NSU Press Release

Norfolk State and Old Dominion Partner for a Joint Research Exposition

Norfolk, Va.—For the first time in their histories, Norfolk State University and Old Dominion University will present a joint exposition showcasing some of the most interesting ideas, creative accomplishments and research emerging from the two campuses. Portal to New Worlds: Research Exposition will be held noon to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 6 at the Ted Constant Convocation Center, which is located on the ODU campus. The public is invited and there is no admission charge.

Free and open to the public, the research exposition will feature nearly 250 exhibits and demonstrations from NSU and ODU faculty, staff, and students. May of the faculty members and students who are presenting their work will be on hand to talk with exposition visitors. Exhibitors will be from the fields of business, education, health sciences, life sciences, physical sciences, engineering, computational sciences, modeling and simulation, behavioral and social sciences and the arts. In addition, between 12:30 and 4 p.m., academics from the universities and outside experts will speak in four panel discussions about new learning technologies, advanced materials, science and engineering in Hampton Roads and planning and economic development in Hampton Roads.

Nobel laureate Horst L. Stormer, a professor of physics at Columbia University, will deliver the keynote address at 5:30 p.m. in the convocation center’s Big Blue Room. His talk, Small Wonders: The World of Nanoscience, will focus on the nanoscale and the potential of nanoscience to shape our technological future. “Nano” means one billionth, and in science and technology the prefix refers to measurements and manipulation at the single-atom or single-molecule level. Stormer’s speech will follow a 5 p.m. awards ceremony at which top research faculty, graduate students and undergraduate students from the two universities will be honored.

“NSU has always believed in focusing its energies on its academic strengths and on leveraging external dollars whenever possible. To that end, and through partnerships with others in education, like this joint venture with Old Dominion University, we believe we can strengthen the ability of higher education institutions in the Hampton Roads region to maximize their collective resources,” said NSU President Marie V. McDemmond.

ODU President Roseann Runte said ODU “combines innovative teaching and cutting-edge research to offer our students an exciting and valuable education. This research fair is designed to open our minds to interdisciplinarity, our doors to the work of colleagues in neighboring institutions, and our eyes to the important role research plays in advancing knowledge, sharing ideas (teaching), and building a better society and physical and economic environment.”

For more information about the research exposition, call the Office of News and Media Relations at 823-8373.