Misericordia University Launches CAS Scholarship Series With Marine Invasive Species Talk

Misericordia University Launches CAS Scholarship Series With Marine Invasive Species Talk

DALLAS, PA - Misericordia University launched the inaugural presentation of the College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Research and Scholarship Series on Nov. 12, welcoming faculty, students and community members for a showcase of the scholarly work taking place across the college.

Dr. Linda Auker, associate professor of biology, opened the series with her presentation, “Using Community Science Data and Ensembles of Small Models to Predict Distribution of Marine Invasive Species.” Her talk examined how community science data and specialized modeling approaches can help predict the spread of invasive marine organisms, providing insight relevant to ecological management and conservation.

The College of Arts and Sciences established the series to continue its long tradition of encouraging faculty to share their scholarship with peers and students. John Woznicki, associate provost and dean of arts and sciences, emphasized the role faculty scholarship plays in strengthening academic community, stating, “Doing so builds community by promoting a culture where all are encouraged to engage in scholarship, stimulating creativity, and animating teaching and learning. Students and faculty alike especially might see how scholarship becomes alive—from research to active learning—the use of knowledge to create anew—reminding and validating for us all of the very special endeavor in which we are all engaged. It’s at the very core of who we are and what we do.”

Dr. Auker reflected on her role in opening the new series, saying, “It was an honor being the first in the CAS Scholarship Series. We have a wonderful community of talented and exceptional faculty scholars and I am looking forward to hearing about the research that my colleagues are involved in.”

The Faculty Research and Scholarship Series will continue throughout the academic year, offering additional opportunities for faculty to present their work and for students to connect with active scholarship on campus.