Research & Sponsored Programs Report ResearchAnnual201819-electronic | Page 20

Askew Institute for
Multidisciplinary Studies
goes full STEAM ahead
The initial impetus to create an
institute supporting multidisci-
plinary studies at UWF began in
2015 with a recommendation from
UWF’s Task Force on Research
and Scholarship.
Two years later, that vision
became a reality through a dona-
tion of $550,000 from Pensacola
attorney Fred Levin, who re-
quested the institute be
named after his former
law partner Reubin O’D.
Askew, who also served
as Florida governor.
Barbara Albrecht checks an oyster site on Escambia Bay for Project Oyster
Pensacola, part of the new Coastal Communities program.
The two art pieces selected
were “Constellations” by Future
Cities Lab in San Francisco
and “Interweaving Futures” by
Hypersonic, a design studio
based in New York.
In
addition to incorporating
the STEAM concepts,
Jeffrey said the com-
mittee that selected the
finalists wanted the art
installations to be visually
appealing and durable
enough to withstand the
sometimes harsh Florida
elements.
About a year after its
founding, the Reubin
O’D. Askew Institute for
Multidisciplinary Studies
Askew
“The two pieces that were
has already launched sev-
chosen are a mixture of
eral wide-ranging projects and
that – they’re both aesthetically
initiatives, including: overseeing
really interesting, but there is
the installations of public art on
math and science buried in the
the UWF Pensacola Campus that
application for what they’re
integrate science, technology
doing,” Jeffrey said.
engineering, art and math (or
The two installations will be lo-
STEAM) concepts; creating a fel-
cated near the Center for Fine
lowship program for UWF faculty
and Performing Arts and the Hal
members to further their schol-
Marcus College of Science and
arly activities, and working to
Engineering.
designate the Florida Panhandle
as a National Heritage Area.
AIMS has also selected five
faculty fellows, giving one fac-
ulty member from each
college a teaching load
reduced to one course
a semester and up to
$10,000 per year to sup-
port their efforts. Jeffrey
said the selection process
was competitive. The
Jeffrey said AIMS sent
fellows were chosen by
out a call to artists for art
Jeffrey
a committee made up of
installations and received
members of each of the
an overwhelming response.
colleges at UWF, including their
“We got about 120 submissions
deans.
from all over the world, and we’ve
“We wanted to cast a broad net
winnowed that down. And we
across the campus,” Jeffrey said.
have now offered contracts to
The five faculty fellows are:
two groups of artists,” Jeffrey
said.
Dr. Sikha Bagui, a professor in
Dr. Wade Jeffrey proposed cre-
ating the institute and be-
coming its initial director
as part of his nomination
process for becoming a
distinguished university
professor, which he was
awarded.
20
the Department of Computer
Science; Dr. John Pecore, an
associate
professor
in
the
Department of Teacher Education
and
Educational
Leadership;
Dr. Marie-Thérèse Champagne,
an associate professor in the
Department of History; Dr. Peter
Memiah, an assistant professor in
the Department of Public Health;
and Dr. Brian Elzweig, an assis-
tant professor in the Department
of Accounting and Finance.
“The idea is by reducing their
teaching load they can go forth
and scholar — do whatever it
is they do best,” Jeffrey said.
“They’re writing papers, submit-
ting proposals, they’re going to
conferences. They’re doing schol-
arly research on their topics.”
Dr. Sorna Khakzad, a research
associate and faculty member at
AIMS, is overseeing the effort to
have Northwest Florida named
as a Natural Heritage Area, which
are designated by Congress.
“The first step is you do a feasi-
bility study,” Jeffrey said. “You
identify, quantify and assess the
heritage and assets in the region.”
The institute has also started a
Coastal Communities program,
which will foster student research
and training for projects that in-
clude water quality and seagrass
monitoring. Barbara Albrecht,
who is the president of the Bream
Fishermen Association, serves as
the institute’s coastal communi-
ties coordinator.
“Barbara has a long history with
being involved and engaged with
local citizens groups, predom-
inantly around environmental
issues,” Jeffrey said.
2018-2019 Research Annual Report