Photo courtesy of UMAC.
Dixie State University’s Regional Symposium for Research, Innovation, and Creativity is taking the event to a grander scale this year, moving into the old East Elementary’s Atwood Innovation Plaza and showing off food trucks, prizes and hours upon hours of research and projects presented by DSU’s very own students.
Described on the DSU website as a “forum to present cutting-edge research,” the event, will be held on April 18 from noon to 5 p.m. and is intended to show off what students have learned and incorporate “active learning” into their life, said Rico Del Sesto, director of undergraduate research. It will feature around 60 panels and presentations put together by both students and faculty alike.
Some topics the symposium will include a presentation on recently-discovered dinosaur tracks and fossils and a presentation on the history of tampani concertos. There will also be several presentations from the health science department, including one group showing how biomechanics plays a role in sports.
“It crosses all sorts of disciplines,” Del Sesto said. “It really shows the depth and application students can use to answer their questions.”
Del Sesto also said it’ll be a good way to answer the infamous question, “when will we ever use that in real life?”
“Students can expect to see what [other students] have to offer,” said Lillian White, intern for the Undergraduate Research program. “It will just be a fun experience.”
Del Sesto said they’re looking to attract more guests to the symposium this year. In such, they’re bringing in food trucks and offering vouchers to various visitors at the symposium. The food trucks featured will be the Corn Dog Truck, a taco truck and Virgin Berry.
While the symposium has previously been held in the Edward H. And Idonna E. Snow Science and Math building, but is moving to the Innovation Plaza for the coming show. Local businesses will also be holding booths to discuss potential career opportunities to students and visitors.
White says it’s a great opportunity for visitors to see how far students can take the knowledge they’ve learned through their research and how they can go more in depth with their learning.
“I hope that this gives students an introduction into some of these topics,” White said. She believes that as long as that introduction’s there, it will spark interest and cause them to further research the subjects presented.
For more information on the symposium, contact Rico Del Sesto at [email protected].