A rainy day did not delay an important information session held in 207 Marston Hall. ISU faculty from across the disciplinary spectrum sat in attendance at the lecture hall to learn and share their ideas regarding President Leath’s recently proposed Presidential Initiative for Interdisciplinary Research.

Tahira Hira, senior policy adviser to the Office of the President, lead the discussion along with a panel of four university administrators: senior vice-president and Provost Jonathan Wickert, associate vice-president to the Office of the President Miles Lackey, vice-president for research and economic development Sharron Quisenberry, and director of the Office of Biotechnology and professor of animal science James Reecy.

The first half of the session outlined the request for proposals. These proposals are aimed at securing multi-million dollar contracts and grants for the university. To do this, the initiative encourages faculty from across every discipline imaginable to form winning research teams.

“[This initiative] is intended to challenge faculty to put together winning teams,” said Wickert. “[We want] the best thought leaders on these research teams.”

Wickert explained resources included in the initiative are intended to be for pursuit funding. This funding is an investment in the faculty to put together teams which will work together to secure winning contract and grant proposals.

An important question was raised concerning the source of money for the pursuit funding. Wickert responded there was a 206 percent increase in state appropriations this past spring due to increases in enrollment and research development.

Jennifer Margaret, director of the ISU gerontology program, expressed excitement and interest toward the Presidential initiative.

“Inherently [the gerontology program] is an interdisciplinary program,” said Margaret. “We want to connect with other departments and units to see how we can incorporate life span developmental principles into what folks are already doing to help educate students, and develop technology and create better environments that are aging friendly and sustainable.”

Margaret commented on how the open forum helped answer important questions the audience asked regarding the program and the steps for moving forward within the process.

“I think it’s a good first step,” Margaret said. “It helped lay out the President’s agenda which is very reassuring and exciting, to think big and think interdisciplinary. This forum could be the first step in more meetings where faculty get together and we regularly talk about and know more about what we’re doing.”

Hira noted three indicators which showed the forum had fulfilled its purpose. First, there was attendance. Second, the university administrators had the opportunity to explain and give further clarification about the program. Finally, the forum allowed the audience to express their ideas and concerns with the initiative which the university administrators took into account.

“I think it was very good, it brought up a lot of what people were thinking about,” said Quisenberry. “I thought was a great interchange and that’s exactly what we wanted.”

Both Hira and Quisenberry said they hope to see more people in attendance at the next forum on October 26 at 11 a.m. until noon in the Campanile Room in Memorial Hall.