A look into innovative teaching methods, models and research will be part of the 17th Annual Graduate School Spring Research Symposium from Monday, April 1-Tuesday, April 2 on the campus of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
“The Graduate School Spring Symposium recognizes and celebrates the symbiotic relationship between scholarship and teaching,” said Jerry Weinberg, associate provost for research and dean of the SIUE Graduate School. “To have excellent teaching we need to have vibrant scholars who continue to add to the body of knowledge in their field and bring their discovery to the classroom to make their instruction living and relevant.”
The first day of the Symposium will focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. Martin Storksdieck, the director of the Board on Science Education at the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences will be the featured speaker. Presentations will begin at 1 p.m. in the Mississippi/Illinois Room of the Morris University Center (MUC).
“Educating and graduating the next generation of STEM developers and leaders is paramount for keeping the United States ahead in the technology curve,” said Weinberg. “It is also critical for society as a whole in solving such serious problems as serving an aging population with autonomous robots or providing sustainable solutions to consuming limited resources.”
On Tuesday, the day will begin with keynote speaker, Dr. Robert M. Augustine, dean of the Graduate School at Eastern Illinois University and chair of the Board of Directors of the Council of Graduate Schools at Eastern. Augustine will discuss the importance of graduate programs to the overall health of academics from 9-10 a.m. in the Maple/Dogwood Room of the MUC.
The Paul Simon Outstanding Teacher-Scholar Award Luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m. in the Madison Room of the MUC Meridian Ballroom. Dr. Andrew Pomerantz, professor of psychology in the SIUE School of Education, will be acknowledged as the SIUE 2013 Paul Simon Outstanding Teacher-Scholar Award recipient. More information about Pomerantz is available on SIUE’s website.
The Paul Simon Outstanding Teacher-Scholar Award is highly competitive and is given annually to a faculty member who has a proven record of combining research/scholarship and teaching. It emphasizes that SIUE is committed to the concept that faculty members must be good scholars in order to be good teachers.
Reservations are required to attend the luncheon. To register and for a full schedule of events, visit the Spring Symposium’s website.