Look inside our laboratories
The Eberly College of Arts and Sciences is where the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences meet. The intersection of these disciplines is how the College is addressing the many disparities facing West Virginia’s future—poverty, food security, teacher shortages, public health disparities, among others.
The humanities are how people understand the human experience and the world around them. The humanities bridge time, personifying a connection to those who have come before us. Research in this area documents the past, transforms the present and creates the future.
As Appalachian dialects continue to change in the 21st century, West Virginia teens are altering their speech patterns to build their own identities. Linguistics professor Kirk Hazen has teamed up with English education professor Audra Slocum to study students’ dialects across the state in an effort to reduce stereotype threats and foster positive learning environments, leading to student success. Read more.
Social science is the study of human behavior and its relationship to society. Our interdisciplinary research considers individual and group behavior and the resulting cultural, economic, political and social implications, driving social change to benefit present and future generations.
Gun control issues continue to compete in rural police officers’ identities as both citizens and officers of the law. Sociologist Rachael Woldoff is examining these experiences to learn how rural police officers reconcile pro-gun attitudes while working in a dangerous environment. Read more .
Natural science is the study of the physical world around us. It encompasses the transformation of any measurable phenomena, from energy to matter. Our research in the natural sciences nurtures discovery, taking on today’s challenges to improve West Virginia’s quality of life and make the world a better place.
Bradley Wilson , assistant professor of geography, has developed an action research program on community food strategies in West Virginia. As the founder of the Food Justice Lab, his work in West Virginia has led to new ways to support food justice movements in the mountain communities of Central America and Appalachia. Read more.
