Innovation, scholarship and creativity on full display during UDC Research Week 2022

It was a meeting of the minds during the second annual UDC Research Week, held virtually April 4-8. This year’s theme, “DIG-IN! Diversity, Innovation, Groundbreaking,” celebrated the diverse contributions of UDC faculty across the research ecosystem at the University. From social robots for learning, chatbots for cyber security to agrivoltaics, students, faculty and staff from every college and school showcased their work through 82 presentations with more than 400 participants.

The sessions covered a broad range of topics including COVID-19, robotics, biomedical and cancer research, automation, pedagogy and innovation in urban education, Critical Race Theory, as well as novel nutrition and dietary paradigms.

“UDC Research Week captured the broad spectrum of scholarship and research undertaken across the University’s colleges and schools,” said Dr. Victor R. McCrary, vice president of research. “From art, education, engineering, legal frameworks for social justice, health and agriculture, the richness of our creativity and the depth of our knowledge was on display.”

Chief Academic Officer Dr. Lawrence T. Potter Jr. and Dr. McCrary welcomed participants. The keynote address, “The Economic Benefit of Bringing Robot-Assisted Interventions to Underserved Populations,” was presented by Timothy Gifford, founder, president and chief scientist at MOVIA Robotics, Inc., Bristol, Conn. MOVIA is a collaborative robotics company, that builds systems and software to help children on the autism spectrum learn and grow using robotic technology.

The presentations included topics on “How Social Robotics Support Learning Development,” “Family Members Perspectives on COVID-19 and Self-Efficacy,” “Addressing Visual Space Integration Deficits in the Art Room,” “Chatbots for Cyber Security Reducing Threats and Vulnerabilities,” and “Observational Data for Solutions to Gender-Based Violence in Public Spaces.”

UDC academic units providing presentations included the College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability & Environmental Sciences (CAUSES), College of Arts & Sciences (CAS), David A. Clarke School of Law, School of Business & Public Administration (SBPA), School of Engineering & Applied Sciences (SEAS), and UDC Community College (UDC-CC).

The Innovators in Urban Education sessions, moderated by Dr. Jillian Wendt of the College of Arts and Sciences, featured presentations from graduate students who are teachers in the DC Public School System. Their research projects provided insight and tools to create the next cadre of students and leaders for the community. Their findings recommend the earlier the student intervention the greater impact on the student’s learning trajectory.

SEAS provided an overview of their research in nanotechnology, materials and biomechanics. In addition, students presented cutting-edge-edge research projects with government sponsors such as NASA, NSF, Dept. of Energy, Dept. of Defense and NIST.

SEAS has systematically worked to create a research portfolio aligned with national priorities for tomorrow’s industry needs. Dr. Pradeep Behera organized the session as part of his role on the UDC Internal Research Council. UDC’s SEAS is one of only 15 HBCU ABET-accredited undergraduate engineering programs in the country.

Researchers also explored the convergence of machine learning and agriculture and how these new digital tools must be incorporated into the curriculum for the next generation of agricultural professionals. iUNU, an industrial computer vision company, donated its AI platforms to UDC. This new technology will be used on UDC’s rooftop garden and eventually throughout the city and the Firebird Farm.

The David A. Clarke School of Law assembled an impressive group of thought leaders who addressed social justice issues through their research and in-depth knowledge. Professor Bruce Ching organized and moderated the session.

CAUSES hosted a one-day National Capital Region Water Resources Workshop, “Data Science Applications in Water Management,” led by Dr. Tolessa Deksissa, president of the National Capital Region Section of the American Water Resources Association, and director of the Water Resources Research Institute.

Tomorrow’s skilled technical workforce is also being prepared at UDC’s Community College. It stands out as the only community college in the nation developing a curriculum for a new generation of workers in quantum information systems.

Of the 36 million STEM-based workers in the U.S., about 19 million do not have a four-year degree and are skilled technical workers making vital contributions to the nation’s science and engineering enterprise, according to the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics. UDC’s Community College provides opportunities for skill-based job training ranging from healthcare-based research to innovations in roadway safety.

During the five days of research presentations, demonstrations, speakers, and networking opportunities–students, faculty and research sponsors received a broad cross-section of UDC’s research capabilities and projects currently underway, securing its place as a source of knowledge and innovation for the Greater Washington Metropolitan Area.

“Many thanks to faculty, staff and foremost our students for their time and effort to showcase the research prowess and innovative spirit of the University of the District of Columbia,” McCrary said. “We are the District of Columbia’s Research Laboratory and we are here to serve our citizens.”

UDC Research Milestones and Engagements:

*$58 million in funding proposals submitted

*$39 million in funding awarded

*$8 million in FY2021 research expenditures reported to the National Science Foundation

*6 provisional patents filed

*The University of the District of Columbia established the Office of University Research on October 1, 2021 as part of the Equity Imperative

*UDC received an $8.7 million grant from the Department of Health & Human Services to lead a local consortium to develop public health IT professionals

*President Ronald Mason served on a National Science Board panel to discuss “Lessons from the Success of Minority Serving Institutions” on May 19, 2021

*Dr. Freddie Dixon was awarded the 2021 Women of Color in STEM for Educational Leadership on October 9, 2021

*Dr. Stefanie Tompkins, Director of DARPA, visited the University of the District of Columbia on September 16, 2021

*Dr. Tolessa Deksissa received the 2022 Black Engineer of the Year Award for Research Leadership on February 19, 2022