Thomson Scientific Holds Event to Encourage Undergraduate Research and Rally Support for Science Research among Librarians
Atlanta, GA, October 19, 2006—In collaboration with the Board of Regents for the University System of Georgia’s GALILEO (Georgia Library Learning Online), Thomson Scientific held a meeting entitled “Creating a Culture for Innovation.” The event was organized to encourage undergraduate research, rally support for science research among librarians, engage non-research/non-publishing intensive institutions, and outline challenges, resources and rewards within scientific research. It was held at the Georgia Tech global Learning and Conference Center.
The event kicked-off with opening remarks by Mr. Keith MacGregor, executive vice president of Academic & Government markets, Thomson Scientific. MacGregor first welcomed the attendees and thanked GALILEO and its Executive Director of Library Services, Ms. Merryll Penson, for the support offered in organizing the event. He explained that in addition to Ms. Penson providing the opening remarks, Dr. Arthur B. Ellis, vice chancellor for research at the University of California, San Diego would serve as the days keynote speaker.
MacGregor also clarified the three key areas that were the programs focus:
- Challenges—lack of resources and skilled researchers to serve a mentors
- Resources—maximizing scholarly resources
- Rewards—building capacities for innovation and encouraging talented students to explore careers in science and technology
Next, MacGregor provided an overview of Thomson scientific, explaining the Thomson Scientific culture of innovation and its emphasis on serving its customers. “Thomson Scientific is focused on building solution for research professionals that enable critical decision-making,” MacGregor remarked.
MacGregor concluded by detailing the Thomson Scientific commitment to “developing the most advanced research technologies that contribute to scientific research and discovery by providing:”
- Critical information on demand—to help the research and information communities meet the challenges of accelerating information needs
- Solutions tailored to customer workflow—to help researchers deal with the intense pressure to perform, and to constantly improve the quality and quantity of their work
- Deep expertise—offering a long and successful track record of providing authoritative, reliable, and trusted information
Following MacGregor was Ms. Merryll Penson. In his introduction, MacGregor pointed to Penson’s more than 25 years of university library experience, and the fact that Ms. Penson currently serves as the executive director for Library Services for the Office of Instructional and Information Technology at the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. “Her responsibilities include GALILEO, Georgia’s Virtual Library, which is available to the state’s public and private academic libraries, public libraries, technical college libraries, K-12 media center, and GALILEO Interconnected Libraries,” explained MacGregor.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Penson commented on how important the event was to the Board of Regents, the University System of Georgia, and GALILEO. Penson expressed her gratitude to Thomson Scientific for working with GALILIEO to bring the program to fruition. “In the face of ever-rising new challenges and the volume of information available, it is vital that the research and information industry and suppliers like Thomson Scientific partner with libraries to ensure that the highest-quality content is easily accessible to optimize scientific research and discovery within the academic setting,” Penson remarked.
Penson also applauded Current Contents Connect ® (CCC ®)— the multidisciplinary current awareness Web resource providing access to complete bibliographic information from over 8,000 of the world's leading scholarly journals and more than 2,000 books . She expressed how valuable CCC was to research conducted at the university members of the consortium.
Penson concluded by detailing the day’s agenda and introducing the program’s keynote speaker. In her introduction, Penson stated that Dr. Arthur B. Ellis would focus on how the scientific discovery process encourages a culture for innovation and why all students at all types of institutions need to be engaged in research. In addition, she explained that Dr. Ellis would explore how libraries can contribute to an institutional capacity for research and innovation.
The event was titled after the article Dr. Ellis wrote for the April 14, 2006 issue of The Chronicle of Education. The focus of the article was how to bolster American competitiveness and make research a more prominent part of the undergraduate college experience.
For his presentation at the event, Ellis evoked a similar theme, offering many successful examples and strategies for expanding undergraduate research and communicating the value of undergraduate research. He also provided information on private and federal funding opportunities.
Ellis strongly believes all undergraduates should be encouraged to conduct research and create knowledge. “We need to look beyond the relatively limited number of students who are already committed to careers in science and technology and to ensure that we draw upon our entire, diverse pool of talent. The purpose of such an approach is not for every student to become a scientist of technologist. Rather, it is to create a stronger culture of innovation by immersing all students in intellectually stimulating projects,” he observed.”
Ellis admits that making this happen is the biggest challenge, as many institutions lack the resources to participate in research. However, he believes that today’s technology is breaking down this barrier. “The development of cyber infrastructure is making cutting-edge research far more accessible. For example, there may no longer be the need for a particular kind of expensive instrument on every campus, since it is now possible to operate many instruments from a desktop computer anywhere in the world,” explained Ellis.
He wrapped-up by acknowledging that integrating research into the undergraduate experience is a lengthy process “that requires national commitment, creativity, energy, and resources.” However, according to Ellis, “the breathtaking technical, economic, social, and geopolitical developments of the recent past have made it clear that these are pivotal times for our country. If we wish to maintain our place on the world stage of research and innovation, we need to inspire and nurture new talent,” he concluded.
Following Dr. Ellis, Ms. Merryll Penson provided a summary of the morning’s events and provided a glimpse into the afternoon’s line up.
After a networking lunch, the afternoon program began with a session of panelists who offered best practices and challenges for engaging learners and fostering discovery, creativity, and innovation.
For her part, Ms. Monica Pereira, reference librarian at the Science Library at the University of Georgia, focused on a technological pathway for overcoming challenges. As Pereira explained, innovative technologies have exploded the traditional view of the research process. However, the flood of information may impede hopes of finding appropriate information. “Librarians, as players in the knowledge-building process, retain their unique position in relation to information. Our responsibility is to make paths through the tangle accessible. The innovations in technology call for thoughtful, flexible and resilient changes in our culture as access agents,” remarked Pereira.
Up next were Dr. Wendy Newsteetter and Ms. Lori Ostapowicz Critz. Dr. Newsteetter is the director of Learning Sciences Research in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering. Ms. Critz is an information consultant at the Library & Information Center of the Georgia Institute of Technology. Their presentation focused on supporting and sustaining innovative classrooms of the future.
The presenters outlined the elements of the successful partnership between the Georgia Tech Library and the Biomedical Engineering program. Newsteetter and Critz highlighted an introductory course called: Problems in Biomedical Engineering I. They explained that the course “aims to help students acquire effective inquiry/search strategies, complex problem-solving competency, and teamwork—all as a means of educating the next generation of biomedical engineers. They also explored the underlying principles, goals and methodologies used in the course.
Dr. Jimmy Wedincamp, chairman of the Mathematics and Science Division at East Georgia College, was the last panelist to speak, outlining best practices in undergraduate research. Dr. Wedincamp remarked that undergraduate research has been a driving force throughout his career. Most of his projects involve collaborations with industry and university faculty members. “ East Georgia college students benefit from these interactions by acquiring hands-on, real world research experience. Getting undergraduates involved in research is a great way to cultivate understanding of science in our society,” remarked Wedincamp.
Following Wedincamp, Merryll Penson once again delivered a wrap-up of the program. Following her summation, the participants and attendees enjoyed a networking refreshment break to conclude the meeting.
Congratulations to all involved in the event’s planning and execution. And, Thomson Scientific offers a sincere thank you to the presenters, attendees, GALILEO, and Georgia Tech for their role in making the meeting a success!
