The Fourth Annual School of Humanities and Social Sciences Undergraduate Conference Successfully Held

On May 10th, the Fourth Annual School of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) Undergraduate Conference was successfully held. The event was organized by the Undergraduate Staff-Student Liaison Committee (SSLC), aimed to provide an interdisciplinary academic platform for undergraduate students of the school.

The conference began with opening speech from Dr. Qingyang Sun, Deputy Chair of the Committee and Conference Organizer. In her speech, she noted that the event not only provided students with the opportunity to share research achievements, but also further promoted the School¡¯s research-led teaching practice. She emphasized that in the age of artificial intelligence, exploring the core values of the humanities and social sciences¡ªand advocating for a human-centered perspective¡ªhas never been more essential. ¡°Our students¡¯ presentations,¡± she noted, ¡°offered the best possible answer to that call.¡±

Participants included undergraduate students from various programmes across the School. The conference featured four themed panels with a total of 14 paper presentations. The topics covered four major areas: Chinese and International Literature, Social Policies and Practices, Culture and Society, and Language, Media and Communication. Following the panels, twelve groups of students presented posters, sharing independent research findings from disciplines such as China Studies, Linguistics, Media, and International Relations. Students focused on their own areas of interest, fully demonstrating their ability to conduct independent research and offering unique insights into pressing social issues. They also received on-site feedback from both peers and professors.

On the day of the conference, Faculty representatives including Dr. Alan McCluskey, Dr. Hui Wang, Dr. Marco Pellitteri, and Dr. Yvonne Tse Crepaldi attended the e conference. Professors actively engaging with each paper and poster presentation through insightful questions and comments. At the end of the event, one best paper award, two outstanding and three best poster awards were announced and recognized with prizes.

In the paper presentation category, Chenfei Wu from English Studies received the best paper award for Foreseeing Destiny From the Inside Out: The Supernatural Power in Shaping the Cathartic Experience of Tragedy. Yuzhi Chen and Qianyi Zhao received Runners-up Awards for Scattering Sparks: Percy Bysshe Shelley¡¯s Literary Afterlife in early 20th century China and Towards Equity: Addressing Disparities in Rural and Urban Education Access in China, respectively.

In the poster presentation category, awards went to Boyuan Zhen for Immigrant population and their hardship in Shenzhen: a case study, Qi Gong for An Etymological Study of the Word "Blue", and Qingyang Wu for A case study of language pattern and identity in Heilongjiang.

¡°It was an honor to take part in the conference. The entire experience was both enjoyable and rewarding,¡± said Chenfei Wu, recipient of the Best Paper Award. ¡°The feedback provided by teachers before the conference was extremely helpful. It guided me in refining my direction during the preparation process and enhanced my research skills. The exchanges I had with fellow students and professors during the event were equally valuable and offered me inspiration for my future research.¡±

When asked about the inspiration behind her paper, Wu shared: ¡°I¡¯ve always been intrigued by the grand question of how we confront uncertainty. Through observing contemporary social phenomena, I noticed that while technological advancements continue to progress, they do not seem to eliminate uncertainty. On the contrary, more people are turning to mysticism as a way to cope with the anxiety it brings. This led me to reflect on the origin of uncertainty and question the authenticity of possible solutions.¡±

Wu also expressed special thanks to Dr. Jon Ford, whose course Tragedy in the Age of Shakespeare inspired her research: ¡°His discussion of Aristotelian catharsis helped me discover a bridge between text and reality. That¡¯s why I chose the early modern period¡ªa era of intellectual transformation and the emergence of scientific thought¡ªas my focus. By analyzing the tragedies of Shakespeare and Marlowe, I sought to explore the cross-temporal role of supernatural elements and their influence on individual fate. This paper was born out of that inquiry."

The papers presented at the conference have the opportunity to be included in the HSS Conference Proceedings or recommended for publication in international academic journals.

¡°I am truly proud of the extensive knowledge and broad academic vision demonstrated by our undergraduate students in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences,¡± said Dr. Qingyang Sun, organizer of this conference. ¡°The presentations showcased today are the result of sustained academic effort and growth, supported by the dedicated guidance of faculty members across disciplines. I see every teacher and student fully engaged in exploring questions that speak to the future of humanity¡ªsailing forward together in the unique academic ocean that is XJTLU.¡±

Reporter: Jingling Wen
Editor: Yiyi Gu