Innovative social media data center SMART Lab offers leading-edge technology
Radford University's lab presents students with unique social media research opportunities
Radford, VA (10/20/2022) — Radford University is now a proven leader in social media analytics research and development. Through an innovative approach to teaching and research, students, faculty and staff take their studies to the next level in the Social Media Analytics and Research Technology (SMART) Lab. Here, social media posts, likes and shares become crucial data to help discover trends, follow crises or collect information critical to their studies or the community.
The SMART Lab provides training and resources campus partners need to stay successful and our students need to be competitive in the workforce around this region, the commonwealth and the world. Through this cutting-edge social scientific research, students and faculty collaborate to inform and improve businesses in the New River and Roanoke Valleys. The lab boasts sophisticated technology available only to high-profile companies and universities, making it a unique experience for exemplary research. Student researchers learn how to use social media listening and management programs that are used by Fortune 500 companies.
John Brummette, Ph.D., is the director of the SMART Lab and a professor in the School of Communication. He says, "The lab provides students with access to state-of-the-art software programs that are currently being used by top companies and businesses. It also provides students with access to an innovative research hub that provides online training and resources that have been created by Radford's faculty and a comfortable learning environment in which they can conduct their research."
A representative from your organization is invited to come view the space, where researchers can pull data about current news events and breaking news items.
Visuals: SMART Lab room, a space able to take large amounts of social media data about current events and provide meaningful insight.
Interviews: Professors and students
Where: SMART Lab in Hemphill Hall
Radford University is a comprehensive public university that has received national recognition for many of its undergraduate and graduate academic programs, as well as its sustainability initiatives. Well known for its strong faculty/student bonds, innovative use of technology in the learning environment and vibrant student life on a beautiful 211-acre American classical campus, Radford University offers students many opportunities to get involved and succeed in and out of the classroom. With over 300 clubs and organizations, Radford University offers many opportunities for student engagement, leadership development and community service. In addition to robust academic offerings and engaging student experiences on the main campus located in Radford, Virginia, Radford University also offers a clinical-based educational experience for more than 1,100 students living and learning in Roanoke, Virginia as part of Radford University Carilion, a public-private partnership focused on the cutting-edge delivery of health sciences programming, outreach and service.
Media Attachments
John Brummette, Ph.D., show's students data in the SMART Lab in Hemphill Hall.
Students analyze data collected through the tools available in the SMART Lab.