News and Notes
 

Office of the Vice President for Research and Partnerships Announces The Big Idea Challenge

The Office of the Vice President for Research and Partnerships has issued a new internal RFP for the OU Big Idea Challenge. The BIC is part of our effort to continuously incentivize the convergence of academic disciplines into new transdisciplinary teams focused on exploring solutions to global challenges. Learn more

Center for Faculty Excellence Invites Proposals for Faculty Fellows

The Center for Faculty Excellence (CFE) invites proposals for several Faculty Fellows focused on developing new programs and resources to further support faculty research and creative activities; inclusive teaching; developing faculty leaders in diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts; creating resources and programming to reinvigorate mid-career faculty; or service learning/community engaged scholarship. Learn more

Office of the Vice President for Research and Partnerships Calls for Associate Research Directors for Data Institute for Societal Challenges

OU recently created the Data Institute for Societal Challenges (DISC) to help grow data science activities across campus. DISC is seeking four Associate Directors (.25 FTE) to help lead DISC efforts. Each Associate Director will be responsible for fostering the growth and development of campus research activities related to one of the four strategic research plan verticals. Learn more

Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Offers New Training Series

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion invites all OU Staff, Faculty, and Graduate students on the Norman, Health Sciences Center, and Tulsa campuses to take part in a new training series entitled "Rooted in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Change Starts With Me." We are pleased to welcome Mr. Vernon Wall as our first presenter. Vernon is a nationally known speaker in the areas of social justice and leadership development and is one of the founders and facilitators of the Social Justice Training Institute. His award-winning programs and presentations have been seen by thousands of students, faculty, and staff on campuses across the country. This virtual training series will take place September 16 from 12:00pm-1:30pm using Zoom. Seating is limited. Learn more

Inaugural Event Commemorating the Tulsa Race Massacre to Include Panel Discussion, Library Exhibit

An upcoming panel discussion and library exhibit will begin a series of events at OU to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre. The event will lead off with a livestreamed gallery talk at 3:30pm on Thursday, September 24, presented by curators Mechelle Brown and Dr. Karlos K. Hill, who will shed light on an upcoming exhibit on the massacre at Bizzell Memorial Library. A panel discussion will follow at 4:00pm in Bizzell Memorial Library’s Great Reading Room, with a livestream option available to accommodate COVID-19 capacity limitations and safety protocols. Details on where to view the livestream are forthcoming. Read more

University Theatre Opens with Songs for a New World

The contemporary song cycle of Songs for a New World weaves relevant characters and current events together illuminating the timelessness of self-discovery. The Weitzenhoffer School of Musical Theatre and University Theatre will present the powerful collection of songs to Oklahoma audiences September 25-October 4. Learn more
 

Associate Professor's Book Hits New York Times Bestseller List

The Inheritance Games, the newest book written by Associate Professor Jennifer Barnes, has hit the New York Times bestseller list for Young Adult Hardcovers. Dr. Barnes is a member of the professional writing faculty in Gaylord College of Journalism with a joint appointment in the Department of Psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Memos and Updates
 

September 10, 2020

Child Care Resources (related to the New Family Care Resources Policy from HR) 
- from the Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost, Norman Campus
 

Newsletters

Research Insider from the Office of the Vice President for Research and Partnerships (September 4, 2020)
 

Center for Faculty Excellence Update

CFE has a full slate of events planned for the fall including the New Faculty Seminar Series, community engagement and service learning events; writing, teaching and research and creative activity workshops. A faculty intake form to match faculty with development resources and individual consultations will be launched next week. Keep up with our events and faculty resources by visiting our website. Learn more 

Featured Academic Events

Monday, September 14

Center for Faculty Excellence Teaching Office Hours

When: September 14, 1:00pm-2:30pm
Where: Via Zoom (Passcode: kGK0AGzA)

Open office hours are available for OU faculty who may have any teaching-related questions. CFE Associate Director Dr. Hong Lin will be available to address any teaching questions. For more information, contact Hong Lin at honglin@ou.edu. 

