Delta Symposium at A-State slated for April 9-11

The 30th annual Delta Symposium at Arkansas State University is slated for April 9-11 on the A-State campus in Jonesboro. The theme for this year’s event is “It’s About Time” and it will be co-hosted by Black River Technical College (BRTC).

A number of presentations about the history and culture of the Delta will be held. Physicist, novelist and creative writer Alan Lightman will host an evening reading at the Bradbury Art Museum on April 10, among other activities.

Lightman will give the keynote address at the event, “The Physicist as Novelist,” and the Dr. Facet Dance Collective of Arkansas will stage its world premiere performance of “Movement in Time” at Simpson Theatre.

All symposium events are free and open to the public.

Participants will present research on numerous topics. The schedule includes presentations by researchers, writers, poets, photographers and a wide range of scholars who examine the regional history and culture. This year’s focus on time touches on a variety of subjects as interests in time are explored by novelists, poets, musicians, scientists, historians and many creative contributors to the Delta.

This year’s theme emerged when past symposium participants noticed how considerations of time have been commonly expressed throughout the 29 years of the symposium’s history.

“The event’s organizers were impressed to discover that so many talented writers, artists and researchers submitted entries to this year’s event,” said Dr. Gregory Hansen, Delta Symposium co-coordinator. “We are especially pleased to bring to this event the nationally-known physicist, writer, and science educator Alan Lightman. His writing on time in his book ‘Einstein’s Dreams’ served as the major spark for developing this year’s theme.”