Research Presentations That Are 鈥 Fun?
Can you engage people in the scholarly pursuits of faculty and build community at the same time? 鈥淐hallenge Accepted!鈥 said the Center for Media & Social Impact (CMSI) and 17吃瓜在线 School of Communication (17吃瓜在线 SOC) Dean鈥檚 Office, and launched the new SOC Professors Doing Awesome (PDA)听faculty spotlight talk and lunch series to do just that.
SOC鈥檚听professors听are听doing听amazing things all over the world, making an impact through their books, research, films, photo exhibits, journalism, media festivals, and so much more. Who are they and how do they do what they do? The SOC PDA spotlight lunchtime series gives the floor to an amazing professor showcasing their latest work each month, followed by a one-on-one interview with CMSI Director Caty Borum and, of course, questions and feedback from the audience. 60-second dance breaks and free pizza round out the experience and remind you this is not your mother鈥檚 research presentation.
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Dr. Natalie Hopkinson (aka Dr. Go-Go), SOC Associate Professor of Journalism, kicked off the series. As the co-founder of the Don鈥檛 Mute DC movement to protect go-go, DC's indigenous funk sound, she co-led a coalition of scholars, activists and artists that successfully advocated for DC Law 23-51 Go-Go Official Music of the District of Columbia Act. She explained how she came to this area of research into freedom of speech and expression and the criminalization of music and highlighted her involvement in DC鈥檚 new Go-Go Museum, which is slated to open in 2024.听
鈥淭his is an opportunity to participate in Public Displays of Admiration (PDA) for dynamic communication faculty members who are making a real change in the world鈥揳nd to share with students, prospective students, and colleagues all over campus,鈥 said SOC Interim Dean Leena Jayaswal.
The next event in the series will be held on November 29 and will highlight the work of professor Kurt Braddock. 鈥淗e Said What?!鈥 will look at the real-world implications of public figures 鈥渏oking鈥 about using violence against political opponents.