UNCG’s first Languages, Literatures, and Cultures Undergraduate Research Expo was held on Monday.
The expo brought together students in four LLC courses – Global Crossings: Images, Media, and Texts; Immigration Stories; Globalization and Diversity: Cultural Expressions; and The Best of German Literature – to share papers, posters, and videos on diverse topics.
The expo, funded by the Mellon Fund’s Transforming Humanities project, was an opportunity for undergraduate students to engage in research with real-world impact. The research covered diverse topics including accessibility in education, human trafficking, child labor, and workplace discrimination. Through the process of preparing for the expo, students were introduced to contemporary issues and how to employ academic research as a tool to create practical solutions.
“This is an opportunity for students to put to use what they’re learning in particular areas through the research they’re conducting,” said Head of LLC Dr. Roberto Campo.
As research is typically associated with graduate students, the undergraduate expo is an opportunity to demystify the research process for students who traditionally may not be able to engage in research, he explained. We all do research every day, Campo noted, and what the expo teaches is how to apply this to the conditions of life that the classes and students are concerned with. “It’s a uniquely valuable experience.”
Plans are already being set for next semester’s expo, which will have a larger focus on LLC’s language classes, including French, Spanish, Russian, and Spanish Linguistics. It will be another great opportunity for undergraduate engagement.
Story and photography by Avery Campbell
