Students from Dr. Keitha Burnett’s United States Government class presented their research at the 4th Annual “Call to Action” Symposium on December 12. The event, held at the Shah Family Library Media Center, featured topics ranging from environmental impact of fast fashion to the challenges of immigration policy.

The symposium provided a platform for upperclassmen to explore current political, economic, and social issues. Topics included AI’s influence on technology, and the growing crisis of homelessness.

“When I started teaching government, I wanted to provide students with a platform to voice their opinions with evidence and research to support it,” Burnett said.

This year, the symposium’s theme was “Defining Pathways to Current Issues in the Modern World”. Students presented their findings in a formal setting, interacting with both their classmates and a panel of judges. The panel included Luis Fayat, Head Judge and Science Faculty at Ransom Everglades School; Pam Eyo, Biologist for NOAA; and Daniel Flores-John, alumni and business student at the University of Miami.

“The judges’ feedback was invaluable,” said Junior Julieta Martinez, who spoke about the impact of E cigarettes. “Their questions pushed me to think more deeply about the broader implications of my research and how to effectively address the issue.”

In addition to their presentations, students displayed research papers and collages that provided further information on their chosen topics. 

The symposium also allowed students to engage in constructive dialogue. The goal of the event is to give a diverse group of students the chance to share their point of views, with solid logic and research.

With the success of this year’s event, Dr. Burnett plans to continue to expand the symposium in the future. She would like to include other independent schools to have varied perspectives.

As the symposium came to a close, student participants expressed their fulfillment with the experience. 

“Being able to present in front of an audience, especially in front of judges who are experts in their fields, was a great opportunity,” junior Sienna Marinelli said, who discussed the impact of anxiety on youth. “It gave me a real-world perspective on how important it is to share your research and ideas.”