Festival spotlights research and projects

(THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – April 13, 2015) The Ninth Annual Festival of Scholars at California Lutheran University will showcase a range of work by undergraduate and graduate students and faculty from Monday, April 27, through Friday, May 1.

A variety of traditional research, creative work and projects that apply theory to real-life situations will be featured. Each of the more than 300 projects reflects months or even years of focused work with faculty mentors.

For example, Camarillo resident Coral Alquist, a doctoral student in the Graduate School of Education, investigated the impact that movement-based lessons have on learning outcomes in a high school math class. Dennis Arteaga, a computer information systems major from Camarillo, analyzed data on how cars were driven to help drivers improve fuel economy. Curtis Cagliano, a physics major from Camarillo, developed a method for cooking rice with solar energy and insulation that could be used in the developing world to decrease carbon emissions. Daniel Chell, a global studies major from Brookings, S.D., studied the impact of social capital on cultural retention and self-identity of Los Angeles’ Mongolian community.

Communication major Alesandria Posada of Fillmore and psychology major Jacqueline Ramsay of Carlsbad will show “The Faces of Islam,” their short film that juxtaposes media coverage of Islam with interviews of Muslims from the Islamic Center of Conejo Valley. Projects highlighted during a session on service learning will include work by Katie Carroll, a liberal studies major from Yakima, Washington, to prevent bullying among third-graders at MATES Charter School.

Art students will showcase different printmaking techniques inspired by artists around the world. The Honors Ensemble, featuring students receiving music scholarships, will present a concert representing the culmination of their work.

English majors will deliver papers and presentations as part of their senior capstone experience. A student and faculty panel session will showcase various forms of experiential learning in the criminal justice discipline. Faculty members will present brief summaries of recent sabbatical projects.

For a complete schedule of events, go to CalLutheran.edu/fos. Cal Lutheran’s Office for Experiential Learning, Research and Faculty Development is presenting the free festival. For more information, call 805-493-3795.