Fitchburg State University this year joined the College Fed Challenge, a national competition wherein teams of undergraduate students from across the country analyze economic and financial conditions and develop monetary policy recommendations. Their proposals are then offered in formal presentations to teams of judges.

The Center for Italian Culture's Nuovo Mondo series continues with the Dr. Joseph Luzzi Residency Keynote Address: "My Two Italies: A Personal and Cultural History." Dr. Luzzi, the Asher B. Edelman Professor of Literature at Bard College, is the child of Italian immigrants and an award-winning scholar of Italian literature. In this talk, Dr. Luzzi discussed the subject of Italian immigration to American, with special reference to his 2014 memoir, My Two Italies: A Personal and Cultural History. Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Franca Barricelli introduced Dr. Luzzi utilizing her collection of books he authored.

Our English Studies faculty recently invited Interested students to join them, and  English Studies majors and minors  to mix and mingle in the Miller Oval. 

The Biology, Chemistry, and Earth & Geographic Sciences departments held their annual science symposium Tuesday afternoon at the Lisciotti pavilion in the Antonucci Science Building as part of our S.T.E.M. Week events. This is an event where the science faculty present posters on their research to get students interested and involved in the sciences.

Students in Andrea Olmstead's Ceramics put some final touches on vessels  using the coil method of pottery. Coil pottery is a method of handbuilding pottery where a potter forms a base, walls, and style by combining clay coils (or cylinders). The potter rolls the clay into coils, stacks the coils together, and joins the coils through pressure creating a vessel. Learn more about our Fine Art Program here.

The lure of a free taco at  yesterday afternoon's  Career Services and Advising (CSA) Let's Taco 'Bout Your Career Event was irresistible. In this unique way to get students to start thinking about their next steps, in exchange for creating and posting a career goal, students earned a free taco! 

The Fitchburg Activities Board (FAB) sponsored one of their wildly popular Build-A-Bear events this afternoon with a twist - bears donned Harry Potter themed cloaks. Students chose from Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff or Slytherin garb.

Students in Biology and Chemistry Professor Dr. Erin Rehrig's plant biology lab examine plant evolution and diversity as well as the cellular and biochemical characteristics of plants. The course focuses on the physiology, ecology, and molecular biology of plants including leaf & root physiology, reproduction, and stress responses. Consideration is given to the importance of plants in environmental studies, the biotech industry, and human culture. In laboratory experiments, students use plants to investigate molecular, physiological, and ecological questions.

John Hughes, an internationally-renowned composer, musician, and educator, held a kora performance yesterday afternoon in the Hammond Main Lounge. The kora is long-necked harp/lute of the Malinke people of western Africa. The instrument’s body is composed of a long hardwood neck that passes through a calabash gourd resonator, itself covered by a leather soundboard. Hughes also visiting two classes earlier in the day - Medieval Africa and World Music.

Communications Media Professor Kyle Moody moderated & joined fellow faculty members  from the Digital Media Innovation major; Communications Media Professor J.J. Sylvia IV, English Studies Professor Elisabet Takehana, Humanities Professor Amy McGlothlin, and English Studies Professor Benjamin Railton. All took part in a panel discussion sharing their research and teaching interests, and how those interests are assisting students in their professional and academic pursuits.