The Mississippi Emerging Research Institution Council (MERIC) recently participated in the 90th Annual Meeting of the Mississippi Academy of Sciences (MAS), held in Biloxi, Mississippi. The conference brought together researchers, faculty, and students from across the state to share knowledge and foster scientific collaboration.
As part of the presence at the meeting, MERIC hosted a booth to engage with attendees and highlight its mission to support and advance research at Mississippi’s emerging research institutions. The booth provided an opportunity to connect with faculty, students, and institutional leaders, and to share resources and initiatives aimed at strengthening research capacity across the state.
MERIC also organized a named symposium featuring six faculty speakers from emerging research institutions across Mississippi. The symposium showcased a range of innovative research efforts and underscored the depth of scholarly activity taking place at these institutions. Attendance was strong, and the discussions reflected growing interest in expanding collaboration and visibility for research conducted at ERIs.
In addition, MERIC used both the booth and symposium as platforms to announce an upcoming statewide conference to be held on September 12 at Millsaps College. Sponsored by the Mississippi Research Alliance (MRA), this one-day event will be free and open to faculty, undergraduate and graduate students, and scientists across Mississippi. The conference aims to strengthen networking opportunities and foster new research collaborations across institutions and disciplines.
MERIC extends its sincere appreciation to the Mississippi Academy of Sciences for its generous support of MERIC’s participation in this year’s meeting, including waiving both the booth and symposium fees. This support helped facilitate meaningful engagement and contributed to the success of MERIC’s activities at the conference.
Through its participation in events like the MAS annual meeting, MERIC continues to advance its mission of fostering collaboration, empowering researchers, and promoting impactful scholarship across Mississippi’s emerging research institutions.
