Discover Research

Penn State Harrisburg Office of Research and Outreach partners with Penn State Harrisburg Reads

Penn State Harrisburg Reads  is a program designed to provide a shared experience among students who read the same book while also creating a campaign that fosters dialogue and engagement about the concepts introduced in the book for the campus at large. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot is the 2018-19 book selection.  

Discovery and research do not happen in a vacuum. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks  explores the interdisciplinary nature of research, highlighting not only the scientific aspects, but also the complex issues of socio-economics, ethics, history, family, and faith that surround it. Throughout the story, discovery is paramount: the Lacks family discovers more about their mother’s life and legacy beyond what is discovered clinically from the use of Henrietta’s cells. Moreover, the journalistic telling of the Lacks story has revealed ethical breaches in policy and practice in medical research. This year, the Penn State Harrisburg community will explore the themes and questions raised by the story of Henrietta Lacks to better understand the journey of discovery and research in our academic disciplines and in our lives.  

Grand Challenges Research Competition

Research is a creative endeavor pursued by faculty and staff at Penn State Harrisburg in a wide variety of fields and disciplines. Through this competition, students will discover the Penn State University Strategic Plan foundations and research ways to solve one of them. In partnership with Penn State Harrisburg Reads the Office of Research and Outreach is now receiving proposals for the Penn State University Grand Challenge competition.  

The focus of this research project is to explore the Grand Challenges in the Penn State University Strategic Plan. A Grand Challenge is a major problem in a discipline or society that may be addressed in multiple ways often involving many disciplines. The 6 Grand Challenges in the Penn State University Strategic Plan are:

Download the full Grand Challenge Research Competition RFP Here

Key Dates:

  • Competition Information sessions: Thursday October 11th at 11:30-1pm Olmsted C212 and Wednesday October 17th 4:30-6pm in Olmsted W140.
  • NEW information sessions Monday November 5th 4:30-5:30pm in Olmsted C212 and Tuesday November 6th 4:30-5:30pm in Olmsted W209.
  • Submission of application/proposal: Due November 13th  
  • Announcement of successful applicants: December 4th  
  • Research for the project will take place in Spring 2019

Submit Research Proposals instructions HERE!

Discovering Faculty Research and Creativity Video Competition

Research is an active engagement of faculty’s scholarly and creative pursuits that can shape their teaching and their professional career. Videos will focus on discovering what faculty research is, how it was identified and how it is expected to inform their discipline and improve society. This option allows students to discover the research that faculty have made their passion and present that research as a 3-minute video premiering during Research Week and posted on the Office of Research and Outreach webpage. 

Download the full Faculty Research and Creativity Video Competition Project RFP Here

Submit Video Proposals Here

Apply for Paid Production Crew Positions Here

Key Dates:

  • Competition Information sessions: Thursday October 11th at 11:30-1pm Olmsted C212 and Wednesday October 17th 4:30-6pm in Olmsted W140.
  • NEW sessions Monday November 5th 4:30-5:30pm in Olmsted C212 and Tuesday November 6th 4:30-5:30pm in Olmsted W209.
  • Submission of application/proposal- due November 13th  
  • Announcement of successful applicants- by December 4th  
  • Video production will take place in Spring 2019 
  • Final Cut weekend will take place April 12-15, 2019