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Office of Research and Innovation

2021 University Research Symposium

The Office of Research and Innovation hosted the 2021 University Research Symposium, presented by the Research Leadership Academy (RLA) and the NC State University Libraries, via a series of Zoom meetings and webinars throughout the week of March 22nd. Featuring keynote addresses, discussion panels, lightning-round presentations, networking sessions and more, the 2021 University Research Symposium focused on Climate Change and Resilience.

Overview

Faculty from across the university highlighted the many ways NC State’s research, teaching and outreach work to address the impacts of climate change. From growing crops to building cities, our researchers and scholars are rethinking traditional approaches — to help create a world that’s both more sustainable for the future and more resilient in the present.  

The annual University Research Symposium aims to introduce researchers and scholars to one another — providing a space for them to explore opportunities for new partnerships and envision the future of research at NC State.

If you missed any of this year’s events or just want to refer back to anything that was covered, you can watch video recordings or view the provided resources by using the links below. Contact information for the presenters is also provided in case you want to connect with them and learn more.

Welcome and Opening Keynote Address

Vice Chancellor Mladen Vouk and keynote presenters Jean Goodwin and Kathie Dello kicked things off March 22. Goodwin gave an overview of the public’s present perception of climate change and outlined some best practices for effectively communicating about climate change. Dello summarized some of the specific challenges North Carolina is currently facing as a result of climate change — and how NC State can continue to help address these challenges.

View Video and Resource Document 

Lightning Round Presentations

The lightning round presentation sessions provided a platform for the NC State community to discover research across campus. Faculty engaged in research or scholarship related to Climate Change or Resilience — in disciplines ranging from ecology, economics and engineering to plant biology, psychology and public affairs — showcased their work in two-minute spotlights.

View Video and Resource Document 
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University Research Symposium Panels

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Designing Architecture and Modeling for Disasters Panel

This panel discusses how to form a collective effort to design and create resilient buildings and communities, drawing on the knowledge of experts in architectural design, climate-adaptive planning, oceanic dynamics and structural engineering.

View Video and Resource Document
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Natural Hazards and Disasters Resilient Design Panel

This panel discusses the ways NC State University experts in civil engineering, landscape architecture and land-use planning work to assist some of the communities that climate change has hit the hardest by helping design infrastructure that’s more resilient to natural disasters.

View Video and Resource Document
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Policy Learning, Education and Citizen Science Panel

A confluence of factors will guide the application of research on climate and resilience into public practice. This panel brings together experts in participatory knowledge, pedagogy and policy to discuss paths forward for the land-grant university of the 21st century.

View Video and Resource Document

Resilience, Sustainability and Social Justice Panel 

This panel explores the intersection of climate and human health in the context of resilience sustainability and societal inequality and highlights ways NC State strives to ensure that those who are most at risk don’t get overlooked.

View Video and Resource Document

Proposal Collaboration Networking Session

This session gave faculty a chance to connect with their colleagues and learn more about upcoming proposal opportunities in the topic areas of climate change and resilience.

Watch Video → 

View Slides →

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Closing Keynote and Discussant

To cap things off, Vice Chancellor Mladen Vouk, some of the week’s presenters and moderators, and members of the 2021 symposium planning committee joined attendees for an open discussion and retrospective of the event, to identify key takeaways, suggest ways to build off the connections that were made and find other opportunities to capitalize on moving forward.

View Video and Resource Document 
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Additional Online Resources

2021 University Research Symposium Planning Committee

  • Sharon Joines, Chair, Research Leadership Academy Member, College of Design
  • Megan Barnett, Office of Research and Innovation
  • Genevieve Garland, Office of Research and Innovation
  • Julie Ivy, Research Leadership Academy Member, College of Engineering
  • Laura Kroeger, Office of Research and Innovation
  • Wayne Place, Research Leadership Academy Member, College of Design
  • Gavin Smith, Research Leadership Academy Member, College of Design
  • Micah Vandegrift, NC State University Libraries

2020 University Research Symposium Planning Committee

  • Erin Sills, Chair, Research Leadership Academy Member, College of Natural Resources
  • Genevieve Garland, Office of Research and Innovation
  • Laura Kroeger, Office of Research and Innovation
  • Hannah Rainey, NC State University Libraries
  • Mira Waller, NC State University Libraries
  • Phil Westmoreland, Research Leadership Academy Member, College of Engineering
  • Fred Wright, Research Leadership Academy Member, College of Sciences