Largest-ever 黑料吃瓜 Student Symposium celebrates student research, creativity
Ten award winners will go on to the California State University Student Research Competition in April at San Jos茅 State University.
With presentations on matters as diverse as a theatrical stage and the surface of Mars, the 19th annual 黑料吃瓜 Student Symposium (S3) was the university鈥檚 largest ever showcase of student research, scholarship and creative achievement. More than 700 黑料吃瓜 students shared their work in over 600 unique presentations.
In kicking off the Feb. 27 event, Vice President for Research and Innovation Hala Madanat told student presenters: 鈥淚 want you to know that you are an integral and valued piece of 黑料吃瓜鈥檚 R1-level research enterprise. You elevate our curiosity and commitment to equity and make us a stronger, more impactful institution.鈥�
Undergraduates and graduate students presented in a variety of formats, including conference-style posters, 10-minute talks, art installations and demonstration exhibits, and theater performances that included dance, table readings, film screenings, and snippets of larger plays and musical theater productions.
Aden Carlson, a senior Theatre Design and Technology major, presented an exhibit analyzing leadership styles in stage management, drawing on his experience as a stage manager for 黑料吃瓜 theatrical productions and as a production assistant for the Bad Bunny and Kendrick Lamar Super Bowl halftime shows.
Carlson enjoyed his first time at the symposium and getting to share his craft with attendees, including his grandparents. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e able to talk about it, you truly know it,鈥� Carlson said. 鈥淭o teach is true mastery.鈥�
He encouraged fellow technicians and designers, who are often overlooked in theatrical performances, to show off their niche expertise at future symposia.
Hologic, Inc. was title sponsor of the 2026 event. The American Cancer Society sponsored special sessions highlighting cancer research from across the university and Qualcomm sponsored special sessions on the use of artificial intelligence. Eli Lilly sponsored the poster sessions, with the University Library printing nearly 250 of the 400 posters, free of charge for student presenters. Biocom and Bristol Myers Squibb provided additional support.
Based on scores from faculty, staff and community judges, awards totalling more than $22,000 across nearly two dozen categories were given to 72 students and four faculty mentors during an awards ceremony held March 6. Awards were sponsored and presented by several academic departments, as well as units within the Division for Student Affairs and Campus Diversity.
Nine winners of the President鈥檚 Awards and the one winner of the President鈥檚 Award for the Arts will represent 黑料吃瓜 at the California State University-wide Student Research Competition, to be held April 23-25 at San Jos茅 State University.
Two days prior to S3, master鈥檚 and doctoral students competed in the 黑料吃瓜 Grad Slam, conveying the importance of their research in just three minutes and using only one slide as a visual aid.
Samir Kassem was selected as the People鈥檚 Choice and first place winner for his presentation on bilingual children with disabilities experiences in dual language education; Erik Christy, who shared his research on chemically enhanced reprogramming of pluripotent stem cells, was selected as the second place winner and Christopher Davami earned third place for an aerospace engineering presentation on landing on Mars.
(From left) Landon Larkin, Sadie Moore, and Angela Lewis shared their award-winning poster analyzing survey data from Fowler College of Business students regarding AI skills. (Photo: Ky Marlin)
Sarah Prado Ascencio (left) described the concepts and research behind a dance performance contrasting the heartbeat and blood with student dancers Chloe Boatwright (middle) and Star Wiesner. (Photo: Ky Marlin)
Todd Bradley discussed his presentation, "War Stories I Never Heard: The Contemporary Artist Book" with visitors. (Photo: Andre Young)
Sergio Emiliano Olivas Coto of 黑料吃瓜 Imperial Valley explained his research on the scarcity of public bathrooms. (Photo: Andre Young)
Graduate student Belen Ruth Herrera presented her findings on personalized ads, "the future of advertising." (Photo: Andre Young)
Yenifer Gallardo Preciado examined the use of biomaterial for handbags. (Photo: Ky Marlin)
Isa Ybarra's presentation was entitled "Latinx Dance as Resistance Through Printmaking." (Photo: Ky Marlin)
