Today, March 29: OSEF (Ozarks Science & Engineering Fair) Judging followed by Awards Ceremony March 31
Tonight, March 29: Alien (1979) at 7 PM – As part of the Science On Screen series, Dean Jahnke will be discussing the gender disparity in science.
Tomorrow, March 30: Sam Kean lecture at 5:00 PM in PSU Theatre
Thursday, March 31 – HRA Speaker Series Event
Thursday, March 31 – OSEF Awards Presentations
Friday, April 1: A Night in Africa banquet, doors open at 6:30 PM, PSU Ballroom, Tickets required!
Tuesday, April 5 – CNAS Public Lecture , 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM TEMPLE 002
“THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS”: A CLOSER LOOK INTO SOME COMMON INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES
Speaker: Gautam Bhattacharyya, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry
As an ongoing effort to generate greater student interest, engagement, and, ultimately, learning, instructors at all levels and of all disciplines continue to make significant changes to the way they teach. Often, considerable financial resources are spent to reconfigure classrooms to facilitate collaborative learning or to purchase devices that encourage different forms of communication within a classroom. After expending their many and earnest efforts, however, instructors are often left perplexed by the results of student assessments – both cognitive and affective. In the end, many are left to ponder about questions such as, “Why isn’t group work successful sometimes?” or “Why did only some of my real-world examples engage the students.”
In addressing these and other questions, I present key characteristics of the learning process and identify activities and practices conducive to supporting these important aspects of learning. Using evidence from the science education research literature, I describe implementation and execution of these instructional methods in ways that maximize the possibility of student learning.
IMMEDIATE DUE DATES
- Apr 6 – Abstracts due for Graduate College IDF
- Apr 8 – Abstracts due for CNAS Undergraduate Research Day
FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS
Give yourself a pat on the back. Proposal submissions are up significantly and CNAS faculty have been a big part of that! Even funding levels are up for the year! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I know that you can only get external funding if you submit grant proposals. You are doing great! (Details: Research Report – March 2016)
- Bob Pavlowsky and Marc Owen – Congratulations on your increased funding for the Springfield MS4 Monitoring Project through the City of Springfield!
- Jorge Rebaza, Les Reid, Xingping Sun and Steven Senger – Congratulations on your award through the National Science Foundation for research experiences for undergraduates in mathematics at MSU!
- Jill Black – Congratulations for a STEEL grant award!
Congratulations to Chris Barnhart for being chosen as one of only two recipients of this year’s Faculty Excellence in Community Service Award!
Everyone is invited to attend the All Faculty Reception on Wed, May 4 at 3:00 PM in PSU Ballroom West.
All Foundation Award Winners will also be announced at the All Faculty Reception.
Retirement Parties
- Come celebrate the career of Bob Egbert in Cooperative Engineering, Friday, April 15 from 2-3 PM in PSU Ballroom East! RSVPs requested – engineering@MissouriState.edu
- Come celebrate the career of Bill Agee, Electronic Support Specialist, Friday, April 29 from 2:00-3:30 PM in Temple Hall 156.
Featured faculty websites:
INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE
- Friday, April 1 – The African Student Association presents A Night in Africa banquet, a celebration of African culture through food, dance, music and other performances. Dean Jahnke plans to attend this event and would like to see some of you there! Click the link for event information including purchase of tickets ($7.00 each).
- Annual CNAS picnic is Friday, April 22 from 5:00-8:00 PM at Phelps Grove Park
Accessible Learning Institute at MSU in July
Dean Jahnke encourages faculty to attend the Accessible Learning Institute in July on our campus. Visit Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning for more information. Please note that there is a stipend available if you choose to attend!
Energy Conservation 101– Professional development training on from 2-3 PM on Tuesday, April 5. This training provides employees with information about the importance of conserving energy on campus and at home. Register through My Learning Connection.
STAFF HIGHLIGHTS
To all staff members, Staff Senate is now accepting nominations for terms beginning July 2016. Those elected will have the chance to serve MSU, representing their specific Job Family for a 3-year term, and advocating for continuous personal and professional development improvements by initiating or assisting in programs and changes that benefit staff.
Our responsibility to MSU includes, but is not limited to: reviewing policies/procedures and offering recommendations regarding the interests of staff and non-faculty employees; assisting in the communication of issues and activities affecting staff members; serving as a liaison between the President and staff; promoting participation in the University community; and encouraging a sense of community among all University employees.
The university encourages all employees to attend Senate meetings and participate in Senate activities. Staff Senate is actively engaged in the university’s Public Affairs Mission by our involvement in Lee National Denim Day for breast cancer awareness and campus community activities such as Student Move In day.
If you or someone you’d like to nominate are interested in filling a vacant senator seat and…
- have been a full-time staff member for at least one year,
- can commit to a three-year senate term,
- are able to attend one meeting each month, and
- are able to serve on at least one Staff Senate committee,
please send your nominations to StaffSenate@MissouriState.edu by April 15, 2016. Elections will take place after May 1, 2016. For more information about Staff Senate, please visit our web site or email us.
EVENTS
All CNAS Seminars are posted on the master calendar.
Science On Screen at The Moxie Cinema
March 29: Alien (1979) Dr. Tamera Jahnke (MSU, Chemistry) will be discussing the gender disparity in science.
April 5: Grizzly Man (2005) Dr. David Cornelison (MSU, Physics) will talk about the gap between how scientists see the natural world versus the general public.
April 12: Gattaca (1997) Dr. Paul Durham (MSU, Microbiology) will talk about editing our genes to battle disease.
Mar 29-31 OSEF (Ozarks Science & Engineering Fair) – Judging March 29, Awards March 31
OSEF – Competition Information – Sign Up for judging
Mar 30 Sam Kean lecture at 5:00 PM in PSU Theatre
Mar 31 HRA Board of Advisers Speaker Series featuring Chris Morris – CPK
April 5-8 Public Affairs Conference – Free to faculty, staff and students. I hope to see you at one of the presentations!
Apr 5 CNAS Public Lecture Series – The devil is in the details, Temple Lecture Hall 002, 7:30 PM
Dr. Gautam Bhattacharyya, Department of Chemistry
Apr 5 Energy Conservation 101, Hill Hall 0002, 2:00-3:00 PM (see attached flyer)
Apr 6 Pummill Math Relays at John Q Hammons Student Center, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Apr 21 CNAS Undergraduate Research Day, 2:00-4:00 – Abstracts due April 8; awards at 4:00 PM
Apr 22 CNAS Picnic at Phelps Grove Park, 4:00-8:00 PM
Apr 23 Graduate College IDF – Abstracts due April 6
Apr 27 CNAS Faculty/Staff Awards reception, 4:00 pm, Temple 001
May 4 All Faculty Recognition Reception at 3:00 PM in PSU Ballroom
May 13 Commencement – CNAS at 10:00 AM
MEDIA
- Tune in every Thursday morning at 9:45 AM for 5-minute STEM SPOTS on KSMU hosted by Dr. David Cornelison.
- Check out CNAS blog and CNAS NewsWatch for more information.