by Clem Boyd, Communication Content Manager
Schools across the country have made the switch to all-online classes. Cedarville University has also made the same pivot with its 11th annual Research and Scholarship Symposium.
The Research and Scholarship Symposium (RSS) allows Cedarville students and faculty to present research within their disciplines for review and inquiry. This year’s public event, which is typically a single-day event, will now be held online over two weeks, from April 8–22.
Michael Sherr, chair and professor of social work, and Nathanael Davis, assistant professor of library science, will be available online April 8 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to field questions from online visitors and connect them with primary investigators for each project.
— Michael Sherr
Content will continue to be available for view until April 22. Visitors can view the research at cedarville.edu/researchsymposium.
“The university is working virtually because of the coronavirus,” said Sherr, who is also a RSS committee member. “Under the leadership of Dr. Tom Mach, vice president for academics, the committee quickly went to work to turn the symposium into a virtual symposium. This will allow Cedarville alumni, students, parents, families, faculty and the general public an opportunity to participate and see the work that’s being done.”
This year, research includes a low-cost prosthetic hand that functions better than a mechanical hand, music as a means for spreading the message of Martin Luther, disciplinary practices of parents during early childhood and the insecticidal properties of soapberry extracts.
“We have submissions from every department and school on campus,” Sherr said.
In the past, Centennial Library has hosted the symposium, but this year marks the first time there’s been a collaboration between the library, the department of social work and the school of nursing. In addition to Sherr and Davis, committee members include Chu-Yu Huang, professor of nursing; Joshua Michael, dean of library services and assistant professor of library science; Jason Grimm, assistant professor of nursing; Kristie Coe, assistant professor of nursing; and Gregory Martin, associate professor of library science.
“Even in the midst of this current situation with all of our students online, Cedarville still wanted to encourage an atmosphere of inquiry and discovery,” Sherr said.
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 4,380 undergraduate, graduate and online students in more than 150 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings and high student engagement ranking. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.