The University of New Mexico Center for Collaborative Research & Community Engagement (CCRCE) in the College of Education (COE) organized a research showcase in Travelstead Hall on Friday Sept. 28 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The event was hosted by the Alumni Relations Office and College of Education.
CCRCE is a new center that was officially given the stamp of approval on Feb. 1 of this year. The center is still under development. Its advisory board consists of different members, including five faculty members from different departments of the COE, an indigenous tribal member, one representative from non-profit organizations and one representative from the Albuquerque Public School district.
According to the CCRE website, they provide a range of services to faculty, including funding identification, project ideation, proposal development support, budget guidance and administrative approvals. Services also include training, workshops and information.
This research showcase was the first event organized by the CCRE. The inaugural research showcase event highlighted the research done by COE faculty. This research was funded by W. K. Kellogg’s Foundation on Transformative Action Groups (TAGs). In addition, the event showcased collaborative and community research by the new center as well as, the STARS Austrian-American Student Teacher Program.
Sylvia Celedon-Pattichis, the director of the CCRE said, “We have very specific goals and my vision for this first year is about planning and trying to figure out how can we best support faculty and students in the college to conduct research, and to achieve and fulfill that goal and promise many of the services are already being provided by the research support team.”
She said that in addition to TAGs and Austrian-American Student Teacher Program, they also highlighted seven to 10 different projects across the college that are currently ongoing. She said she hopes that both undergraduate and graduate students come to see the work that is happening across the college. Many opportunities come from this kind of event, she said.
Jose Antonio Lecea Yanguas, a graduate student in the department of Language, Literacy and Sociocultural Studies and a team member for the research project AOLME, introduced their project and said they are developing a curriculum that would strengthen the self-confidence of the teachers and students in mathematics and computer programming through assigned responsibility.
CCRCE in its inaugural event showcased 24 research projects. The purpose of the showcase was to show cutting edge research and outreach activities in the UNM and Albuquerque community. The organizers specifically invited alumni, Albuquerque Public Schools teachers and students and UNM leadership.
Carlos Lopez-Leiva, a professor from the COE, shared his thoughts about the event and said that there is a lot of work going on in the College of Education. Faculty usually work separately and as a result get disconnected from each other. This kind of event provides an opportunity to come and see the work faculty does.
Hector Triana, a ninth-grader from the Early College Academy and a team member of the AOLME research project, said, “I feel being part of such projects like AOLME gives you great input to learn how to program and it will provide me great help in future if I pursue my education in computer programing.”
The showcase event was open to everyone and it brought in a lot of folks including teachers, students and community members from all over the city.
Tasawar Shah is the news reporter at the Daily Lobo. He can be contacted at news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @tashah_80.
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