U.S. Museum Histories and the Politics of Interpretation
Research & Discovery
At Columbian College, scholars and scientists join student researchers to challenge assumptions and
Advance the forefronts of knowledge.
Research
Discovery and innovation are a Columbian College tradition—from our century-long research partnership with the Smithsonian Institution to our state-of-the-art Science and Engineering Hall. Whether our scholars are observing celestial bodies light years from Earth or examining the roots of diseases like tuberculosis and malaria, Columbian College faculty and students are uncovering age-old mysteries and finding solutions to 21st-century challenges.
13
CCAS research centers
and institutes
$19.7M
annual college research expenditures
507
permanent full-time faculty members
720+
average annual
faculty media hits
Impact
Faculty Research
Columbian College faculty are prolific authors, awarding-winning scholars, innovators and artists. They are recipients of Guggenheims, Pulitzers and NEH fellowships, and are published in top media outlets and journals.
Student Research
From labs and classrooms on campus to field sites around the globe, Columbian College students work side-by-side with world-renowned researchers and scholars on a journey of cultural and scientific discovery.
Centers & Institutes
Columbian College is home to top research centers and institutes that explore an array of issues and ideas such as the origins of humankind, the inner workings of the brain and the growth of solar energy.
"Research has definitely broadened what I know about myself and what I want to do in the future. It's really changed my perspective on my career goals, and I'm very excited to keep going on that path now."
Sarah Schrup
BS '19
Faculty Research Conversations
The Impact of Climate Change on Coastal Ecosystems
CCAS Dean Paul Wahlbeck and Assistant Professor of Biology Keryn Gedan discusses the ways global changes in the climate have impacted Chesapeake Bay's wetlands.
CCAS Dean Paul Wahlbeck discusses with Physics Professor Alexander van der Horst his research on the multi-wavelength observations.
Research Making Headlines
When Autism Research Hits Home
Luther Rice-winning neuroscience major Mohammed Almarkhan researches autism. His findings may improve the lives of millions——including his own sister.
Study: Online Battle Lost Early in COVID Crisis
A team led by Physics’ Neil Johnson revealed mainstream Facebook communities were already intertwined with anti-science groups before COVID-19 vaccines arrived.
As more mothers are jailed for minor offenses, Sociology’s Zimife Umeh interviewed formerly incarcerated women about the trauma of institutional separation.
Large Grants Fund Innovative Research
A significant number of research grants were awarded this year to CCAS scholars from top research organizations.
Salamander Species Shed Evolutionary Light
Three new black-bellied salamanders once thought to be a single species were discovered in the southern Appalachian Mountains by a CCAS research team.
Proof of Life: How Data Impacts the Real World
As an applied statistician, Professor of Statistics Qing Pan informs public health policy and testifies in courts.