President Ron K. Patterson

Welcome to the 2026 Annual Meeting of the Kentucky Academy of Science (KAS) — we are pleased to host you on the Murray State University (MSU) campus. We welcome all scientists, educators, students, and community partners from across the Commonwealth who will gather here at MSU for the KAS Annual Meeting.

As one of Kentucky’s regional comprehensive universities, Murray State University and our Racer community are excited to be part of your work to advance science initiatives and education in the Commonwealth. Murray State is an academic institution where science thrives and interdisciplinary collaboration is core to our values and successes. Science is represented in multiple colleges on campus, including the Jesse D. Jones College of Science, Engineering and Technology; the College of Humanities and Fine Arts; the Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business; the College of Nursing and Health Sciences; and the Hutson College of Agriculture. Murray State will also be the first university in Kentucky to operate a College of Veterinary Medicine. We are especially excited about this opportunity and are already looking forward to enrolling students in Fall 2029.

During your visit to the Murray State University campus, you will experience the full spectrum of scientific disciplines. Please take advantage of every opportunity to engage with our faculty, staff, and students by asking questions and sharing insights. We hope you will form new connections that will strengthen your STEM work, as well as the scientific community throughout Kentucky, and that this meeting inspires you to continue pursuing your scientific interests. We will have open lab tours on Friday afternoon that we hope you choose to take advantage of, followed by a special after-dark evening experience at Hancock Biological Station, dependent on the weather.

We also offer heartfelt appreciation to our sponsors, volunteers, and program organizers. Your dedication reflects well on Murray State University’s commitment to be a great place to learn, discover, connect, and work — values that guide our mission and strengthen our shared commitment to advancing science for the public good.

On behalf of Murray State University and the Kentucky Academy of Science, welcome to Murray, Kentucky. Today represents an opportunity to celebrate the sciences, and we hope you all have a very enjoyable and productive meeting and are able to tour our beautiful campus while in Murray.

Annual Meeting Links 

The Kentucky Academy of Science Annual Meeting is an interdisciplinary professional environment that cultivates scientific discovery and understanding. Thank you for contributing to our advancement of science by behaving professionally, respectfully and collegially at all times.