From the Office of Public Affairs | http://www.news.ku.edu
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KU autism conference to feature research for families, professionals, educators
LAWRENCE — The Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training will host the conference Autism Across the Life Span on April 8 at the KU Edwards Campus BEST Building. For the first time in two years, the one-day conference will be held in person and will feature six breakout sessions on autism research and programs related to behavioral health, interventions, neuroscience and the transition to adulthood.
KU events will commemorate 50th anniversary of February Sisters movement
LAWRENCE — Throughout April 2022, University of Kansas partners will host a series of events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the February Sisters occupation of the East Asian studies building, a demonstration intended to draw attention to gender inequities on the KU campus. Events include “Celebrating 50 Years of the February Sisters featuring Robin Morgan, author of ‘Sisterhood is Powerful,’” scheduled for 6:30 p.m. April 5, followed by a reception.
Groundbreaking projects will be on display at Capitol Graduate Research Summit
LAWRENCE – Eight University of Kansas graduate students from the Lawrence campus and five from KU Medical Center are putting their groundbreaking research on public display. Legislators and the public are invited to learn about the influence of research underway at KU during the 19th annual Capitol Graduate Research Summit from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 29 on the first-floor Rotunda in the Kansas Capitol in Topeka.
Full stories below.
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Contact: Jen Humphrey, Life Span Institute, 785-864-6621, [email protected], @kulifespan
KU autism conference to feature research for families, professionals, educators
LAWRENCE — The Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training will host the conference Autism Across the Life Span on April 8 at the KU Edwards Campus BEST Building.
For the first time in two years, the one-day conference will be held in person and will feature six breakout sessions on autism research and programs related to behavioral health, interventions, neuroscience and the transition to adulthood.
The conference addresses the needs of families, professionals and educators interested in autism spectrum disorder.
“This annual meeting is unique because it aims to bring together everyone that is part of the autism community, including autistic individuals, their families, educators, providers and researchers,” said Matt Mosconi, center director and KU professor of clinical child psychology. “The face-to-face interaction is a vital piece of this gathering, so we are very excited to be able to safely host this meeting in person again this year. There is a lot of progress that has been made in different areas of research as well as in education and clinical care programs. There is something for everyone at this event.”
Registration for the conference is $95 for professionals, including researchers, providers and educators. Families and self-advocates can register for $50, and the cost is $40 for undergraduate and graduate students. Scholarships are available for families and self-advocates.
With presentations from nationally recognized scientists including KU faculty, the conference will offer research presentations as well as practical and informative guidance for people who are currently working and caring for children, teenagers and/or adults with autism spectrum disorder. Topics include medication management, parenting children with autism, social support networks, self-determination, social skill development through virtual reality, communication in young children and more.
Highlights of the conference this year include a virtual keynote address by Dr. Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele, who is the Murphy Professor of Developmental Neuropsychiatry and director of child and adolescent psychiatry at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He is a child and adolescent psychiatrist who uses neuroscience research tools in the pursuit of new treatments for autism spectrum disorder and pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
The Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training is a part of the KU Life Span Institute. The Life Span Institute brings together scientists and students at the intersections of education, behavioral science and neuroscience to study problems that directly affect the health and well-being of individuals and communities in Kansas, as well as across the nation and world.
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Contact: Nick Syrett, Department of Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies, [email protected]
KU events will commemorate 50th anniversary of February Sisters movement
LAWRENCE — Throughout April 2022, University of Kansas partners will host a series of events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the February Sisters occupation of the East Asian studies building, a demonstration intended to draw attention to gender inequities on the KU campus.
On Feb. 9, 1972, the February Sisters — a group of 35 women and four of their children — occupied the building for 13 hours to demand change at the university, including the establishment of Hilltop Day Care Center, the development of a Women’s Studies program and major, the accessibility of birth control pills and gynecological exams through Student Health Services, the appointment of more women administrators and the implementation of a federally mandated affirmative action program.
KU’s Department of Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies, Emily Taylor Center for Women & Gender Equity, Hall Center for the Humanities and the Watkins Museum of History invite the public to programming for further reflection on how the February Sisters movement has informed activism and equity at KU.
“We’re very excited to co-host these panels and explore the significance of the February Sisters, not just at the time, but in the 50 years since,” said Nick Syrett, current chair of the women, gender & sexuality studies department.
“To that end, we’ve lined up a fantastic group of panelists — including student activists and Kansas politicians — who can speak to us about the current state of gender and racial inequality and what they’re all doing to make our university and our state more equitable for all people.”
A schedule of events:
“Celebrating 50 Years of the February Sisters featuring Robin Morgan, author of
‘Sisterhood is Powerful’”6:30-8 p.m. April 5
KU Memorial Union, Centennial Room
With a reception to follow, 8-9 p.m.
