Research at the University isn’t just at the flagship of the state — it’s all around the world.
Students, researchers and scholars gathered in the Student Union’s Atchafalaya room Tuesday for a fair showcasing the research of 10 international scholars visiting the University to work on research projects.
The University’s first International Research Fair was synchronized with International Education Week to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange.
Ma. del Rocio Baños-Lara, postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Pathobiological Sciences, showed her work researching the cellular mechanisms of the virus causing pneumonia. Fabrizio Donnarumma, a J-1 Exchange Scholar, presented his research in laser ablation, the use of lasers to analyze biological matter.
Donnarumma, a native of Italy, said his time working stateside has shown him how much bigger and more intense academic research projects in Europe could become.
He also said he appreciates the way sporting events bring people together at the University rather than tear apart communities the way soccer does in Europe.
“I would not bring a child to a [soccer] game in Italy, but here it is a very positive family thing,” Donnarumma said.
Pushpendra Singh, a researcher at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, won the fair’s top prize — a yearlong membership to the Rural Life Museum — for his presentation of research on the bacteria that causes leprosy.
Singh, a native of India, gave a short talk at the start of the research fair explaining some of the difficulties faced in his work because the disease is noncultivable.
“It was difficult to trace the disease’s spread in Europe because it disappeared from the continent in the 1400s,” said Singh, whose research involves looking at the spread of the disease by armadillos.
Each of the 10 presenting scholars gave a brief presentation of their University research to attendees and were judged by a panel.
Loveness Schafer, associate director of Foreign Faculty and Staff Services, said the fair, somewhat like a science fair, aimed to help the community of scholars. Visiting scholars work primarily on short-term projects, only staying at the University for about a year, so it can be hard to get to know other international scholars.
Schafer said the scholars were trained in how to present their work in layman’s terms to those outside their field before Tuesday’s fair.
The researchers gave insight into numerous projects happening at the University, outside of students and degree granting.
Cheng Long, a petroleum engineering graduate student, said he enjoyed the fair but wanted to see the work of someone in his field.
Long said he’s interested in energy research and will leave the University after 18 months to continue pursuing his doctorate in China.
Schafer said the fair was successful in bringing scholarly research to everyone, and she is planning another event to serve scholars for next semester.

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Walter Radam

At the International Research Fair in the LSU Student Union, International Students describe their research from LSU, November 18, 2014.