The Interdisciplinary Exchange Event is a discovery event that facilitates the exchange of ideas and resources for UTEP faculty, staff, and graduate students who are engaged in, seeking, or who support interdisciplinary efforts. Interested individuals can participate as a presenter, co-presenter, or as a general attendee. This event provides an opportunity to:

1. Present or learn about ongoing or emerging interdisciplinary projects/ideas/resources and receive/offer immediate feedback.
2. Network with a cross-section of interdisciplinary leaders on campus.
3. Connect with others in an informal environment. Participants may attend the entire event or drop-in as their schedule permits.

*This event is scheduled to be an in-person event but may be moved to an online platform pending factors associated with COVID-19.

Researchers (funded or unfunded), campus Centers, and targeted units on campus with ongoing projects or interdisciplinary research ideas who are interested in presenting at this event should RSVP early. Presenters/co-presenters are able to receive feedback from peers, attract collaborators, and increase exposure of their efforts. Presentations can reflect funded research, emerging research ideas, or tools/resources accessible to the UTEP community. Ideas at the very early stage are also welcomed. Selected presentations will be offered concurrently and during multiple rounds. There are a limited number of spots available for students who are interested in presenting at this event.

Interested Presenters RSVP deadline is 03/08/22
General Attendee RSVP preferred by 03/15/22

Wednesday, September 15, 2021 4pm - 5:30pm

Patio between the Interdisciplinary Research Building (IDRB) and the Undergraduate Learning Center (UGLC). Event may be moved to a virtual platform pending factors associated with COVID-19.

Faculty are invited to:

• (Re)connect with members of UTEP Communities of Practice
• Meet other faculty engaged in interdisciplinary research activities
• Learn about future plans of the participating communities

Participating communities: Aging, Applied Artificial Intelligence, Engaged Scholars, Entrepreneurship, Global Engagement, Health-Focused Interprofessional Education, Interdisciplinary Research & Education, Neuroscience, Smart Cities, Undergraduate Research, and Cyber Security.

Faculty & Staff are invited to:

• Grow your professional network
• Connect with communities of practice
• Meet new(er) faculty
• Review Expertise Connector profiles of those registered to attend

Abstract: Dr. Hannah Evans will explore the connections between global population growth, access to comprehensive healthcare, and environmental sustainability. Through an examination of some of the root causes of population growth, she will highlight the links between poverty, marginalization, women’s rights, and environmental pressures made worse by climate change. Hannah will argue that global development is predicated on the institutionalization of reproductive autonomy and increased access to family planning worldwide. She will emphasize that the effects of U.S. policies such as the newly expanded Global Gag Rule have unnecessarily stifled such progress and threatened the lives of millions of women. Dr. Evans is with Population Connection

Dr. Figueroa is Associate Professor of Philosophy in the School of History, Philosophy, and Religion. He has over two decades of promoting environmental justice pedagogy as it has emerged from Environmental Humanities. His current transdisciplinary research focuses on Latinx communities in the USA, indigenous populations in the joint-management of National Parks and environmental heritage, refugee populations in terms of environmental and climate refugees, along with conditions in refugee camps and relocated communities. He draws upon environmental identity, environmental heritage, cultural continuance, and restorative empathetic relationships.

Among other issues, Dr. Figueroa’s talk will focus on environmental justice issues related to the Kettleman Hills Hazardous Waste Facility in California, the efforts by Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers Movement, the Ganados del Valle workers’ collective Tierra Wools, Adelante Mujeres successes in restorative justice and sustainable agriculture, environmental colonialism in Puerto Rico, and the Mothers of East LA in their successful opposition to construction projects in their community—a prison, an incinerator, and waste treatment plant—as environmentally unsafe and unjust.

In an effort to facilitate interdisciplinary research connections, the School of Pharmacy and Department of Rehabilitation Sciences in the College of Health Sciences in partnership with Research & Innovation, organized this event that highlights teams and individuals engaged in interdisciplinary research who are housed at the UTEP Campbell Building. This event welcomed faculty, staff, students, and community leaders. Special speakers included the Dean of Pharmacy, Dr. Jose Rivera; the Dean of Health Sciences, Dr. Shafik Dharamsi; and the VP for Research, Dr. Roberto Osegueda.

The Interdisciplinary Connector Event is an expertise sharing and discovery event that facilitates the exchange of ideas and resources in an informal environment. This half-day event provides an opportunity for faculty and staff to present/learn about existing or emerging interdisciplinary projects or ideas, receive/offer immediate feedback on these projects or ideas, and network. Individuals can participate as a presenter, co-presenter, or as a general attendee. Individuals or teams (funded or unfunded), campus Centers, and targeted units on campus are encouraged to present. The fall 2013 Interdisciplinary Research Connector Event was organized by R&I and supported by UTEP’s NSF-funded I3 Project. Approximately seventy people attended this event.