Opinion: You Should Attend Public Lectures

If you’ve ever taken a class on-campus, it’s likely that you’ve seen posters advertising for some of SFU’s public lectures and guest speakers. You can be forgiven for overlooking these ads. After all, the saturation of posters on boards across campus can make it difficult for any one event to stand out. And, let’s be real, who really has time to attend more lectures – for fun – in their spare time?

Well hold on to your hats folks, because if you haven’t attended at least one of these events you’ve really been missing out. Here’s why:

There’s Free Food!

Did that catch your attention? While I have no doubt that there are many curious students out there interested in expanding their academic horizons, I also know that I’m hitting at the heartstrings of many of my fellow starving students.

Lots of these events have post-talk receptions that are catered. I’m talking cheese plates, fruit platters, pastries, mini cupcakes and more! The bigger the buzz, and the more prestigious the speaker, the more optimistic you can be about the selection.

Access Emerging Ideas

Real talk now. Public lectures bring in experts from various academic disciplines. And lecturers can discuss anything from their latest research, to their new initiatives, to presenting theories and concepts. Those who attend these lectures are exposed to the latest and greatest in new information. And, this can really give you an edge in your classes.

As part of a course I was taking last term, it was mandatory that I attend at least one event outside of class and reflect on the experience. Being the go-getter that I am, I jumped at the first option on the list and ended up attending a guest lecture put on by the Sociology & Anthropology Department. At this event, Dr. Sarah Hunt – a celebrated scholar of First Nations studies – discussed her concept of ‘colonialscapes’ and her latest experiences working with Indigenous women. For the rest of the term, I applied Dr. Hunt’s theories on colonialscapes in my own written work. I even had a professor comment on one of my papers that the theories I employed went beyond the level of an undergraduate student.

Guest lectures are a great opportunity for you to expand your knowledge beyond what you learn in class. They can enrich your studies and introduce you to real-life applications of university research and knowledge. They also can encourage multidisciplinary studies as they’re open to all faculties and often include interdisciplinary understandings.

Get An Academic or Professional Edge

Interested in a particular field, line of work, or research area? Why not attend a public lecture with a guest speaker who works in your area of interest? Most of these events have a Q&A portion, and the aforementioned post-lecture receptions (*with free food*) that gives you the chance to talk and network with the guest speaker. They’re here because they’re interested in the work, and they’re happy to talk if you are too.

It’s also a great opening to talk to professors in your faculty/department of interest, since many like to advantage of these opportunities to hear from other experts. Indeed, this can be a valuable academic opportunity.

Help Make Knowledge Public

There is also an underlying altruism to public and guest lectures. You get people taking the time to present their research and to share their experiences to interested students.

In just the current term, I’ve attended a half-dozen public lectures/guest speaker events as part of a course I’m taking on the public’s ‘right to knowledge.’ What I’ve learned is that unfortunately, knowledge, and access to knowledge, is still very much a privilege.

As a consequence, by creating connections between departments, faculties, programs and universities, public lectures and guest speaker events help to break the barriers to making quality knowledge known and accessible.

Student’s participation in these events further helps to break these barriers. As there are opportunities to participate in public discourse and support events that help to democratize knowledge to those who don’t have the same ease of access we enjoy because of our status as students.

Upcoming Events

Learn something new? Meet cool people? Knowledge-sharing? Free food!?

I can hear you asking: “Where do I sign up?”

You’re in luck! Events of this sort regularly pop-up around SFU’s many campuses. For more information, keep your eyes peeled for posted notifications. Most departments have posters for their upcoming speakers on their notice boards, and they also promote them through their department e-mails to students. If you’re even more eager, you probably follow some departments via social media and the events can appear on these platforms too.

You’ll know an event when you see it! Many of the lectures have catchy titles, like Jevin West’s talk earlier this term: “Calling Bullshit on Fake News.” But, another good way to stay in the loop is to check out SFU’s Events Calendar – it’s a hub for all things upcoming.

I look forward to seeing you at the next event!