September 2024 Announcements

• September is nationally recognized as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Join Prevention Services for events and trainings during September in recognition of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. All events are on the university calendar and our website: go.ncsu.edu/spa
• Celebrate NC State Energy Week Sept. 30 – Oct. 6. From building electric cars to driving them, tours of solar infrastructure and a nuclear reactor, Energy Week offers exciting opportunities to explore clean energy and how we can shape a sustainable future. See the full calendar of events at go.ncsu.edu/EnergyWeek.
• The University of North Carolina at Wilmington will host NC State’s ACE Fellow Chris DePerno for the fall 2024 semester. He has also been invited for short-term (1-2 day) visits to local universities, colleges and offices.  In spring 2025, he will be doing a full placement at Kansas State University from mid-January through mid-May. DePerno will provide updates on his experience to NC State through blogs for the Provost’s Office.

From the Data Science and AI Academy:

• NC State’s Data Science Academy will now be known as the Data Science and AI Academy (DSA), to better reflect its focus on and national leadership in AI. The DSA was established in 2021 as a universitywide interdisciplinary effort to enhance a historic strength of the university and meet the growing needs of data science research, education and expertise in North Carolina and beyond. Learn more.
• The AI @ NC State Hot Topics Networking event aims to foster discussions among individuals interested in AI, including experts, scholars, and practitioners. Each session focuses on exploring a specific topic in AI research, ethics, and practice. Through these conversations, the event seeks to facilitate the envisioning of new opportunities for partnerships and collaborations across industry, academia, and government sectors. 

The next event will take place Wednesday, Oct. 16 from 8:45-9:45 a.m. in Raleigh Founded in the Partners 1 building on Centennial Campus. This session’s theme is “AI in the Movies.” Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and ethics. Our interdisciplinary forum of experts from industry and academia will dive into the implications of AI technologies on society, exploring the ethical considerations that arise from their widespread adoption.

From DELTA:

• At the vanguard of digital higher education opportunities, NC State DELTA leads the way in fostering extraordinary digital learning experiences. We accomplish this by leveraging cutting-edge educational technology and the expertise of our diverse team in pursuit of our service-oriented mission to our community of teachers and learners. Our 2023-2024 Annual Report shares highlights of our many accomplishments supporting faculty and student success. 
• DELTA’s Faculty Fellows Grants program champions innovative technological pedagogy by fostering the exchange of ideas and interdisciplinary partnerships. Learn more about our three new and three returning Faculty Fellows for 2024-2025!
• DELTA’s Course Quality Program delivers on our commitment to student success by providing NC State instructors with a comprehensive menu of services, resources and research to ensure the quality of their online and hybrid courses. 
• DELTA’s Accessibility Team is delighted to announce the establishment of the NC State Accessibility Collaborative this fall. Created in partnership with several campus units, the group hopes to facilitate collaborative allyship and engagement with accessibility topics as part of a university-wide commitment to removing barriers to inclusion.

From the Office for Faculty Excellence:

• While NC State is known as a premier research institution, it also prides itself on producing graduates who are skilled writers, orators and digital communicators, regardless of what degree they are pursuing. One of the key drivers in that mission is the Campus Writing and Speaking Program , which recently received an Exemplary Writing Across the Curriculum Program Award from the Association for Writing Across the Curriculum (AWAC) and the WAC Clearinghouse. Learn more.
• OFE has announced the 2024-25 internal faculty awards processes and deadlines. Specific timelines, criteria, forms, selection processes and recognition for awards managed by the Office for Faculty Excellence are available via go.ncsu.edu/internal-faculty-awards. 
• OFE will host the next installment of our Faculty Conversation Series: Finding Mentors at NC State on Friday, Sept. 20 from 10-11 a.m. via Zoom. Join us for an interactive drop-in session with Faculty Fellow Stacy Supak designed to guide you through our mentor matching system. Whether you’re new to the process or just looking to refine your search, this session will provide personalized assistance to help you connect with the right mentor for your professional development goals.
• Join OFE for Writing Wednesdays! These mini retreats will follow the Pomodoro technique in which participants write for two-25 minutes. Upcoming dates are Sept. 25 and Oct. 2 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Hunt Library Faculty Research Commons.
• New and Junior Faculty, join OFE for a workshop on how to understand the RPT process. Faculty On Track is a research-based and theory-driven six session workshop series designed to provide new and junior faculty with an organized and informed approach to understanding and engaging in ongoing preparation for evaluation in the Reappointment, Promotion, and Tenure (RPT) process. The first session is Sept. 27, so register now!
• The workshop Back to Basics: New Techniques for Active Learning will take place Wednesday, Oct. 2 at 2 p.m. Join Executive Director and Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Development Diane Chapman and Associate Director of Faculty Development Maria Gallardo-Williams as they help to bring your active learning to the next level in this session. Participants in this session will discover practical strategies for implementation and revitalization of active learning using drama-based pedagogy principles in both in person and virtual classrooms.
• The Faculty LEAD deadline has been extended to Sept. 26. Are you interested in moving into a leadership role, have recently accepted a leadership role, or are an experienced faculty leader wanting to hone your skills? Then apply now for the The Faculty LEAD (Leadership Education and Development) program, sponsored by NC State’s Learning and Organizational Development and Office for Faculty Excellence and intended for faculty members who want to become better leaders. This year-long, cohort-based program will be held primarily in-person. Faculty participants will attend seven core sessions, leading to a Faculty LEAD certificate.

