For the Benefit of the World, an interdisciplinary research conference, was held at the BYU Conference Center on Nov. 8.
Conference organizers invited BYU professors to present their research and students to observe and participate. They encouraged partnerships across disciplines to better achieve the BYU mission.
After a brief message from BYU’s International Vice President Renata Forste, professors broke into discussion rooms based on goals their research aimed to achieve.
Topics included alleviating poverty, building communities of belonging, facilitating peace and harmony, improving health and wellbeing, supporting lifelong learning, enhancing mental and spiritual health, preventing disaster and providing relief, using earth’s resources prudently and using new technologies wisely.
Each session began with introductions and professors presenting their research corresponding to the topic. Cole Hooley, an assistant professor in the school of social work, presented in the discussion room focused on enhancing mental, spiritual and emotional health. His research focused on evaluating efforts to improve access to mental health care, not only by making it accessible and affordable, but also by helping improve delivery, usage and palatability of treatments.
“We’re just trying to be a little bit more specific in targeting the problem and the hope is with this next wave of work is to help the helpers,” Hooley said.
Roger Harrison, a professor in the chemistry and biochemistry department, presented his research in the discussion room on preventing disaster and providing relief. His research is currently focused on measuring how much of a pollutant, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, is found in the Provo River.
“Now I’m thinking a little bit more global since I’m in this conference with you guys, but I’m wondering when there’s an earthquake or tsunami or something, do some people go and check water?” Harrison asked.
After the presentations, the conference organizers gave professors discussion prompts to further expand on their topics.
In the discussion room for improving health and wellbeing, Larry Howell, a mechanical engineering professor, spoke on action items for all professors to apply to improve collaboration.
“Having a website, having things there so people can find you, and then seeking out those discussions, so you’ll go to your issue event and there’s a whole bunch of round tables like today at lunch, you’re likely to sit by the person just two doors down ... taking the initiative ... interacting and seeing what people do,” Howell said.
In the alleviating poverty discussion room, professors discussed how BYU might improve its own efforts to alleviate poverty, both locally and globally. They discussed ways to get students more involved in efforts to alleviate poverty, as well as pros and cons with BYU's unique position.
“The Rollins Center (for Entrepreneurship and Technology) does a lot, but it’s student focused. I mean it’s really to serve the BYU community, and it’s not so much outreach focused,” Chad Carlos, associate professor of entrepreneurship, said.
Victoria Garrow, a research and development officer, asked if the new medical school could potentially change the outreach of the university.
“I think one thing that we’re uniquely qualified to do here, especially people in this room is trying to provide rigorous research that gives answers into how to make a difference,” Carlos responded.
In the afternoon, the conference divided into geographic research areas to allow professors to collaborate on ways they might be able to assist one another with geographically unique challenges.
The conference closed with a brief presentation from each discussion room summarizing their conclusions, allowing others to learn from their collaborations.