NEWS AND EVENTS
Upcoming Deadlines and Events
REACH suicide prevention training for ORED staff, Jan. 8, 10 and 14
Big Red Resilience and Well-Being is offering optional REACH suicide prevention training to ORED staff at the following dates and times. Registration is required; click on the link for the session you will attend. All sessions are at the Paul Research Center at Whittier School, Room 152.
Jan. 8: 2:30-4:00 p.m.
Jan. 10: 9:00-10:30 a.m.
Jan. 14: 1:00-2:30 p.m.
Participants who complete the session will receive a certificate and lapel pin verifying completion of the program. Learn more about the REACH initiative here. Contact Laurie Sampson with questions.
Vice Chancellor’s Award for Invaluable Service nomination deadline, Jan. 14
The Vice Chancellor’s Award for Invaluable Service is presented annually to ORED team members who demonstrate excellence in their work and commitment to the department’s mission. To nominate a colleague, complete this form, which includes a statement of 200 words or less describing the qualities that make the nominee a key player in ORED. Past winners are eligible. An external panel will review all nominations, and up to four people will be selected to receive a plaque and a $250 cash award. Awardees will be honored at the ORED Staff Appreciation Luncheon on Feb. 4 (see below).
State of the University address, Jan. 15
Chancellor Ronnie Green is set to deliver the State of the University address to faculty, staff, students and the community at 3:30 p.m. at the Lied Center for Performing Arts, 301 N. 12th St. A live webcast of the speech also will be available. The annual address, scheduled to align with the start of the university’s 150th anniversary in 2019, outlines priorities for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the coming year.
Nebraska Lecture, Jan. 23
Charlyne Berens, professor emeritus and former associate dean of the university’s College of Journalism and Mass Communications, will kick off a monthly series of Nebraska Lectures for 2019, aimed at commemorating the university’s 150th anniversary. Her talk, “Nebraska’s Unicameral: Still Progressive after All These Years?,” is 3:30 p.m. at the Wick Alumni Center, 1520 R St.
ORED Staff Appreciation Luncheon, Feb. 4
Was it Miss Peacock? With a wrench? Where was she? Assume your favorite Clue character and join ORED colleagues to unravel the mysteries surrounding the demise of Mr. Boddy at this year’s Staff Appreciation Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. at the Lied Commons. A bus will shuttle people between the Paul Research Center and the Lied. To RSVP, and to reserve your spot on the bus, click here.
News
New ORED event calendar available
Stay up-to-date with what’s going on in ORED with a new calendar of events, which displays events for university faculty and staff, public events, internal training opportunities and campus events. The access the calendar and add it to your calendar list, follow these steps:
(1) Open your calendar in Outlook.
(2) Right click on My Calendars.
(3) Select Add Calendar, then choose Address Book.
(4) Type UNL Research in the search box and highlight UNL Research from that list.
(5) Double-click on UNL Research.
(6) Click OK.
The UNL Research Calendar should open and show ORED events. Contact Laurie Sampson or Lisa Maupin with questions.
NSRI releases annual report
The University of Nebraska’s National Strategic Research Institute recently released its 2017-18 annual report, which provides key updates about the institute’s research, education and training efforts, as well as its accomplishments over the past five years. Recently, the University of Nebraska and the United States Strategic Command announced a renewal of NSRI through a five-year, $92 million contract from the U.S. Air Force. The institute, launched in 2012 with an $84 million contract, researches methods to combat weapons of mass destruction and maintain safety for the U.S. and its allies.
Welcomes
Jim Lewis joined ORED as the university’s first director of science, technology, engineering and mathematics education research initiatives on Jan. 1. Jim, Aaron Douglas Professor of Mathematics, is an award-winning educator with extensive experience leading teaching and learning initiatives, a background that will help him support Nebraska faculty engaged in STEM research, education and outreach. He also will continue to serve as director of the university’s Center for Science, Mathematics and Computer Education. Welcome, Jim!
KUDOS TO OUR COLLEAGUES
Emily Hanus, Research Compliance Services, recently passed the Certified Research Administrator, or CRA, exam. The certification is administered by the Research Administrators Certification Council and emphasizes an individual’s commitment and knowledge in research administration. Congratulations, Emily!
