Computer Science Professor Shengli Victor Sheng won the Best Paper Award at the 11th Industrial Conference on Data Mining (ICDM’11) in New York on Sept. 3. According to the Conference Chair, Professor Petra Perner, “The Industrial Conference of Data Mining, ICDM, is one of the leading events where researchers, practicioners and newcomers in the field of data mining come together to share their ideas and discuss new trends in Data Mining.” Researchers from all over the world presented their theoretical and application-oriented topics on Data Mining at the conference from Aug. 30-Sept. 3. Winning the Best Paper Award at this conference is just another evidence of the high quality faculty and the academic programs of this university. Information about the conference can be found at http://www.data-mining-forum.de/
Dr. R.B. Lenin, assistant professor of mathematics, has received a $16,379 contract from the Center for Distance Health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to identify an optimal scheduling policy for patients reducing waiting time while optimizing healthcare resources. He plans to develop computer simulation models based on the data collected by CDH at UAMS, which will help test new ideas for system design or improvement before committing the time and necessary resources to redesign the procedures used to schedule patients.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) recently appointed Dr. Barbara Clancy, associate professor in biology, to a three-month term on the scientific review panel for the Advances in Biological Informatics (ABI) program. The panel advises NSF on the merit of proposals requesting financial support of research for the development of informatics tools and resources that have the potential to advance, or transform, research in biology. Dr. Clancy’s research is currently funded through this division of NSF.
Dr. Debra Burris, associate professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, presented “Stories of the Stars” as a program on July 30 at Lake Dardanelle State Park. In addition to the stories of the constellations observed in various cultures, the 30 or so participants learned some simple naked-eye observation tricks, how to use a star wheel, a circumpolar constellation star clock and about the life cycles of stars. The observing session was followed by a question and answer session. This helped fulfill her hours to become a Certified Arkansas Master Naturalist as well. Dr. Burris has been invited to return this fall to give a tour of the fall/winter sky.
Dr. Clarence Burg, assistant professor of mathematics, taught the Algebra II preparation class for the Upward Bound Summer Academy this summer. The Upward Bound program focuses on high school students who have the potential to be successful in college but, due to a variety of factors, probably would not attend college without this program. This year, Dr. Burg taught 17 students from Bigelow, Mayflower, Morrilton, Nemo Vista and Perryville High Schools, in the Algebra II class, using the HP Tablet PCs and DyKnow software. Dr. Burg initially participated in this program as part of a Hewlett-Packard Technology for Teaching grant, which included 21 Tablet PCs.
UCA STEM Institute Receives Grants To Train and Support Math Teachers
The UCA STEM Institute has received two grants, one from the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) and the other from the Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE), totaling $233,483 to provide training and support to mathematics teachers in the state of Arkansas in implementing new Common Core State Standards. The CCSS willc ompletely replace Arkansas’ existing academic standards for Mathematics, English, and Language Arts by the 2014-2015 academic year.