Honors College to Host Pulse Discussion Around Baltimore Bridge Accident

The Honors College will present a panel of experts to discuss the Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse from 3:30-5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24, in Gearhart Hall, room 258. 

On the morning of March 26, the Dali cargo ship lost power and rammed into a support pier on Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge. The collision caused one of the bridge's spans to break and fall into the water, killing six construction workers on the bridge at the time. The wreck has also blocked one the busiest shipping lanes in the United States.

The Honors College will present a panel of faculty with expertise on engineering, labor history and supply chain to discuss the impact of the accident from 3:30-5 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, in Gearhart Hall, room 258.  

Faculty who will provide context and lead a question-and-answer session include: 

• Michael Pierce, associate professor of history at the U of A

• Gary Prinz, associate professor of engineering at the U of A

• Marc Scott, assistant professor of practice in supply chain management at the U of A

"This final installment of the Honors College Pulse series brings together scholars from three different disciplines," noted Honors College Dean Lynda Coon, who will moderate the panel. "Together, they will mine the recent bridge accident in Baltimore and do so through an interdisciplinary conversation. Gary Prinz (civil engineering) will discuss the structural features of bridge building leading to the collapse; Mike Pierce (history) will explore the role of immigrant labor in the bridge-building community of Baltimore and the post-collapse aftermath on labor broadly; Marc Scott (supply chain management) will gauge the effect of this disaster on national and global supply chains. You won't want to miss this illuminating session featuring top research talent at the University of Arkansas. Join us!"

The Honors College Pulse discussion series began in 2016 and was named in remembrance of victims of the Pulse nightclub shootings. The discussions allow students to ask questions about current events and trends and learn holistically from varying interdisciplinary perspectives across campus. Panel discussions have featured conversations around affirmative action, the Dakota Access Pipeline Project, Roe v. Wade, the viral phenomenon of "Barbenheimer," the legal ramifications and decisions related to hate crimes, ways to fight local hunger and poverty, as well as the war in Ukraine.  

About the Honors College: The University of Arkansas Honors College was established in 2002 and brings together high-achieving undergraduate students and the university's top professors to share transformative learning experiences. Each year the Honors College awards up to 90 freshman fellowships that provide $80,000 over four years, and more than $1 million in undergraduate research and study abroad grants. The Honors College is nationally recognized for the high caliber of students it admits and graduates. Honors students enjoy small, in-depth classes, and programs are offered in all disciplines, tailored to students' academic interests, with interdisciplinary collaborations encouraged. All Honors College graduates have engaged in mentored research. 

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas' economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.