President Caboni

Dear Colleagues,

At WKU, research plays an integral role in achieving our university mission and differentiating the WKU Experience from that of other institutions across our region. Our undergraduates engage in research typically accessible only to graduate students elsewhere. By enabling them to participate in our projects, we inspire the next generation of scholars and innovators.

One of the ways we demonstrate our commitment to fostering innovation is through our Innovation Campus – where ideas flourish and entrepreneurs, leaders and researchers work together to develop real-world solutions to our area’s most pressing concerns. Last Thursday, we showcased the remarkable work underway at our Innovation Campus during an onsite visit with Governor Beshear, and it reminded us how much we have accomplished of late.

Recent activities and developments at our Innovation Campus include:

• Real-Time Safety Solutions established a presence at the Innovation Campus
• The Metals Innovation Initiative hosted the ‘Factory of the Future’ conference
• In partnership with the University of Southern California, AccelerateKY hosted the ‘Civic Imagination and Worldbuilding’ conference at the Innovation Campus
• WKU student Nessa Unseld received the first-ever Buckman Prize for her development of an online learning platform
• WKU Innovation Campus partnered with the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce to create the Regional Tech Council

As we continue our work at the Innovation Campus, we appreciate our partners; we cannot do this alone.

Finally, as your students consider how they might participate in research activities, please encourage them to sign up for this year’s WKU Student Scholar Showcase on Saturday, April 6 in the Downing Student Union. This Showcase provides a platform for us to recognize and celebrate the research activities of graduate and undergraduate students from disciplines across the university. We encourage students to submit an abstract online at https://www.wku.edu/showcase by February 27. We even provide preparatory support through the WKU Student Scholar Showcase Workshop Series: How to Write an Abstract. Additionally, we encourage faculty and staff to attend and even volunteer to serve as a Showcase session chair on the Student Scholar Showcase website. 

Thank you for your dedication to our continuing work to elevate and grow our research portfolio together this semester.

Go Tops!

Best,

Timothy C. Caboni