More than 500 students will show off their research, scholarship and creative pursuits Friday, May 9, as part of the 35th annual Steinmetz Symposium.
Beginning at 8:30 a.m., the all-day event features a diverse lineup of oral presentations, poster sessions and exhibits highlighting student research as well as dance and musical performances, an art exhibit and other activities.
Hands-on, faculty-mentored undergraduate research is a staple of the Union experience. Classes are canceled to allow families, faculty, staff and students to support projects from every discipline.
“The Steinmetz Symposium is a tradition that showcases the outstanding art, scholarship and research that students have done over the past year in collaboration with their faculty mentors across all disciplines,” said Matt Anderson, director of undergraduate research and associate professor of computer science.
As part of this year’s event, the Templeton Institute will host “The Powers of Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Research.” It will take place 11:30 a.m. in Olin 115 Auditorium.
New this year is the “Chamber Music Showcase” featuring live pieces or digital recordings performed by students. Directed by resident ethnomusicologist and department chair Jennifer Milioto Matsue, the event is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Emerson Auditorium in the Taylor Music Center.
One of Union’s most enduring traditions – the Lothridge Festival of Dance – once again will take place in the Nott Memorial. Eighty-nine students will perform 14 works in an array of styles in an hour-long show that begins at 4 p.m. Doors open at 3:30 p.m., with attendance first come, first served. Seating is limited.
Choreography includes original pieces by seniors Sage Stinson, Anabel Sollinger, Grace Newcombe and Jolita Brettler, all dance minors, alongside faculty works by Hettie Barnhill and Laurie Zabele Cawley. Seven campus dance clubs and teams are represented: Bhangra, Dance Team, JAIVE Afrovibes, hip hop, K-pop, Latine and tap.
Also, the Steinmetz Symposium Student Art Exhibition in the Crowell and West Galleries in the Feigenbaum Center for Visual Arts features some 250 works by more than 80 students, making it the largest, most diverse Steinmetz exhibition to date.
Mediums include digital art, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture. Subject matter ranges from family, romantic and other relationships to body imagery.
The day wraps up with the spring concert featuring the Union College Schola Cantorum, Union College Choir and Union College and Community Orchestra from 7 to 9 p.m. in Memorial Chapel.
On Saturday, a concert featuring the Union College Jazz Ensemble, led by Professor Tim Olsen, takes place at 11 a.m. in Emerson Auditorium in the Taylor Music Center.
For a complete schedule, including a list of presentations, visit the Steinmetz website.
The Steinmetz Symposium is named for Charles Proteus Steinmetz (1865-1923), who taught electrical engineering and applied physics at Union. Also a chief consulting engineer for the General Electric Company, he was widely regarded as America’s leading electrical engineer.
The first symposium was established in part by Margaret Schadler, associate dean for undergraduate programs, in April 1991. Sadler died earlier this month. She was 93.
The symposium coincides with Prize Day, which begins at 1 p.m. Saturday in Memorial Chapel. Students are honored for achievement in academics and leadership.
Among the top awards given are the Josephine Daggett Prize to the senior for conduct and character and the Frank Bailey (1885) Prize to the senior who has rendered the greatest service to the College in any field.