COSM Weekly Issue 70 by Georgia Southern College of Science and Mathematics

COSMWEEKLY

THE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS

UPDATES FROM THE DEAN

COSMFacultyandStaff,

As the weather continues to keep us on our toes, cool mornings, warm afternoons, and the occasional surprise, it’sagoodreminderofjusthowdynamiclifeinCOSMhasbeenlately Inthemidstofabusysemester,Iwantto takeamomenttostepbackandreflectontheprogresswe’vemadetogetheroverthepastyearandbeyond.

Becauseofyourhardworkandcommitment,theCollegeofScienceandMathematicsisinastrongandgrowing position. We’ve seen meaningful enrollment growth, introduced new degree programs that better serve our students and the state of Georgia, and secured new resources that strengthen our budget and our future. I’m especially excited about our new collaboration with Shimadzu through the SPARQ program, which significantly enhances our research infrastructure and opens new opportunities for faculty, students, and external partners Noneofthishappenswithoutthededicationofourfacultyandstaff,andIamdeeplygratefulforallthatyoudo everydaytomoveCOSMforward Hereareafewadditionalupdates:

COSM overall enrollment is up 14.2% compared to Spring 2022 and is quickly recouping much of the enrollmentlossexperiencedsinceconsolidation.

The B.S. in Biomedical Sciences currently has 168 students enrolled. The impact on other programs has been lessthananticipated,withboththeBA andBS inBiologycontinuingtoseeenrollmentgrowth

COSM received a new lecturer line to support biology instruction at the Liberty Campus For the past several years,avisitinginstructorpositionhasbeenusedtoteachBIOL1107andBIOL1108 Asearchwillbeginsoonto identifyapermanentlecturer.

Applications for the Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences and the Ph.D. in Materials Science continue to look strong. BiomedicalSciencescurrentlyhas93applicationsinprocess,whileMaterialsSciencehas102applications.

TheMS inEnvironmentalSciencecontinuestogrow,with21studentsenrolledthisspring anincreaseof91% compared to last spring With several new concentrations in development, this program is expected to be a significantgrowthareaforCOSMasweworktoincreaseenrollmentinnon-thesismaster’sprograms

On a different note, COSM currently has two degree programs under review by the USG due to enrollment thresholdsrelatedtodegreesawarded.TheB.A.inBiologyandtheB.S.inPhysicsarebothpartofthisprocess.We have shared a strong and thoughtful justification with the Provost and President outlining the academic value andstrategicimportanceoftheseprograms,andwearenowawaitingguidanceonnextsteps.

This review process underscores the importance of continuing to strengthen enrollment across all of our programs Whiletheseconversationscanbechallenging,theyalsoreinforcetheneedforsustainedattentionto recruitment, retention, and student success Through ongoing and innovative efforts in these areas, I am confidentthatwecancontinuetosupportthelong-termvitalityofCOSM’sacademicportfolio

Haveagreatweekandstaywarm!!

Sincerely,

WEXFORD RESEARCH

WexfordResearchIncentive—CallforParticipation

The Office of Research & Economic Development (ORED), in partnership with the Center for Irish ResearchandTeaching,havelaunchedtheWexfordResearchIncentiveonJanuary1,2026.

This is a competitive incentive program designed to encourage and reward international research collaborationbetweenGeorgiaSouthernfacultyandIrishresearchpartners.

ProgramOverview

Uptofourawardsof$1,500eachwillbeprovidedinresearchorprofessionaldevelopment fundsto Georgia Southern faculty whose collaborative research with Irish colleagues results in peerreviewed publications during calendar year 2026 Awards will be issued on a first- come, firstawardedbasistothefirstfourqualifyingpublications.

Eligibility

Publications must be peer-reviewed, published or accepted in 2026, and appear in a Q1 or Q2 journal (proof of acceptance required) Each publication must include at least one Georgia SouthernfacultymemberandatleastoneIrishresearchcollaborator CollaborationswithTeagasc orSouthEastTechnologicalUniversity(SETU)arepreferred,but partnershipswithanyIrishinstitutionareeligible.

