November 02, 2017

Media Advisory – Multidisciplinary research symposium

The fourth ASA Multidisciplinary Research Symposium, hosted by Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s College of Applied Sciences and Arts, is from 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., Nov. 4 at the Transportation Education Center at Southern Illinois Airport. 

A total of 25 presenters will showcase their work at “The 21st Century: Looking at Emerging Technologies.” The event schedule is available at research.asa.siu.edu/symposium/event-schedule.php

The symposium’s primary goal is to support and promote research by faculty as well as undergraduate and graduate students in any area of study within the college. In addition to faculty and student presenters, the event will include a panel discussion and obstacle course demonstration involving unmanned aerial vehicles. 

Reporters, photographers and cameras crews are welcome to cover the symposium. The obstacle course demonstration with drones starts at 8:30 a.m. in the facility’s multipurpose lobby. A panel discussion on the uses of drones starts at 10:15 a.m. Michael Burgener, chair of the Department of Aviation Technologies and acting chair of the Department of Aviation Management and Flight, will moderate the discussion. The panelists include: Steven Goetz, assistant professor, aviation management and flight; Thomas Roy, lecturer, aviation technologies; Jeff Herrell, part owner, DAM Drones, LLC., Sparta; Patrick McDonald, airport operations and maintenance supervisor, Southern Illinois Airport Authority and certified UAS operator; Jim Peterson, assistant professor, Department of Polytechnic Studies, Southeast Missouri State University, and Nathan Wambold, president, OurFocus, a St. Louis-based drone works and media firm. 

The presentations involve myriad of ongoing research from a variety of programs within the college. Karen Johnson, an associate professor in aviation technologies and Marcea Walter, an assistant professor in the health care management program, are symposium co-chairs. 

For more information, contact Johnson at ksulliva@siu.edu or Walter at mwalter@siu.edu.