The Athenaeum Series at Southeast Missouri State University provides an opportunity for faculty and staff to present topics of personal interest and research outside the classroom.

Hosted in Kent Library, it began in the fall of 2007 as a research lecture series.

"It is a way for faculty members to share their findings with students, other faculty and members of the community," anthropology professor Dr. Joshua Hatton said. "Secondly, it is a way to test some of my ideas with an academic audience."

Hatton presented "From the Engagement of Anthropology to the Anthropology of Engagement" last November.

To plan a presentation, Mathew Olsen, Kent Library's Information Literacy Librarian and head organizer of the series, first seeks out a faculty member who is interested in presenting.

"Each presenter chooses his or her own topic, which is usually something that the faculty member is researching or studying," Olsen said.

However, faculty members aren't the only ones benefiting from the lecture. Students are provided the opportunity to discuss academic research in an environment that is open to new ideas.

"The Athenaeum gives students a chance for debate and discussion because you have wide walks and stages in life," Kent Library director and professor David Starrett said.

"The series appears to spotlight some of the various activities, programs and research that takes place across the campus, bringing together audience and passersby in unifying interests amongst the diversity of the student body," said John Clay, an anthropology major who has attended three presentations during past semesters.

"Some presenters will encourage students to ask questions at anytime," Starrett said. "We try to really be open so faculty has the opportunity to talk about anything with whatever discussion method they would like to take."

This semester's series will begin at noon Feb. 1 at Sadie's Place in Kent Library.

Speaker and art instructor at Southeast Kristin Powers Nowlin will present an "Artist's Talk" about how race is identified in American culture.

The Athenaeum Series spring 2012 schedule and speaking topics can be found online at www.semo.edu/library.