AUSTIN, Texas—The University of Texas at Austin has created a new Web-based resource called EUREKA! to inspire undergraduate students to become involved in research and innovation and to enhance communication among faculty members across colleges and schools.
EUREKA! features a university-wide online directory of the research interests of more than 1,500 faculty members from throughout the university who have expertise in a wide range of fields.
“EUREKA! is a multifeatured clearinghouse of research information that can become a valuable tool for both students and professors,” said Vice Provost Lucia Gilbert, who is responsible for the Connexus initiative that sponsors EUREKA! in collaboration with the College of Natural Sciences, College of Engineering, College of Liberal Arts, Office of the Vice President for Research and the Center for Instructional Technologies.
Gilbert said students could use EUREKA! to find professors with expertise on subjects ranging from “adolescence” and “aging” to “urban studies” and “viruses.” The Web site also allows students and faculty to identify areas of expertise by browsing according to college, department, research projects and research/academic unit.
Gilbert said EUREKA! also provides undergraduate students with tips on getting started in research in any field, a database of faculty research interests across disciplines, information about funding and publication, and postings for research positions.
“Students who use EUREKA! also will have the option of contacting a research coordinator who can work with them in planning for research experiences,” said Gilbert. “For faculty members, EUREKA! provides a venue to connect with potential collaborators, a searchable database of undergraduates who are interested in participating in research, an opportunity to post undergraduate openings on current research projects and a quick and easy means of updating their research profiles on the Internet.”
For more information contact: Dr. Lucia Gilbert, Office of the Provost, 512-232-3310, or Robert D. Meckel, Office of Public Affairs, 512-475-7847.
