Throughout the academic year, The Next STEP hosts a variety of speakers for disciplinary seminars and colloquia, workshops, and panel discussions. 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 are able to discuss the nature and scope of the speaker’s work directly with the speaker.
In addition, the program will host a visiting scientist from an off-campus 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 visits 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.