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Study targets effects of substance misuse on hearing, balance

A few years ago, Michelle Hughes, an audiologist and professor of special education and communication disorders, came across a journal article about an individual who experienced a drug overdose and ended up with sudden hearing loss.

Then she found more articles featuring similar stories. She was fascinated. Full Article

MAP Academy opens call for 2024-25 ‘Catalyst’ proposals

Applied Analytics & Data Infrastructure Catalyst Call for Proposals

A new funding opportunity is available to support faculty engaged in field-based human subjects research.

The MAP Academy invites interdisciplinary faculty across all campuses to submit proposals for the Applied Analytics and Data Infrastructure (AADI) Catalyst Program — an initiative to support the rigor of high-quality, field-based human research at the University of Nebraska. The program launched last fiscal year and is made possible through a grant from the Nebraska Research Initiative. Full Article

Project examines public perceptions on poverty’s causes, solutions

Public opinion toward poverty in the United States — and financial assistance from the government — is divided.

According to research, many Americans support federal spending on assistance to the poor, but not federal spending on welfare.

To better understand this disparity, a pilot project led by Jamy Rentschler, MAP Academy postdoctoral fellow, and Brandi Woodell, UNL graduate and current Assistant Professor at Old Dominion University, are exploring how people determine a person’s deservingness of receiving financial assistance, and the types of assistance they view as acceptable. Full Article

Cross-campus collaboration helps sharpen focus on teacher shortages, job satisfaction

Last fall, more than 900 teacher positions in Nebraska were either vacant or filled by underqualified personnel, according to the Nebraska Department of Education.

With so many vacancies, school districts are forced to compete for candidates from a relatively small pool — something that can have long-term negative effects on rural Nebraska communities. Full Article

MAP Academy helps researchers see big picture of rural adolescent nutrition insecurity

Making sure rural youth have enough to eat is important for both their health and education. Attending school with an empty stomach affects a student’s ability to focus and learn, making proper nutrition essential for academic success.

Nebraska Extension educators Beth Nacke and Natalie Sehi are leading research focused on adolescent nutrition insecurity. They recently worked with the MAP Academy to create a database to analyze the nutritional and economic impact of Nebraska Extension’s statewide Monthly Meal Kit program. Full Article

Project examines ways to foster future leaders in rural communities

As the makeup of American communities changes in coming years to grapple with impending transfers of wealth and leadership, sustainability of rural communities is a priority.

Lindsay Hastings, Clifton Professor in Mentoring Research at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, has recently worked with her team — Justine Bircher, Mary Emery and Jordan Rasmussen — on a project to build leadership development systems to sustain rural communities for the future. Full Article

Video available for MAP Academy presentation featuring Yingying Wang

Yingying Wang, associate professor of special education and communication disorders, and director of UNL’s Neuroimaging for Language, Literacy and Learning (NL3) Lab, led the Spring 2024 Methodology Applications Series presentation May 3.

Video is now available of Wang’s presentation, “Capturing Life in Motion: Leveraging Wearable Technology for Human Subjects Research.” Full Article

Early Childhood Research Summit helps connect research, practice, policy

Creating connections among early childhood research, practice and policy — and how each can enhance the lives of young children and their families — provided the central theme of the 2024 CYFS Early Childhood Research Summit.

Almost 200 attendees, including researchers from across the University of Nebraska system, practitioners, administrators, community partners and policymakers, gathered April 23 at Nebraska Innovation Campus for the daylong, seventh biennial summit, which highlighted the latest research to advance early childhood education and development, and implications for practice and policy. Full Article