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RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM HIGHLIGHTS COLLEGE’S ACTIVITIES

By Pete Rosenbery

The College of Applied Sciences and Arts hosted its second multidisciplinary research symposium last month at the Student Center and Morris Library’s John C. Guyon Auditorium.

The Nov. 21 event featured an expanded schedule and large increase in submissions compared to last year’s inaugural event.

This year there were 24 presentations and 31 posters, with presenters from SIU Carbondale, St. Louis University, Washington University, the University of Kansas, and Carbondale Community High School. In addition, students and faculty from Southeast Missouri State University attended the IBM workshop.

Interim Chancellor Brad Colwell gave a welcome to open the symposium, and Susan Ford, interim provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, spoke during the lunch break. Yueh-Ting Lee, graduate school dean, and other SIU Carbondale administrators also attended.

The symposium is a vital communication and interdisciplinary research opportunity, Andrey Soares, an assistant professor in Information Systems and Applied Technology (ISAT) and symposium chair, said. Because the college’s mission features a variety of interests, the goal is for faculty and students to look for potential collaboration on research projects. Expanding the event to include regional universities, colleges and private industry is another part of the symposium’s purpose. Students are also interested in collaborating on research projects, Soares said.

“We talk to people in the hallways and see each other, but having an event where people can talk about research and find collaboration and common interests, that is why this event is so important,” Soares said. “We thought if we are doing this, maybe other universities are in the same situation, so let’s open it up and have a regional symposium.”

There were workshops on IBM Watson Analytics and the 2015 CASA Summer Research Support Award presentations -- Joan Davis, professor, School of Allied Health; Steven Goetz, assistant professor, Aviation Management and Flight; Tom Imboden, associate professor, Information Systems and Applied Technology; Karen Johnson, associate professor, Aviation Technologies; Don Morris, assistant professor, Aviation Technologies, and Chad Schwartz, assistant professor, School of Architecture. A new feature this year was a session featuring faculty who received external grants sharing results of their research.

There was a panel discussion on “Big Data and Analytics” from panelists including Shahram Rahimi, chair of the Department of Computer Science; Steven Miller, global leader, academic programs for IBM Analytics; Kevin Rush, senior director of credentialing operations, American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (AART), St. Paul, Minn., and Reggie Townsend, health and life sciences principal at SAS business analytics software and services. Kyle Harfst, executive director of economic development and of the SIU Research Park was the panel moderator.

The discussion centered on how data is being collected, processed, interpreted and analyzed. For example, the data can include patient health history and imaging; commercial information generated from airplanes or vehicles, or even student performances.  A goal in collecting the data is to have an accurate analysis of information that will lead to better decision making. The college has a website designated for “Big Data at SIU” to provide opportunities for collaboration with faculty, students and industry partners.

“The symposium brought a diverse group together with faculty, students and professionals from different areas … where big data and analytics play a critical role,” Soares said. “They are all facing challenges and opportunities with the data generated within their fields.”