International Symposium on Lasallian Research

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International Symposium on Lasallian Research

Minneapolis Campus of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota

This yearly symposium gathers creative minds to dialogue about the key characteristics or key areas that comprise the field of Lasallian research today; look beyond a study solely of the origins, tradition, and heritage in Lasallian research; break open the possibilities for Lasallian research in the 21st-Century; and propose avenues or topics for future needed Lasallian research. The goal is also to develop a community of scholars committed to supporting, conducting, and publishing Lasallian research.

More than 120 Lasallian educators and scholars from numerous countries gather to present and discuss current research.

While IALU promotes and fosters research collaboration among Lasallian researchers in strategic areas, these themes certainly must not preclude the pursuit of other lines of research according to the individual missions and visions of IALU member institutions. For the period 2013 to 2018, the following are the IALU strategic research themes.

  1. Food, Nutrition and Health (biochemistry of food products, science and engineering of potable water, cancer risks and cures from food, economic impact studies of nutrition programs in schools)
  2. Sustainability and the Environment (dealing with climate change, eco-design of houses and urban centers, industrial ecology, air and water quality monitoring in megacities)
  3. Education and Learning Innovations (access to education among the poor, impact of use of tablets for learning math and science, coping mechanisms among children with learning disabilities, predicting the academic emotions of young learners based on physiological signals)

Past Speakers

The 2018 symposium featured three keynote presentations:

Brother Louis DeThomasis, FSC, Ph.D., President Emeritus, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota - “From Chaos to Ethical Clarity: The Quest for Lasallian Higher Education in Today’s Global Society”

Carmelita Quebengco, AFSC, Ph.D., Consultant to the President and Chancellor Emeritus, De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines, “Conversations on Cross Institution Research”

Brother Cristhian Diaz, FSC, Ed.D., Principal, Gigante, Huila, Colombia, “Making Peace Possible: Grassroots Peacebuilding Leaders”

The 2017 symposium featured three keynote presentations:
 
Dr. Carlos Costa, dean of the School of Engineering at De La Salle University in Bogota, Colombia, spoke on the intersection of climate change, sustainable development, and how it relates to Lasallian higher education.
 
Dr. Olaf Gruess, technology manager and global connector, and Dr. Christine Nowakowski, principal scientist, both of General Mills, discussed research, entrepreneurship, nutrition, and philanthropic health practices of their company.
 
Tracy Adams, CEO of yourtown in Australia, spoke on the Lasallian mission and the dedication to serving children. Her organization attempts to break the cycle of disadvantaged youth through support, resources, and social services.
 
The 2016 symposium featured three keynote presentations:
 
Dr. Todd Reinhart, Saint Mary’s University dean of sciences and health professions, discussed his 15 years of research on HIV/AIDS and the Lasallian concern for people who don’t have access to resources to combat the disease. 
 
Dr. Melchor Victor G. Frias, vice chancellor for research at the De La Salle Health Sciences Institute in the Philippines, presented on the challenges and concerns of conducting Phase 1 of a clinical trial on a new drug for Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) among children. 
 
Dr. Judy A. Van Wyk, Department of Sociology & Anthropology at the University of Rhode Island, and Dr. Camela Steinke, program assessment and effectiveness research specialist at Lasalle School in New York, discussed Lasallian- and trauma-informed care in Lasallian youth and family ministries.
 
The 2015 symposium featured two keynote presentations:
 
Brother Robert Schieler, The Superior General of the De La Salle Christian Brothers presented on Lasallian Research of the 21st Century
 
Dr. Hashem Shahin of Bethlehem University presented genetics research at Bethlehem University and the impact of research on the lives of people within Palestine
 
The 2014 symposium featured three keynote presentations:
 
Dr. Rebecca Proehl, Professor, Kalmanovitz School of Education, Saint Mary’s College of California presented “The Transformative Nature of Lasallian Research” 
 
Dr. Thomas F. Clasen, Professor, Water, Sanitation, and Health at the University of London’s School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the Rose Salamone Gangarosa Chair of Sanitation and Safe Water at Emory University in Atlanta presented “The Global Water and Sanitation Scandal: A Challenge for Lasallian Universities” 
 
Chris Fay, President, Lasallian Association of Secondary School Chief Administrators and Principal, Christian Brothers High School, Memphis, TN; Phil Pusateri, Chairperson, Midwest District Lasallian Mission Council, Principal, De La Salle Middle School, St. Louis, MO; Jolleen Wagner, Chair, RELAN Young Lasallians Committee, Director of Lasallian Volunteers; and Bill Wolff, Mission Executive Council, District of Eastern North America, Executive Director, La Salle School, Albany, NY were on an Education Practitioner Panel: “A Call for Research Assistance from RELAN Ministries” 
 
The 2013 symposium featured three keynote presentations:
 
Dr. Arnulfo Ascarraga, professor, De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines presented “Lasallians in the World Solving Real World Problems”
 
Brother Diego Munoz, director of Lasallian research and resources, Brothers of the Christian Schools, Rome, Italy presented “Looking at the Future from a Challenging Memory”
 
Dr. Susan Hines, director of faculty development, Saint Mary’s Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs presented “A Response to the White Paper from the 2012 Symposium on Lasallian Research” 
 
The 2012 symposium featured two keynote presentations:
 
Brother Robert Schieler, General Councilor, presented “The Call from the Institute for Lasallian Research”
 
Dr. Mary Catherine Fox, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, presented “Capturing Our Time for Theirs: Considerations for the Context of Our Future”