Bob Wilhelm, vice chancellor for research and economic development, was recently named a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. This is the highest professional distinction for academic inventors who have demonstrated a prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating inventions with tangible social impacts. Wilhelm, who is also Kate Foster Professor of mechanical and materials engineering, was selected for his expertise as an engineer, inventor and administrator. Lyle Middendorf, a 1973 Nebraska graduate and senior vice president of advanced research development/chief technology officer at LI-COR Biosciences, also was named a fellow.
WELLNESS WATCH
We all know that cell phones can be distracting when we’re trying to concentrate — constant text messages, social media updates and emails are disruptive in obvious ways. But did you know that just having your cell phone nearby may be negatively impacting your thinking?
A recent study published in the Journal of the Association for Consumer Research suggests that the mere presence of a smartphone — even with sound alerts and vibration disabled — negatively impacted cognitive capacity. The researchers asked study participants to complete cognitive and reasoning tasks with their phones either placed face-down in front of them; in their pockets or bags; or in another room. The individuals with their phones in another room performed the best on the tasks, followed by those with their phones in their pockets. Those with their phones on their desks performed the worst, showing an impairment in cognitive ability on par with the effects of lacking sleep.
Interestingly, the researchers believe this diminished mental capacity is actually the result of “good” behavior. Because smartphones produce great value — connecting us to friends, work, the news and the world’s collective knowledge — many people consider them extremely important. Resisting the urge to attend to something of such great importance is what saps mental energy and distracts from the tasks at hand.
How can we use this information to perform better at work? The researchers suggest that defining windows of time to separate from your phone may be helpful, as could conducting meetings without phones in the room.
Read the full article here. Thanks to Laurie Sampson for submitting this piece!
WATER COOLER CHAT
To head off the January blues, read about your colleagues’ favorite holiday traditions:
Kate Carlin, Sponsored Programs: “It’s so hard to choose … watching all of my favorite childhood Christmas movies (yes, I have them all on DVD!); making a thermos of hot chocolate to enjoy while looking at Christmas lights around Lincoln with my husband; and, my favorite happens on the years we spend the holiday with my family, where my mom, sister and I bake and decorate sugar cookies and make ornaments. That family time is priceless!”
David Clausen, Sponsored Programs: “Drinking copious amounts of eggnog.”
Craig Goodrich, Sponsored Programs: “Eating WAAAAAAAAY too much :).”
Clark Griswold, perhaps a new member of ORED?: “Putting up Christmas Lights.”
Emily Hanus, Research Compliance Services: “Driving (or walking) around to look at the lights.”
Suzan Lund, Sponsored Programs: “We love being together with our families! Both my and my husband’s families gather for a meal, gift exchange and board games. My family meets in Sioux Falls and Joe’s in Norfolk (where dinner is always at Godfather’s Pizza).”
Terri Murray, Sponsored Programs: “New Year’s Eve family bowling.”
Kasey Nelkin Pedersen, Sponsored Programs: “After we had kids, my husband and I started the tradition of giving everyone in the family a new set of matching pajamas on Christmas Eve. Once everyone is settled into their new PJs, we cuddle up together and watch a holiday movie together before bed. This tradition makes for some really lovely photo opportunities that we can look back on and enjoy.”
Thanks to all who participated! Check the January edition of OPEN Book for the next survey question. If you have suggestions, let me know.
THE MONTH IN PICTURES
To get into the holiday spirit last month, your colleagues at NUtech Ventures and Nebraska Innovation Campus sported their ugliest Christmas sweaters (left). The crew got a little more serious for their professional shot (right)! Who’s who in these pictures:
Top photo: Back, from left: Mauricio Suarez, Rose Robotham, Jeewan Jyot, Brad Roth, Zane Gernhart and Luke Barnard. Front, from left: Courtney Grate, Arpi Siyahian, Cheryl Horst, Alyssa Amen and Joy Eakin.
Bottom Photo: Back, from left: Arpi Siyahian, Cheryl Horst, Courtney Grate, Brad Roth, Alyssa Amen and Mauricio Suarez. Front, from left: Brooke Goedert and Joy Eakin.
Thanks to all who contributed to this month’s OPEN Book. If you have news you’d like to share in the newsletter, submit it here or send it to Tiffany Lee.
