Important Update: The 2020 Research and Scholarship Conference has been canceled for
March 25 - 26, 2020 in the Ramsey Center and A.K. Hinds University Center
From Brandon Schwab, Associate Provost:
We regret that due to the COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) potential impact, we are canceling
all Research and Scholarship Conference events at this time, which includes the 22nd
Annual Undergraduate Exposition and the 28th Annual Graduate Research Symposium. We are truly sorry to cancel these events which are one of the highlights of the year
for our campus. We also know that you have already invested considerable time and
effort to prepare your materials for poster, oral, and exhibit presentations. Please
know that this decision was made in the best and safe interest of all students, staff,
and faculty at Western Carolina University.
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March 25: Various Locations Across Campus & Ramsey Arena
Sustainability and Environment Featured Presentations
11:00 am - 2:00 pm in Blue Ridge Conference Room
Join Undergraduate Students and their Faculty Mentors for a series of oral presentations,
sponsored by the Sustainability and Environment Campus Theme Committee.
- 11:00 am - 12:30 pm: Department of Geosciences and Natural Resources Featured Undergraduate
Student Presentations; Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Aimee Rockhill
- 12:45 pm - 2:00 pm: School of Art and Design Featured Undergraduate Student Presentations;
Faculty Sponsor: Justin Morgan Kennedy
Undergraduate Expo at the Ramesy Arena
Poster Hanging Set-up times:
- Poster hanging period on concourse level of Ramsey: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM (All posters
must be up no later than 2:00 pm)
- Poster Preview: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Browse posters created by your peers).
The 22nd Annual Undergraduate Exposition:
- Welcome Address: 4:00 – 4:05 PM
- Faculty Panel: 4:05-4:55 PM (including Q & A)
- Introduction of Keynote Speaker: 4:55-5:00 PM
- Keynote Address: 5:00 – 6:00 PM
- Reception & Celebration: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
- Undergraduate & Graduate Posters: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
*Note: Undergraduate Oral Presentations will be held all day (March 25 & 26) at various
locations across campus. Check the Campus Map under special events for a complete listing of locations.
March 26: A.K. Hinds University Center
Graduate Research Symposium
10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Various locations throughout the A. K. Hinds University Center
2020 Graduate Research Symposium's Keynote Speaker
Dr. L. Alvin Malesky, Department of Psychology at Western Carolina University
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm in the UC Theater
Join Dr. L. Alvin Malesky in the UC Theater for his Keynote Address at the 28th Annual
Graduate Research Symposium.
2020 Exemplary Undergraduate Oral Presentations
At various locations in the A.K. Hinds University Center. Please see the 2020 Graduate
Research Symposium Program for details on locations and times.
*Note: Exemplary Undergraduate Oral Presentations will be selected to be presented
on March 26, 2020 at the Graduate Research Symposium. Primary abstract authors will
be notified of decisions by catamount email. Please share decisions with your faculty
sponsors. You will receive an email notification with your entry information. Exemplary
undergraduate presenters will be notified of the time and location of their presentations
in advance of the date.
Graduate Research Symposium Reception
5:00pm - Reception and Awards in the University Center Grand Room
Graduate Research Symposium
The 2020 Research & Scholarship Conference is joining with the campus theme of Sustainability
and Environment
This year RASC and WCU's Sustainable Energy Initiative will be focused on making the
22nd Annual Undergraduate Exposition a Zero Waste Event.
Zero Waste Events have become a primary goal for the Sustainable Energy Initiative (SEI) and Office
of Sustainability and Energy Management (OSEM) as a way to address over consumption
and reduce campus waste. Zero Waste Events on campus are events with goals to generate
zero food waste, consciously purchase reusable materials, minimize paper product use
in marketing, and to remove unneeded purchasing of giveaway items. The SEI and OSEM
are proud to partner with the 22nd Annual Undergraduate Exposition to create the largest
zero waste event in Western Carolina University history.
In addition, we hope to bring together participants from across the colleges to share
in how WCU defines research and creative inquiry, and to highlight the contributions
that students and faculty have made in their fields as it relates to this theme.
RASC will feature events over the 2-day period that students, faculty, and the community
can attend to connect with this campus theme. And, for undergraduate students, many
of the events featured will be designated for Degree Plus.
See the list of Sustainability and Environment and Degree Plus tagged events for the
2020 Research and Scholarship Conference below, and check out our more detailed schedule
on this page.
March 25, 2020:
- Sustainability and Environment Featured Oral Presentations from Geosciences and Natural
Resources and School of Art and Design
- The 2020 Undergraduate Exposition Faculty Panel and Keynote Address by Dr. Diane Styers
of Western Carolina University
- The 2020 Undergraduate Exposition Poster and Exhibit Celebration, featuring both
Undergraduate and Graduate Presentations
The Research and Scholarship Conference is an event that would not be possible without
the dedication and service of Western Carolina University Faculty and Staff Members.
The 2019 - 2020 RASC Committee is made up of Faculty and Staff representatives from across
the colleges, the Brinson Honors College, the Graduate School, and the Office of the
Provost. Committee members collaborate through the academic year to organize, create,
and facilitate the combined event.
2019- 2020 Committee Members
- Robert Youker (co-chair)
- Munene Mwaniki
- Katie Zejdlik-Passalacqua
- Kloo Hansen (chair)
- Suzanne Melton
- Brandon Schwab
- Brian Kloeppel
- Joy Bowers-Campbell
- Jan Stanfield
The Research and Scholarship Conference and Sustainability and Environment Committees
Welcome the 2020 Kenynote Speaker:
Dr. Diane Styers
Associate Professor of Geosciences and Natural Resources, Western Carolina University
Dr. Styers uses remote sensing and geospatial approaches to analyze patterns of social
and ecological processes that drive landscape changes affecting earth's resources.
Her current research focuses on analyzing ecosystem structure and function and examining
changes over space and time, particularly in response to natural and human disturbances.
This information helps support her ultimate goal of mapping, quantifying, and valuing
ecosystem services. Dr. Styers’areas of expertise include: LiDAR data analysis, object-based
image analysis (OBIA), MODIS and Landsat phenology and other time series analysis,
multi-sensor integration, forest ecology (structure and function), human ecology mapping,
air pollution effects on forest ecosystems, and dendroecology.
Ramsey Arena
March 25, 2020
5:00 – 6:00 PM
