WHAT: University of Nebraska at Kearney Science Café
HOSTED BY: Sigma Xi The Scientific Research Honor Society
TITLE: “Ten Years of Research on Vehicle Conspicuity, Marking Design and Driving Distractions: The Smooth Roads and Potholes of Applied Research”
TOPIC: UNK psychology professor William Wozniak was approached a decade ago by Sherry Morrow, then-director of the Nebraska Safety Center, to participate in an investigation of Nebraska State Patrol vehicle safety. Officials wanted to reduce the likelihood of collisions with NSP cruisers by increasing their visibility to oncoming traffic. The first question was how to best use retroreflective markings for the newly established NSP standard vehicle, the Dodge Charger. Wozniak will review a series of laboratory and field studies conducted with the help of UNK colleagues Ken Trantham from the department of physics, astronomy and engineering and Rick Schuessler from the department of art and design and several student researchers.
PRESENTER: Wozniak, who joined UNK in 1978, received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame and his Master of Arts and doctorate from Miami University. He’s mentored more than 40 student papers presented at local, regional and national conferences on topics ranging from road rage, distractions and traffic safety to the restoration effect, misinformation effect and the effects of symmetry on ratings of facial attractiveness in dogs. As a generalist, his research and teaching interests have been heavily influenced by his students.
TIME: 5:30 p.m.
DATE: Monday, Sept. 16
PLACE: The Loft, Cunningham’s Journal, 15 W. 23rd St., Kearney
CONTACT: Allen Thomas, UNK associate professor of chemistry, 308.865.8490, thomasaa@unk.edu
