College of Arts and Sciences to host two symposiums

Riverside, Calif. (March 17, 2023) – The College of Arts and Sciences will hold two symposiums. Here is the synopsis for each one:

Arts and Letters Symposium

8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. March 18, Innovators Auditorium

About 50 students will make presentations on their short fiction, papers, PR campaigns and capstone projects.

Keynote speaker: Jennifer O'Farrell, chief external affairs officer for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County and the Inland Empire, will present “Hope: A Verb for a Way of Life.”

Dr. Laura Veltman, associate dean of the Division Arts and Letters: “The overall goal of the symposium is to give students the opportunity to present their scholarly and creative work in public. We want them to gain confidence as presenters while also gaining practice as communicators who can present complex ideas in accessible ways to an audience primarily composed of non-specialists. There are a lot of really cool things happening in our classes in the Division of Arts and Letters, and we are excited to share the students’ work with a broader audience outside the classroom.”

Natural and Mathematical Research Symposium

8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. March 25, Innovators Auditorium

About 100 students will make poster or oral presentations on their research.

Keynote speaker: Dr. S. Joshua Swamidass, professor at Washington University in St. Louis and recently elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, will present “Understanding the Surprising Science of Ancestry.”

Dr. Tom Ferko, associate dean of the Division of Natural and Mathematical Sciences: “The NMS Research Symposium is the paramount research-related event each year in the Division of Natural and Mathematical Sciences. This symposium is modeled on a professional conference where students will hear from a prominent keynote speaker while also being given an opportunity to present on research they have done or interact and learn from other students who have done original research. We encourage all of our majors, from beginning freshmen to graduating seniors, to attend because of the value that engaging in research provides for their education and professional development.”