Report from the NORA Young/New Investigators Symposium

A dispatch from the Annual Regional National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) Young/New Investigators Symposium by ERC-supported trainee, Janessa Graves, a doctoral student in Health Services.


Annual Regional National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) Young/New Investigators Symposium

Co-Sponsored by Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health and the Department Mechanical Engineering at the University of Utah

In April of both this year and last, I attended the Annual Regional National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) Young/New Investigators Symposium at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. The conference offers a venue for undergraduate and graduate students to present their occupational health research in a formal, yet convivial atmosphere. This not only gives the students an opportunity to hone their presentation skills, but also to network with other occupational health students from around the mountain state region. Although Washington is not part of the mountain state region (Colorado, Montana, the Dakotas, Utah, and Wyoming), UW students have been welcomed at the symposium. Last year, Sarah Veele-Brice, a doctoral student in the Department of Health Services, presented on “Demographic and occupational characteristics associated with workplace violence victimization.” This year, I presented preliminary research for my dissertation.

What are the best things about attending the NORA Symposium? I can name a few (in no particular order):

Learning about cool research from other students and researchers, including industrial engineering to reduce noise hazards, musculoskeletal disorders in a variety of professions (including sewing machine operators), unique aerosol monitoring techniques, and impacts of stress on a variety of work-related conditions.

Fruitful conversations. It’s a chance to get outside the UW bubble and learn about new research ideas and approaches.

Visiting beautiful Salt Lake City in the spring. In April, you would be crazy to turn down the chance to trade out rainy Seattle for a weekend in Salt Lake, where it can be sunny and 60 degrees, yet there may be 2-3 feet of new Utah powder in the canyons. SLC marathon.

Experience. The NORA Symposium provides an encouraging, low stress environment for students to improve their presentation skills. It is also an experience that we can report on our CV’s or resumes.

Students and presenters are eligible for up to $600 reimbursement for all expenses associated with symposium attendance. So yes, you can attend this conference for free.

Interesting keynote speakers. In 2009, Maury Nussbaum, Professor at Virginia Tech, spoke about decision support systems for construction design. He and his team developed software to position wood panels to lessen ergonomic stresses. This year, David Deubner, Vice President of Occupational and Environmental Medicine for Brush Wellman, Inc (the worlds leading producer of beryllium containing materials), gave the keynote address. His lecture delved into the history of the protection of beryllium workers, both the struggles and successes.

http://medicine.utah.edu/rmcoeh/upcoming/NORA/index.htm

Photo credits:
above: Lecture auditorium (2010 symposium): Janessa Graves
below: Fort Douglas Officers’ Club (where the conference is held): www.universityguesthouse.com

8th Annual NORA Young/New Investigators Symposium | April 15-16, 2010 | Salt Lake City

Dear Professors/Colleagues/and Friends:

I am pleased to announce a call for papers for the 8th Annual Regional
National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) Young/New Investigators
Symposium scheduled for April 15-16, 2010 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The first
seven symposiums, held in 2003-2009 were great successes. The symposiums have
averaged over 45 attendees with 20 presenters representing 8 universities in
6 states, as well as Alberta, Canada. Senior faculty reviewed the conference
research papers and peer-reviewed proceedings will be published on the web.
Would you please forward this information to any students and faculty who would be interested in attending and/or presenting? This is a great opportunity for young/new investigators and students to meet and exchange ideas. Please note that students and presenters are eligible for reimbursement for expenses associated with symposium attendance (up to $600).

Roanna Keough
Administrative Assistant
Ergonomics & Safety
Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of Utah
50 S CENTRAL CAMPUS DR RM 2110
SALT LAKE CITY UT 84112-9208
801 581-4160 (voice)
801 585-5261 (fax)
_____

Symposium Description:

The 8th Annual Regional National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) Young/New Investigators Symposium will be held at the University of Utah, April 15-16, 2010. The goal of this conference is to assemble interested students (undergraduate and graduate) and young/new investigators from the region (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming) and other interested parties in a forum where NORA-related research can be presented and discussed. Senior regional faculty will review research submissions. A full paper will be requested from selected participants and will be due one month after the symposium. A peer-reviewed proceeding of these papers will be published on the web. There is a minimal registration fee of $50 for all symposium attendees. Students and presenters are eligible for up to $600 reimbursement for expenses associated with symposium attendance.

Interested presenters should submit a one-page abstract to Donald Bloswick via email (bloswick@mech.utah.edu) by March 19, 2010. Abstracts will be reviewed and information on presentation format will be provided upon acceptance of the abstract. Full papers will be requested and paper format guidelines will be provided after the symposium.

Please contact Donald Bloswick at 801-581-4163 or bloswick@mech.utah.edu for further information regarding abstracts.

Please contact Roanna Keough at keough@mech.utah.edu for further information regarding the symposium and application for travel expense reimbursement.