Research@KU

KU Research Summit Planned January 16

The Office of the Vice Provost for Research and the Faculty Senate will host a KU Research Summit on Tuesday, January 16 in Wescoe Hall.  Researchers in all disciplines, including graduate students and post-docs, are welcome to attend.

The free summit is patterned after KU’s successful annual teaching summit, held during the week before the start of classes in the fall.  The half-day meeting will begin in the morning, with opening remarks, followed by three 50-minute break-out sessions.  Each session will offer a variety of topics for participants to choose from.  The summit will conclude with a feedback session and box lunch.

“The purpose of the summit is to foster a conversation about research,” said Jim Roberts, vice provost for research.  “It is part of promoting a culture at KU that says we can compete with anyone for graduate students, funded grants, and prestigious awards.”

The idea for a research summit grew out of the KU Research Convocation in November.  “The question session at the end of the convocation was very useful,” said Ruth Ann Atchley, associate professor of psychology and chair of the Faculty Senate.  “I approached Jim about extending and broadening that kind of discussion, using the teaching summit model.  He was very open to that idea.  So was the provost.”

Each small-group meeting will begin with remarks by a facilitator, followed by about 40 minutes of discussion.  Ideas and comments from each small group will be shared in the feedback session.

The topics and facilitators for the KU Research Summit are being finalized.  The complete agenda will be posted soon on the KU Research Summit Web page.  Participants are asked to pre-register no later than January 10.

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