The Michigan State University (MSU) Museum invites the community to experience Ignite Talks MSU, an exciting event where students bring their research to life through dynamic, five-minute presentations. This semester’s event will take place starting at 7:00PM on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at the MSU Museum’s temporary location at 311 Abbot (6th floor) in downtown East Lansing.
Ignite Talks MSU is designed to connect audiences with creative and passionate MSU student researchers who share their ideas, discoveries, and expertise in an engaging and accessible format. What makes Ignite Talks unique is its fast-paced structure—each presenter has just five minutes to convey their idea, using 20 slides that automatically advance every 15 seconds.
“Ignite Talks MSU provides an incredible opportunity for students to refine their public speaking skills while engaging with new audiences,” said Abbie Stevens, event organizer and MSU Museum program manager. “The MSU Museum is committed to serving as a creative collaboratory that advances student success at MSU, and Ignite Talks is a perfect example of how we support students in sharing their knowledge in an exciting and accessible way.”
Since launching in the fall of 2023, Ignite Talks MSU has been held each semester, featuring students from a wide array of disciplines, including the arts, sciences, engineering, and humanities. Each semester, 10 outstanding students are selected through an open call process to present their research to the public.
This semester’s lineup features a compelling range of topics that highlight the breadth of research and passion among MSU students:
- “How can drones prevent bridge collapse?” by Dennis Asante, PhD student in the College of Engineering Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
- “What Are We Made Of? Envisioning Materials for a Sustainable Future” by Hailey Becker, MFA student in the College of Arts and Letters Department of Art, Art History, and Design, and PhD student in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Department of Forestry
- “The Struggles of our Native Apple and State Flower” by Kaz Christian, Masters student in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Department of Horticulture and the Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Biotechnology Program
- “Let There Be Light: A Novel IBD Treatment” by Zainab Fayyaz, MD student in the College of Human Medicine
- “Green Energy’s Unexpected Peril: A Growing Movement” by Daniel Horowitz, undergraduate student the College of Engineering Applied Engineering Sciences Program and the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Department of Community Sustainability
- “Making your next trip memorable and meaningful” by Tatiana Iretskaia, PhD candidate in Sustainable Tourism and Protected Areas Management, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Department of Community Sustainability,
- “AI: Our Most Human Creation Yet” by V Kumar, undergraduate student in the College of Communication Arts and Sciences, Department of Advertising and Public Relations
- “Indigenizing Museums in the 21st Century” by Nevaeh Ramon, Masters student in the College of Arts and Letters Arts, Cultural Management, and Museum Studies Program
- “Boosting Medication Habits to Beat Diabetes and Heart Risks!” by Sanjana Vadrevu, undergraduate student in Lyman Briggs College, the College of Natural Sciences Human Biology Program, and the College of Human Medicine
- “Targeting the Untouchable in Metastatic Ovarian Cancer” by Lucy Xu, PhD student in the College of Engineering Department of Biomedical Engineering and MD student in the College of Human Medicine
The MSU Museum welcomes all interested individuals to attend this exciting event. Tickets are free, but seating is limited. To reserve your spot and learn more visit the Ignite Talks MSU event page!