University of Kentucky’s Appalachian Center Promotes Innovation with Series of Student and Faculty Research Presentations

Appalachian Center at University of Kentucky Showcases Progressive Work in its Series of Student and Faculty Presentations

In a bid to promote and encourage innovative research within the region, the University of Kentucky Appalachian Center is hosting the Sharing Work on Appalachia in Progress (SWAP) series this spring. The event aims to provide a platform for student and faculty researchers across various disciplines, heralding their efforts and path-breaking discoveries in relation to Appalachia.

An Array of Diverse Disciplines Represented

The presenting researchers in the SWAP series hail from five colleges and eight departments across UK’s campus, in addition to the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History present in UK Libraries. These presentations encompass a wide array of fields, capturing the essence of the transdisciplinary work occurring in Appalachian studies– ranging from medicine and education to oral history and agriculture.

The prolific work stemmed from these disciplines continues to spearhead research and collaboration within the region, serving to benefit Appalachia significantly. This impressive roster of presenters includes several students, with many of them having secured the center’s James S. Brown Graduate Student Awards for Research on Appalachia and the UK Appalachian Center Eller & Billings Student Research Awards.

The Schedule for Upcoming SWAP Presentations

The SWAP presentations are conducted from 12 to 1:30 p.m. ET at the Appalachian Center at 624 Maxwelton Court and are also available online via Zoom for wider accessibility. The concluding set of presentations for the week includes research from diverse study areas like Anthropology, Social Work, History, Kinesiology, and Health Promotion, and Plant Pathology.

Past Sessions and Research Topics Covered

Over the academic year, nine preceding SWAP presentations encompassing a multitude of research topics have already been successfully conducted. These presentations, scheduled to be available for online viewing soon, feature the work of student and faculty researchers focusing on diverse aspects relevant to the region – from confronting environmental injustice in Appalachian coal country to improving care in Appalachia through personalized medicine and supporting Indigenous Peoples and their role in a sustainable Kentucky.

The Focused Efforts of the Appalachian Center

The Appalachian Center, with its efforts, continues to stay true to the land grant mission of the University of Kentucky. This encompasses fostering community-university partnerships in research and facilitating learning and engagement within Appalachia. Advocating for sustainable development in this distinct region replete with unique opportunities and challenges, the Center operates as a nexus for students, faculty, staff, and community members to learn and educate others about the region.

Being a force for healing and a catalyst for breakthroughs, the University of Kentucky, the state’s flagship land-grant institution, takes immense pride in driving the Commonwealth forward. At UK, innovation is paramount, and fostering the growth of future leaders is an integral part of their directive. By transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research, creative work, and health care, UK contributes majorly towards the vision of service to the Commonwealth and the world.