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JOURNAL HIGHLIGHTS RESEARCH EFFORTS

By Pete Rosenbery

The College of Applied Sciences and Arts recently released its inaugural Journal of Applied Sciences and Arts (JASA), designed to highlight research and connect the college with alumni, industry partners and friends.

The 56-page online peer-reviewed journal presents problem-solving ideas and real-world scenarios for use on a regional, national and potentially international basis, Craig Anz, the associate dean for academic affairs and associate professor in the School of Architecture, said. The journal features a 13-member editorial board from throughout the U.S. and Qatar; the editor-in-chief is Jorge L. Diaz-Herrera, president of Keuka College in Keuka Park, N.Y.

“We want to promote research. We are a research university and a peer-reviewed journal I think is the best way to push research, and especially considering the college is really a college of different kinds of technologies,” Dean Andy Wang said. “We want to have something that we can have different departments working together and contribute to common themes of research. With the journal, this is a way to encourage faculty to have more productive research creativity and is also a connection outside of our reach.”

The inaugural issue is available via OpenSIUC.

The first three journal items are by college faculty and a graduate researcher: Chad Schwartz, assistant professor in the School of Architecture; Shannon S. McDonald, assistant professor and Lucas Shubert, graduate researcher, School of Architecture, and Donald Bartlett, assistant professor, Department of Aviation Technologies.

Anz said he expected the project would “start off in baby steps,” with the systematic implementation of a theme and editorial board. The next issue will include work from the college’s second multidisciplinary research symposium.

Anz said there is the potential for creating themed-journals, as well, and connecting with alumni and industry professionals who are interested in publishing their work. Another avenue down the road is to use symposium and these types of articles for self-reported continuing education credit.

“We welcome alumni to submit their papers or research or collaborate with our faculty and students to jointly submit their papers,” Wang said. “We want to use this as a vehicle to bring research, creativity, alumni connections and our industry partnerships together.”

Wang and Anz also stressed the role the journal can play in attracting faculty and helping with enrollment and student retention.

For more information, contact Anz at canz@siu.edu