Research Innovation as a Pathway to the Future


Lied Lodge, Nebraska City, NE
July 22-24, 2015

Our keynote speaker this year was Ruth Watkins, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of Utah.

Regional research administrators and research faculty participated in formal presentations and moderated discussions, and then conference participants continued related discussions in the relaxed atmosphere.

Pictured: first row, left to right: Don Steeples, James Tracy, Julie Nagel, Ruth Watkins, Mabel Rice, Wolfgang Kliemann  Second row: Evelyn Haaheim, Neal Kingston, John Colombo, Steve Goddard, Chris Morphew  Third row: Hinrich Staecker, Alexandra Thomas, Mary Rezac, Rick Barohn, Deb Teeter, Dan Reed  

First row, left to right: Don Steeples, James Tracy, Julie Nagel, Ruth Watkins, Mabel Rice, Wolfgang Kliemann  Second row: Evelyn Haaheim, Neal Kingston, John Colombo, Steve Goddard, Chris Morphew  Third row: Hinrich Staecker, Alexandra Thomas, Mary Rezac, Rick Barohn, Deb Teeter, Dan Reed

White Paper

Retreat Participants

Keynote Speaker

  • Ruth Watkins, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of Utah

Iowa State University

  • Wolfgang Kliemann, Associate Vice President for Research

Kansas State University

  • Mary Rezac, Tim Taylor Professor of Chemical Engineering; Director, Center for Sustainable Energy

University of Iowa

  • Daniel Reed, Vice President for Research and Economic Development
  • Christopher Morphew, Executive Associate Dean for Research and Innovation
  • Alexandra Thomas, Clinical Professor, Hematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation; Co-Director, Breast Multidisciplinary Oncology Group

University of Kansas

  • Mabel Rice, Fred and Virginia Merrill Distinguished Professor of Advanced Studies; Director, Merrill Advanced Studies Center
  • Don Steeples, Interim Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
  • Richard Barohn, Vice Chancellor for Research, KUMC
  • John Colombo, Director, Life Span Institute
  • Neal Kingston, Director, Achievement and Assessment Institute
  • Julie Nagel, Executive Director of Corporate Partnership
  • Hinrich Staecker, David and Marilyn Zamierowski Professor, Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery
  • Deb Teeter, University Director, Office of Institutional Research and Planning
  • James Tracy, Vice Chancellor for Research

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

  • Steve Goddard, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research
  • Shane Farritor, David and Nancy Lederer Professor, Mechanical and Materials Engineering

Agenda 

Lied Lodge, Nebraska City, NE 
July 22-24, 2015 

Wednesday, July 22 

Opening Reception 

Dinner

  • Welcome by Mabel Rice, Director of the Merrill Advanced Studies Center at KU  
  • Introduction of Participants 

Thursday, July 23 

Breakfast

Group photo shoot

  • Welcome - Mabel Rice, Director, Merrill Advanced Studies Center 
  • Introduction of the keynote speaker 

Keynote Address 

  • Ruth Watkins, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs of the University of Utah, “Fulfilling our Promise: Integrating Scholarship and Education in the Research University” 
  • Open Discussion – Moderator, Mabel Rice 

Break 

Researcher Panel 

  • Alexandra Thomas, University of Iowa, “Reinforcing the Translational Bridge: Realizing the True Promise of Research Innovations” 
  • Hinrich Staecker, University of Kansas Medical Center, “Developing Novel Treatments for Hearing Loss” 
  • Open Discussion – Moderator, Mabel Rice 

Lunch 

Research Administrator Panel 

  • Richard Barohn, University of Kansas Medical Center, “Challenges of the Coordinating Site for Carrying Out Investigator Initiated Multi-Center Clinical Trials” 
  • Wolfgang Kliemann, Iowa State University, “Paradigm Shifts in Research” 
  • Open Discussion – Moderator, John Colombo 

Researcher Panel 

  • Shane Farritor, University of Nebraska, “Enhancing Creativity in Research” 
  • Mary Rezac, Kansas State University, “Creating and Sustaining Interdisciplinary Research Groups” 
  • Open Discussion – Moderator, John Colombo 

Break 

Research Administrator Panel 

  • Don Steeples, University of Kansas, “Cuts and Guts: Public University Budget Hemorrhages” 
  • Daniel Reed, University of Iowa, “The Future of Innovation” 
  • Open Discussion – Moderator, Deb Teeter 

Dinner

Friday, July 24 

Breakfast 

Opening Remarks – Mabel Rice 

Researcher and Administrator Panel 

  • Neal Kingston, University of Kansas, “Shifting the Paradigm of Large-Scale Achievement Assessment” 
  • Christopher Morphew, University of Iowa, “The Intersection of Autonomy, Accountability and Research Innovation: Identifying New Ways to Do New Things (Without Creating New Problems)” 
  • Open Discussion – Moderator, Julie Nagel 

Break 

Research Administrator Panel 

  • James Tracy, University of Kansas, “A View from Pasteur’s Quadrant: 'Fundamental' v. Use-Inspired Research as Drivers of Innovation” 
  • Steve Goddard, University of Nebraska, “Social & Behavioral Sciences Research: Is now the time to invest?” 

Final Discussion – Moderator, Mabel Rice 

Lunch and Departure