RESEARCH & INNOVATION WEEK

+++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ RESEARCH & +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ INNOVATION WEEK +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ Every year in April, universities throughout the United States celebrate their faculty's and students' +++++++++++++++++++++ scholarly research and creative activities. +++++++++++++++++++++ In 2021, Prairie View A&M University's Division of Research & Innovation (R&I) hosted its "2021 Research +++++++++++++++++++++ & Innovation Week" (R&I Week) during April 5-9, 2021. +++++++++++++++++++++ In hosting a safe yet fulfilling celebration of research excellence, the planning committee had to over-+++++++++++++++++++++ come catastrophic challenges: a global pandemic, a major cyber incident, and a historic winter freeze. +++++++++++++++++++++ However, the committee remained committed to showcasing the depth and breadth of the research and +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++ innovation within the campus community.

This year the Division expanded the R&I week by embracing innovation and going global with a new initiative.

R&I debuted "Innovation Day" to showcase its activities in Innovation, Commercialization, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Development (ICEED) and held the inaugural "International Symposium of Undergraduate Research Excellence (ISURE)." We conducted the 2021 Research & Innovation Week in a 100% live, virtual format. It featured key elements of a face-to-face event, including:

o Keynote speakers o Diversity of research, scholarship, and creative activities o Interactive panel discussion o Breakout Rooms o Faculty and student participation

Participants The Faculty Research Conference Day showcased and celebrated the outstanding achievements of our dedicated faculty. 34 faculty members recommended by their department heads from PVAMU's eight colleges and schools presented their research and scholarly accomplishments. Their projects focused on crucial topics like the impact of discrimination on college students' persistence, postCOVID-19 impact on higher education, comparative effectiveness reviews of nursing care, machine-learning, and cloud computing for daylighting simulations.

Undergraduate Research Day | 248 Participants

Pre-pandemic, the Undergraduate Research Day would be a week-long event. The students would deliver oral and poster presentations on the applied solutions, disruptive ideas, and the real-world impact of faculty and student research. Because of COVID19, R&I pivoted to a virtual platform the entire week featuring both undergraduate and graduate research.

International Symposium of Undergraduate Research Excellence (I-SURE) | 172

Participants Prairie View A&M University study abroad campaign "PVAMU Goes Global" saw its progress halted when countries across the world halted student travel. The Division found an innovative way for PVAMU to "B-Global" without a passport. R&I created the International Symposium of Undergraduate Research Excellence (I-SURE) as a new global platform for undergraduate students.

R&I WEEK OUTCOMES

34

FACULTY RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS

59

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS

21

GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS

10

7 1

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS BREAKOUT ROOMS PANEL DISCUSSIONS

578

VIRTUAL PARTICIPANTS

The event included undergraduate researchers from four countries: Ghana, Mexico, Nigeria, and Uganda. They submitted prerecorded poster presentations. The I-SURE participants expressed interest in increasing international universities' participation and possible future collaborations.

Graduate Research Day | 172 Participants The

shift to virtual teaching, learning, and researching became a proving ground for Prairie View A&M graduate students. For Graduate Research Day, masters and doctoral students demonstrated their dedication and undauntedness to delivering their research to the campus community. Each capitalized on the virtual presentation format to expose their research to a larger research community. The research day also provided an opportunity for graduate researchers to get a broader sense of the depth and diversity of research conducted on the campus.

Innovation Day | 54 Participants The inaugural

Innovation Day featured a variety of business and entrepreneurial leaders who offered a series of motivational, informative, and inspiring presentations. New ICEED Executive Director Bobby Melvin hosted the full day of Innovation, Commercialization, Entrepreneurship, and Economic related topics.

Innovation Day featured Henri Nayakarundi as the keynote speaker. The Rwandan computer scientist has a passion for social entrepreneurship, mainly focused on the green sector. He launched the African Renewable Energy Distributor (ARED) in 2013. During his presentation, Nayakarundi described his journey to build and grow his innovative green business and shared some significant problems and challenges minority entrepreneurs are facing. The day also included a panel discussion by community economic development officials. Each panelist described exciting projects within their respective jurisdictions and shared details on their cooperative partnerships, including with one another and with the Prairie View A&M, which has broadened the university's impact and economic development community. Lastly, PVAMU innovators Innovation showcased some best practices and discussed intellectual property services.

RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

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