Source: Carol Shanklin, 785-532-7927, shanklin@k-state.edu
http://www.k-state.edu/media/mediaguide/bios/shanklinbio.html
Documents available: http://www.kstate.edu/grad/gspeopleorg/gsc/Research%20and%20the%20State%20Program%20Booklet.pdf
News release prepared by: Jennifer Torline, 785-532-0847, jtorline@k-state.edu

Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011

MEDIA ADVISORY: GRADUATE STUDENTS PRESENTING RESEARCH ON TOPICS IMPORTANT TO KANSAS

MANHATTAN -- The Kansas State University Graduate Student Council is having a research poster session to highlight graduate students' scholarly work and how it can benefit the state.

Research and the State is the first of two research forums being sponsored by the Graduate Student Council and Graduate School. The event will begin at 9 a.m. on Feb. 2 in the K-State Student Union K and S Ballrooms.

During the event, 28 K-State graduate students will present posters that feature their research projects and how they relate to important topics in Kansas, such as bioscience, agriculture, cost and quality of education, roads and transportation, energy and alternative energy sources, and military families and relations.

"We're trying to educate the legislators about the value of graduate research," said Carol Shanklin, dean of the Graduate School. "The results of this research are used to make a difference in the state, from transportation to education."

K-State faculty and administrators will judge the presentations based on a two-round process. From the 28 students participating, 10 will be chosen to represent K-State at the Capitol Graduate Research Summit, Thursday, Feb. 17, in the Docking State Office Building in Topeka.

The summit is an annual event that features Kansas-related research conducted by graduate students at K-State, the University of Kansas, the University of Kansas Medical Center and Wichita State University.

During the Topeka event, students will be judged on a two-minute "elevator pitch" in which they describe their research concisely using easily understood language. Two students from each university will be chosen as Kansas Bio winners and will receive an award.

Events such as the symposium fit in with K-State's goal of becoming a top 50 public research university by 2025. A strong graduate program, particularly at the doctoral level, helps a university become a top research institution, Shanklin said.

"Our graduate students not only have the opportunity to pursue advanced research at K-State, but they are directly advancing disciplines through their individual research projects as well as the work they do with their major professor and team members," she said.

For more information regarding both forums, go to http://www.k-state.edu/grad/gspeopleorg/gsc/travelresearch.htm or contact Megan Miller at mmmiller@k-state.edu or Matt Sellner at sellner1@k-state.edu.