18th Annual Student Symposium Wrap-Up

The 18th Annual Student Symposium has come and gone and we here at the Sponsored Programs Office couldn't be more pleased with the way it turned out. The day started at 6 a.m. with a chilly check-in thanks to the snow that continued to blanket campus throughout Tuesday morning. Check-in ended at 9 a.m. and our twelve faculty judges spent the next three hours evaluating the projects. They had the increadibly difficult job of choosing the best projects based on content and display. After the individual judges scores were tabulated by Sponsored Programs Office staff we had our six winning projects. During the afternoon public display session more than four-hundred people made their way around the ballroom to view the projects set-up there. We hope that everyone, participants and audience members alike, took a few moments to enjoy the cookies and punch provided in the Alumni Lounge across the hall.

As the day came to an end everyone made their way to the Cardinal Hall for the presentation of the awards. We were very honored to have several special guests in attendance: Paul Sr. and Linda Litten and Dr. James Pyle. Mr. and Mrs. Litten's son, Jeffrey, is one of three former SPO staffers for whom the Keys/Litten/Smith award is named. Dr. James Pyle is a former director of the Sponsored Programs Office, having served in that capacity for 24 years. After a few brief remarks from Justin Miller, the current director of Sponsored Programs, the awards were presented by Dr. Robert Morris, Associate Provost for Research & Dean of the Graduate School. In total six awards were given, each accompanied by a $100 cash prize. Congratualtions to the award winner and their faculty mentors. (Complete list of winners at the bottom of this post.)

Lectures from the Researcher of the Year and the Creative Endeavor Awardee

Researcher of the Year and Creative Endeavor Awardee Lecture   Monday, April 15, 2013 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.   Bracken Library, Room 104
	Holmes Finch Department of Educational Psychology 2012-13 Researcher of the Year Lessons I’ve Learned in 20 Years of Statistical Practice
	Beth Turcotte Department of Theatre and Dance 2012-13 Creative Endeavor Awardee Ball State to Broadway
All are invited to attend the reception following the lectures.

STUDENT SYMPOSIUM TOMORROW!

Tomorrow is the 18th Annual Student Symposium hosted by the Sponsored Programs Office! We hope you will brave the snow to join us for an afternoon showcasing student research at Ball State.

Ball State University
Eighteenth Annual Student Symposium
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
1:30-5:00 p.m.
Second Floor, L.A. Pittenger Student Center

The Ball State University Student Symposium is an opportunity for students to present their creative and research projects in an afternoon poster session. The Symposium provides an opportunity for students to learn the process of preparing their work for public presentation and to practice speaking with those outside of their discipline about their scholarly endeavors. Attendees can learn about the wide variety of research and creative projects that Ball State students are a part of both inside and outside of the classroom.

Presentations of exceptional merit will be awarded a monetary prize, given in memory of former SPO staff members, Linda Keys, Jeffrey Litten, and Sandra Smith. The award presentation will begin at approximately 4:40 p.m. in Cardinal Hall.

Please feel free to contact us at SPO@bsu.edu or (765) 285-1600 if you would like further information.

Thank you, and we hope you can attend!

From The Chronical of Higher Education: Senate Moves to Limit NSF Spending on Political Science

Senate Moves to Limit NSF Spending on Political Science

By Paul Basken

Washington

Congress took a giant step on Wednesday toward easing the threat of another budget stalemate, but the price of securing that compromise will continue to be felt at research universities and especially at those involved in political science.

The Senate, by a vote of 73 to 26, approved a measure to finance the government through the end of the fiscal year, on September 30. The bill is expected to win approval in the House of Representatives.
But the legislation would restore very little of the 5-percent cuts in the budgets of the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation that took effect on March 1 as a result of a process known as sequestration.

And the Senate included an amendment that broadly restricts the ability of the NSF to approve any grants involving political science unless the agency can certify them "as promoting national security or the economic interests of the United States."

Think Transatlantic: Promoting Transatlantic Dialogue

Think Transatlantic: Promoting Transatlantic Dialogue By: Margaret A. Cude

"What brings Europeans and Americans closer together and keeps them close is a common basis for shared values, is a common idea of the individual and his inviolable dignity, is a common understanding of freedom and responsibility." - Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel

Initiated by the German Information Center USA, the center for public diplomacy at the German Embassy in Washington, the Think Transatlantic campaign was designed to stimulate discussion about the historic importance and stability of the German-American partnership and its relevance for the future.

Fullbright Program: Invitation from the Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES)

INVITATION TO JOIN US FOR WEBINARS

Webinar Title: Fulbright Opportunities for Professionals
Date: Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Time:  2 PM EDT
A review of the various ways in which professionals can apply for the Fulbright program. The presentation will touch on both the general areas of interest for professionals as well as on the specifics of programs where professionals traditionally participate.

Webinar Title: Research Opportunities through Fulbright
Date: Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Time:  2 PM EDT
A look at the 2014-2015 competition and the numerous opportunities for conducting research that are to be found in the Catalog of Awards.
CIES invites you to participate in upcoming webinar sessions during which you can learn more about 2014-15 opportunities, get application tips and ask questions of CIES staff.  The upcoming webinars focus specifically on opportunities for individuals outside traditional academic careers, as well as opportunities to engage in research projects abroad.

Please visit http://www.cies.org/Webinar/ to register for either or both of these webinars.  You should also note our webinar schedule for upcoming presentations that may be of interest to you.  You can also access our webinar archives to review past sessions.  Please feel free to share this information, including this invitation, to colleagues or others who may be interested in these materials.

For further information about these opportunities, please feel free to contact CIES. As a reminder, the application deadline for 2014-15 awards is August 1, 2013.

Sincerely,

Dylan Gipson
Senior Program Officer, Scholar Applicants
Institute of International Education (IIE)
Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES)
202-686-6245
DGipson@iie.org

Sequestration Resource Center from the Society of Research Administrators International

With the sequestration looming, SRA International is working to ensure its members and the research community are well-informed about the status and potential impact of these cuts.

We have designed the Sequestration Resource Centerto be your one-stop-shop for the latest updates from agencies, the Executive Office, and Congress.

 

If you have any questions, please contact Kerri McGovern kmcgovern@srainternational.org.