Students Recognized at the 25th Annual Undergratuate Research Symposium for Scholarly and Creative work
By Ariel Gilmore
On April 18, 2024, four archaeology and anthropology students were recognized and honored at the 25th annual USC undergraduate research symposium for scholarly and creative work for their various projects in the Arts & Humanities and Social Sciences categories.
Graduating Senior Sawyer Lazar (‘24) received first-place recognition in the Digital Technology category for his project “Documenting Underwater Cultural Heritage of Cat Harbor Santa Catalina Island, CA” where he transformed Cat Harbor into an immersive virtual reality experience that allows participants access to a virtual museum exhibit. Lazar’s project demonstrates how the integration of digital media and heritage studies is conducive to promoting awareness and making cultural heritage more accessible.
Additionally, Junior Audrey Joachim received first place in the Social Sciences I category for her project “The Phenomenology of Silence: A Spatial Ethnography of the Little Chapel of Silence”. Joachim’s project conducted a spatial ethnography of USC’s very own Little Chapel of Silence to further our understanding of how silence in this corner of our campus creates a kind of community, as a facilitator of introspection and intersubjectivity. Joachim analyzed over 500 journal entries written by students and other Trojan Family members during the past 88 years.
In the Arts & Humanities Category, two students were recognized for their individual provenance projects on objects from the Archaeological Research Collection.
Junior Rylan Giorgetta received Second Place for his work on “Reanimating the Dead with Pasta and Lead.” where he studied an Egyptian funerary inscription and contributed to interpreting the hieroglyphics on an ancient stone inscription by tracing worn lines, which experts in ancient Egyptian will analyze. Through his research, Giorgetta aims to create a comprehensive provenance narrative that will help further inform USC’s decision-making about stewardship responsibilities for his object of study.
Sophomore Ariel Gilmore also contributed a provenance project to the research symposium. Gilmore’s project, “Stupendous Stupas: A provenance of a Gandharan Grey Schist Frieze,” received an Honorable Mention. Her research focused on two friezes from the Archaeological Research Collection and their relationship to one another. Her careful analysis documented similar features and depictions in other sculptures and her analysis of the pieces allowed her to create a 3D reconstruction of a stūpa, or funerary reliquary. Her goals were to identify their origin and their journey to USC through a provenance narrative so that the university is equipped to make informed, proactive decisions about the stewardship of these ancient objects.
Each of these students was recognized individually for their significant contribution through mentored research, which is a valuable opportunity open to undergraduate students at USC. The Undergrad Research Symposium is supported by the USC Provost and leadership is provided by David Glasgow who has long championed the integration of research into the USC undergrad experience. Each student who was recognized received a cash prize as well as an award. If you are interested in undergraduate research, a great place to start is your professor, or, if archaeology is your interest, email archaeology@usc.edu