Community Engagement

Colleges’ Commitment to Positive Research Impact

Celebrating public scholarship and externally funded engaged scholarship for local and global impact

On Friday, April 5, 2024, the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), College of Education (COE), and Herff College of Engineering (HERFF) co-sponsored an event highlighting our colleges’ commitment to research to positively impact communities locally and internationally.

Drs. KATHERINE LAMBERT-PENNINGTON (Department of Anthropology), ROGER KREUZ (Department of Psychology) and DIANA RUGGIERO (Department of World Languages and Literatures) from CAS were involved in the event. Full details

Mid-America Integrated Seismic Network

Operation of the earthquake monitoring network at the UofM Center for Earthquake Research and Information

Did you know that there were over a hundred earthquakes within 150 miles of Memphis last year? Did you know that information for each of those earthquakes provided by the U.S. Geological Survey originated at the University of Memphis? This is year 5 of a five-year award with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to continue operation of the regional seismic network operated by the Center for Earthquake Research and Information (CERI) at the University of Memphis. As an authoritative earthquake monitoring network with the federally managed Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS) we are responsible for 24/7/365 reporting of information on seismic events over a region that spans from the Oklahoma border to the Potomac River.

Our data and products are used by the media, first responders, scientists, and engineers, and those who want to know, “was that an earthquake I just felt.” Learn more

Explore the solar system right here on campus

Check out the Memphis Voyage Solar System, one of only a few 10 billion to 1 scale models nationwide and the first in the Mid-South region and stretches from the UofM Art Museum to Walker Ave!

Click here for more details

Lead Institution: Department of Physics and Materials Science at the University of Memphis

The Voyage Solar System Model will be located on our main campus along a North-South primary walkway and will allow UM students of all majors the rare opportunity to experience Earth’s place within our Solar System from new perspectives that inspire wonder and awe. It will help students comprehend how small and fragile Earth is within the tremendous breadth of our Solar System, and also how unique Earth is in its ability to provide the resources needed to sustain life as we know it. This awareness can help students see themselves as active participants in the Universe, making choices that matter for the future of life on Earth. Such a perspective can motivate students to seek more collaborative and sustainable solutions to environmental and social challenges.

The Voyage Solar System Model will be a focal point for STEM education and careers for our college students as well as for the K-12 community. School groups from around the Mid-South can visit our campus when they study the Solar System and gain the amazing perspective that the Voyage experience provides. Follow-up tours, activities and discussions with UM faculty can focus student energy on addressing the challenges that we have here on Earth, and also provide a foundation for the continued exploration of our solar system.

Center for Community Research and Evaluation

The CCRE was established in 2020 with a mission to provide interdisciplinary social science research and evaluation support for community-based projects. The CCRE strives to be the leading source of expertise on community transformation in the Mid-South.

The Annual Report includes the impact the center has made in the community along with services available. Educational resources are early childhood learning, academic interventions and other wraparound services. The center also supports community partners with a Data Science Laboratory and Public Health.

We are grateful to the community for their partnership and continued trust in CCRE and look forward to a wonderful (and busy) 2024! Full details of our 2023 successes can be found in our Annual Report.