USC hosts Innovate Armenia to celebrate Armenian science, culture

USC hosts Innovate Armenia to celebrate Armenian science, culture

PanARMENIAN.Net - The USC Institute for Armenian Studies hosted its third annual Innovate Armenia event last weekend with an array of authentic music and festivities to celebrate Armenian culture. Through presentations, talks and performances, the festival provided patrons and those of Armenian descent a chance to learn about STEM research and education in Armenia, the Daily Trojan reports.

Over the past three years, Innovate Armenia has held the festival to examine the intersection of arts, culture and technology through various speakers and artists. Last year’s festival drew 3,000 attendees, and 20,000 more watched online.

The Institute was established in 2005 and is composed of three full-time staff members and one full-time researcher. Associate director Silva Sevlian said this event brings together Armenian leaders to discuss pertinent topics.

“What we like to do is showcase leaders in whatever field we are highlighting that year and this year, it’s STEM,” Sevlian said. “It’s not about showing, ‘Here is one successful Armenian,’ it is about broadening what cultural identity means. It’s about introducing people and introducing professionals and stimulating dialogue outside the norm.”

Each aspect of the event related to one or more of the three focal points of the Institute for Armenian Studies. These points include post-Armenian genocide research, diaspora studies and the Republic of Armenia.

Innovate Armenia featured three centers of attention this year. At the Alumni Park, there were several featured musicians, Armenian delicacies and wine for visitors to enjoy. Inside Bovard Auditorium, there were TED Talk-style presentations and panels discussing contemporary and past Armenian topics. Inside Doheny Library, there was an installation called “Undeliverable” which featured rare postcards from Armenia as well as contemporary images by Brazilian photographer Norair Chahinian.

Chahinian shared how his photography taught him more about the Armenian diaspora, in which many Armenians fled Turkey as a result of the Armenian Genocide of 1915.

“I learned many stories from that place, but also I found life, I found hope,” Chahinian said. “I met many, many people that taught me a lot about how they survived over these past 100 years dealing with a very hard condition.”

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