Five distinguished researchers from the University of South
Carolina's College of Engineering and Computing will visit with
faculty, students and researchers at the University of the Virgin
Islands St. Thomas campus on Nov. 10 and 11 to discuss their
research.
The scientists' visit comes as part of UVI's partnership in the Southeast Alliance for Graduate Education to the Professoriate (SEAGEP), which includes the University of South Carolina, the University of Florida and Clemson University. SEAGEP, which is funded by the National Science Foundation, aims to develop a more inclusive, skilled and versatile technical talent pool to strengthen the diversity of the nation's workforce, especially in the area of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
"This alliance offers great opportunities for UVI students," said Dr. Camille McKayle, interim dean of UVI's Division of Science and Mathematics.
"Our students are able to participate in summer research activities with eminent scientists," she said. "In addition, there is the potential for furthering collaborations with the University of South Carolina's College of Engineering and Computing through development of agreements, including dual-degree programs in engineering which will increase the opportunities for UVI students planning to study engineering."
Topics on the agenda are expected to range from structural engineering, power generation from fuel cells, breast cancer in African American Women, water and sediment flow in inter-tidal landscapes and reasoning under uncertainty.
The University of South Carolina, with an enrollment of more than 40,000 on eight campuses, is building a reputation as a cutting-edge research institution. The USC scientists who will visit UVI and their respective areas of research are Juan Caicedo - civil and environmental engineering, Kenneth Reifsnider - mechanical engineering, Marco Valtorta - computer science and engineering, Bert Ely - biological sciences and Raymond Torres - geological sciences.
The researchers' meetings with UVI faculty, students and researchers are being organized by the University's Division of Science and Mathematics.
The public is invited to a reception for the scientists from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 10, in UVI's Administration and Conference Center. For more information, contact the Division of Science and Mathematics at 693-1234.