I³R Kicks Off Fall Speaker Series

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A blue and red gradient background with the title Fall 2024 Speaker Series and two rows of six black and white photographs of the fall speakers.

The Institute for Integrative & Innovative Research (I³R) at the U of A has announced its 2024 Fall Speaker Series lineup featuring thought leaders, researchers and entrepreneurs from across the country, including U of A faculty members from the College of Engineering, Walton College and Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. 

The speaker series, held Fridays online and in person, features local and national experts in public health, artificial intelligence, biomaterials and education, among others. 

"Our mission is to pioneer solutions to 'wicked' problems through convergence research," said Ranu Jung, associate vice chancellor and I³R founding executive director. "Our speaker series brings to campus the people addressing complex issues with innovative solutions." 

The series kicks off this week on Friday, Sept. 6, with Shahin Vassigh, Ph.D., professor of architecture and director of the robotics and fabrications lab at Florida International University. Vassigh will present findings from an ongoing study in her presentation, "Enhancing Educational Landscapes: Harnessing AI for Immersive and Adaptive Learning Environments." 

"This series allows the campus community to engage with groundbreaking discoveries and innovations," Jung added. In November, U of A assistant professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminology Michael David Niño will present findings from the state's first ever continuously monitored health survey.  

The series will also include separate panels on healthcare featuring members of the Sam M. Walton College of Business and on imaging and brain research, which will coincide with an open house previewing the MRI suite in I³R's new research facility, set to open later this year.  

I³R Fall Speaker Series events are open to all U of A faculty, students and staff as well as the public. Mark your calendar for upcoming speaker series dates and check the institute's website for event details and updates.   

The fall 2024 lineup includes: 

Sep. 6 — Shahin Vassigh, Ph.D., professor; associate dean of faculty development; College of Communication, Architecture and the Arts; Florida International University 

Sep. 13 — Younghye Song, Ph.D., assistant professor, College of Engineering, U of A

Sep. 20 — William A. Masters, Ph.D., professor, Freidman School of Nutrition & Department of Economics, Tufts University 

Oct. 4 — David Dobrzykowski, Ph.D., professor, Sam M. Walton College of Business, and Shannon Younger, Ph.D., assistant professor, Sam M. Walton College of Business, U of A

Oct. 18 — Davood Tashayyod, CEO, Lumo Imaging 

Oct. 24 — Martin Paulus, M.D., scientific director and president, Laureate Institute for Brain Research, University of Tulsa, and Steffen Sammet, M.D., Ph.D., professor, department of radiology, University of Chicago 

Nov. 1 — Michael David Niño, Ph.D., assistant professor, Fulbright College of Arts amd Sciences, U of A

Nov. 8 — Mathias Unberath, Ph.D., the John C. Malone Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science, Johns Hopkins University