Conference

Conference for Pre-College Philosophical Engagement

POP hosts an annual free philosophy conference that is tailored to the interests and learning styles of high school students. The conference features a variety of breakout sessions that feature presentations from both Ball State students, professors, and guests. The conference is centered around small group discussion, which gives students a real opportunity to learn, discuss, and challenge their philosophical positions. Through philosophical inquiry, POP aims to provide students with a conference experience that fosters curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge.

This year, due to COVID-19, the conference was held virtually. However, the POP team was still able to provide a fun and thought-provoking conference experience for the students, and because of the virtual format, high school students from Pakistan, the Philippines, and places all over the U.S. attended. The breakout sessions featured the use of functions like Zoom whiteboards, polls, and videos to encourage increased engagement. The POP team also ran a virtual scavenger hunt for attendees during the weeks leading up to the conference. While it took some creativity and collaborative problem-solving, the POP team was able to adapt to the challenges of hosting a virutal conference.