Campus Currents

Framingham State University’s free annual interactive Science on State Street festival returns on Saturday, April 22, and will feature a unique live musical event that combines climate research presentations, immersive music and mind-bending art in a cohesive, multimedia experience.

The inaugural Climate Hope Concert, which will begin at 5 p.m. in the McCarthy Center Forum, has been created by Multiverse Concert Series, an interdisciplinary concert series combining music and science in live performance. As Climate Change continues to devastate our planet, the concert aims to help spotlight communities of scientists and activists who are working to reverse the trend, according to David Ibbett, Multiverse Concert Series’ director: “Our goal is to share and amplify
these voices of hope in a new annual Climate Hope Concert - infusing research with the emotional, unifying power of music to build community and call us to action."

Science on State Street is organized each year by FSU’s Christa McAuliffe Center for Integrated Science Learning. Executive Director Dr. Irene Porro says she loves the concept of the Climate Hope Concert because it uses an interdisciplinary approach to teach about Climate Change, which people often associate with only the hard sciences.

“The concert is going to be interwoven with brief, but powerful, presentations by scientists and activists,” says Dr. Porro. “The Concert concludes with action points for a newly-informed audience: a set of achievable goals that can be accomplished and shared, and built upon at each yearly Climate Hope Concert.”

Cellist Mike Block of the Silk Road Ensemble will premiere new electrosymphonic works by composer David Ibbett, together with live poetry by Vandana Singh of Framingham State University. Projections by visual artist Nuozhou Wang.

Speakers and topics during the concert will include:

• Dr. Megan Mayer, Framingham State University - Department of Nutrition and Health Studies
• Dr. Aviva Liebert, Framingham State University - Department of Biology
• Dr. Bob Chen, UMass Boston – School of the Environment
• Dr. Vandana Singh, Framingham State University - Department of Environment, Society and Sustainability

Prior to the start of the concert at 5 p.m., the festival will feature about two dozen exhibitors in the McCarthy Center Dining Commons Annex with interactive science presentations on topics including:

• Building a Battery and Building a Lightsaber
• Becoming an Earth & Space Explorer
• Changes in the Earth as Viewed from Space
• Mushrooms and the Environment: A Deeper Story
• Native Wildlife and their Habitats
• Pipet lab skills practice & water filtration experiment
• And much more!

Science on State Street is free, open to the public, and appropriate for all ages. To learn more visit: https://cm-center.org/soss2023

National Library Week is April 23-29! The Whittemore Library will be hosting several events:

(For more information, including Zoom links and registration details, visit the Whittemore Library online calendar)

Monday 4/24: Annual Literary Cake Decorating Contest: Our annual cake decorating contest returns! Turn your favorite book or character into a tasty baked treat and bring it down to the Library. Patrons will get a chance to vote on their favorite cakes, which will be set up in the library lobby near the Red Barn Café. All cakes must be submitted by 9:00am on 4/24 and the winner will be announced at 12:30pm! Don’t forget to stop by after winner is announced to taste all the delicious cakes! For more information, please email Colleen Previte (cprevite@framingham.edu).

Tuesday 4/25: Outdoor Fun on Larned Beach 12:30pm to 2:30pm: Did you know that, in addition to our great books, databases, and academic resources, the Whittemore Library also has a great selection of outdoor and board games that you can check out? Join us as we share some of those great games outside on Larned Beach! What if it’s raining? Join us inside where we will have our board games (that you can check out, too!) and items from our Rams Renew Space available for you to try out. For more information, contact Kathleen Barnard (kbarnard@framingham.edu).

Wednesday 4/26: Library Careers Presentation 1:30pm on Zoom: Co-sponsored with the Career Center. Ever wondered what it’s like to work in a library? Curious about what career opportunities exist in the library field? Think you have to have a specific major to even consider becoming a librarian? Join the librarians and staff of the Whittemore Library as we talk about our varied paths through the library field. We’ll talk about different types of libraries, which jobs require grad school and which ones don’t, and we’ll dispel that myth (once and for all) that you must have an English degree to work in a library (hint – ALL majors are welcome). This presentation will take place on Zoom.  For more information, contact Kathleen Barnard (kbarnard@framingham.edu).

Thursday 4/27: Breathwork with Susan Clark 1pm in UM-14 and Zoom: Susan Clark, Reiki master from Heal from Within, will lead a hybrid session on exploring the power of breath and its healing potential to increase self-awareness, reduce stress and anxiety, build resilience and cultivate greater vitality. She will share mindful breathing techniques such as alternate nostril breathing and triangle breathwork. 

The Inauguration of President Nancy S. Niemi is scheduled for the last day of classes on Friday, May 5th, and there are many celebrations and activities on tap.

Things kickoff the with Inauguration Ceremony at 10 a.m. in DPAC. Join faculty, staff and college delegates from around Massachusetts as we officially inaugurate Dr. Niemi as President and hear her thoughts and vision for the future of Framingham State.

The annual Sandbox Celebration runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. along State Street, which will be closed to traffic. This is the BIGGEST event of the year put on by the Framingham State Activities Board! There will be axe throwing, food trucks, giveaways, a mechanical bull, and much much more. Come celebrate the year before heading home for the Summer!

Finally, the CELTSS sponsored Student Conference on Research and Creative Practice will be running in the McCarthy Center throughout the day!

Friday, April 28, 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
In Front of May Hall

Participants of all ages are welcome!

Use telescopes to observe the Moon, Venus, Mars, and the Pleiades star cluster!

McAuliffe Center staff are available to answer your questions about telescopes and our Universe.

Finals are around the corner, which means it's time to Pause for Paws.

Come relax with pet therapy dogs, and get some stress & sleep tips and free giveaways!

Monday May 1st, and Wednesday, May 3rd
Alumni Room, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Artist Talk: Sunday Spotlight with Jill Pottle
Danforth Museum, 14 Vernon Street
Sunday, April 23
3 p.m.

Join us to hear Massachusetts-based artist Jill Pottle talk about her painting in the Danforth’s permanent collection Pandemic Wedding Dress, and her expressionistic realism style. She will share how her work evolved during the uncertainty and isolation associated with the pandemic.
Free with museum admission.

Questions? Contact Katherine Tako-Girard
ktakogirard@framingham.edu, 508-215-5117