Scholars from across Michigan to present research at WMU

Contact: Molly Goaley
Photo of WMU's Sangren Hall.

WMU's Sangren Hall

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Western Michigan University is set to host hundreds of scholars from around the state during the 2017 meeting of the Michigan Academy of Science, Arts and Letters Friday, March 10, in Sangren Hall.

Some 500 individuals are expected to participate in the event, which brings together faculty and students from various member institutions to share their scholarly and research work. Organized on campus by WMU's College of Arts and Sciences, the multidisciplinary conference features presentations in more than 30 sections of the sciences, humanities and social sciences.

"The annual Michigan Academy conference is a wonderful event for many reasons, but the feedback and interactions among faculty, graduate and undergraduate students made possible by the smaller scale of the individual sessions is really quite special," says Dr. Gregory Veeck, WMU professor of geography and lead organizer for this year's event. "Many presenters who eventually join academia in Michigan or elsewhere warmly remember the academy conference as where they presented their first academic paper."

Sharing cutting-edge research

Participants at the conference will exchange updates on current research from their own fields and have the rare opportunity to interact with colleagues from a wide range of other disciplines. Abstracts of all papers are then published in the academy's peer-reviewed academic journal, Michigan Academician, and two awards are offered for outstanding papers—the Cohn Prize in Law and Public Policy, and the Ronald O. Kapp Undergraduate Award.

The majority of presenters are from Michigan colleges and universities, while others are employed by public libraries, government agencies, research organizations and non-profit groups, or are K-12 or independent scholars. Roughly 30 WMU faculty and students will participate.

About the academy

Established in 1894, the Michigan Academy of Science, Arts and Letters is a professional academic organization with a mission to promote exchange among researchers at colleges, universities, government agencies, research and business organizations.

Since 2004, the academy has been located at Alma College and is funded primarily by individual and institutional membership dues and conference registration fees. Currently 38 colleges and universities, including WMU, support the academy through institutional memberships.

Member institutions

  • Adrian College
  • Alma College
  • Andrews University
  • Aquinas College
  • Calvin College
  • Central Michigan University
  • Concordia University-Ann Arbor
  • Cornerstone University
  • Eastern Michigan University
  • Ferris State University
  • Glen Oaks Community College
  • Grace Bible College
  • Grand Valley State University
  • Hope College
  • Kalamazoo College
  • Kettering University
  • Kirtland Community College
  • Lake Superior State University
  • Lansing Community College
  • Lawrence Technological University
  • Macomb Community College
  • Madonna University
  • Marygrove College
  • Michigan State University
  • Montcalm Community College
  • Northern Michigan University
  • Northwood University
  • Oakland Community College
  • Oakland University
  • Olivet College
  • Saginaw Valley State University
  • Schoolcraft College
  • Spring Arbor University
  • University of Detroit Mercy
  • University of Michigan-Flint
  • Wayne County Community College
  • Wayne State University
  • Western Michigan University

For detailed information about the academy and conference registration, visit themichiganacademy.org.

For more WMU news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.