November 13, 2007

MEDIA CONTACT: Judith Evans
(202) 994-6467; evansjud@gwu.edu
Adela de la Torre
(202) 994-6424; adelita@gwu.edu
EVENT CONTACT: Inaugural Office
(202) 994-1600; inaug@gwu.edu

THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY RECOGNIZES FACULTY AND STUDENT RESEARCH ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND DISCOVERY ON NOVEMBER 14

Stephen Greenblatt, Harvard University; Dr. Vanessa Northington Gamble, GW University Professor; and Frank Sesno, GW Professor and CNN Special Correspondent, to speak at Symposia on Culture, Race and Health Disparities, and America's Leadership

WASHINGTON - The George Washington University will feature "Research and Discovery" on Nov. 14 as part of a week of celebratory activities leading up to the inauguration of Steven Knapp as GW's 16th president. Nationally recognized scholars along with GW faculty and students will highlight an array of research projects and accomplishments.

President Knapp will provide a welcome address for the morning symposia, which will feature leading academics in the humanities, and social, medical and engineering sciences. GW University Professor of Medical Humanities Dr. Vanessa Northington Gamble presents Race, Justice and Health Disparities: The Need for Research and Action; Harvard University English Professor Stephen Greenblatt presents Cultural Mobility: The Travels of Shakespeare's Cardenio; and GW Professor and CNN Special Correspondent Frank Sesno presents Security and Sustainability: Can America Still Lead?

"Research and Discovery Day is an opportunity, of course, to show off the absolutely outstanding research that our faculty is doing on campus," said Donald Lehman, GW executive vice President for academic affairs and George Gamow Professor of Theoretical Physics.  "All these themes are where we have signs of interdisciplinary activity among our schools on campus."

A highlight of the day-long forum will be a series of four panel discussions where GW faculty members will present research papers on the following themes: the 2008 Presidential Election: Perspectives on National Challenges; Frontiers of Applied Life Sciences; Energy Sustainability; and Addressing Urban Problems: Policies and Practices.

Each session will reflect the interdisciplinary collaborations taking place within GW's numerous schools and institutes, including the GW Law School, the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, and Elliott School of International Affairs. President Knapp has emphasized the need to continue exploring innovative new approaches for expanding the university's scholarly efforts and research resources.  Students and faculty also will display research video presentations and other material in the Research Gallery. The day concludes with an open reception honoring GW's research community and President Knapp.

The George Washington University will celebrate the inauguration of Steven Knapp as GW's 16th president with a week-long series of academic and enrichment activities culminating in the President's formal installation on Friday, Nov. 16. For more information, please visit http://inauguration.gwu.edu or call the Inaugural Office at (202) 994-1600.

For more news about GW, visit the GW News Center at www.gwnewscenter.org.
 
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