AwardDetails

The maximum award is $1,500 per qualifying publication and may be used to support research or professional development expenses If a publication includes multiple Georgia Southern faculty authors,theawardwillbesplitappropriatelyamongthoseinvolved.Amaximumoffourawardswill beissued.

Purpose

The Wexford Research Incentive is intended to promote high-impact scholarship, support international collaboration, and strengthen Georgia Southern’s research partnerships with Irish institutions.

For award consideration, please email Dr. Brent Feske with (1) proof of acceptance (or publication citation)and(2)abriefnoteconfirmingtheGeorgiaSouthern–Irishco-authoraffiliation.

COSM IN ACTION

StudentsinDr.EdwardLo'sStratigraphyandSedimentationclassaregettingreadyforadayonthe wateratClarksHillLakewithClaraRayandDr.SteveVives.Theywillcollectsedimentsamplesfrom thebottomofthelaketostudythehealthoftheecosystemthere.Givingundergraduatestudents opportunitiestojointheresearchranksispartofCOSM'scommitmenttotalentandworkforce developmentsoourgraduatesarereadytomakeadifferenceondayone

InDr.EdMondor’snewIntroductiontoForensicsclasstoday,studentswelcomedaguestspeaker, SpecialAgentHaleyBoltoftheGBI.SpecialAgentBolttaughtthemaboutvarioustypesofevidence anddemonstratedhowthelatestcutting-edgetechnologyisusedtovisualizethatevidence.

Shimadzu-GeorgiaSouthernMOUSigningEvent

COSMisstrengtheningitsresearchinfrastructurethroughastrategiccollaborationwithShimadzuviathe SPARQ(StrategicPartnershipforResearchandQualityofLife)program.Thefirstphaseofthismultistagepartnershipfocusesonacquiringadvancedanalyticalinstrumentationtoexpandsharedresearch capabilities.

NewinstrumentationincludesanFTIR/RamanMicroscope,EDX-810XRF,SALD-2300ParticleSizeAnalyzer, AXISSupra+XPS,andDTG-60SimultaneousThermalAnalyzer Together,thesetoolsenhancematerials characterization,surfaceandelementalanalysis,thermalanalysis,andparticlesizing keycapabilities forcompetitive,interdisciplinary,andexternallyfundedresearch

Inaddition,engagementwithShimadzuInnovationCentersprovidesaccesstotechnicalexpertiseand industry-alignedworkflows,strengtheninglong-termsustainabilityandstudenttraining.Thisphase representsanimportantstepinabroadercollaborationsupportingCOSM’sresearchmission.

UPCOMING EVENTS

COSMandtheFacultyCenterarehostingaspeakeronAIthisMarch

Title:PracticalStrategiesforMeetingtheAIMomentinTeachingandLearning

ByLyndsayB.Munro,PhD(TeachingProfessor,Biochemistry,MolecularBiology&Biotechnology

FacultyLiaisonforAcademicStandards,OfficeoftheProvost,UniversityofNevada,Reno)

Background:Artificialintelligenceisnolongeronthehorizon.It’shere,influencinghowstudentslearn, howfacultyteach,andhowinstitutionsoperate.Ratherthanapproachingthisshiftwitheither uncheckedenthusiasmorhesitation,thispresentationapproachesitasamomentwecanmeetwith curiosity,intentionality,andafocusonwhatmattersmostinteachingandlearning

We’lllookatpracticalexamplesacrossthreeareas:

SupportingstudentsthroughAItutors,studytools,and resourcesthatcancomplement(notreplace)soundlearning practices

Engagingstudentsinandbeyondtheclassroomthrough creativeassessmentsandactivitiesinwaysthatincorporateAI whileencouragingcriticalthinkingandactivelearning.

SupportingfacultyworkbyusingAIintentionallytoprepare materials,assignments,andassessmentsefficiently,without losingsightofqualityandacademicrigor.

RatherthanfocusingonAIforitsownsake,thissessionemphasizes intentional,ethical,andstrategicuseofthesetools.Facultywill leavewithpracticalideastheycanadapttotheirowncourses,as wellasframeworksforthinkingcriticallyabouttheroleofAIintheir classroom.