Medicine Hat College students present research at humanities symposium
Medicine Hat College students are putting complex questions into public conversations through original research shared at the annual Humanities and Social Sciences Symposium.
The event brings together students, faculty, and community members to explore social, cultural, and historical issues through student-led presentations and discussions. This year’s projects ranged from mood investigations to an analysis and adaptation of an Edwardian play.
Students are nominated by instructors based on the strength of their ideas and research potential. Once selected, they work closely with faculty members to refine their projects and prepare for an academic-style presentation.
Academic chair and arts instructor, Diane Gall, mentioned that the symposium allows students to ask meaningful questions while learning how to present their work to an audience.
“By helping students figure out what the question is and giving them the resources and academic standards to explore it, is what makes this enriching,” says Gall. “The symposium is invigorating, and it's the reason that I do what I do.”
Students are expected to not only present their research but also engage in discussion with the audience following their presentations. Gall said the process builds confidence in public speaking while encouraging respectful and informed conversations.
Humanities and Social Science student Raiden Barnes said presenting research publicly can be intimidating, but knows it’s an important skill to develop, and provides an opportunity to share research with people outside of the program.
Barnes expressed pride in the participants for putting themselves out there and braving the experience. “It's fun and means a lot to me to share my interests and passions with people who are not in the program.” says Barnes.
The symposium also highlights the interdisciplinary nature of the two year diploma. Students draw from multiple academic areas, including sociology, psychology, and philosophy, when developing their research.
Student Kannan Stickel mentioned the program allows learners to apply skills from different disciplines rather than focusing on a single field.
"This diploma is almost like a “platter” of all the humanities. You can use sociological concepts, psychology research tools, and philosophy writing skills in one project. It allows us to almost sample things and see what we like. But you don't lose the skills of the classes that you took and did not like. Those skills still apply later down the road," says Stickel.
For students considering Humanities and Social Sciences, the symposium offers a clear view of how classroom learning translates into applied research, public speaking, and critical dialogue. It serves as a platform for students to present their work in a professional setting while supporting dialogue around complex social issues.
Interested in joining the conversation? Discover more about this diploma, by visiting www.mhc.ab.ca.
Interested in a career in culture and society? visit