Strike-A-Spark Conference to highlight poster presentations, live performances, visual artwork and more.
Hard work on research, scholarship and creativity is about to be revealed.
The University community and public are encouraged to attend the fourth annual Strike-A-Spark Conference, set for 9 a.m.-4 p.m. April 25 in the Convocation Center.
The event — which showcases work from faculty and students — is presented by the Center for Undergraduate Research and the Faculty Professional Development Center. It will feature live performances, visual artwork, ceramics, costume design, oral presentations in a variety of disciplines, and more than a hundred poster presentations.
"Cal U is again pleased to put on this conference, and those who have attended Strike a Spark in the past can attest to the positive energy of the event," said Dr. Gregg Gould, director of the Center for Undergraduate Research.
Students who participate in regional and national conferences are very marketable upon graduation, Gould said. Strike-a-Spark is step one.
"Participation in a local campus event like Strike-a-Spark provides these students with a natural entry point into RSCA (research, scholarship and creative activity), which can carry them to those regional and national conferences as they move into their junior and senior years."
"Faculty members recognize the value of student RSCA projects because they engage students more deeply in disciplinary content," Gould said.
Dr. Stephanie Wallach, assistant vice provost for Undergraduate Education at Carnegie Mellon University, will deliver the conference's keynote address, "Connecting the Dots: Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry," at 11 a.m. April 25 in the south conference wing of the Convocation Center.
Wallach oversees CMU's Undergraduate Research Office, which funds student research throughout the calendar year. It also organizes the undergraduate research symposium "Meeting of the Minds," which draws more than 600 students from all disciplines.
Immediately following the keynote address, the winners of the Serene Leadership Institute Essay Contest will be announced. This year's essays by Cal U students provide a critical reflection of the influence of gender in leadership.
A student performance by the Department of Music and Theatre on this subject will conclude the morning session.
Oral and poster presentations will continue following a lunch break. At 3 p.m., additional live performances will take place in the south wing, along with closing remarks from Gould and Wallach.
Student presentations may consist of individual or class projects, capstone experiences, or senior/graduate theses. A panel of judges will evaluate the students' presentations, and prizes will be awarded for outstanding work.
Faculty presentations may focus on innovations in their scholarship presented for a broader audience, or they may spotlight pedagogical and/or educational innovations, including the application of high-impact practices in teaching and learning.
Dr. Bruce Barnhart, provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs, believes the conference serves many purposes.
"It's really important that we recognize and celebrate the wonderful teaching and learning that takes place here every day," he said. "Undergraduate research is considered a high-impact practice, which has a very positive effect on retention and on student achievement.
"This conference also gives students even more one-to-one interaction with expert faculty in their field. You just can't duplicate that."
To learn about this year's conference and the featured speaker, visit calu.edu/strikeaspark. Questions about the conference can be directed to Dr. Gregg Gould at gould@calu.edu or Dr. Louise Nicholson at nicholson@calu.edu.