Discipline: Biological Sciences
Subcategory: STEM Research
- Virginia Union University
Co-Author(s): Carleitta Paige-Anderson, Virginia Union University, Richmond, VA
The Virginia Union University (VUU) Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Research Journal Club is one of the initiatives in the Targeted Infusion Proposal entitled Virginia Union University Undergraduate Research Training Program in the Biological Sciences (#1623357). Specifically, the STEM Research Journal Club serves as an opportunity to create a community of scholars among VUU students, faculty and external research collaborators. Recently at VUU, a small private liberal arts HBCU, there has been an interest in developing the research support structure on campus and creating opportunities for faculty and students to explore current advances in disciplinary research. The VUU STEM Research Journal Club is strategically positioned to cultivate the development of foundational research skills while exploring current advances in disciplinary research. The aims of the VUU STEM Research Journal Club are to expose students to historic and current scientific research topics that are extensions of concepts introduced in academic courses, introduce methods/techniques used in scientific research and provide students an opportunity to discuss the theory and limitations of such approaches, acquaint students with current investigators and institutions in their field(s) of interest, and train students on how to prepare and give effective PowerPoint presentations summarizing key components of peer-reviewed journal articles and reviews. In addition, the VUU STEM Research Journal Club aims to provide an opportunity for faculty researchers to present an overview of research in their field of interest and/or their proposed or current STEM research. The VUU STEM Research Journal Club will also give external researchers the opportunity to present current data to VUU faculty and students. Together, students and faculty will engage in productive dialogs focusing on methods/techniques and advances in STEM research. The VUU STEM Research Journal Club is designed to promote scientific literacy and scientific awareness in STEM research for STEM majors. It is expected that these efforts will facilitate disciplinary networks, foster opportunities to develop new areas of inquiry, and increase opportunities to establish research collaborations with scientific investigators. Interested students must identify a faculty research mentor who will help identify an appropriate journal to present and train students on how to prepare and give effective PowerPoint presentations summarizing key components of peer-reviewed journal articles. In the Fall of 2017, the VUU STEM Research Journal Club was scheduled to meet every other Wednesday for a total of 6 total Journal Clubs, excluding holidays and scheduled exams. A total of 5 presentations were given; one from each of the targeted populations (faculty, student, and guest researcher) during the Fall semester. To this date, 4 faculty mentors and 4 students have requested presentation dates.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): National Science Foundation #1623357
Faculty Advisor: None Listed,