Lamar University has announced the launch of collaborative SciTech projects using facilities in the newly completed Science and Technology building. The research will be accomplished using an interdisciplinary approach combining student and faculty talent from departments across campus. The projects will investigate some of the most pressing issues facing the region, state, and nation with a scope that encompasses the environment, healthcare, technology and education.  

The Southeast Texas region has been directly impacted by environmental issues from floodwater that may carry disease and chemical contaminants to coastal land deterioration. The Lamar University team will collaborate on natural remediation solutions, novel detection methods and processes and methods for the reuse of dredged soil for environmental and agricultural purposes. Initial team members include: Mien Jao, professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering; Clayton Jeffryes, assistant professor, Dan F. Smith Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering; Ashwini Kucknoor, associate professor, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences; Che-Jen (Jerry) Lin, professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, senior academic director of graduate programs and director of the Center for Advances in Water and Air Quality, College of Engineering; Thinesh Selvaratnam, assistant professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering. 

Providing rural healthcare to an aging population is a challenge on a global scale. The Lamar University team will explore options such as remote disease detection and self-assessment, tele-health and robotic control medical devices and systems. Initial team members include: LeAnn Chisholm, assistant professor and director of Clinical Simulation and Laboratory Operations, Joanne Dishman School of Nursing, College of Arts and Sciences; James Henry, assistant professor, Dan F. Smith Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering; Maryam Vasefi, assistant professor, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences.   

The explosive development of the ability of devices to communicate with each other opens great possibilities for automation, remote monitoring, smart vehicles, health connectivity and forensic and cyber security solutions. Today, a Lamar University team will model and help design the instruments and infrastructure support needed for the implementations of these activities of tomorrow. The initial team members include: Yueqing Li, assistant professor, Department of Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering; Xingya Liu, assistant professor, Department of Computer Science, College of Arts and Sciences; Sujing Wang, assistant professor, Department of Computer Science, College of Arts and Sciences; Jing Zhang, assistant professor, Department of Computer Science, College of Arts and Sciences.

Another Lamar University team will investigate the development of modern education methods and tools, taking into account rapidly advancing technology as well as the technical capabilities and new strengths of the next generation of learners. The interdisciplinary team currently plans to develop education techniques featuring hands-on approaches, object and computer interactions, 3D printing and virtual reality classrooms. Initial members include: Cherie Acosta, assistant professor, Department of Theater and Dance, College of Fine Arts and Communication; Xinyu Liu, associate professor, Department of Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering; Mamta Singh, associate professor, Department of Teacher Education, College of Education and Human Development; Xing Wu, associate professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering.

Detailed information about each project is forthcoming.

A grand opening of the Science and Technology building is scheduled for April 3.