Tuesday’s third annual Scholars’ Showcase will display the work of 275 faculty members from all eight GW schools, the first time all schools will be represented at the one-day faculty research fair.
Maryanna Kieffer, project coordinator for the Office of Sponsored Research, said the School of Medicine and Health Sciences does not usually participate in the showcase because it has its own research exposition, and the School of Engineering and Applied Science participates every other year.
Kieffer said she is excited about having all of GW’s schools represented and said she hopes it will mean more student attendance than at past fairs.
“The turnout has been lower than we would like,” Kieffer said. “It has been hard to get students to come.”
Kieffer said publicity for the showcase has increased this year. Fliers and programs were mailed to all students who live on campus, and each academic department was given programs to distribute to graduate students and faculty.
“We really tried to get the program into everyone’s hands,” Kieffer said. “But we can’t afford to mail it out to everyone.”
Kieffer said some advertising has been done off campus but stressed the event is mainly for GW students, professors and alumni.
While the showcase mainly highlights the work of professors, some presenters include graduate students who worked with professors, Kieffer said.
Kieffer said the University calls for submissions in the fall, and often entire departments collaborate on one exhibit to highlight the research projects of faculty members.
The array of disciplines within the University enables the showcase to exhibit three different venues for displaying research. Faculty from the theatre and dance department will give three presentations in the Betts Theatre.
A film entitled A Paralyzing Fear: The Story of Polio in America also will be presented by Nina Gilden Seavey from the history department and Center for History in the Media.
The Marvin Center’s third floor lobby and the ballroom will host the “Scholars Expo.” Kieffer said that will be a lively area, with displays of book and journal articles, Internet information, videos and scientific posters. Exhibits will be on display from noon to 6 p.m., and faculty members are invited to explain exhibits and answer questions from noon to 2 p.m. Lunch also will be served from noon to 2 p.m.
A series of meetings and panel discussions will be held on the fourth floor of the Marvin Center by faculty from the Columbian School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business and Public Management, SEAS, the Graduate School of Education and Human Development, the School of Public Health and Health Services, and GW Law School.
The Faculty Senate’s research committee urged the creation of the showcase, which began in the 1996-’97 academic year. The event is sponsored by GW’s Office of Sponsored Research and Office of the Associate Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies.
