Axe ’Em, Jacks!
The Bright Ideas Conference highlighting faculty research, scholarship and artistry will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, April 8, in the Baker Pattillo Student Center at Stephen F. Austin State University.
More than 100 faculty exhibits will be on display throughout the day in the Grand Ballroom, and seven 30-minute spotlight presentations will be given in the afternoon in Regents Suites A and B. An opening session and award presentation is planned for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
One spotlight presentation was chosen to represent each of the six SFA colleges, as well as the Steen Library. The winning presentations include:
1 p.m. - Nelson Rusche College of Business; Dr. Ryan Phelps, assistant professor of economics and finance; "Bringing Data to Life in the Classroom: Introducing a Free and Captivating Data Presentation Tool."
1:30 p.m. - College of Sciences and Mathematics; Dr. Odutayo Odunuga, assistant professor of chemistry; "Expression, Purification and Biochemical Characterization of a Gene Implicated in Dwarfism and Polydactyly."
2 p.m. - Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture; Dr. Erin Brown, assistant professor of agriculture; "Influence of Weaning Strategy on Animal Welfare."
2:30 p.m. - College of Liberal and Applied Arts; Dr. Marc Guidry, associate professor of English, and Charles Jones, professor of art in the College of Fine Arts; "Chaucer's Knight's Tale: An Illustrated Art Book Edition."
3 p.m. - Steen Library; M.E. McWilliams, director of the Academic Assistance and Resource Center; "Kiss Kiss: Supporting Faculty Engagement."
3:30 p.m. - James I. Perkins College of Education; Dr. Kean Kniss, assistant professor of kinesiology and health science, and Dr. DawnElla Rust, professor of kinesiology and health science; "Collaboration to ACHIEVE a Healthier Nacogdoches."
4 p.m. - College of Fine Arts; Dr. John Cotner, assistant professor of music; "Teaching Online Graduate Music Theory: Special Problems and New Solutions."
"It is essential that the faculty of a 'teaching institution' such as SFA remain active in research and creative work," said Dr. Richard Berry, SFA provost and vice president for academic affairs.
"Many of our faculty members have an extraordinary record of achievement in these areas, and I believe it is important to provide an opportunity to showcase these achievements so that, at the very least, we can become aware of the very impressive scholarly work of our colleagues and the ways in which this work informs and strengthens our teaching."
A free performance titled "Simbiosis: Piano and Rainforest" by Costa Rica's Minister of Culture Manuel Obregón will follow the conference at 7:30 p.m. in Cole Concert Hall.
For additional information about the Bright Ideas Conference, please call the SFA Office of Research and Sponsored Programs at (936) 468-6606.