The deadline for submitting projects for this year’s Celebration of Creative Inquiry is Friday, March 19th. The Celebration itself will be held April 30th, 5 – 7 pm.
Rainy days mean it is time for spring, and spring means it is time for the Celebration of Creative Inquiry!
The Celebration is a showcase of student research, scholarship, and creative work that draws presenters and attendees from disciplines across campus. Well over 100 students each year have submitted projects and presented at the Celebration, and many more students, staff, faculty, administrators, families, and alumni attend. The students who participate tell me that it is surprisingly fun and rewarding to present their research to this diverse crowd.
For more information and for the online submission form, visit http://gustavus.edu/kendallcenter/undergraduate-research/creative-inquiry.php
photo via Creative Commons by folkeb
Some frequently asked questions about the Celebration:
What is the format of the Celebration? What we ask you to do for this event is to bring a visual display representing your work, and for you to stand near it and chat with passers-by about what you have done.
Do I have to give a “poster”? Well, yes and no. You are expected to follow the basic format of standing near a visual display and talking to individuals or small groups of people (as opposed to giving a PowerPoint presentation). That said, we welcome and encourage creative thinking about what your display might be, as long as it is respectful of the other presenters near you (so don’t bring a 40-piece brass band or a swarm of angry bees). Past students have brought monitors to show video art projects, or pieces of scenery from a theatre set design project, for example. That said, most students will have a fairly traditional poster. (see the FAQ for more information about exactly what a poster is)
What kind of project can I present? “Research, scholarship, and creative work” can be a little hard to explain in a way that covers traditions in all disciplines. If you are considering presenting a project and are not sure if it is appropriate, your best bet is to ask this question of your faculty sponsor (the faculty member who worked with you on this project or one who works in an area of scholarship related to your project). Still, we have attempted to define creative inquiry as follows:
- asking a question that has not been asked before.
- attempting to fill a gap in knowledge, or to create new knowledge, information, art, or expression.
- a process or product that requires the student to add ideas or imagination of their own.
- a project that is shaped by choices the student made independently.
- critical reflection.