30th Annual Delta Symposium, ‘It’s about Time,’ Scheduled for April 9-11
JONESBORO – This year’s Delta Symposium at Arkansas State University is set for Wednesday through Friday, April 9-11. Coordinated by A-State’s Department of English, Philosophy and World Languages, the symposium will feature the theme “It’s about Time.” This year’s event is co-hosted by Black River Technical College (BRTC).
The 30th edition of the symposium will be held on the A-State campus. Wednesday’s events begin in the Carl R. Reng Student Union at 12:30 and will include a variety of presentations on the history and culture of the Delta.
Thursday’s activities begin in the same location but will culminate with an evening reading at the Bradbury Art Museum in Fowler Center by physicist, novelist and creative writer Alan Lightman, starting at 7 p.m.
Friday activities begin at 8:30 a.m. and continue into the afternoon with Lightman’s keynote address, titled “Einstein and His Theory of Time,” scheduled for 12:30 p.m. in the Student Union auditorium. Dr. Martin Eggensperger, president of BRTC, will introduce Lightman.
That evening at 7, Facet Dance Collective of Arkansas will stage its world premiere performance of “Movement in Time” at Simpson Theatre, also in Fowler Center.
All symposium events are free and open to the public. Registration is not required.
Participants will present research on numerous topics. The schedule includes presentations by researchers, writers, poets, photographers and a wide range of scholars who examine the regional history and culture. This year’s focus on time touches on a variety of subjects as interests in time are explored by novelists, poets, musicians, scientists, historians and many creative contributors to the Delta.
This year’s theme emerged when past symposium participants noticed how considerations of time have been commonly expressed throughout the 29 years of the symposium’s own history.
“The event’s organizers were impressed to discover that so many talented writers, artists, and researchers submitted entries to this year’s event,” Dr. Gregory Hansen, Delta Symposium co-coordinator, explained. “We are especially pleased to bring to this event the nationally-known physicist, writer, and science educator Alan Lightman. His writing on time in his book ‘Einstein’s Dreams’ served as the major spark for developing this year’s theme.”
The full schedule is available at the symposium website, AState.edu/delta-symposium. Presenters will explore a wide range of topics through research presentations, multimedia sessions and documentary film.
For further details, one may contact the Department of English, Philosophy and World Languages at (870) 972-3043.
