The College of Humanities recently hosted its first-ever Undergraduate Research Symposium. The symposium was organized by Louise Taylor, a double major in German Studies and Political Science and an ASU Senator, with the collaborative support of COH faculty and German Studies graduate students Laurie Clark and Harriet Olulo. According to Louise, this symposium was a great opportunity for undergraduate students to showcase their work while engaging deeply with their peers' research.
Among the featured presenters were German Studies majors Hanga Andras-Letanovszky and El Sterling, who offered distinct perspectives on the German Alpine region. Hanga presented “Gefährliche Schönheit” (Dangerous Beauty), an investigation into the leading causes of mortality in the German-speaking Alps while El Sterling’s research, “Ehrgeiz, Sicherheit und Echte Götter: Die Alpen in Frankenstein oder der Moderne Prometheus” examined the literary and cultural representation of the Alps in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.
In her closing remarks, Dr. Chantelle Warner, German Studies Professor and COH Associate Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs, commended the participants for their scholarly contributions. She emphasized that the diverse range of topics presented serves as a testament to how a humanities education expands research perspectives and critical thinking.
Congratulations to Louise Taylor for her leadership in launching this successful initiative and to El and Hanga for their exceptional presentations.