Provost addresses how YSU can become major research institution

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Garret Zusik, a dietetics student in his final semester at Youngstown State University, becomes visibly excited when he talks about flaxseed.

A true scientist, according to Zusik, is someone who’s passionate about topics that others find tedious. Zusik’s passion is fiber and the effect it can have on physical and mental well-being.

Fiber consumption, he said, affects everything from a person’s weight to his or her likelihood of developing depression.

Zusik was one 221 students who delivered presentations Tuesday relating to their research in STEM fields, as part of YSU’s Quest program.

Interim Provost Martin Abraham delivered a keynote presentation to a sizable audience of students, faculty and parents recognizing the work of Quest students. His presentation, “The Role of Research at a Comprehensive University” attempted to answer the question: How can YSU become a major research institution?

The answer, Abraham said, is not merely to increase YSU’s infrastructure, but rather to focus on how science is taught. He drew on his nearly 30 years of research experience to make a case for a practical approach to science.

Read more of what he said in Wednesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.