

Research council member and history professor, Trish Starks recognizes the significance of facilitating research events at the university level.

"Universities are not just places for the transfer of knowledge but also its creation. Celebrating research is celebrating the creation of knowledge and the many ways in which universities can be crucibles of positive change," said Starks. "I am so pleased to see the research from faculty, from graduate students, and from undergraduates that make our university environment so vibrant celebrated in this new event."

Jim Coleman, provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs, noted, "I want to thank the event organizers in advance for their team efforts to develop the U of A's inaugural research week program. I'd like to encourage all our faculty, students, and staff to mark their calendar for their interested event(s) during our forthcoming research week."

A schedule of events and additional information can be found on the VCRI website. Follow the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation on Twitter and Instagram.