Topic: Research and Creativity

Displaying 1 - 18 of 812

$10M grant expands App State model for teacher-directed professional learning
Statewide ETL SPARK program supports middle school literacy educators
Oct. 13, 2026
App State’s Office of Rural Promise has secured a $10 million federal grant to launch ETL SPARK (Empowering Teacher Learning: Strengthening Professional learning to Advance Reading Knowledge) — a five-year, statewide initiative aimed at elevating classroom instruction and empowering educators in middle grades literacy.
App State researchers partner to strengthen Western NC resilience 2 years post-Helene
Community-informed projects span energy resilience, data coordination, community health and the arts
Sept. 30, 2026
Two years after Hurricane Helene, App State faculty and staff continue leading research to help build long-term resilience for communities across Western North Carolina. Spanning energy systems, data coordination, community health and the arts, these projects aim to deliver real solutions to problems surfaced and made worse by the storm.
Science Says I’ve Been Jumping My Bike Wrong For 30 Years [faculty featured]
Berm Peak
Sept. 29, 2026
Seth Alvo, a mountain biking content creator who runs the Berm Peak YouTube channel, brought his bike and a kicker ramp to App State’s biomechanics lab to explore the science of jumping higher. Dr. Herman van Werkhoven, associate professor in App State’s Department of Kinesiology, and Kristian Jackson, senior lecturer in App State’s Department of Recreation Management and Physical Education, assisted with the experiment.
App State spotlights research and creative activity driving innovation and community impact
Annual Research and Creative Activity at Appalachian event featured keynote speaker Dr. Martie Thompson
Sept. 15, 2026
App State’s annual Research and Creative Activity at Appalachian event, held Sept. 18 on the Boone campus, showcased a wide variety of research and creative activities by faculty and staff. Dr. Martie Thompson, recipient of this year’s Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity, served as the event’s keynote speaker.
Nepal’s Hydropower Industry Was Booming. Now 900 Workers Are Missing. [faculty featured]
The New York Times
Aug. 28, 2026
Dr. Dinesh Paudel, a professor in App State’s Department of Sustainable Development who has studied development in Nepal, provides context on the more than 900 employees from hydropower projects who went missing after the deadly flood on Aug. 26.
App State Team Sunergy earns historic victory in cross-country solar racing challenge
The team claimed its second first-place finish since 2021 and earned this year’s Practicality Award
Aug. 11, 2026
App State’s Team Sunergy followed a second-place finish at the Electrek Formula Sun Grand Prix with a historic performance at the 2026 Electrek American Solar Challenge, becoming the only team to earn two first-place finishes in the competition’s multi-occupant vehicle category. The team drove nearly 1,830 miles in its new solar car, Autumn, and received the Practicality Award.
Summer Ventures at App State prepares NC high schoolers for future STEM careers
Aug. 3, 2026
Each summer, high school students from across North Carolina become researchers at App State through Summer Ventures in Science and Mathematics. Offered at no cost to participants, this state-funded program engages students in hands-on, collaborative research alongside faculty and staff. App State is one of four UNC System schools that host the program.
NCInnovation Joins Statewide Partnership Launching the Western North Carolina Futures Factory [faculty featured]
NCInnovation
July 28, 2026
Dr. Christine Ogilvie Hendren, vice chancellor of research and innovation at App State, describes the university’s role in the Western North Carolina Futures Factory initiative to strengthen the state’s advanced manufacturing ecosystem. Hendren says the initiative will support local communities and strengthen economic resilience in the region.
The Thinking About Kids and Heat Has Flipped [faculty featured]
The Atlantic
July 11, 2026
Dr. Caroline Smith, professor in App State’s Department of Kinesiology, discusses research that challenges the long-held belief that children are more vulnerable to heat than adults. She explains that children have less electrolytes in their sweat, allowing it to evaporate more easily and cool the body more efficiently.
Buttery, sweet and orange: This milk alternative has deep North Carolina roots [faculty featured]
The News & Observer
July 7, 2026
Dr. Brett Taubman, professor in App State’s Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences, discusses his Rootsii project to turn surplus North Carolina sweetpotatoes into plant-based milk products. The research is backed by a $1.82 million grant.
App State’s Team Sunergy unveils Autumn — its next-gen solar racing vehicle
July 6, 2026
Team Sunergy revealed a lighter, more aerodynamic solar racing vehicle ahead of two key international competitions to take place this summer — the Formula Sun Grand Prix and American Solar Challenge. The July 10 unveiling, held on the Boone campus, gave the public an opportunity to see the new vehicle and interact with the team.
Can ‘body doubling’ really help you focus? Psychologists say maybe. [faculty featured]
WDC TV News
June 24, 2026
Dr. Will Canu, professor in App State’s Department of Psychology, explores “body doubling” — a focus technique where friends, colleagues or classmates work alongside one another to stay on task or power through difficult work. Canu is a licensed psychologist whose research includes attention-deficit disorders.
North Carolina has rattlesnakes. See how to ID the one you’d most likely spot [faculty featured]
The Charlotte Observer
June 24, 2026
Dr. Matt Estep, professor in App State’s Department of Biology, shares insights on North Carolina rattlesnakes and his recent research on the diversity of timber rattlesnakes across the state, as well as the significant role they play in the ecosystem.
App State Chancellor’s Innovation Scholars aim to boost Western NC cybersecurity, trades workforce
June 23, 2026
From securing small businesses against cyberthreats to building a resilient workforce, App State’s 2026 Chancellor’s Innovation Scholars awards are funding two vital faculty-led projects to support the skilled building trades in Western North Carolina and launch a cybersecurity clinic in Hickory.
App State’s Sheryl Oring documents national, international perspectives on independence
‘Spirit of Independence’ is one of several initiatives honoring America’s 250th anniversary
June 22, 2026
What does independence mean to you? This question is at the heart of “Spirit of Independence” — an interactive performance by App State department chair Sheryl Oring honoring America’s 250th anniversary. To date, the project has archived perspectives from more than 300 national and international participants.
$2.27 billion in statewide energy savings reported at App State’s Appalachian Energy Summit
App State utility savings surpass $100 million since 2002–03
June 18, 2026
At App State’s 2026 Appalachian Energy Summit, state officials announced the UNC System and its partners have avoided $2.27 billion in energy costs since 2002. App State’s portion of these savings was $81.1 million, and the university reduced its energy use per square foot by 51%, surpassing the state’s 2025 goal of 40% for a second consecutive year.
NC’s outdoor recreation economy heats up, plus tips on exploring outside and staying safe this summer [faculty featured]
WFAE
June 17, 2026
Dr. Ash Morgan, professor in App State's Department of Economics, joined a panel of experts to discuss the economic impact of North Carolina's outdoor recreation industry, along with advice for exploring the outdoors safely and responsibly. Morgan directs App State's Center for Economic Research and Policy Analysis, and his research interests include environmental economics and natural resource economics.
Inspiring future innovators: 400+ middle, high school students explore career paths at App State STEAM Expo
June 3, 2026
Over 400 middle and high school students took part in App State’s STEAM Expo this spring, exploring science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics through hands-on learning and interactive engagement with App State faculty and students. The annual event helps students connect classroom concepts to future academic and career possibilities.