ESPP Research Colloquia

 

ESPP hosts a Research Colloquia Series that extends the format of the former student research presentations by ESPP dual major students to now include a variety of formats including student and expert panel discussions, faculty roundtables and debates. These events utilize ESPP's unique network of MSU expertise spanning MSU's colleges to address important and timely environmental issues that cross disciplinary boundaries. The ESPP Research Colloquia Series is a forum for MSU students, researchers and visitors to engage in research discussions where an interdisciplinary perspective is critical.

ESPP has also expanded its Distinguished Lecture Series to include events organized jointly with other units at MSU. ESPP is offering to partner with individual departments and units at MSU wherein ESPP co-sponsors a limited number of visits by distinguished scholars to deliver lectures on pressing environmental issues. For more information and criteria, please see this PDF.

 

 

Schedule for 2018 Colloquia

 

Date	Topic	Panel Discussants	Location
2 p.m. January 16, 2018	Sustainable Food Systems in Developing Countries	Karen Garrett, University of Florida; Jennifer Hodbod, MSU Community Sustainability; Jelili Adebiyi, MSU Community Sustainability; Karim Maredia, MSU Entomology Organized and moderated by Christina Azodi, Plant Biology and ESPP	Room 105, Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center
2 p.m. January 29, 2018	Perceptions of Emerging Biotechnologies	Christina Azodi, Plant Biology and ESPP. With panelists: Rob Last - Barnett Rosenberg Professor in the Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Plant Biology & the director of the NIH Training Grant Program at MSU on “Plant Biotechnology for Health and Sustainability”. John Besley - Associate Professor in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations and the Ellis N Brandt Chair in Public Relations Joseph Hamm - Associate Professor in the School of Criminal Justice and Appointed Faculty of Environmental Science and Policy	Room 273, Giltner Hall Register Here
2:30 p.m. February 26, 2018	Freshwater Security in the Great Lakes Region	Dr. Alan Steinman, Director, Annis Water Resources Institute, Professor of Water Resources, Grand Valley State University Director Jon Allan, Michigan Office of the Great Lakes Dr. William Taylor, MSU Professor (Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife) & Michigan Sea Grant Associate Director Dr. Heather Treizenberg, MSU extension specialist, Fisheries and Wildlife Department and Center for Systems Integration and Organized by Zach Curtis, Civil and Environmental Engineering and ESPP	105 Kellogg Center Register
12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Friday March 23, 2018	Fate of the Earth Panel Discussion "Local to Global Interfaces; Why the Environment Matters"	Dr. Bill Lynn, research scientist in the George Perkins Marsh Institute of Clark University Christy George, freelance journalist Dr. Mark Axelrod, Fisheries & Wildlife and James Madison Dr. Jennifer Olson, Media and Information Organized by Apoorva Joshi, Journalism and ESPP	Room 105AB Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center Register Here
10 a.m. - 12 p.m. May 22, 2018	Research Presentation: "Urban Transformation in Transitional Economics: Lessons from the Mongolian Plateau"	Hogeun Park, Urban and Regional Planning, ESPP	105 Manly Miles
10 a.m. June 4, 2018	Research Presentation: "Increasing the Biodegradation Rate of Poly(lactic Acid) in Composting Conditions	Edgar Castro, Packaging and ESPP	Room 120, Packaging Building
FALL SEMESTER

 

 

 

 

Note to Our Student Presenters:

The student-organized colloquia provides ESPP dual major students a venue to gain practical knowledge and experience organizing interdisciplinary scholastic activities, skills necessary for a variety of career activities such as professional conferences and research panels.  A dual major student first identifies a broader research area that encompasses his or her research work, and then invites one or more other speakers who are experts in this area to serve on a discussion panel. The or panelists could be fellow students, faculty members such as the student’s advisors or committee members, or other researchers. A typical colloquium will include a 30 to 50 minute presentation by the student followed by 10 minutes of questions and answers for the student, and 30 minute panel discussion with questions for the panel prepared by the student.
New and existing ESPP Dual Major Students (who have not yet presented under the previous presentation format) will be required to organize their own colloquium before they graduate.  It is up the student at what point in their graduate program they will organize their colloquium.  The student can choose one of two approaches for their colloquium: it can be used by an early career graduate student to explain their research interests, ask specific questions of the panel and audience, and get feedback on their research trajectory; or the colloquium can be used by a senior graduate student to share their results and conclusions.  With either approach, a dual major student’s colloquium will serve as a venue to highlight important issues in the broader research area, to showcase the student’s own research approach in this broader context, and, with the presence of the student’s advisors and/or committee members, to defend the student’s research methods and gather feedback.
The student organizer will be responsible for:

• scheduling a date in the seminar series before the start of the semester with the series committee (contact Karessa Weir weirkare@msu.edu);
• inviting and organizing the panelists; preparing a 30 to 50 min. presentation; and
• preparing questions to lead the panel discussion after the student presentation. 

The number of student-organized colloquia will vary each semester to accommodate dual major students so they can meet this requirement.  Questions about organizing your colloquium should be sent to Karessa.