Committee on Research and Creative Activity

Year End Report 2006-07

                                    PSF 15/07-08                                                                                           

Committee Members included Siegfried Christoph, Chris Evans, Michael Gurtman, David Holmes, Farida Khan, Susan Lincke, Ed Schmitt, and Laurie Taylor.  (Ed Schmitt replaced Farida Khan on Sabbatical.)

We held a Fall CRCA Showcase on Friday, Nov. 17, 2006.  Speakers included John Skalbeck, from Geosciences, who spoke on E coli in local sand beaches, and Paul Mohazzabi, from Physics, who spoke on weightlessness in space.

In the spring we worked with Doug DeVinny to request research presentations for the Board of Regents visit.

During the year, 51 CRCA applications were funded including for conference and research funding.  We allocated $25,044 for the year, using our entire budget.  The average person received $504.  This is a lower amount compared to previous years, but enabled us to fund applications even in April.  (For example, two years ago CRCA funded 43 applications at $580 apiece.)

We had an incredibly qualified slate of five CRCA research nominees for best research award.  Many had written or edited books and received awards and/or grants, in addition to publishing in high-ranking journals, often with students.  The selection was based on individual ranking of the nominees in the following categories: Quality; Originality; Impact on Field, Continuing Productivity, and Contribution to the overall research environment at UWP.  Outside presentations by the nominators ensured fair arguments for all candidates.  We selected Leo Zaibert as the CRCA Research Award winner for the year.

-Susan Lincke and Laurie Taylor