Research Summaries in 90 Seconds or Less!
Originally Posted on: September 15th, 2017
IIHR Associate Research Engineer James Buchholz talks about his research.
Communicating complicated ideas in a short, easy-to-understand way is not so easy. With this in mind, the Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development, in collaboration with the School of Journalism and Mass Communication and the Office of Strategic Communication, developed the Communicating Ideas Workshop. The workshop is for faculty members to learn how to communicate their research in a way that’s accessible and engaging.
Participants learn practical tips for honing their messages, interviewing with journalists and presenting their research to a variety of audiences. At the end of the session, faculty have the opportunity to record a brief video clip about their research.
Four members of IIHR—Hydroscience & Engineering’s research staff participated in the workshop and recorded video clips explaining their research. Below are links to their videos:
Mechanical and industrial engineering professor James Buchholz’s research focuses on understanding how aircrafts maneuver. In the video linked above, Buchholz explains that by studying birds, he is developing more precise and safer methods for helicopters to land on ship decks.
Civil and environmental engineering professor David Cwiertny is researching the risks present in water due to chemicals found in products such as pharmaceuticals and shampoo. His work involves identifying which chemicals are more likely to persist in lakes, rivers, and streams and which are most likely to cause harm in the environment.
Biomedical engineering professor Sarah Vigmostad is using computer models to simulate the treatments of cardiovascular disease. By following patients for several years and examining treatment outcomes, she hopes to identify early indicators of treatment success and use these simulations to both predict long-term success and enable customized surgical planning so that patients can receive the best treatment choice.
Influenced by the June 2008 flood event, IIHR Interim Director Gabriele Villarini’s research focuses on understanding the impact of climate change and how it is responsible for changes in extreme weather events like flooding, heavy rainfall, and hurricanes.
