FARMINGTON — The University of Maine at Farmington will present a day-long showcase of student research and creative achievements with its annual Michael D. Wilson Symposium, beginning at 9 a.m. and running into the evening, Wednesday, April 30.
The university-wide exposition is free and open to the public at venues throughout campus and features academic and artistic student innovation over the course of the academic year.
“This beloved UMF tradition is the product of hard work, material support, inventiveness and deep commitment,” said Kathryn A. Foster, UMF president. “It revitalizes the campus each spring with new opportunities for debate, social interaction and a reinvigorated exchange of ideas.”
During the academic year, students focus on the process of project creation and development and in-depth academic research of their work, which is then exhibited at symposium in the form of papers, oral and poster presentations, original student readings, art gallery exhibits and performances.
First held in 1999, the UMF Symposium provides students with the chance to share their original work with peers, faculty, staff and members of the community.
Some of this year’s original student projects that will be presented include:
The impact of climate change on Maine’s guiding industry; a trailer from “The Farm,” a web pilot series created and filmed at UMF; how can the state help students apply for college?; the effects of the anticancer drug Laromustine on human leukemia cells; solving the church attendance problem; and eating locally on a student budget.
Rob Lively, retiring associate provost and dean of academic services, will present this year’s featured “Last Lecture” at 7 p.m. in North Dining Hall C.
In his 37 years at UMF, Lively has held a variety of academic and administrative positions. He will give his reflections on his time at UMF with “Lessons Learned, and Lessons Not Learned: Why Can’t I Seem to Hold a Job?.”
A full schedule of the symposium can be found at https://publicwebs.umf.maine.edu/facstaff/pauls/.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
