Throughout the academic year, The Next STEP hosts a variety of speakers for disciplinary seminars and colloquia, workshops, and panel discussion series. Students have the opportunity for in-depth study of the visiting speaker’s work prior to the visit and to attend special sessions where students discuss the nature and scope of the speaker’s work directly with the speaker.
In addition to the off-campus partner institutions hosting summer research students, The Next STEP hosts a visiting scientist from a partner institution three times year; once as part of the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience and twice during the academic year (fall term and spring term) to deliver a research presentation and to interact with the community. The goals for these events are to provide students with opportunities to learn about multidisciplinary research topics and techniques, to learn about postgraduate study and career opportunities, and to meet and directly interact with some of the leading researchers in Missouri and the region.