The MSU Museum CoLab Studio is looking for ten passionate students at Michigan State to each give an Ignite talk on their research! You can be any type or level of student at MSU, doing a project in any field of research. Ignite talks are a creative way to communicate one big idea in 5 minutes flat, using only 20 slides that automatically advance every 15 seconds. We want speakers who will connect with the audience as they amuse, educate, enlighten, and inspire them. Previous public speaking or stage experience is not required!     

We're taking a brief break for Fall 2026, and Ignite Talks MSU #7 will be held in Spring 2027 at the MSU Museum (409 W Circle Dr). Selected speakers will be notified by late January; they will be required to attend a research communication workshop and a dress rehearsal. Specific dates and times of the workshop, rehearsal, and performance will be announced by the end of 2026.

Immersive Visualization Institute (IVI): Summer Institute about Digital Display Technology Platforms

June 8-11, 2026, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM, schedule to be determined

This in-person summer institute allows a cohort of graduate students and faculty mentors to explore the pedagogic possibilities of three exciting large-scale immersive visualization display platforms available at MSU:

• The Abrams Planetarium
• 
Digital Scholarship Lab 360 Room
at MSU Libraries
• Science On a Sphere at the MSU Museum


Immersive Visualization Institute (IVI) Graduate Fellows will learn about the affordances and limitations of each technology and how they are best suited for different types of visual representation. Participants will learn techniques for producing content for these displays and explore interdisciplinary ideas for capitalizing on one or more of the platforms. This is a great opportunity to learn how to apply the technologies to your work and experiment with inter-disciplinary ideas. Participants are expected to produce a participation outcome using one of the technologies (e.g., teaching module, research study design, outreach program element, work of art) by August 10, 2026. The time commitment for producing a product varies, but participants should plan time during June-August for consulting with an IVI facilitator, drafting, editing, and creating a final version. 

Applicants are invited from across the entire university, and all disciplines and interdisciplinary perspectives are welcome. Graduate students may apply individually or with a faculty member mentor. (Faculty members do not receive a stipend.) Selection is competitive and limited to 10 graduate students. A $550.00 stipend is awarded to participating students. Students must be enrolled for Spring 2026 and/or Summer 2026 semester in order to participate. Please consult with your academic and financial aid advisors before applying to determine potential impacts related to your enrollment and receiving a stipend. 

In the workshops, participants will:

• Assess and compare the learning and other affordances of different immersive display platforms

• Explore ways to experience and teach complex natural and/or cultural phenomena through immersive representations and narratives

• Practice designing digital products for display using the three projection spaces

• Develop a final product
• Submit their final product to the IVI Summer Institute facilitators by August 10, 2026

Participants will experience the capabilities of the Abrams Planetarium, the 360 immersive display space in the Digital Scholarship Lab at the MSU Libraries, and Science On a Sphere at the MSU Museum to engage people in a wide range of phenomena.

Co-conveners include MSU Graduate School, Abrams Planetarium, MSU Libraries, and MSU Museum. The application deadline is March 22, 2026 by 11:59 PM. Applicants will be notified of acceptance decisions by April 8, 2026. Please email questions to wickerca@msu.edu.