HWS News
17 April 2025 • Research HWS Day 2025
Senior research, scholarly dialogue and campus-wide creativity.
Get ready for HWS Day on Wednesday, April 23. While scheduled classes are suspended for the day, the HWS community will come together to present research, perform and celebrate academic inquiry in action.
At the heart of the day is Senior Symposium, where 97 seniors and 11 graduate students in the Master of Arts in Teaching program will present their independent research. From investigating the energy consumption of artificial intelligence to exploring food insecurity, the breadth of projects showcases the intellectual curiosity and passion that define a Hobart and William Smith education.
Students will present in interdisciplinary panels based on thematic connections, followed by faculty-moderated Q&A sessions encouraging discussion and cross-pollination across disciplines.
Throughout the day, academic departments and programs will host additional talks and exhibits across campus. Highlights include:
- A demonstration of assistive technology prototypes utilized by students in the Education Department.
- A visit to Historic Geneva with Associate Professor of American Studies Beth Belanger’s “Intro to Critical Museum Studies” course to view their curated exhibition of local artifacts.
- Presentations on EPA-award-winning stormwater research and signage proposals for the Village at Odell’s Pond.
- The 24th Annual Albert Holland Prize Competition, where students will deliver 15-minute lectures explaining key physics concepts for a cash prize.
- Presentations by students for their academic capstones in Geoscience, History, International Relations, Mathematics and the Master of Arts in Higher Education Leadership.
Don’t miss interactive events throughout the day that invite community engagement. Join the “What’s the Buzz? Conference for the Cannabis Curious” to learn about public health, policy and cannabis consumption, or observe the “World Climate Summit Simulation,” a role-playing session on global climate negotiations.
Creative expression will also take center stage. Students in “Intro to Global Animation” will debut animated trailers, while art exhibitions like Set in Motion and the Student Art Exhibition will celebrate artistic talent across disciplines.
HWS Day is also a celebration of community. The 17th Annual Community Engaged Scholarship Forum will spotlight work rooted in service and local impact, including a special session featuring a check presentation from the “Nonprofits, Philanthropy and Impact” class, which will award funds through a student-led grantmaking process.
The day will also include an opportunity for reflection in memory of Ben Hutchinson ’25. Professor of History Colby Ristow will share the late history major’s scholarship in a talk titled “Frankenstein’s Monster: The Unexpected Outcomes of U.S. Imperialism and the Collected Works of Ben Hutchinson.”
The HWS community is invited to gather for lunch in Saga Dining Hall, featuring live music by student band Corner Pocket.
