Orange Coast College will host the 10th annual Giles T. Brown Student Project and Research Symposium on Friday, May 1, from 8:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., on the third floor of College Center and second floor of the Student Union. The Symposium will give students a chance to present the work they do inside or outside the classroom, and aims to highlight many different disciplines on campus in a single event.
Now in its tenth year, the Symposium has expanded significantly, growing from 30 student participants in its inaugural year to over 80 student participants representing 60 projects in 2026. The Symposium offers tremendous benefits to participating students. For many, being part of this event is a valuable addition to their resumes and enhances their applications for transfer to four-year universities. Additionally, several students have continued their research at four-year institutions, with some going on to earn master’s degrees and Ph.D.’s in their fields; many credit the Symposium for inspiring their passion for research.
“They learned so much during this,” says OCC Astronomy Department Head and Symposium Chair Jerome Fang. “They learn how to conduct independent work and develop the confidence to collaborate with faculty mentors. The challenge of developing and executing a project within a limited timeframe allows them to develop vital skills for oral presentations or poster displays. It's truly a powerful experience for the students involved. They often express how valuable it has been for their personal and academic growth.”
Students will present their work in one of three ways: a poster session, which provides the opportunity to share work through a visual presentation and includes a question and answer period; an oral presentation (or paper session) which includes 15-minute oral presentations with 5 minutes of questions; and an Exhibition of Work or Performance, which includes creative works such as interpretive dance, sculptures, paintings, machined products, architectural design, ice sculptures, and musical performances.
“The Symposium brings the campus community together and makes the environment feel more personal, allowing students to interact with their peers in ways that typically don’t happen in a classroom setting,” says Fang. “They experience firsthand what it’s like to conduct research. I often see students inspire each other, making it a unique experience that few community colleges offer.”
The Symposium presentations will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 12:30 p.m.