Ohio State Newark Assistant Professor Named Ohio State Community Engaged Scholar
From sharing the grandeur of our universe with the public at the SciDome Planetarium to exploring black holes with middle schoolers and discussing the possibility of extraterrestrial life with adult learners, Michael Stamatikos, PhD, has a passion for sharing his love of science.
That passion was recognized as Stamatikos was named a 2021 Community Engaged Scholar at The Ohio State University. He is one of only six Ohio State faculty members to receive the award this year.
The Community Engaged Scholar Award annually recognizes faculty members who have demonstrated engaged scholarship that has impacted communities and made a significant contribution to Ohio State's culture of engagement, further establishing and strengthening the institution's commitment to supporting communities.
"I congratulate Mike on the tremendous breadth of his work within the greater community and on receiving this award. His impact is immeasurable. He brings science to many who would otherwise not have the opportunity, and his passion and approachability bring science to life in a way that engages every audience," said Ohio State Newark Dean and Director William L. MacDonald, PhD.
In June 2018, Stamatikos spear-headed the opening of the SciDome, a $2.1 million, multi-sensory, immersive 4K digital theater environment affording an interdisciplinary and comprehensive STEM experience at The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art & Technology in downtown Newark. The Newark Advocate ranked the SciDome's opening among the top 10 stories of 2017. Explore Licking County gave the SciDome the Collaboration of the Year IMPACT award in 2017 for the unique public-private partnership between Ohio State Newark and The Works, which services 165 schools in 16 counties and annually accrues ~60,000/~10,000 visitors/students. This long-standing partnership has enabled special events, such as the Solar Eclipse Viewing Party (2017) and the 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11's lunar landing (2019), that expand community engagement in local under-served rural communities and underrepresented Appalachian populations.
