The University of Maine at Fort Kent will host its 15th annual Scholars’ Symposium on Wednesday, April 29, highlighting students’ research and academic excellence.
The symposium begins Wednesday morning with a welcome from UMFK President and Provost Deb Hedeen, followed by the presentation of the undergraduate academic awards. The schedule then transitions to student-led presentations.
“UMFK’s Scholars’ Symposium is one of the highlights of our academic year,” Hedeen said. “It is a celebration of student research, academic excellence, and the incredible work happening across our campus.”
Immediately following the student presentations, UMFK faculty members will deliver “Lightning Talks,” five-minute presentations that will focus on a single topic, project, or technique.
This year’s keynote speaker of the symposium will be Dr. Meredith McFadden, a research scientist in AI Ethics at Northeastern University. McFadden specializes in translating philosophical concepts into practical frameworks for technology. Her work focuses on ensuring autonomous systems and AI-driven decisions remain ethical, and she frequently develops responsible-use guidelines for global organizations.
McFadden has led high-stakes projects for the defense and tech industries, including a DARPA-funded study on the ethics of autonomous weapons. A frequent public commentator and contributor to academic journals, she holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from UC Riverside. McFadden is recognized for making complex topics accessible, with writings ranging from disability rights and climate change to fairness in intellectual valuation.
“It is exciting to see students apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to meaningful, real-world research projects and share their findings with the broader community,” said Dr. Stéphanie Landry, assistant professor of forestry and chair of the symposium committee.
The afternoon will continue to highlight students’ research with poster sessions at the Sports Center from 1 to 3 p.m.
This portion of the event is open to the public and provides a terrific opportunity for community members of all ages to interact with UMFK students and learn more from subject-matter experts.
The day’s events will conclude with an awards presentation to honor exemplary student work.
UMFK offers multiple degree paths which lead to associate, bachelor, master and doctorate degrees. For a complete program listing and more information, please visit the UMFK website.
For more information on the Scholars’ Symposium, please contact Landry at stephanie.landry1@maine.edu.