Many of you might be interested in a podcast series produced by John Bailer (STA) he calls “Stats + Stories” that is intended to convey interesting stories containing statistical information to a general audience. A recent episode featured Gerd Gigerenzer, with whom I worked many years ago as a graduate student, who talks about understanding and communicating risk. Other episodes involve better Bayesian reasoning, data analytics in sports, climate change, and other interesting topics with many high profile guests (as well as several colleagues).
Congrats to Allen for his new NIH grant!
Join me in congratulating Allen McConnell, who recently learned of NIH funding to support work with colleagues at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital on a project “Human-animal interaction to promote recovery following pediatric brain injury.” Excellent news, Allen!
Diversity & Inclusion events next week
They’re baaaaaack… thanks again to Lauren Forrest for collating D&I events this semester:
Rosh Hashanah Services
When: Sunday 9/9 6-7pm, 7-8pm
Where: 11 E. Walnut St, Oxford, OH
Description: “Hillel offers High Holiday meals and services for Rosh Hashanah. Join Hillel: Association of Jewish Students and Staff for free dinner that is open to all.”
Diversity and Inclusion Networking Event
When: Tuesday 9/11 6-7pm
Where: Shriver JDOL-A
Description: This event “is designed to help students prepare for the networking event before the fall career fair. During this event, we partner with an employer who provides insight to what to expect during a networking event from a company’s/recruiter’s perspective.”
Japanese Culture and Language Club Meeting
When: Wednesday 8/12 6-7pm
Where: 127 Upham Hall
Description: The Japanese Culture and Language Club will host its first meeting of the year, where officers will be introduced and upcoming club events and plans will be explained to members.
The Good Fight: One Family’s Courage, Sacrifice, and Hope in the Face of the Alzheimer’s Pandemic
When: Friday 9/14 12-1pm
Where: Heritage Room, Shriver Center
Description: Ms. Niki Kapsambelis will give a talk about her new book, which “chronicles the challenges faced by the DeMoe family members, who have an inherited genetic mutation that causes early Alzheimer’s disease in 100% of cases.
Shabbat
When: Friday 9/14 6-8pm
Where: 11 E. Walnut St, Oxford, OH
Description: Hillel: Association of Jewish Students and Staff will host its weekly Shabbat.
MPA 2019 submissions now accepted
The Midwestern Psychological Association (MPA) submission portal is now open for the meeting to be held in Chicago on April 11-13, 2019. You should visit the website for more information, including keynote speakers such as Barbara Andersen, Ethan Cross, Nelson Cowan, and Wendy Wood. As many of you know this is an excellent conference for undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty alike, and is typically well represented by Miami students, faculty, and alumni.
Help guide the NSF future funding priorities
The National Science Foundation (NSF) announces the launch of the NSF 2026 Idea Machine, a prize competition to help set the U.S. agenda for fundamental research in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and STEM education. Participants can earn cash prizes and receive public recognition by suggesting the pressing research questions that need to be answered in the coming decade, the next set of “Big Ideas” for future investment by NSF. It’s an opportunity for researchers, the public and other interested stakeholders to contribute to NSF’s mission to support basic research and enable new discoveries that drive the U.S. economy, enhance national security and advance knowledge to sustain the country’s global leadership in science and engineering.
Entries will be accepted through October 26, 2018. For more information, including entry instructions, eligibility, rules, and judging criteria, please visit the NSF 2026 Idea Machine website.
OARS Research Fair next week
OARS would like to invite you to participate in our 2nd annual Research Fair, to be held on September 11th from 11:00 am-1:00 pm. Location of the event will take place in the Heritage Room at Shriver Center. This idea was hatched in response to feedback we have received from both new and continuing faculty regarding the need for information about research support services available to them from around campus. The 1st Research Fair, last year, was largely a success and we are hoping for even greater participation and attendance this year. This event is modeled around the annual Benefits Fair and will invite units from around campus that falls into one or more of these categories:
• provide internal funds to support research (CFR, college/department level support)
• research centers
• collaborative research opportunities
• laboratory services
• evaluation/writing/statistical support services
• grant proposal development assistance
• research compliance support
• support for undergraduate research
• crowdfunding
We hope that you will join us for this event, which includes lunch and refreshments.
CAS Alumni Lecture Series proposals
If you are considering bringing any alumni to campus this academic year, there may be support from CAS if they give a lecture (e.g. departmental colloquium). If you have someone in mind, please let me know so we can submit the required information to CAS by the deadline of September 21.
Call for Study Abroad/Away proposals
From Global Initiatives, faculty interested in developing Study Abroad/Away proposals for the 2019-20 AY should visit the website or see me for additional information. Note that proposals are due November 1.
Global Initiatives is pleased to invite proposals for study abroad/away programs for the 2019-20 Academic Year. Nearly 2,000 Miami University students study abroad or away on faculty-led programs each year on over 100 programs. These provide valuable high-impact global and intercultural experiences for students allowing them to meaningfully engage with the world and serve to enhance their on-campus coursework and activities. These initiatives support Miami University goals to promote a diverse culture of inclusion, integrity, and collaboration, and we appreciate your willingness to support these goals. Please share this email with your respective units.
Proposal Process Overview
Global Initiatives designed the study abroad/away program proposal process with the intent to develop and evaluate offerings across the university, as well as to increase student enrollment in Miami faculty led programs. As you know, there has been a proliferation of Miami University study abroad/away programs over the most recent three years. We are working with you to more critically review the proposals at the divisional and institutional levels to ensure that we are offering a wide array of globally focused academic endeavors in a variety of locations, not setting up competition for student enrollments between and among offerings, and being effective stewards of the university’s resources.
The proposal process also allows the creation of a study abroad/away portfolio that serves the university at large, while remaining responsive to the strategic goals of divisions and departments. We continue to refine the proposal process, and in order to do a thorough review, and have programs approved in a timeframe that allows students the opportunity to consider Miami faculty-led program options at the same time as transfer credit programs (non-Miami), which are typically available for student applications one year in advance.
Proposals for the 2019-20 Academic Year are due by November 1, 2018. In the recent past this has been a flexible deadline, but we have found that nearly 100% of late submissions are not able to generate enrollment for a go decision. Much effort goes into developing, reviewing, proposing, and recommending a program – faculty, Study Abroad and Global Initiatives staff, Deans, and Chairs, are all devoting a great deal of time to these late submissions, and then they do not meet their enrollment goals. This year, we will not review programs submitted after the deadline, and will ask faculty to consider proposing them for the next academic year, with the understanding that flexibility will be required for unique, high priority, significant offerings that may be considered with rationale.
Helpful info from Academic Affairs
At the opening academic administrators’ retreat, they provided several important updates, links, and important dates, which are summarized below:
- The Policy Library (MUPIM) has moved to a new website. If you navigate to a policy page, such as through a search result, and you see a header at the top stating that the policy library has moved, you are viewing an archived and potentially outdated version of the library.
- The University 2018-19 Academic Calendar
- Religious holidays and observances; please remember that students should be excused for absences corresponding to these observances.
Provide input on the APA strategic plan
APA is seeking advice for the creation of a new strategic plan. From Mitch Prinstein, APA Board of Directors, via COGDOP:
APA is on the brink of HUGE potential changes. If you are a psychologist or psychology trainee (whether you are an APA member or not!), you MUST complete this very brief survey to make sure APA heads in the right direction!!
https://apamr.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_82MMT9pL8zokypv
It’s really quick. PLEASE do it, and please forward it to others ASAP!