The Graduate Forum is small gathering of graduate students who meet on a monthly basis to share their work, ideas, and passion for learning. The Graduate Forum is about interdisciplinary interaction, about respectful but feisty discussions, about camaraderie and expression of one's opinions. It allows for the discovery of connections and similarities among different fields that might otherwise go unnoticed, and it is an opportunity to widen the scope of one's thinking and even reexamine one's own work in new and exciting ways.
While the Forum is a comfortable and collegial environment that encourages friendship and challenging discussions, there is a high standard of academic rigor and participation. Every member is asked to present on his or her original work at least once during his or her tenure in the Forum. Presentations must be well thought out and well communicated to a group of individuals who may not be familiar with your field. Members are also expected to prepare for each meeting, reading the selected handouts, articles, and drafts of papers that the designated presenter provides. Discussions are the heart and soul of the Graduate Forum. A successful forum needs a critical mass of input, thought, serenity and fire. We expect everyone to try and embrace these standards and continually work to make the graduate forum better.
The gifts and benefits of the Graduate Forum are well worth the investment. Thank you for considering being a part of it. We look forward to reviewing your application!