JMU Research to be Featured at Oxford Round Table

From: Public Affairs

Innovative Mathematical Approach Employed to Study Global Migration Trends

HARRISONBURG — An innovative approach to studying global migration patterns developed at James Madison University will be presented this week at the Oxford Round Table, "Global Migration: Benefits and Detriments," at the Harris Manchester College in the University of Oxford, England.

The collaborative project highlights the work of JMU faculty researchers in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and the Institute for Infrastructure and Information Assurance.

Dr. John B. Noftsinger Jr., institute executive director and associate vice president for academic affairs; Kenneth F. Newbold Jr., director of research development for the institute; and Benjamin T. Delp, institute graduate fellow, partnered with Dr. Lincoln Gray, professor of communication sciences and disorders, to study trends and policy issues within immigration.

As a result of their research, their paper, "Innovative Approach to Migration Modeling: Applying Functional Mapping," will be presented to the distinguished group of experts at Oxford. The research focuses on the use of a mathematical modeling technique known as functional mapping to examine trends in global migration. From the results generated through the mathematical analysis and the use of a Web-based tool, a visual representation of the data is produced that provides a graphical interface for users to examine migration patterns. Functional mapping has also been applied to study the path of stock markets, cancers and globalization.

Noftsinger will represent the research team and will be one of about 40 scholars chosen from a global pool to attend the Oxford Round Table. This research is one of only 15 projects selected for presentation and publication in the "Forum on Public Policy," a journal of the Oxford Round Table.

The Oxford Round Table was founded in 1989 as a colloquium for small groups of governmental and business leaders to engage in discussions of contemporary public policy that affect nations and states worldwide. Alumni of the Round Table include government ministers, legislators, corporate business leaders, university presidents, professors, lawyers, physicians and other professionals.

Media Contact: Eric Gorton at 540-568-3674 or gortonej@jmu.edu.

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