Sciences and Mathematics

Dr. Frank Fish of the Department of Biology, along with former biology graduate students William Gough and Danielle Adams, recently published the book chapter, "Dolphin Muscles and Movement," in The Physiology of Dolphins (Fahlman, A. and Hooker, S., eds.), published by Academic Press, London (2023).

The Department of Mathematics will hold two colloquium talks given by Dr. James McLaughlin.

Wednesday, 11/1/23 at 3:30-4:30 pm in UNA 162
Title:  What is Mathematics?
A general audience talk for students who are curious about what mathematicians do. For more information, please see the event flyer:  https://www.wcupa.edu/sciences-mathematics/Mathematics_Colloquium_110123.pdf

Wednesday, 11/8/23 at 3:30-4:30 pm in UNA 162
Title: Vanishing Coefficients in the Series Expansion of Lacunary Eta Quotients
A research talk on q-series. For more information, please see the event flyer:  https://www.wcupa.edu/sciences-mathematics/Mathematics_Colloquium_110823.pdf

The Department of Chemistry will host a Fall 2023 Career & Innovation Talk on Thursday, October 19th at 5:30 pm in Science Center Link 151.

Dr. Patrick Melvin of Bryn Mawr College will discuss research and the new class of sulfur molecule that was recently developed in his laboratory.

For more information, please see the event flyer: https://www.wcupa.edu/sciences-mathematics/documents/Fall23_CSM_Flyer_Melvin.pdf

This August, WCU's Center for STEM Inclusion received the 2023 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the largest and oldest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education. The Inspiring Programs in STEM Award honors colleges and universities that encourage and assist students from underrepresented groups to enter the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). WCU will be featured, along with 79 other recipients, in the September 2023 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.

Inspiring Programs in STEM Award winners were selected by INSIGHT Into Diversity based on efforts to inspire and encourage a new generation of young people to consider careers in STEM through mentoring, teaching, research, and successful programs and initiatives.

INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine selected WCU's Center for STEM Inclusion because it places students at the heart of everything it does to build access, persistence, outreach, and career readiness in STEM. CSI's career readiness programs celebrate students' identities and fosters new friendships and networks. CSI's persistence and access activities build supportive communities that lift STEM students up to learn and succeed. CSI's outreach brings science to kids all over the region and creates multi-year relationships with them. CSI faculty members cultivate connections with school districts that are mutually reinforcing and that result in many additional invitations to present programs at schools. CSI has won funding from federal, state, and corporate sources and has demonstrated STEM achievements to elected officials.

“We know that many STEM programs are not always recognized for their success, dedication, and mentorship for underrepresented students,” says Lenore Pearlstein, owner and publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. “We want to honor the schools and organizations that have created programs that inspire and encourage young people who may currently be in or are interested in a future career in STEM. We are proud to honor these programs as role models to other institutions of higher education and beyond.”

A call for nominations for this award was announced in April 2023.

For more information about the 2023 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award and INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, visit insightintodiversity.com.

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Lisa Marano as the interim Dean of the College of the Sciences and Mathematics.

During her 20+ years with West Chester University, Dr. Marano has served as a professor of mathematics, the Dean’s Faculty Associate for Student Success, and the Associate Dean for the College of the Sciences and Mathematics. Dr. Marano was the founding director of the Department of Mathematics’ actuarial science programs and the inaugural co-director of the WCU First Year Experience program. Dr. Marano also serves as the Chair of the Council on Sections on the Board of Directors of the Mathematical Association of America.

Dr. Marano has agreed to serve as interim dean following the departure of Dr. Radha Pyati. Dr. Pyati served as Dean of the College of the Sciences and Mathematics from 2018-2023; she leaves us to serve as Chancellor and Dean of Penn-State-Berks Campus. Under her leadership, the College launched a new major in biomedical engineering, as well as a degree program in quantum science and engineering. In addition, Dr. Pyati instituted the Center for STEM Inclusion, which actively promotes diversity and equity initiatives within the College of the Sciences and Mathematics, increasing access to STEM careers for a diverse body of students. We thank Dr. Pyati for her outstanding service to our College and wish her well in her new position.

^{PHOTO CREDIT: BILL BUCK}

Dr. Heather Wholey and the Department of Anthropology and Sociology were recently featured in a Greet Brandywine Valley article . The article details the archaeological dig at the 1730 Huey site in Westtown Township. Dr. Wholey leads students as they perform fieldwork and use ground-penetrating radar at the site. The site is one of several where CSM students can participate in hands-on learning in the field.

