Got memes?

Twice a year, the Clark community comes together to celebrate the work of undergraduate student scholars. On Wednesday, April 24, more than 100 students will showcase their research and creative work at ClarkFEST, a campuswide event featuring presentations, interactive media, and poster displays.

ClarkFEST presenters have completed their work under the mentorship of Clark faculty and staff, often with the financial support of fellowships from the University. “This event encapsulates what we know about the Clark experience: liberal education best prepares students to become citizen-scholars in the world, and it is a team effort,” write Betsy Huang, dean of the college, and Stephen Moon, director of special academic opportunities, in their ClarkFEST program message.

As usual, this spring’s ClarkFEST topics are wide-ranging — from a look at the philosophy of memes to a study of the use of parasitoid wasps as pest control in organic farming; from an exploration of urban greenspace to an examination of how COVID-19 affected soccer players’ market value.

This spring, several Clark students have focused their research lens on the University itself. Tenzin Sommer ’26, Elliot Edwards ’26, and Christopher Siems ’26 (computer science), Yajaira Bonilla ’26 (data science), Juan Betancor ’27 and Erin Lucas ’25 (finance), Gabriel Melul Fresco ’25 (management), Ben Colson ’24 (marketing), and Erron Cushnie ’24 (physics) are presenting on their experiences with the Learning Partners Program, a new collaboration between faculty and students to improve teaching and learning in classes where students traditionally struggle. The Learning Partners students are mentored by Lynn Murray Chandler, executive director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching, Assessment, and Learning.

Hannah Barr ’24 is looking back at Clark history with “Student Protest at Clark University in the Sixties and Seventies,” an oral presentation, while Sarah Al Mazni ’26, Olivia Bogle ’26, Sara Arvin ’26, and Kyla Keating ’26 are presenting “Clark Undergraduate Students Problems of Practice Experience (POP),” a psychology project mentored by Professor Amy Heberle.

Oral presentations will take place in the Higgins University Center and the Shaich Family Alumni and Student Engagement Center. Posters will be displayed in Tilton Hall and the lobby of the Center for Media Arts, Computing, and Design.

Students from the Becker School of Design & Technology will present interactive media projects in the first-floor classrooms of the Center for Media Arts, Computing, and Design. This is a participatory showcase, and visitors are invited to play the student-designed games.