Tuesday, September 15

National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity: Bracing for and Embracing the Fall as a Blkademic

When: September 15, 1:00pm-2:00pm
Where: Via Zoom

Recognizing the unique vulnerabilities Black academics (Blkademics) are facing in the current sociopolitical and campus climate, this interactive webinar will provide attendees with practical strategies to help them as they begin the fall semester. By increasing awareness, reflecting on holistic wellness needs, and getting clear on the strategies that resonate on a personal level, Blkademics will better be able to brace for and potentially embrace the semester ahead after attending this NCFDD webinar. Grounded in counseling and prevention psychology, Black feminism, and solution-focused theories, this virtual workshop will offer Blkademics empirically-grounded and culturally-relevant strategies for surviving and being well as an academic today. Activate your membership required. Register online. For more information, contact the Center for Faculty Excellence at cfe@ou.edu. 

Delivering Assessments Remotely with Gradescope

When: September 15, 3:30pm-4:30pm
Where: Via Zoom

Join us for this online workshop and learn how instructors use Gradescope. The workshop will offer guidance on how to deliver assessments remotely and outline various assessment options to meet your immediate needs. Register online. For more information, contact Keri Kornelson at kkornelson@ou.edu or visit the website. 

Wednesday, September 16

Advanced Workshop for Gradescope Users

When: September 16, 12:00pm-1:00pm
Where: Via Zoom

Join us for the online Fall 2020 advanced workshop for Gradescope users. This workshop is targeted towards instructors and TAs who are already using Gradescope in their course(s). You will learn about the newest features and be able to ask questions and share feedback about your Gradescope experience. Register online.  For more information, contact Keri Kornelson at kkornelson@ou.edu or visit the website. 
 

Workshop II: Team Building for Data and Social Science Research on Misinformation/Disinformation

When: September 16, 1:00pm-2:30pm
Where: Via Zoom

In this workshop, OU faculty will share their interests and expertise in the convergence of data and social science research for identifying and combating misinformation and disinformation. Researchers will then discuss their ideas in four separate breakout sessions intended to facilitate team building. All are invited to attend. This workshop continues discussions from an August 20, 2020 workshop; materials from Workshop I are available by request. Register online. For more information, contact Audrey Reinert at areiner@ou.edu. 

Thursday, September 17

Enhancing the Security and Integrity of America's Research Enterprise

When: September 17, 10:00am-11:00am
Where: Via Zoom

The Director of The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Dr. Kelvin Droegemeier will provide an update on the many activities undertaken by OSTP, provide examples of risks to research security that can harm the enterprise, and provide an update on steps being taken by OSTP and agency partners to address risks to security and integrity while maintaining an open and collaborative enterprise. This regional webinar on research security is supported by the National Science Foundation. Registration is required. Register online. For more information, contact the Office of the Vice President for Research and Partnerships at researchnews@ou.edu.

Virtual Coffee

When: September 17, 10:00am-11:00am
Where: Via Zoom

Have questions about the I-Hub? Have ideas of something you want to create whether it is an object or a business? Want to get plugged into the entrepreneur community in Oklahoma? Join us for a friendly chat! Register online. For more information, contact Diana Varnes at dvarnes@ou.edu. 
 

Community Engaged Teaching, Research and Creative Activity

When: September 17, 12:00pm-1:00pm
Where: Via Zoom

Meet weekly with the Director of Community Engagement, other faculty, and staff to talk about engaged teaching, research, and creative activity. OU faculty and students make an impact on our community and state. It is more important than ever to make connections with organizations and leaders in our community. Community engaged, service-learning is a high impact, experiential pedagogy that enhances student learning. Community engaged research and creative activity connects “town and gown” in mutually beneficial and reciprocal collaborations. Register online. For more information, contact Joy Pendley at pendley@ou.edu. 
 

Beginner LaTeX

When: September 17, 2:00pm-4:30pm
Where: Via Zoom

This is an introductory workshop to help you learn what you need to create and edit a document in LAaTeX – formatting, placing images, creating tables, using equations, and creating citations. No previous experience with LaTeX required. Come ready to create a document – we will use an online compiler so there is no need to download anything before you arrive. Register online. For more information, contact OU Libraries at libpr@ou.edu.

