UW Grand Challenges Research Planning Open Forum on WyoCast

An open forum for University of Wyoming faculty, staff and students to learn about and discuss UW’s research strategic planning effort will be available via WyoCast Wednesday.

The event is Wednesday, March 6, at 3:10 p.m. in Room 129 of the Classroom Building. It may be viewed via WyoCast at https://wyocast.uwyo.edu/WyoCast/Play/9cfe807dc4dd41d696f46fd94c15b2de1d.

Vice President for Research and Economic Development Ed Synakowski will discuss the university’s planning activity toward transdisciplinary “grand challenges” -- difficult problems with societal impact whose resolution requires focused efforts from many disciplines -- and how UW faculty members will be broadly engaged to generate the most compelling research themes. Faculty feedback is sought.

Additionally, he will provide an update on the membership of the activity’s Research Planning Council and will introduce its four faculty leaders. He also will discuss the proposed timeline for the process.

The purpose of this planning activity is to deeply engage the campus communities in identifying and planning for UW’s pursuit of grand research challenges that span disciplines. Investing in and pursuing such transdisciplinary challenges will enable UW to assert leadership and be among leaders in select areas as it serves the state, region, nation and globe.

A high-level aim is for new research activities surrounding these challenges to serve as a powerful platform for student education and for educational outreach to citizens of Wyoming and the Mountain West.

For more information, including documentation that describes the overarching goals and planning approach, go to www.uwyo.edu/research/advancing-research-and-scholarship/index.html.