The poster session showcased poster presentations about research conducted by faculty and graduate students
Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) hosted Texas Land Grants Day on April 8, 2022, at the Prairie View A&M University Campus.
The event celebrated the crucial role of faculty, staff, and students’ talent, imagination, perspective, and energy in building a bridge between Texas A&M University (TAMU) and PVAMU. Around 80 administrators, faculty, students, and staff from TAMU and PVAMU attended the event.
The first half of the day was dedicated to a poster presentation associated with PVAMU Faculty Research Day.
Dr. Krishnamoorthi, Director, Research Advancement, gave the introductory remarks.
In his Keynote address, Dr. Magesh Rajan, Vice President, Research & Innovation, PVAMU, presented several initiatives to highlight and increase the visibility of faculty, staff, and students at PVAMU.
Karan Watson, Provost Emeritus, Texas A&M University, Regents Sr. Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering, delivered the keynote address. She said, “PVAMU and TAMU are working toward establishing a long-term relationship, and I believe that PVAMU has several things to teach us, and TAMU has several things to learn from PVAMU.”
Following the introductory sessions, attendees visited the Research Poster Session at the Willie A. Tempton Memorial Student Center, Ballroom. The poster session showcased poster presentations about research conducted by faculty and graduate students. Faculty and students stood by their posters to discuss them and answer questions.
Nine posters from Texas A&M University highlighted the scholarly work and creative endeavors faculty and students had engaged in throughout the year.
The afternoon portion of Texas Land Grants Day featured the participants moving to the New Electrical Engineering Building, where IEEI provided lunch to all participants.
In her welcome note, Dr. Tracy Hammond, Director of IEEI and professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, at Texas A&M University , said, “I’m thrilled by the promise, the energy, and the excitement you bring to the table. My excitement is fueled by the potential contributions you will make and the positive changes you bring to our campuses, society, and the world that needs your talent.”
Dr. Kelvin Kirby, Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, then provided the participants with an overview of the afternoon sessions.
The following PVAMU Research Centers presented their research to the participants: The Center for Computational Systems Biology (CCSB), The Center of Excellence in Research and Education for Big Military Data Intelligence (CREDIT), The Center for Energy and Environmental Sustainability (CEES), The Smart MicroGrid Advanced Research and Technology Center (SMART) Center for High-Pressure Combustion in Microgravity and The Center of Excellence for Cyber Security (SECURE).
A highlight of the afternoon was the ‘Researcher Speed Dating,’ in which Faculty and Researchers came together for a timed discussion about their research. During the 20 minutes that followed, they partnered up with someone new and shared research ideas before rotating to a new partner. The exchange of ideas led to interdisciplinary research collaborations in several related fields.
Randy Brooks, Professor of Practice at Texas A&M University, said, “The faculty and student discussions were positively fluid from the poster session to the ‘speed dating’ targeting collaborative opportunities.”
Seth Sullivan, Director of the Zachry Leadership Program, said, “Texas Land Grants Day was enriching. I enjoyed the poster session the most. The faculty are doing some fascinating work, and several were working on projects related to my own interests.” “I am looking forward to following up with some of my new colleagues and to hosting them in College Station in the fall.” He added.
Last Fall, Texas A&M hosted the first Land Grants Day, and it was a huge success. The event allowed participants to develop their professional networks while interacting. IEEI believes that this event will continue to serve as a launchpad for new opportunities, projects, and grants and have open forums for faculty from both universities to provide input on building better ties.