Research and Creative Arts Symposium returns in-person
For the first time since 2019, Park University’s annual Research and Creative Arts Symposium returned to the university’s underground with in-person displays of posters and art as well as oral presentations.
This year’s symposium, taking place on April 18 and April 19, featured academic work from 85 students, according to the symposium’s program.
Patty Ryberg, PhD, symposium director and associate professor of biology, described the symposium as “a place where students can showcase the work that they have done while here at Park University. It doesn’t matter what discipline they are in. If they have something they would like to present, they are welcome to present it.”
A major part of the symposium includes the display of fine art, which was displayed along Park Avenue on both days along with other posters. Being able to view work in-person was important for viewers to fully observe all the details.
“It's nice to see students and what they’re actually doing because when you see pictures, it’s not the same as actually seeing the actual presentations,” Ryberg said. “It’s really nice to have it back live and in person.”
Also displayed along Park Avenue were posters from students. Senior mathematics major Caleb Fernelius displayed his poster for research he conducted alongside associate mathematics professor Samuel Chamberlin, PhD.
“The work we’ve done has been published in an academic journal,” Fernelius said. “That was kind of the purpose. To be published and to help me in my grad school applications.”
Fernelius used the symposium as an opportunity for the Park community to see his work, which was formally published in the PUMP Journal of Undergraduate Research.
The rest of Park Avenue was mostly filled with displays from the fine arts department, showing everything from paintings and photography to ceramics and sculptures.
Senior fine arts major Rushine Raymond was also among those that displayed work along Park Avenue. Prior to the senior show in May, Raymond used the symposium for the first time to publicly display a collection of his art that included paintings, ceramics, photography and paper mache.
“It’s a great way to bring awareness to the art department,” Raymond said. “To show that we are here too. The art department doesn’t have a lot of funding. It doesn’t get all the seeing, all the sighting, all the spectation. I feel like contributing will bring some more into that.”
The other half of the symposium included oral presentations. The oral presentations took place in the Watson Literacy Classroom, located adjacent to Park Avenue in the university’s underground. Joining the honors academy in participating in the oral presentations were five other disciplines.
Ryberg and Greg Plumb, professor of criminal justice, believe the experience of preparing and presenting at the symposium is an opportunity for students to gain experience doing something that can make them stand apart from the rest when applying for jobs. Plumb shared that the oral presentations are also recorded, allowing them to have a record of their presentation that they can use for job interviews.
Plumb has had students present their work in the symposium since its beginning 17 years ago. For the past three years, it has been a requirement for the senior project of criminal justice majors.
“We found a couple of years ago, when they were doing presentations to a large group, that they were a little more focused,” Plumb said. “Not just focused on the writing, but speaking about it.”
Plumb also said that presenting at the symposium is also easier because the audience isn’t too big.
“Because this is a small enough gathering and the people here are the people they know, it's much more relaxing than a big room full of strangers,” Plumb said.
When the symposium was remote for two years, it was easier for families to see the presentations. There was a student in 2021 that had members of his immediate and distant family from across the country tune in to see his presentation on Zoom.
Overall, Ryberg was happy that the symposium was able to be returned to an in-person format for 2022.
“It’s got its issues, but it’s going pretty good. I’ve heard good reports from lots of people. Hiccups with everything, but that’s just how it is.”
