Arthur Olsen Student Research Symposium

Symposium at AU

The Arthur Olsen Student Research Symposium is a gathering that fosters and celebrates student research at the university. The structure of the symposium follows that of a traditional academic conference, and Augustana students from all disciplines are invited and encouraged to present their original research at this forum. The symposium provides the campus and surrounding community an opportunity to see and appreciate the creativity, hard work and ingenuity of its students.

This year's symposium will take place Saturday, April 15, at the Froiland Science Complex. The keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Esther Ngumbi, whose presentation is entitled "Thought Leadership for a Sustainable Future: Amplifying Science, Engaging the Public & Advocating for Food Security."

The Arthur Olsen Student Research Symposium is supported by the Office of Academic Affairs, Civitas Honors Program, Mikkelsen Library and Union Board of Governors (UBG).

Student Research Awards

Schedule of Events

10-11:30 a.m. | Keynote address and presentation of student awards in FSC 113

11:35 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. | Student presentations in various FSC classrooms

12:45-2 p.m. | Poster presentations in FSC 113

2-3:10 p.m. | Student presentations in various FSC classrooms

Keynote Speaker Dr. Esther Ngumbi

Dr. Ngumbi is an author, researcher, educator, mentor, speaker and champion for change around the issues of hunger, gender, education, youth activism, agriculture, sustainability and public service. Ngumbi is an assistant professor of entomology and African American studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She is the founder of organizations that empower farmers and youth in Kenya and has served as a mentor for the Clinton Global Initiative University Initiative and President Barack Obama's Young Leadership Program.

Dr. Arthur Olsen

In 2015, the family of Dr. Arthur Olsen made an endowed gift to support the Augustana Symposium and student research. In honor of that gift and in tribute to Dr. Olsen's many contributions to the campus community and student research, the Augustana Symposium was renamed the Arthur Olsen Student Research Symposium.

More About Dr. Arthur Olsen

Dr. Art Olsen Dr. Arthur (Art) Olsen, professor emeritus of philosophy and religion and former provost, served at Augustana for more than 40 years.

Olsen earned an undergraduate degree from St. Olaf College, a bachelor's degree in theology from Luther Theological Seminary and a doctorate in theology from Harvard Divinity School. He later served as a visiting scholar at both Harvard and Stanford Universities.

He first joined Augustana in 1956. While pursuing his doctoral studies at Harvard, he took a part-time position teaching speech at MIT from 1957-60. He then re-joined Augustana and served until his retirement in 1996.

Appointed by former Augustana President Dr. Bill Nelsen, Olsen served as Augustana's first Chair of Religion and Values (later named the Stanley L. Olsen Chair of Moral Values) from 1985-90 — a position made possible thanks to a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. At the same time, Olsen assumed the post of chief coordinator/implementer of Augustana's general education curriculum, as the new curriculum moved toward implementation.

The son of Norwegian immigrants, Olsen served as a champion for sharing the Norwegian culture and heritage, organizing Norwegian language camps for children on campus, founding the annual Nordland Festival in 1975 and preserving Heritage Park — a collection of historic Great Plains buildings dating from the late 19th to early 20th century, located on campus.

Olsen was particularly active in developing and teaching courses related to questions of value. He served as director of Capstone, encouraging and supporting the development of Capstone courses as part of Augustana's General Education, and chaired the committee that helped define the university's five core values: Christian, Liberal Arts, Excellence, Community and Service.

Olsen passed away in May 2014.

In 2015, the Olsen family made an endowed gift to support the Augustana Symposium and student research. In honor of that gift and in tribute to Olsen's many contributions to the campus community and student research, the Augustana Symposium was renamed the Arthur Olsen Student Research Symposium.

Symposium Archives

Eastern South Dakota Research Symposium

Wednesday, June 14, 2023
Sanford Center, 2301 E. 60th St. N., Sioux Falls, S.D.

Join a wide variety of researchers from the area's leading institutions to promote cutting-edge research and foster scientific collaboration. The symposium will feature Basic & Biomedical Research, Social & Behavioral Research, Transdisciplinary & Team Science Research, Keynote Talk, Poster Session, Networking and more!

Contact

Assistant Professor of Mathematics Dr. Daniel Perry | daniel.perry@augie.edu