Research is what distinguishes a university and is the best way to prepare students for a rapidly changing world, Michael Larson, associate vice chancellor for research and innovation, Academic Affairs, declared during a recent all-campus forum.
Larson, who is also El Pomar Chair of Engineering and Innovation, explained the importance of research and available support for faculty during the Feb. 27 forum as well as new efforts designed to create a research-conducive campus environment.
“There are many fine teachers at community colleges and other institutions around the country,” Larson said. “But what distinguishes a university from those places is this mission to do research.”
Larson defined research as pushing the boundaries of knowledge in any area, creating new knowledge and preparing future generations for the next wave of technological change. Discoveries, and their adoption by the general public, are occurring more rapidly than ever before, Larson said. He cited the telephone which took more than 90 years to be adopted by 90 percent of Americans. In contrast, cell phones found their way into 90 percent of American homes in only 20 years.
“Research is an important part of every faculty member’s job on campus,” Larson said. “There isn’t a faculty member here who doesn’t have research as part of what he or she is expected to do.”
Larson highlighted the work of several UCCS faculty in areas that ranged from the effects of stress on pregnant women to improving the teaching of science, technology, engineering and math curriculums in K-12 schools. He also emphasized that faculty are not alone in their endeavors. The Office of Sponsored Programs, for example, can help faculty with legal and financial requirements. Other support mechanisms include seminars on statistics as well as special events such as Mountain Lion Research Day and the Undergraduate Research Academy which seeks to get students involved with faculty research.
For information about research at UCCS, visit http://www.uccs.edu/research
To see a video of Larson’s presentation, visit
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