On Friday, April 13, 2018, juniors Julia Isacson (Russian and Economics) and Billy Irving (Russian and Earth Sciences) presented original research at the University of Pittsburgh’s Europe and Eurasia Undergraduate Research Symposium. The Undergraduate Research Symposium is an annual event since 2002 designed to provide undergraduate students with advanced research experiences and opportunities to develop presentation skills. Students traveled from across the United States and from as far as Central Asia to attend the conference.
Julia’s and Billy’s presentations were based on original research they conducted during their fall 2017 semester abroad on the Dickinson-in-Moscow program, as part of Prof. Dominic Rubin’s Russia Today course.
Julia’s presentation focused on the intersections of politics and film: “National Extremism and Artistic Expression in the Film Matilda.” Billy presented on Soviet nationalities policies, with an emphasis on Chechen music and art: “Liberation in Goal, Oppression in Practice: The Nationalities Policies of the Soviet Union, and Their Effect on National Cultures.”
Their presentations were followed by discussion with other panelists, faculty experts, and the audience. Dickinson students have been attending the Undergraduate Research Symposium since 2011.
