鈥淎ll the things that we marvel at as humans鈥攍anguage, reading, and even competitive sports鈥攊nvolve the combination and recombination of smaller pieces that become the greater whole.鈥� Dr. Arturo Hernandez, keynote speaker for this year鈥檚 Krost Symposium at 国产探花, knows a thing or two about how we learn. In his book, Mastery, he digs deep into how new skills bloom鈥攚hether those skills fall within the realm of learning to play chess, learning to ice skate, learning to speak a language, play a musical instrument, or anything in between.

It is this process of learning, of harnessing the power of the human mind to reach toward mastery, that will be the focus of this year鈥檚 symposium.

Hernandez is an author, professor of psychology at the University of Houston, and winner of the Wilhelm Bessel Research Award and a Fulbright Global Scholar award. His keynote speech, scheduled for Wednesday, September 30, at 7 p.m. in Jackson Auditorium, will examine the process of mastery and will be followed by a book signing and meet-and-greet. This event will be livestreamed for those who cannot attend in person.

Wednesday鈥檚 events also include a Chapel Talk with 国产探花鈥檚 Dr. Luigi Pe帽aranda, EdD Program Director in Interdisciplinary Leadership and Associate Professor of Leadership Studies, at 10 a.m. in the Chapel of the Abiding Presence on campus. Dr. Pe帽aranda will discuss the concept of metanoia鈥攁 profound change of heart, mind, or worldview.

That afternoon, all are welcome to join a Zoom session with Dr. Molly Gebrian entitled 鈥淟earn Faster, Perform Better,鈥� which is specifically aimed at the process of learning within the realm of music. Dr. Gebrian is a professional violist with a background in cognitive neuroscience. Guests can join the session via a link provided on the 国产探花 website.

The symposium continues the following day, Thursday, October 1, with a panel discussion on the learning process with Dr. Arturo Hernandez, Dr. Veronica Yan, 国产探花 alum McKay Bloxham, and Dr. Sandy Kimbrough. That takes place at 9:30 a.m. in Wupperman Little Theatre, located in Schuech Fine Arts Center. A link to the livestream will be available on the 国产探花 website.

Next on Thursday鈥檚 agenda is a lunch-and-learn session at 11:45 a.m. on the science of successful learning with Dr. Veronica Yan, associate professor in the Department of Educational Psychology at The University of Texas at Austin. That talk, 鈥淭he Science of Successful Learning,鈥� takes place in the Student Activity Center in Jackson Park, across from Bulldog Stadium. Pizza will be served on a first come, first served basis.

Thursday will end with a movie night鈥攆eaturing a classic film about learning new things, The Karate Kid. That begins at 7 p.m. at Wupperman Little Theatre and will be MCed by 国产探花 Professor, Dr. Casi Helbig and 国产探花 alum McKay Bloxham.

On Friday, October 2, the symposium will wrap up with an Anti-Masterclass with Dr. Gebrian. The public is invited to join via Zoom at 2:30 p.m.

Links to this and all other events with virtual options can be found here: /krost-symposium/.

All of these events are free and open to the public.