Slippery Rock University
AC-9: Academic Research

1. Geography, Geology & the Environment: Stentor Danielson Tamra Schiappa Langdon Smith Julie Snow Jack Livingston Patrick Burkhart James Hathaway Michael Stapleton Jialing Wang Michael Zieg 2. Business Department: David Culp Frances Amatucci John Golden Rhonda Clark 3. Parks and Recreation Department: Rebecca Thomas Christopher Leininger Paulette Viola 4. Chemistry: Mary E. Sisak 5. Biology: Simon Beeching Dean DeNicola

The research inventory was completed using a combination of self-reporting by faculty members; review of research grant and Green Fund Grant project announcements; a review of publications published in the Deans' quarterly reports; and a review of the Bailey Library Center for Research that supports faculty-sponsored student research.

Dr. Jack Livingston is leading SRU students in climate change research in western China - "The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous region in Western China is at the center of important changes in that country's international economic policies, its growing concerns about climate change and its increasing efforts at nomadic sedentarization," said Jack Livingston, SRU associate professor of Geography, Geology and the Environment. "The area is like the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...short grassy areas, fairly aerated, and then you get some truly desert terrain. It's an area very sensitive to climate change and one that makes for great research." So great in fact, that Livingston has teamed with colleague Xianfeng Chen, SRU associate professor of geography, geology and the environment, and a group of six SRU students for a 21-day trip to the region beginning June 13, 2016. This student-faculty research project is being made possible through a $39,776 grant from the ASIANetwork. - See more at: http://www.sru.edu/news/021516a#sthash.IzrqJWWS.dpuf Dr. Julie Snow, a professor in the Geology, Geography and the Environment Department, published a chapter in the book "Sustainability in Higher Education, Stories and Strategies for Transformation." See http://rockpride.sru.edu/2013/RP092713/story.php?id=4 for additional information. John Golden, Rhonda Clark and Paul Scanlon have been mentoring Sustainable Enterprise Accelerator (School of Business) student interns and volunteers in the design, construction and research program development for the Aquaponics project installed at the Macoskey Center. Prof. Nicole Dafoe, Biology Department, received a $9,924 grant in 2015 from the Faculty Professional Development Council to research soybean DNA - This research project focuses on understanding how endoreduplication is regulated, specifically in soybeans, an agriculturally important crop species. - See more at: http://www.sru.edu/news/good-news-050715#sthash.pbhcQ0hu.dpuf Examples of faculty/student sustainability research included in the 2013 SRU Symposium for Student Research, Scholarship, and Creative Achievement include: 1. Greening National Parks: Expanding Traditional Roles to Combat Climate Change, Elizabeth D Smith, Geography, Geology and the Environment Department 2. Water Bottle Filling Stations: One Step Closer to Sustainability, Darryl Loman II, Physical Education Department 3. Slippery Rock Water Quality, Ethan Thomas James Hunt, Physical Education Department 4. Assessing the Contribution of Periglacial Meltwaters to Water Supply, High Central Andes, Argentina, Ethan Thomas Geisler, Geography, Geology and the Environment Department 5. Analysis of Dreissena Bugensis Shell Ca/Mg Ratios and Ecological Implications in Lake Michigan, Andrew Earl Franze, Geography, Geology and the Environment Department 6. Evaluation of Geomorphic Forcing by the Medieval Climate Anomaly in the White River Badlands, James John Stevens, Geology and the Environment Department 7. Public Relations Case Study: Corporate Social Responsibility at Primark Stores Limited, Leah Ashley Reith, Communications Department 8. Public Relations Case Study: Analysis of the Crisis Management Tactics of BP during the Deepwater Horizons Oil Spill, Corey Walter DeSantis, Communications Department 9. The Induction of Endoreduplication in Response to Wounding in Seed Plants, Samuel David Lotz, Biology Department Examples of faculty/student sustainability research included in the 2014 SRU Symposium for Student Research, Scholarship, and Creative Achievement include: 1. Cell Cycle Gene Expression in Wounded Soybean Stem Tissue, Breanna Mary Kebort, Chemistry Department 2. Examining Health Disparities in Mortality Rates Based Upon Socioeconomic Status, Maria Renee Zaffuto, Public Health Department Examples of faculty/student sustainability research included in the 2015 SRU Symposium for Student Research, Scholarship, and Creative Achievement include: 1. Expression of Defense Genes in Wounded Soybean Stems, Amy Kinzler, Biology Department 2. The Effects of a Common Pesticide, Imidaclopid, on Amphibian Testosterone Levels, Leah Marshall, Biology Department 3. Trash Routing Problem, Joshua Sarver and Aaron Rockburn, Computer Science Department 4. The Dispersion, Transport and Accumulation of Six Criteria Air Pollutants in Chicago, Illinois during 2012, Ashley Beal, Tyler Branca and Victoria Yeager, Geography, Geology and the Environment Department 5. Evaluation of Geomorphic Forcing by the Medieval Climate Anomaly Upon Pediments Across the White River Badlands, South Dakota, Kaitlyn Bouch, Geography, Geology and the Environment Department 6. The Application of Multichannel Anaysis of Surface Waves to Identify Abandoned Mine Tunnels, Curtis Kerns, Geography, Geology and the Environment Department 7. Hydrogeologic Assessment to Support Source-Water Protection for Critical Prairie Habitat, Jennings Environmental Education Center, Pennsylvania, Scott Laborie, Nicholas Turner, Elizabeth Dreimiller and Travis Anderson, Geography, Geology and the Environment Department 8. Wetland Mapping with High Spatial Resolution Space-Borne Multi-spectral Data and SAR Data, James Meehan, Geography, Geology and the Environment Department 9. Analysis of Wind Transportation and Mercury Concentration in the Great Lakes Region, Victoria Yeager and Ashley Beal, Geography, Geology and the Environment Department 10. Health and Society: Infant Mortality, Socioeconomic Status and Income Disparity, Taylor Deats, Independent Studies 11. Population Management of Bat Species by Designing Experimental Bat Houses, Lauren Brink, Parks & Recreation Department 12. Improving Bus Schedule Reliability in a Transit System, Xindi Li, School of Business