The Third Annual Wilkes University Scholarship Symposium celebrates the outstanding faculty research and scholarship taking place throughout Wilkes University’s spectrum of disciplines. The event takes place Monday, April 1 through Thursday, April 4, from 4 to 7:30 p.m. each day and includes numerous research, performance and poster presentations. The event is free and open to the public.
The symposium kicks off on Monday, April 1 at 4 p.m. in Room 231 of University Center on Main, 169 S. Main St., in Wilkes-Barre. Yong Zhu, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, will deliver the lecture “The Future of Robotics: Fantasy, Reality and Ethics.” He will discuss the increasing role robots will have in our society. The lecture will explore the positive and negatives of robotics in a variety of applications and ethical considerations that must be addressed in order to maintain safety and order within today’s world.
Zhu’s principal areas of research interest include biomechatronics, assistive technology and design and control of bio-inspired intelligent robotic systems. From 2007 to 2011, he worked as a mechanical engineer leader for Computer Sciences Corporation Advanced Marine Center in Washington, D.C., and from 2011 to 2012, he worked at Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies in Dayton, Ohio. Zhu received his doctorate in mechanical engineering from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.
The event closes Thursday at 6 p.m. with the O’Hop Final Word Lecture, which will take place in the McHale Athletic Center of the University Center on Main. It will be delivered by Dana H. Manning, associate professor of pharmacy. Her presentation is titled “Beyond Medication: Health and Wellness as a Holistic Concept.” It will explore the idea that health needs to be a holistic concept and it is critical to educate individuals in the health professions, students and ourselves about the personal, social and cultural influences on health.
Manning will discuss the problems with how our society thinks about health and talk about how we should advocate for a holistic view of health and for change in all of the things the influence it. Her presentation will draw on her background as a registered dietitian for 20 years as well as her training as a pharmacist.
Manning received her doctor of pharmacy from Wilkes University. Some of her practice and research interests include transitions of care, oncology, global health, cross-cultural experiences for students and promoting evidence-based nutrition practice. Manning received her Bachelor of Science degree in nutrition from Cornell University and has been a registered dietitian since 2000. She worked as a clinical dietitian in the acute care and outpatient setting and has maintained her practice in clinical nutrition at the Volunteers in Medicine clinic in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
The Paul A. O’Hop Final Word Lecture was established by the late Paul O’Hop to foster the exchange of ideas and dialogue among faculty, staff and administrators and to showcase the talents and scholarly abilities at Wilkes University.
Presentations throughout the four-day scholarship symposium cover topics as diverse as research science impacting health care, public relations, the opioid epidemic, treating acid mine drainage, history and women in education. To view the complete 2019 schedule and location of presentations, visit www.wilkes.edu/symposium. Wilkes President Patrick Leahy committed $1 million to create the Research and Scholarship Fund at Wilkes University in 2016. The fund provides financial support to faculty for their work as scholars and creative practitioners. Faculty, students and Research and Scholarship Grant recipients will share their work at the annual symposium.
