ODU Graduate Research Achievement Day Set for April 6 in Webb Center

On Wednesday, April 6, in Webb Center's North Mall, 23 of the brightest graduate student researchers at Old Dominion University will display their work during Graduate Research Achievement Day, which the Office of Graduate Studies hopes becomes an annual event.

Posters by students, representing all six of ODU's academic colleges, will be on display from 12:30-2:30 p.m.

Brenda Neumon Lewis, associate vice president for graduate studies, said the function has evolved from a former combined event featuring graduate students from ODU, Eastern Virginia Medical School and Norfolk State University. That event grew so large it was held at on the floor of the Ted Constant Convocation Center, but due to the inordinate amount of resources it required, in terms of faculty time and cost, it was discontinued.

"Provost (Carol) Simpson really wanted to bring back a forum for graduate students to showcase their research to an audience of their peers," Neumon Lewis said. "We wanted to start a little smaller; plus, by holding the event in Webb Center, the posters are more likely to be seen by the ODU community of faculty, staff and students."

The posters include studies about women and illiteracy, preschoolers with hearing implants, traffic signals, asthma medicine adherence, marine pathogens and reducing the economic burden of cancer.

As a comprehensive institution, Neumon Lewis said, Old Dominion University relies on the national reputation of its graduate research programs. Many ODU graduate programs - such as counseling, engineering technology and oceanography - have earned national rankings. Neumon Lewis said the Office of Graduate Studies needs to showcase the work being carried out in all of the school's programs.

"By having the event in Webb Center, we hope the undergraduates will pay attention to what the graduate students are doing, so they realize that you can do cutting-edge, world-leading collaborative research here at Old Dominion. And that feedback will hopefully help the graduate student presenters realize that their work has real value, not just to Old Dominion University, but to society," she said.

Neumon Lewis said this year's event features only posters; there will be no presentations or judging of exhibits. She said she is hopeful that the event can expand next year.