On Friday, April 17, the Department of Comparative Studies hosted its annual Undergraduate Research Colloquium. Nine undergraduate students presented their original research to an audience of faculty, students, and community members. Students were grouped into three panels, organized around the themes of "Power and the Everyday," "Religion, Myth, and Modernity," and "Technology and Digital Culture." Presentation topics ranged widely, from the rhetoric of summer camp counselor letters to the inclusion of Buddhist practices of mindfulness in corporate America, from biocapitalist processes of commercial horse breeding to Shamanistic practices in KPop Demon Hunters. The final panel explored the pedagogical and ethical implications of new technological forms, like the YouTube video essay, generative AI, and practices of digital disconnection.

Students worked closely with faculty mentors to prepare and refine their presentations, and each session was chaired by a Comparative Studies graduate student. Everyone was impressed by the depth of the students' research, the interdisciplinary nature of their scholarship, and the clarity and professionalism of their presentations. Our students represented Comparative Studies at its very best, taking up subjects of deep personal interest and helping us understand their ethical and political significance in new ways. We are so proud of our wonderful students and grateful to everyone who attended!