Hancock Symposium 2023

The words we speak, the movement of our bodies, the patterns of our DNA, and the characters that are eloquently drawn on pages for us to read are all examples of languages that we live and breathe daily. However, there’s more. How do the trees speak to one another to warn of a coming storm? How do companies persuade you to buy their product? How do politicians use phrasing to earn your vote? How do computers communicate with only zeros and ones and yet form a foundation for society? How does the shared experience of a culture or subculture create a vernacular only understood by its members? How can we foster better communication, by being inclusive and equitable with our words and our actions? This Symposium will engage experts who will help us understand the languages of our lives, and spur us to think carefully about how we choose to communicate with those around us. It will highlight the importance of values, character, lifelong learning, and problem-solving — all key components of a liberal arts education.