UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications

More Than 100 Scholars Present at East Texas Research Conference

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May 10, 2019

Media Contact: Beverley Golden
Senior Director of Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.566.7303

The University of Texas at Tyler announced the inaugural East Texas Research Conference was held on campus May 9 – 10 to showcase research impacting the region and explore opportunities for collaboration to meet the needs of communities.

"Making East Texas Communities Stronger'' was the theme of the conference, which included presentations about the research and service activities of academic institutions, community organizations, state and local governments, and other East Texas entities. The event was co-sponsored by UT Tyler, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Texas College and Jarvis Christian College.

"This conference not only showcased research that will improve the quality of life for East Texans, but also inspired innovative scholarship and service initiatives that are focused on our region,'' said Dr. Michael Tidwell, UT Tyler president.

Research and service topics, presented in four major categories, included:

• Economic Development and Entrepreneurship – Unemployment and underutilization of labor, regional economic development, women-owned businesses, Hispanic entrepreneurship, and the impact of Loop 49 on regional economic development.

• Education and Literacy – Innovative mathematics and English curricula, project-based learning, dual credit pedagogy, school- and community-based literacy interventions, the benefits of early childhood learning, and the impact of professional development on teachers' self-efficacy.

• Health and Wellness – Collaborative efforts addressing health issues in East Texas and the results of clinical trials to evaluate new therapies, drugs and wearable sensors.

• Environmental and Infrastructure – Environmental risk assessments, freshwater mussels research, the status of hydrilla on Lake Tyler, and the structure of urban animal communities.

The conference concluded with a roundtable panel discussion, bringing together regional experts to outline significant challenges facing East Texas, identify research-based solutions to address the challenges and explore opportunities for collaboration to implement those solutions.

Research is a key pillar of the UT Tyler strategic plan, which was introduced in 2018.

"A significant step in the University's commitment to research benefiting our region, the East Texas Research Conference showcased innovative scholarship that will advance education, science and technology, create entrepreneurship opportunities, and improve regional healthcare,'' said Dr. Kouider Mokhtari, interim associate provost for research and scholarship and Anderson-Vukelja-Wright Endowed Chair.

For more information about the East Texas Research Conference, visit: https://etrc.uttyler.edu/.

A member of the prestigious UT System, The University of Texas at Tyler focuses on student success and innovative research in the more than 80 undergraduate and graduate degree programs offered. With more than 10,000 students, UT Tyler has facilities in Tyler, Longview, Palestine and Houston.