“Listening to All Voices: Women & Politics”
6:30-8 p.m. April 7
Lawrence Public Library, Auditorium
“We Demand: The Call for Healthcare, Childcare, Affirmative Action & Leadership Reforms at KU”
6:30-8 p.m. April 12
KU Memorial Union, Centennial Room
“50 Years Later: Current Student Activism at KU”
6:30-8 p.m. April 14
KU Memorial Union, Centennial Room.
For more information, including a link to watch the panels live, visit http://wgss.ku.edu/50-years-february-sisters.
If you have any questions or require a reasonable accommodation to participate in these events, please email [email protected].
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Contact: Evan Riggs, Office of the Provost, 785-864-1085, [email protected], @KUProvost
Groundbreaking projects will be on display at Capitol Graduate Research Summit
LAWRENCE – Eight University of Kansas graduate students from the Lawrence campus and five from KU Medical Center are putting their groundbreaking research on public display. Legislators and the public are invited to learn about the influence of research underway at KU during the 19th annual Capitol Graduate Research Summit from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 29 on the first-floor Rotunda in the Kansas Capitol in Topeka.
KU graduate students are working to develop solutions to societal questions and challenges. The findings and possible commercialization of these innovations can affect Kansans’ lives and potentially elevate the economic status of the state. Their research covers a broad range of topics, including:
1. Promoting a more active learning environment for students with autism
2. Engineering immune cells to eliminate breast cancer
3. Improving understanding or process to support soil fertility and function
“Graduate students at KU are at the forefront of research and innovation and are integral to the university’s commitment to conduct impactful research that addresses the key challenges faced by the state, nation and the world,” said Jennifer Roberts, vice provost for Graduate Studies and Academic Affairs. “I am especially excited to showcase the work of the students representing KU this year, as their research highlights innovative work being completed in key areas of the Research Rising initiative. As these students hone and advance their research skills, they will be contributing to work that drives innovations to advance educational and social approaches that address developmental challenges, develop new technologies that will help sustain the life of the planet, and advance treatments of human disease and new medical interventions.”
KU graduate students will join graduate students from Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University, Kansas State University, Pittsburg State University and Wichita State University at the summit. Each institution will provide one $500 award for the top presenter, and BioKansas will provide two $250 awards.
Founded by graduate students 19 years ago, the Capitol Graduate Research Summit brings attention to the innovative research conducted by students at state universities and emphasizes the public benefits of graduate students’ research. This free summit provides an opportunity for the public – as well as Deputy Secretary of Business Development Paul Hughes and state senators and representatives – to learn more about the important work of graduate students across the state.
KU’s participants are listed below by name, area of study and title of their research presentations.
From KU Lawrence
1. Jenna Frick, doctoral student in neurosciences, “Long-Term High-Fat/High-Sugar Diet Worsens Early Life Stress-Induced Obesity.”
2. Jacob Hodge, doctoral student in bioengineering, “Tailoring Stem Cell Therapies to Enhance Regenerative Wound Healing.”
3. Jess Kiblen, doctoral student in special education, “Propel Project: Promoting Self-Determination and Social Engagement for Students with Autism.”
4. Kyung Mi Min, doctoral student in educational psychology and research, “Developing Effective Self Regulation Skills in Early Childhood.”
5. Julia Russell, doctoral student in psychology, “Sleep, Health and Burnout in Career Firefighters.”
6. Rohit Singh, doctoral student in mechanical engineering, “A Novel Technology to Treat Blood-Vessel Related Disease through Space and Time Synchronized Ultrasound and Laser.”
7. Siddharth Subham, doctoral student in bioengineering, “Assembling Avengers ‘CAR T Cells’ to eliminate Breast Cancer.”
8. Micah Unruh, doctoral student in ecology & evolutionary biology, “Soil Aggregates, Organic Matter and Microbes: Improving Understanding of Processes that Support Soil Fertility and Function.”
From KU Medical Center
1. Samantha Cintron, doctoral student in nursing, “Understanding Obesity-Related High Output Health Failure and Policy Implications for Genomics Research.”
2. Max Fairlamb, doctoral student in biochemistry and molecular biology, “The DNA Repair Relay Race.”
3. Amy Herman, doctoral student in dietetics and nutrition, “A Single Diet Message Versus Traditional Healthy Eating During Pregnancy.”
4. Lauren Johnson, medical student, “Should Breast Cancer Patients Have Preoperative Biopsy of Borderline Abnormal Axillary Lymph Nodes?”
5. Elizabeth Thoenen, doctoral student in molecular & integrative physiology, “Stress Granule Inhibition Is a Novel Vulnerability of Mutant p53.”
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