APSU Mondays: Accreditations, chairs, new plant species and space talk
A new species comes to light. Engineering physics degree earns accreditation. A staff member gets honored, and Science on Tap gets a triumphant return.
Check out the latest news from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville.
Engineering physics degree program earns ABET accreditation
The Austin Peay Bachelor of Science program in engineering physics just earned accreditation from the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.
The accreditation makes sure that programs are able to meet standards that prepare graduate students for critical technical fields, so they are able to be front runners in innovation and the welfare and safety needs of the public.
As a worldwide accreditation, it is a voluntary peer-review process that adds value to academic programs in technical fields.
“With the accreditation of the program, engineering students at APSU can be confident their educational experience meets the global standard set by ABET and enhances their career opportunities upon graduation,” said. Dr. Russ Longhurst, professor in APSU’s Department of Physics, Engineering and Astronomy.
New Leorna C. Reuther Chair of Excellence Recipient
Dr. Debra Rose Wilson has been announced as next recipient for the Austin Peay School of Nursing's Leorna C. Reuther Chair of Excellence.
As part of a gift that allowed Austin Peay to create its first endowed professorship for the School of Nursing, the chair was established and honors top-notch professors at the university.
Wilson arrived at Austin Peay in 2017, the same year she received the American Holistic Nurse of the Year for outstanding innovations through research, teaching and promoting the science of holistic nursing. She has also received the university's Richard M. Hawkins Award for demonstrating exceptional scholarly and creative behavior.
New beaksedge species described by APSU Alumna
Austin Peay Alumna Claire M. Ciafré and co author Robert F.C. Naczi recently described a new species of beaksedge, one only found in seven locations in the entire world, the Stiletto Beaksedge.
The species was first collected by Ciafré in early 2019 while studying rivers for plant communities for her master's thesis.
“I didn’t know if I had found something new, an existing species that hadn’t yet been found in North America, a hybrid or just a wonky individual – it’s amazing what fungal infections, insect galls or stress can do to plants sometimes. But I think that uncertainty made everything even more exciting, " Ciafré explains.
After extensive work, the description of the new species was published Aug. 16. It is a vulnerable species that only occurs in sunny, wet, calcium rich but otherwise nutrient-poor habitats.
Science on Tap Returns!
Austin Peay's Science on Tap at Strawberry Alley Ale Works returns Sept. 6.
Dr. Spencer Buckner will speaking on James Webb Space Telescope's first few months of observations.
The telescope is the largest sent into space. The 5:30 p.m. presentation will cover the telescope's funding, construction, launch and operation, as well as a comparison between the James Webb and Hubble telescopes.
Buckner is an associate professor in the Department of physics Engineering, and Astronomy at the university
Reach Reporter Marissa England at marissaengland@theleafchronicle.com or (615) 823-9868. To support her work, sign up for a digital subscription to TheLeafChronicle.com.
This article originally appeared on Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle: APSU Monday: Accreditations, chairs, new plant species and space talk