From the Genetics and Genomics Academy

• Join us for a special seminar on Oct. 16 from 6 – 7:30 in Talley Mountains Ballroom! Ken Miller will share his expertise in the relationship between the scientific understanding of evolution and faith in “Human Evolution: What does it mean for Science, Humanism, and Faith?”

From the Office of Global Engagement:

• The Global Project Supplement Fund supports faculty and staff engagement in international research, course development and other scholarly activities. Faculty and staff can request up to $1,000 for project expenses, travel or virtual collaborations that advance NC State’s global partnerships for research and student learning. Applications are due by Oct. 13. Questions can be directed to ncstateglobal@ncsu.edu. 

From the Global One Health Academy:

• The Global One Health Academy is proud to announce the Global One Health Scholars Program. This program will develop the next generation of leaders in One Health through interdisciplinary training, experiential learning and leadership development, centered on the One Health approach, which connects human, other animal, plant and environmental health. This program is open to undergraduates enrolled in the Global One Health minor. Interested students may enroll in the minor at any point up through the application deadline. Applications are due Sunday, Sept. 15 at 11:59 p.m.
• Do you have a scientific question that could engage the campus community in the research process? Submit your project for the Citizen Science Incubator! Anyone affiliated with NC State can propose a project to become this year’s focus for the Citizen Science Campus. The selected project will receive increased access to potential participants, logistical guidance and advertising support, and funds for a research assistant.
• The Global One Health Academy is now accepting applications for the Spring 2025 Graduate Travel Awards. This award will support three to five graduate students per year for international or domestic travel that advances their global One Health-related research.

From Innovation and Entrepreneurship:

• The Poole College of Management has enhanced the entrepreneurship minor for students across NC State. The newly redesigned minor incorporates more core principles and hands-on experiences that non-business students need to develop their own enterprise or contribute at another startup. The new classes explore the process of entrepreneurship through developing a concept and problem-solving and the financial basics of a small business venture by creating an income statement and related skills. 
• The NC State Blue Economy Innovation Program is happy to announce the 4th annual “Creating Solutions for the Global Blue Economy” workshop at History Museum of Carteret County in Morehead City, Oct. 14-15, 2024 (fall break). The blue economy is the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs, while preserving the health of ocean ecosystems. The workshop will again be student-focused and feature subject matter experts on the blue economy as well as an Innovation and Entrepreneurship roundtable and a panel on challenges and opportunities in building a climate resilient coastal workforce.This workshop is linked with the course MEA 493/591-Interdisciplinary Innovation in the Blue Economy, open to undergraduate and graduate students for fall 2024 at NC State.
• We’re gearing up for Ladies Who Launch on Oct. 2 from 5:30-7 p.m. Join us at this annual event to celebrate female founders! We will be hosting a panel discussion around the unique experiences of women in leadership and business founding roles. Founders, co-founders and leaders within organizations alongside those who support local businesses have offered great advice and stories to audiences in past years. Bring your questions for our dynamic group of women in entrepreneurship to this year’s event.

This event takes place at The Corner, a chic event space located at 941 Main Campus Dr., across the street from Partners I. Parking is free in the Partners I lot and Oval West Deck after 5 p.m., both of which are located right next to the Corner.

• Get connected in our Entrepreneurship Mentorship Meetup! In partnership with NC State Entrepreneurship, the eClinic hosts monthly mentorship meetups that aim to build student entrepreneurs’ networks with mentors from a wide variety of industries. This is a place to bounce your ideas, ask for help, meet fellow students and potential co-founders and pick our mentor’s brains. Our next meetup is Oct. 10 from 6-7:30 p.m., location TBA. 

From the Institute for Emerging Issues:

• Energy Opportunities Discussed During Community Leader Focus Groups. IEI held three community leader focus group meetings across North Carolina to hear from local leaders about energy concerns and opportunities in their communities. The information gathered will help shape the 2025 Emerging Issues Forum: Future Forward Energy.
• Meet Katherine, IEI’s new Hunt Intern. IEI is pleased to announce that NC State University junior Katherine Helms has been selected as the Hunt Intern for the 2024-2025 academic year. The Hunt Internship is a program for NC State undergraduates interested in a career in public policy and public service.

From the Integrative Sciences Initiative:

• NC State’s Integrative Sciences Building, currently under construction and scheduled to open on the Brickyard in 2026, will now be known as Woodson Hall in honor of Chancellor Randy Woodson. Woodson’s tenure has been marked by vast improvements to NC State’s academic measures, research expenditures, entrepreneurial spirit, financial and facility growth, and overall reputation.
• The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced that NC State will direct a center that deploys self-driving labs to accelerate discovery for reactions which use light as a catalyst in challenging chemical transformations. The NSF Center for Accelerated Photocatalysis is supported by an NSF Centers for Chemical Innovation Program Phase I grant, totaling $1.8 million over the next three years. Learn more.