This spring, PhD candidate Joseph Coyle taught ANTH 230: Sociocultural Anthropology with a focus on original student research. Students designed and carried out original anthropological fieldwork throughout Champaign-Urbana and across Illinois.
Two students from the course presented their research at this year’s annual Undergraduate Research Symposium (URS), held April 20–26 as part of a campus-wide celebration of student inquiry and discovery. Hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Research, the Symposium showcases work from hundreds of students across disciplines through posters, presentations, and performances. Participation gives students the opportunity to develop their communication skills, engage with a broader academic community, and gain recognition for their original scholarship.The participation of ANTH230 students at this year’s URS highlights the value of classroom spaces that support undergraduate students in conducting independent, field-based research and contributing to wider anthropological conversations.
Nicole Kubecki presented a research poster titled “Pierogi in the Mouth: Language and Identity Among Polish American Undergraduates at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.” Drawing on fieldwork with the Zagłoba Polish Club, her project explored how students navigate forms of belonging through their use of English, Polish, and hybrid forms like "Ponglish."
Josephine Thannert earned an “Outstanding” award for her oral presentation, “Student Protest During Donald Trump’s Second Term.” Her research examined the emotional dimensions of student activism, revealing how frustration and uncertainty shape current modes of political engagement. “Student activism is so important, and I am so happy to be able to share a small portion of the work that some students on the University of Illinois campus have been doing,” Thannert said. “This research was very inspiring as I was able to learn about fellow student's activism, as well as be re-inspired to be an activist in the current political climate. Presenting at the Undergraduate Reserarch Symposium was a highlight of my college career, and a great way to wrap up my undergraduate degree. I encourage all students to do research and present during their time at UIUC, it was a phenomenal experience. "
These projects emerged from a semester-long process of reading and discussing ethnography and reflections on anthropological method, ethnographic writing exercises, and collaborative feedback. In discussion sections led by TA and doctoral student Baylee Priest, students shared fieldnotes and reflections while experimenting with creative approaches to ethnographic writing including poetry, zines, photography, drawing, and “flash ethnography.”
The Department of Anthropology congratulates Nicole, Josephine, and all Anthropology students who presented at this year’s Symposium. Their work highlights the vitality and creativity of undergraduate research in the department.
For more information and a full list of awardees, visit the Office of Undergraduate Research blog.