Waynesburg professors receive award
WAYNESBURG – Waynesburg University educators Marietta Wright, assistant professor of biology, and Dr. Elizabeth Wang, associate professor of computer science, received the Best Paper Award at the 28th International Conference on Computers and Their Applications.
The women collaborated on a paper titled, “A Genetics Statistical Software Tool on Mendelian and X-linked Inheritance,” and received the award at the CATA 2013 conference in Honolulu, Hawaii from March 4-6.
CATA 2013 is one of the major conferences under the International Society for Computers and their Applications. As a tradition, the ISCA recognizes one best paper at each conference.
The best paper was chosen from more than 60 papers presented, which came from research universities and institutes all over the world. The women were humbled and excited to hear their names called at the conference. “Marietta and I were both astonished when our names were announced for the best paper award,” Wang said. “It is a great honor to receive this award as the representatives of Waynesburg University.”
According to Barbara Kirby, the director of Waynesburg University’s Center for Research and Economic Development, the Genetics Software Tool was initially developed with a small grant from the Center for Research and Economic Development and could go on to impact classrooms beyond Waynesburg University.
“Elizabeth and Marietta have continued to refine the tool, develop documentation, user guides and test its effectiveness in the classroom,” Kirby said. “It has helped many students understand genetics and continues to get used semester after semester.”