The Multicultural Undergraduate Research Art and Leadership Symposium, or “MURALS,” is scheduled for March 29 this year, and organizers are asking faculty and staff to not only attend the event but encourage students to submit abstracts before the March 8 deadline. At this event, undergraduate students at Colorado State will showcase their academic and creative work across a variety of disciplines, as well as participate in academic workshops to advance their leadership and networking opportunities.
“MURALS is a showcase of passion, talent, and knowledge, displayed through posters and oral presentations across a variety of disciplines, as a result of opportunity, mentoring, networking and investment in students,” says Bridgette Johnson, director of the Black/African American Cultural Center.
In past years, students have given presentations on the role of dance in social justice, food insecurity on campus, intergenerational trauma in education, and musical compositions.
MURALS intentionally seeks to highlight the achievements of undergraduate students of color who have achieved outstanding work in five main areas: creative writing; visual and performing arts; science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; the social sciences; and the humanities. Alongside presenting their work, participants will experience mentoring from both graduate students and faculty members, who will provide feedback on presentations and judging for various poster awards.
Student highlights
MURALS will allow undergraduates of color to explore research experience in an environment where their identities are valued within their respective fields. As students perform and present, they develop their communication skills, understanding of research, and networking abilities alongside celebrating the work they have already achieved.
MURALS participants will be able to:
• Increase their interaction and collaboration with students from diverse populations
• Communicate confidently and constructively about their research/scholarly work with their peers, faculty and staff
• Independently synthesize and extrapolate information pertaining to their own research/scholarly work, including lessons learned, strengths and ways to improve
• Articulate significance of independent research interests as it pertains to their field, community, nation and/or world.
• Increase professional interaction through interpersonal skills with peers, faculty and staff
• Understand the fundamental characteristics needed to become a successful multicultural leader
Event schedule: March 29
9 – 10:15 a.m. Registration and poster set-up
10:30 – 11:45 a.m. Workshops (third-floor meeting rooms in the LSC – open to MURALS and non-MURALS participants)
Noon Welcome luncheon (LSC Main Ballroom)
1:15 – 2:15 p.m MURALS concurrent presentations I (Third-floor LSC meeting rooms)
2:30 – 3:30 p.m. MURALS concurrent presentations II (Third-floor LSC meeting rooms)
3:45 – 4:45 p.m. Poster gallery (LSC Main Ballroom)
5 – 5:30 p.m. Awards ceremony (LSC Main Ballroom)