Dr. Jacqueline Zalewski of the Department of Anthropology and Sociology has had her research on teamwork pedagogy published in Teaching Sociology. Dr. Zalewski and co-author Susan Brudvig authored the chapter, "Encouraging Productive Behavior in Student Teams with Interventions." https://doi.org/10.1177/0092055X221108105

Dr. Zalewski and her collaborator also have a podcast about her research findings: https://journals.sagepub.com/page/tso/podcasts

Congratulations to the faculty recipients of the 2022-2023 College of the Sciences and Mathematics Research in Mathematics and the Sciences (RIMS) Awards:

Dr. Lauren Brumley, Department of Psychology - Leveraging Federal Data to Meet Student Dissertation Needs

Dr. Kurt Kolasinski, Department of Chemistry - Controlling the Surface Chemistry of Porous Silicon for Biomedical Applications

Dr. Shannon McQueen, Department of Political Science - Let’s Talk About It: Cultivating Dialogue and Expression in the Classroom

Dr. Shawn Pfeil, Department of Physics & Engineering - Is NMM, an important probe of G-Quadruplex DNA, a dimer in solution?

Dr. Megan Fork, together with a team of researchers, received a $390,381 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for a project titled "Improving institutional diversity in professional society participation through virtual and hybrid conferencing." The team will investigate how and whether virtual and hybrid conferences in ecology, environmental science, and allied fields have increased participation by individuals from a diverse set of institutions, including academic organizations like universities and organizations outside of academia like government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and environmental consulting firms. With participants from a diverse set of institutions, scientific conferences can improve collaboration and knowledge exchange and facilitate evidence-based environmental management. The project will also assess whether virtual and hybrid conferences are more inclusive of a diverse set of backgrounds and career stages and assess barriers, attitudes, and preferences related to conference access, attendance, and participation.

Last week we had some visitors from the Winterthur Museum Scientific Research and Analysis Laboratory (SRAL) in the Chemistry Department. Conservation Scientist Catherine Matsen, along with Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation (WUDPAC) graduate student Tammy Hong visited the research lab of Dr. Zachary Voras to investigate the composition of Chinese export miniature paintings. 

This project focuses on nineteenth century Chinese export painted landscape miniatures on ivory and metal in Winterthur’s collection and seeks to investigate their material compositions. The results of this investigation aim to illuminate the trade routes associated with the materials that influenced Chinese export painters’ artistic decisions and agencies when creating products for a foreign market. 

Catherine and Tammy used the newly acquired micro X-ray fluorescence (µXRF) ArTAX spectrometer to characterize the elemental composition of the paintings. A sample size of six paintings representative of the two substrates (3 on metal, and 3 on ivory) were selected for analysis. Since the materials and techniques employed in Chinese export paintings are understudied in the North American frameworks of material culture and conservation, the data collected from this project can increase our understanding of the ways in which these materials interact and how they may change over time.

Further information can be found at:  

The Department of Chemistry will hold the Spring 2023 Chemistry Career & Innovation Talk on Friday, February 24, 2023 from 5:15-6:15pm in Science Link 151.

Dr. Lukman Solola of Axalta Coating Systems, a global coatings company, will discuss his career in the chemical industry and provide insights into the businesses Axalta serves, the product development cycle and sustainability goals. 

Free pizza, snacks, and drinks will be provided!

For more information, see the Spring 2023 Chemistry Career & Innovation Talk flyer .

A new program in Quantum Science and Engineering (QSE) has been launched to prepare for the emerging market in quantum computing. In partnership with the University of Delaware, the 3-2 program allows students to spend three years at WCU and two years at the University of Delaware, earning both a BS in Physics from WCU and an MS in QSE from the University of Delaware.  Check out the Physics and Engineering program page for more information!

Dr. Frank Fish of the Department of Biology recently presented his research paper “Taking a new heading: the sea lion head as a control surface” at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology in Austin, Texas. The paper was co-authored with biology graduate student Caitlyn Swiston, mathematics graduate student Scott Moon, and Dr. Allison Kolpas of the Department of Mathematics. Biology undergraduate student David Kramer, biology graduate student Matt Wileyto, biology graduate student Caitlyn Swiston, and physics and biomedical engineering undergraduate student Alexa Cesari also presented their research at the event.