CAS News

The National Science Foundation (NSF) recently awarded OSU’s Department of Computer Science a Rapid Response Research (RAPID) grant of more than $100,000 to develop virtual reality-based training simulators for COVID-19 first responders. Computer science professor Dr. J. Cecil, who is leading the project, explained that the proposal was approved by NSF in a matter of weeks—a process that can typically take at least six months.

“The NSF moved on it faster because the country is facing an emergency,” Cecil said. “The federal agencies realize that engineers and scientists have to help the doctors."

For Oklahoma State University Department of Psychology professors Jennifer Byrd-Craven and Jaimie Arona Krems, evolutionary approaches to social science are a serious matter worthy of their time as researchers. But that doesn’t mean they can’t have a little fun with it as well.

The duo co-founded the Oklahoma Center for Evolutionary Analysis, or OCEAN, which hosts an annual conference called the Flyover State Scientists Integrating Evolution, or FOSSIL. OCEAN’s critical mass of social science researchers makes it one of fewer than five such centers in the entire U.S. where students receive training in and exposure to evolutionary approaches to cognition and behavior.

The Greenwood School of Music hosted the second annual Tuba Academy at Oklahoma State University last month with an artist recital at the Seretean Center for the Performing Arts capping the week. 

Dr. Ryan Robinson, assistant professor of tuba and euphonium, partnered with Buffet Crampon, a well-known French instrument manufacturer, to offer an outstanding summer educational seminar for talented students by bringing in internationally acclaimed artists.

Oklahoma State University’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders is hosting its annual conference to help speech-language pathologists better assist clients. The Cimarron Conference on Communication Disorders will be from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. April 12 at the Wes Watkins Center on the Oklahoma State University-Stillwater campus. This year’s topic is, “The Anatomy of a Dyslexia Diagnosis: How Can Informal and Formal Assessment Help.”

“The Cimarron Conference is a perfect opportunity to recharge my career batteries and allow me to focus on the latest research in our field,” said Leslie Baldwin, the conference’s coordinator and Communication Sciences and Disorders lecturer. “It always covers a timely and relevant topic.”

Oklahoma State University’s Ethics Club, hosted by the Department of Philosophy, debates difficult questions. For example, is it justifiable to publish the names, addresses and employers of people who attend a public white-nationalist rally, which could lead to death threats or the loss of jobs for those listed? Or, should felons have their voting rights restored? If so, who should be eligible, and when?

The club’s members research topics such as these and engage in lively debates to hone their ability to present strong, articulate and systematic arguments. Their hard work led to qualification for the 23^rd Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl, to be held March 2-3 in Baltimore, Maryland, in conjunction with the 2019 Association for Practical and Professional Ethics Annual Conference.

Dance has been Leslie J. Miller’s passion from a very young age.

“I got really serious about dance when I was about 7 years old,” she said. Originally from south central Pennsylvania, she began her training at the Hanover School of Ballet and has had opportunities to perform throughout Europe, China and several venues in the U.S.

Before joining the faculty at OSU, Miller lived in Manhattan as the Education Programs and Dance China NY Manager; an adjunct instructor of dance at Nassau Community College; and a dance teacher throughout the Tri-State area.

The College of Arts and Sciences at Oklahoma State University has created a bachelor’s degree in arts administration. This program is designed for students who love art and want to pursue careers in communications, marketing, fundraising or programming in a fun, arts-related industry.

The first group of Oklahoma State University students to complete the OSUTeach program are heading into the workforce, ready and willing to shape young minds along with expanding the scope of science and mathematics.

After spending the past four to five years in the program, this inaugural class of 13 students crossed the graduation stage in May 2018. They are now headed to different career paths, whether teaching science to middle school students, continuing on to medical school or working as industry professionals.

Steve and Susan Burgess had never been to Stillwater, Oklahoma, before they made the roughly one-hour drive from their new home in Shawnee on Aug. 9. They discovered Oklahoma State University has a beautiful campus and expert faculty, and most importantly, a community fulfilling the modern land-grant mission.

The Burgesses, who have been married 46 years, were among more than 50 participants at a three-day Parkinson’s disease (PD) boot camp funded by a College of Arts and Sciences Community Engagement Grant. The couple recently moved from Oregon to Oklahoma to live closer to their children and grandchildren following Steve being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease – a progressive nervous system disorder that affects movements, speech and cognitive skills – about 18 months ago.