Research Notes
Innovation Incentive Proposals
College of Education
The College of Education (COE) is spearheading an effort to fund unique, cutting-edge academic programs to better tailor COE programs to meet the needs of Georgia’s education professionals. “The Innovation Incentive Program grew out of our desire to institutionalize innovation, and to bring together faculty from across the College in a cooperative effort to meet the needs of our students and in-service educators in our region and beyond,” explained COE Dean Thomas R. Koballa.
Among the faculty funded proposals is a course developed by Professors Mete Akcaoglu and Eunbae Lee to help pre-service and in-service educators use the latest technology as a learning tool by employing such technology as robotics, gaming and 3D printing. A proposal developed by Professors Alisa Leckie and Robert Lake is designed to bring additional knowledge and practical skills to those working with English language learners, and Professors Katie Brkich and Julie Maudlin developed a proposal that will lead to a master’s degree and initial Georgia teaching license for individuals who already hold a bachelor’s and are interested in a career as a teacher of young children.
Professor Co-authors Study
College of Business Administration
Georgia Southern Professor Yoon Hee Kim is the co-author of a study that appeared in the Journal of Operations Management. The study, “Financial Benefits and Risks of Supplier’s and Customer’s Dependence in Triadic Relationships,” examined multilayered economic relationships between suppliers and customers, and investigated the effects of a supplier’s and a customer’s relationship on an intermediary’s (focal firm) financial performance in supply chain relationships.
Using a sample of 1,144 observations, the authors found that a supplier’s and a customer’s interdependency has a positive impact on the focal firm’s return on assets (ROA) and return on sales (ROS). Paradoxically, the financial benefits of interdependency differ for customers and sellers. As dependency on the intermediary firm increases, financial benefits to customers tend to decline, while benefits to suppliers continue to grow. The findings illustrate different financial risks for buyers and sellers.
Microbiomes in Homes
Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health
A collaborative study that included Professor of Environmental Health Sciences Atin Adhikari, Ph.D., examined the key determinants of the fungal and bacterial microbiomes in homes. The microbiome of the home is of significant interest because of the possible impact on health such as respiratory allergies, asthma and disorders in the immune system. The goal of this study was to identify some of the factors that determine the richness, evenness and diversity of the home’s fungal and bacterial microbiomes. Vacuumed, settled dust from homes was analyzed by pyrosequencing to determine the fungal and bacterial relative sequence occurrence. The correlation coefficients between home environmental characteristics, including age of home, Environmental Relative Moldiness Index, number of occupants, relative humidity and temperature, as well as pets were evaluated for their influence on fungal and bacterial communities. Some key determinants of the fungal and bacterial microbiome appear to be excess moisture, age of the home and dog ownership. The study also indicated that bacterial and fungal richness, evenness, or diversity in house dust did not correlate.
Smart Homes Systems
Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Information Technology
Adel El Shahat, Ph.D., visiting professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering, has a new book titled Smart Homes Systems Technology. The book, published by Scholar’s Press, covers several topics including smart homes and smart grids technology, micro-grid distributed generation topologies; wind energy appraisals, high-speed generator design for smart grids, power electronics apparatuses, storage devices for green energy and electric drive performance and improvements for renewable energy and automotive applications.
Exercise is Medicine Award
College of Health and Human Sciences
Georgia Southern University was recognized nationally at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting in San Diego, California, for achieving a silver status for the Exercise Is Medicine on Campus initiative. This means that the University is inline with recommendations to promote physical activity on campus. Physical activity is promoted through many different venues, including the Recreation Activity Center, walking trails, public transportation, and community parks. Georgia Southern is one of the very few universities that still requires physical activity for graduation, making physical activity education a priority for undergraduate learning.
New Research in Ecuador
College of Science and Mathematics
A new initiative will provide opportunities for College of Science and Mathematics faculty and students to conduct groundbreaking research at Georgia Southern’s first permanent research station in Latin America. The University signed a memorandum of understanding with the Mindo Cloudforest Foundation to establish the Human-Environment Research Station in Milpe, Ecuador. Students and faculty will have the opportunity to experience South American culture and heritage while conducting research on reforestation, climate change, sustainable livelihoods, development, and much more.
Irish Migration to Savannah
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
The Center for Irish Research and Teaching is facilitating an ongoing exploration of the deep connection between Savannah, Georgia, and Wexford County in Southeastern Ireland. Students and faculty from the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences are working with interested parties on both sides of the Atlantic in a research consortium. As part of the initiative, scholars are examining the Irish migration to Savannah during the Great Famine and the impact it had in Ireland and the United States. Students involved in the project are conducting archival work in Savannah and in Ireland, gaining invaluable research skills and added insight.