First e-awards given to young professors allows research to flourish

amazing scholarship that’s happening at SIUE,” Smucker said.

Awards and patent recognition were given during the last hour of the Provost’s Celebration of Research Reception.

Jerry Weinberg, the Associate Provost for Research and the dean of the graduate school, and Susan Morgan, the associate dean of research and graduate studies, both spoke at the event.

Jill Smucker, the director of graduate education in the graduate school, was a part of the team that helped organize this event. She said it was a great chance for people to be exposed to the scholarships that SIUE has.

“It’s a really wonderful opportunity to kind of take a step back and recognize and realize the bigger picture of some of the

“That sometimes in our day-today work we lose sight of some of the really incredible things that are happening here on campus. It’s a great day to recognize those efforts built from students and faculty.”

Smucker said that the first

“e” award is for faculty who have submitted a grant for the first time.

“The first ‘e’ is for people who are first time submitters on an external grant proposal during the year prior,” Smucker said.

“That’s really an award you can only win once because it’s something that’s given to you when you submit an external grant for the first time.”

Rubi Quinones, assistant professor in the computer science department, was awarded the first “e” award. She said that her job is like a combination of agriculture and computer science.

“I do research in computer vision, artificial intelligence, and plant phenotyping,” Quinones said. “I research in using plants’ imageries where I try to come up with inferences, conclusions about the plants and hopefully come up with breeding solutions so we can make our plants more resilient and when we’re growing them out in the field.”

Quinones said that whether she gets the grant or not, she’s appreciative that SIUE recognizes faculty members like her and the work that it takes to write a grant.

“Whether I get it or not, the fact that SIUE recognizes us and appreciates our effort with this award is very fulfilling,”Quinones said.

Bernadette Sobczak, assistant professor of family health and community health nursing, also won a first “e” award. She said that the grant took a lot of work, she was the lead as she worked on it with a team of two of other members who were not able to attend the event.

“We just got this grant back in September,” Sobczak said. “It took a lot of work and I’m only part of the team. We are creating online interactive modules and so basically the preceptor will take these modules and then we will also have yearly conferences so that we can train people out in the field and also so that we can train new clinical faculty at the School of Nursing on how to give feedback to students and we’ve got a lot of stuff with them.” full

Sobczak said that she felt honored receiving her reward.

“The whole thing was ecstatic because it means so much for the students and the faculty and just the work of the School of Nursing,” Sobczak said.

Sobczak said that it’s great to have a grant that represents the hard work you’ve done.

“I didn’t see how much work it took until I had to do it myself. But I had a team behind me,” Sobczak said. See alestlelive. com for a full list of awards given.

Earth Day, which takes place on April 22, aims to raise awareness of humans’ impact on the planet. Spend the day mindfully, taking positive actions for the environment.

Ride your Bike

Not only is cycling beneficial for personal health, but it’s also an eco-friendly mode of transportation.

Buy Reusable Bags

Make a simple yet impactful switch from plastic bags to reusable ones. These versatile bags can be used for packing lunches, shopping for groceries and carrying everyday items.

Recycle

Recycling at SIUE is made easy with bins located throughout campus. Simply make sure your item is clean, empty, and placed in the correct bin.

Visit the Saint Louis Zoo

Not only is the Saint Louis Zoo an excellent opportunity to explore the world of animals and nature, but it’s also one of the rare free zoos in the United States, making it an affordable option for college students.

Spring Clean

Donate the clothes you no longer wear to be mindful of your possessions and help those in need. Local thrift stores accept general clothing donations, while business clothes can be donated to the Cougar Closet.

Volunteer at The Gardens of SIUE

Experience is not necessary to get involved with the gardens. Volunteering is a great way to lend a helping hand to the community while nurturing your green thumb. Email thegardens@siue.edu to learn more about volunteering opportunities.

Visit the Farmers Market

Starting May 13th, the Land of Goshen Community Market is the perfect way to show support for the community and treat yourself to locally grown produce and handmade goods.

Visit a Nature Preservation

Located near the SIUE campus, Bohm Woods Nature Preserve and the Watershed Nature Area is open every day from sunrise to sunset. Take a break from indoor living and immerse yourself in nature by exploring the trails both on and near campus.

Bring Home a Plant

Limited space and low light in dorm rooms doesn’t mean you can’t have plants. Consider low-maintenance options like Pothos, Spider Plants, and Aloe Vera.

Create an Ecosystem in a Jar

Simply fill an airtight container with pond or lake water and watch as a self-sustaining environment with unique organisms develops.

EMILY STERZINGER editor-in-chief

We’ve finally entered spring, and after a long cold winter, here’s some brighter tunes to cheer you up.

‘Pretty Pictures,’ Cub

This short but sweet song has the soft indie-pop sound that works well for the season.

‘Here Comes the Sun,’ The Beatles Who wouldn’t put this on their springtime playlist? It’s literally called “Here Comes the Sun.” It’s a pleasant song, and an absolute classic.

‘She Plays Bass,’ beebadoobee Gentler in tone than the other songs on this playlist, this song still feels like spring to me.

‘Racing Gloves,’ Plumtree

This song is another indie-pop banger, which Plumtree has plenty of. The intense drums of this will put some pep in your step.

‘Blister in the Sun,’ Violent Femmes

Another weird choice, right? I don’t know why, but something in this feels like spring to me. Not just the word “Sun” in the title, but the energetic vibe of the song too.

‘Strawberry Blond,’ Mitski

Though the lyrics are a bit sad and about yearning, the imagery of them indicates that this song is probably set in the spring. It’s a short, soft love song with a natural feel to it..

‘Money Won’t Pay,’ bo en, Augustus

Many of us work, but it’s important to enjoy the spring while the warm weather lasts too. Celebrate any free time between work and studying that you might have with this bop.

‘Campus,’ Vampire Weekend

We’re in the home stretch of the semester, but we are ultimately still on campus. So, why not romanticize your time here?

‘Someone New,’ Hozier

Back to happier sounding songs, this track has a soft, bright instrumental contrasted with Hozier’s powerful vocals. Plus, if you’ve been paying attention to our publication, you might know that many of us love Hozier here at The Alestle.

‘Sunflower, Vol. 6,’ Harry Styles

Capping off this playlist, this funk-influenced song has a very light sound to it.

Find the full playlist on alestlelive.com and to listen, check out The Alestle’s Spotify!