The Global Neighborhood featured conversations with student researchers and faculty mentors in the final House Dinner of the year.
The Global Neighborhood Association held the final House Dinner of the academic year on April 4. In preparation for Celebrate Week later in the month, the theme of this month’s dinner was undergraduate research.
The Neighborhood hosted pairs of student researchers and faculty mentors who discussed their collaborations. Attendees represented a wide range of disciplines, including education, English, art history, psychology, biology, religion and exercise science.
The discussion questions began with basic background: what is your research about, and how did you become interested in the topic? Then conversations turned to the research process, its benefits and challenges. Finally, students and mentors discussed what they have learned and how the research contributes to the larger field of study. The Global students had the opportunity to think about possible research they might do.
Also present at the dinner were three journalists from the Pulitzer Center. Reza Sayah, Rachel Oswald and Tom Hundley are visiting Elon to deliver an April 5 lecture on international reporting, covering topics such as nuclear weapons and human rights. Their insights were a valuable addition to the discussions.
The dinner continued the successful discussion format, which is based on “The People’s Supper” model. These small dinners, hosted all over the country, bring together people from different political and ideological backgrounds to have meaningful conversations over food.
The next Global Neighborhood program will be a screening of the local documentary film, “Waiting in the Minefield.” The film is directed by Elon professor Sana Haq and features a Syrian refugee now living in Greensboro.
More information, including a trailer, can be found on E-net. The screening will be held Tuesday, April 17 at 7 p.m. in Global Commons 103.