SXU Students and Faculty Collaborate for 2019 Research Expo
Saint Xavier University's (SXU) 2019 Research Expo on Tuesday, March 5 was an afternoon where artwork was displayed beside presentations of pine-forest bacteria, where historians discussed epic battles next to mathematic debates and where the University celebrated the array of great accomplishments made through the many collaborative examples between students and faculty. It was an inspiring gathering of individuals who came together to acknowledge the SXU community's academic works. University leadership, members of the Board of Trustees and students from local high schools all perused the rows of presentations, listening to students and faculty engaged in enthusiastic discussions of their passions.
"It's very appropriate to have an event like this where artwork is shown right next to a display talking about how lipstick is made or how beef is poisoning children," said senior James Miller, standing beside his art screenprint series. "I think everything here is touching on important issues and that all the topics are coming from a place of passion."
The Student-Faculty Collaborative Research Initiative (SFCRI) helped to kick off the first Research Expo in 2018 and continued to grow in 2019, reflecting SXU's commitment to excellence in teaching, learning and scholarship by providing an event that encouraged student-faculty teams to engage in meaningful work, while also providing an opportunity to address meaningful research, social and artistic questions.
"Giving students and faculty opportunities like this to work alongside one another really contributes to the knowledge in our disciplines," said Angela Pirlott, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology. "These collaborations also go a long way in helping students gain the necessary research experience when looking to go to graduate school, especially for Ph.D. programs."
Each year, funding is available on a competitive basis to expand student-faculty collaborative research in a way that appropriately recognizes and rewards faculty leaders for their extraordinary work with students outside the classroom. Funding may be used to conduct research, engage in community-based projects, conduct fieldwork or produce the creative equivalent in the arts. The Research Expo is a perfect opportunity to not only explain to others how this work is achieved but also gives a chance to others to find inspiration for future projects. Students, faculty and staff from all across the University -- both part of the SFCRI and on their own -- have the chance to show off all their hard work, while enjoying refreshments and celebrating their peers' achievements.
Saint Xavier University is committed to actualizing its values as part of a vibrant learning community dedicated to providing its students, faculty and staff every opportunity to improve, and the Research Expo is one of many annual events to honor their ongoing achievements in excellence, innovation, diversity and lifelong learning. SXU is proud of all the members of its community and are immensely grateful to all the students and faculty who participated in this year's celebration of scholarship.