On Tuesday, January 21st I attended the French and Italian Research Symposium that took place in Independence Hall. The symposium can fulfill the professional development requirement. The symposium gave opportunities to network with faculty, graduate students, undergraduate students, and learn about some of the research that has been conducted through the French and Italian department.
The event was impactful in several ways. Learning about the research was extremely insightful. It showed that there are many ways to participate in research and that not all research must be STEM based. Also, it showed that research can be conducted abroad!
On an international affairs level, the research symposium focussed on projects abroad. They discussed different research projects that are going on in France and Italy. Overall, the symposium had a very international focus.
Lastly, attending the research symposium also helped me feel better prepared for my future. The event gave many opportunities for professional development. Some of the faculty and graduate students discussed different ways to participate in research. They gave several ideas on how to get started with research. They listed several methods on how to formulate a plan to conduct research, how to get in contact with faculty who can support your research, etc. The French and Italian department planned an amazing event!