GCC Student Symposium

Thursday, May 9, 3-5 p.m.
The application to participate will open in April.

The GCC Student Symposium celebrates outstanding achievements in research, professional development, and creative expression. Participants showcase capstone projects from participating courses, as well as independent projects undertaken in any GCC class, internship, or clinical/off-site placement. We welcome a diverse array of creative projects, including writing, studio arts, musical performance, and drama, contributing to a vibrant showcase of student talent.

How can students participate?

All GCC students are invited to participate in the symposium. Individual and group projects are welcome. Students must submit a short application form (available in April) and prepare a poster, digital project, oral presentation, or creative work which they will share the day of the symposium. Applications are due by 11:59 PM, Thursday, May 2.  

Students participate in one of 4 ways:

    • Poster session: Students prepare a digital, printed, or tabletop poster of their own design. Posters are displayed in a grouping during a designated period of time, and student participants interact with symposium attendees, sharing their projects and answering questions. NOTE: If you choose to present a printed poster, a PDF of your poster must be submitted by 9 AM on Monday, May 6 so it can be printed.
    • Digital Projects: Students present projects that utilize digital technology for both creation and dissemination. This includes, but is not limited to, audio podcasts, videos, and webpages. Projects will be showcased on a dedicated symposium webpage ahead of the event, and listening/viewing stations will be available during the symposium. Students will be stationed or seated near these stations, ready to interact with symposium attendees.
    • Oral presentation: Students give an oral presentation, with or without visual accompaniment. The presentation is followed by questions from the audience.
    • Creative showcase: Students present their creative work through performance, a tabletop or gallery-style display, or whatever means is most appropriate to share their work during a designated period of time. Student participants interact with symposium attendees, sharing their projects and answering questions. Details will be worked out between the student and symposium organizers ahead of the event.

Project Title and Abstract, Artist Statement, or Summary

Participants are asked to provide a project title and abstract, summary, or artist statement as part of the application process. These items will be included in the symposium program. We encourage you to work with your faculty sponsor, site supervisor, or a librarian on your title and abstract, artist statement, or summary prior to submitting your application.

Title: Your title should be brief and to the point, providing a clear indication of the topic or focus of your project.

Abstract: A clear and concise 200-250 word description of your project. It should be free of spelling and grammar errors. An abstract communicates to the reader the essential elements of your project and may include:

  • Statement of purpose: What are you aiming to discover, prove, or explore through your research or creative endeavor?
  • Methodology: Explain the methodology or creative process behind your project. How did you go about your research or creative work? Did it involve creating artworks, conducting interviews, employing standard experimental techniques, or gathering and analyzing data or sources?
  • Results: What were the outcomes of your project? Whether it was the production of art, literature, multimedia works, or the execution of surveys and experiments leading to data collection, share the outcomes. If your project is ongoing and results are not yet available, indicate the expected outcomes based on your research direction.
  • Summary and significance: Provide a brief overview of your project and its importance. How does your work contribute to your field of study and potentially impact broader areas? Discuss the potential influence of your project and whether it opens up new questions or paths for further investigation.

Artist statement: Clearly describe what creative work(s) will be shared. Include the name of your creative work, date of creation, and medium if applicable. Address the following in 200-250 words:

  • an explanation of what motivated or inspired you
  • what you want the audience to see, experience and/or feel when they view your work
  • any interesting aspects of the materials or techniques used
  • any other information that will help the audience interpret and appreciate the work you are exhibiting or performing

Summary for internships or clinical/off-site placements: A 200-250 word description of your experience, including location, timeframe, what was done, contributions, and 1-2 key learning points.

General Poster Details

Digital/E-Posters, printed, or tabletop posters are all acceptable formats for the Symposium poster session.

  • Digital/e-posters: Should be designed in PowerPoint or Google Slides and can consist of a single slide or up to a maximum of 5 slides. You will present your digital poster on a TV monitor.
  • Printed posters: We recommend using the standard 36″H by 48″W format for your poster but can potentially accommodate other sizes. The library will cover the cost of printing your poster.
  • Tabletop posters: These are traditional tri-fold posters. You will need to cover the cost of supplies if you choose to present in this format.

Resources for standard research posters:

Contact librarian Young-In Kim () if you need additional help preparing your poster.

Internship Poster Details

Student interns can either share a traditional research poster (if their internship included a research component), or a poster that focuses on the internship experience (as outlined below).

The purpose of an internship poster is to summarize the internship experience for an audience that might not be familiar with the field. Your poster should include the following content sections.

  1. Title: Craft a title that succinctly highlights the key aspects of your internship experience, using language accessible to all viewers.
  2. Introduction: Provide your name, company/organization name, internship location, position, and dates. Additionally, detail how you secured the internship.
  3. Abstract: Provide a concise summary of what was done and learned in the internship and the course.
  4. Learning Objectives: Outline 2 to 5 learning objectives you planned to achieve during your internship.
  5. Professional Development: Explain what inspired your pursuit of this internship, particularly in terms of its potential impact on your professional development and alignment with your career goals.
  6. Description of Key Responsibilities: Summarize the primary tasks, activities, and projects completed throughout the internship.
  7. Application of GCC Courses: Explain how your coursework contributed to your internship experience, linking relevant courses, theories, and concepts to their practical applications.
  8. Lessons Learned: Reflect on insights gained about the industry, company/organization, career trajectory, and personal growth throughout your internship experience.
  9. Acknowledgements: Recognize individuals who supported you, including the internship site supervisor, course instructor, mentors, and funding sources. Provide their full titles.
Contact librarian Young-In Kim () if you need additional help preparing your poster.

Previous Symposia

The 2023 GCC Student Symposium took place on Friday, May 12th, from 12-2 pm.

2023 GCC Student Symposium Program

The 2022 GCC Student Symposium took place on Friday, May 6th, from 12-2 pm.

2022 GCC Student Symposium Program

The 2019 Research Symposium took place Friday, May 3rd, from 12 to 2 pm.

2019 GCC Research Symposium Program

Symposium Photos

 

Photo of a student standing in front of their research poster.Photo of students presenting a research poster at the GCC Student Symposium.

 

 

 

 

 

A symposium attendee seated in front of a podcast listening station. A group photo of history student podcasters and professor Alyssa Arnell.History student podcasters in conversation with a symposium attendee. History student podcasters seated at a table, speaking with a symposium attendee.A student presenting their research poster to symposium attendees. A symposium presenter standing with his father. A student standing next to their research poster. An early childhood education student sharing their project, a collage on a mannequin, with a symposium attendee. A student sharing their research poster with a symposium attendee. A student explaining the contents of their tri-fold research poster with symposium attendees.A student standing next to their research poster. A group photo of Trish Basford and her Organic chemistry cohort.

 

 

 

Questions? Contact librarian Young-In Kim, , or call 413-775-1831.