New Faculty Seminar Series: Three Layers of Inclusive Teaching for Student Success/Academic Technology to Enhance Teaching and Student Learning

When: September 17, 3:00pm-4:00pm
Where: Via Zoom

Join us for this New Faculty Seminar topics include: “Three Layers of Inclusive Teaching for Student Success” presented by Dr. Hong Lin, Associate Director of the Center for Faculty Excellence and “Academic Technology to Enhance Teaching and Learning” presented by Kevin Buck, Associate Director for IT Learning Spaces. Register online. For more information, contact Center for Faculty Excellence at cfe@ou.edu.

ORCiD and SciENcv Training Webinar

When: September 17, 3:00pm-4:00pm
Where: Via Zoom

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is requiring proposals submitted on or after October 5, 2020 to provide biosketches and current and pending funded programs in a specific format. This format can be produced through a SciENcv (a program managed by NIH/NCBI) – which will pull your information from ORCiD and hold your information for edits further down the road, or through a fillable pdf (biosketch, current and pending).This webinar will present a PPT to walk you through the process of 1) signing up for your ORCiD and populating your information fields, 2) the process of signing up for your NCBI account, and 3) how to create your SciENcv. The intention is that you will be able to populate and complete a first biosketch during the webinar. Register here. For more information contact Clara Smith at clara.smith@ou.edu. 

Friday, September 18

Finance External Speaker Seminar Series

When: September 18, 10:30am-12:00pm
Where: Via Zoom

Isil Erel from Ohio State University will be presenting his latest research at the weekly Finance Division Seminar. For more information, contact Aaron Burt at aaronburt@ou.edu or visit the website.

Introduction to the NSF CAREER Proposal

When: September 18, 11:00am-12:00pm
Where: Via Zoom

Join Center for Faculty Excellence to learn more about the NSF CAREER proposal. For faculty planning to submit an NSF CAREER proposal in July 2021, this introduction will provide some basic guidelines and OU resources to help you think through your submission strategy. Register online. For more information contact Clara Smith at clara.smith@ou.edu. 
 

Research at Home: Computing in Modern Biology Workshops for Broadening Participation in STEM

When: September 18, 12:00pm
Where: Via Zoom

As biology becomes more reliant on data science, women and URMs are being left behind. Sociological barriers prevent women, first generation university students, and members of underrepresented groups from being adequately represented in biology careers. Providing educational opportunities in computing is an effective way to address inequality in the biological sciences. Our goal is to increase the competitiveness of under-represented high school, undergraduate, and graduate students by teaching them to use effective tools and resources in biological data science. We conducted a free workshop for 100 students from August 11-15, 2020. The workshop consisted of four, 2-day classes focused on modern computing skills essential in a wide variety of biological sciences as well as a series of professional development topics. We are currently assessing the success of the courses based on student evaluations. The lessons we learn from this workshop will lead to proposals to fund ongoing, yearly workshops accessible to URMs across Oklahoma. Register online. For more information, contact the Office of the Vice President for Research and Partnerships at researchnews@ou.edu.
 

Virtual Brown Bag: Lessons Learned in Community Engaged Research and Creative Activities

When: September 18, 12:00pm-1:00pm
Where: Via Zoom

Community engaged research and creative activity connects “town and gown” in mutually beneficial and reciprocal collaborations. Join us for a lessons learned with OU faculty researchers Bonnie Pitblado (Anthropology) and Shane Brady (Social Work). Register online. For more information contact Joy Pendley at pendley@ou.edu.

Weekend Events

OU Global Risks and Threat Series Part 4: Reshaping the Healthcare Business

When: Saturday, September 19, 10:00am
Where: Manufacturing Talk Radio or YouTube

The University of Oklahoma is presenting the fourth session of its Global Risks and Threats Series Leadership Forum with leaders from the intelligence, finance, law enforcement, corporate, and cyber sectors. OU GRTS is a collaborative effort between the Michael F. Price College of Business and the OU Center for Intelligence and National Security—an Intelligence Community Center of Academic Excellence. The title of the fourth session is "Reshaping the Healthcare Business" and will focus on the latest security threats, healthcare IT professionals and COVID-19 response and readiness initiatives, including Intel’s COVID-19 Innovation Fund and MetLife’s COVID-19 Global Response Fund. The online event is complimentary and open to the public. For more information, contact Wayne Thomas at wthomas@ou.edu or visit the website.