Big Questions Forum

The Big Questions Forum is an annual conference organized by the School of Humanities & Social Sciences at Salt Lake Community College. The conference seeks to address the “big questions” inherent in any study of the humanities. Framed around themes present in HUMA classes, The Big Questions Forum in Fall 2024 will center around the theme “Contested Spaces: Surviving and Thriving in the 21st Century”. The two-day forum will feature guest speakers, a VR experience, a mindfulness session to support students and community members grappling with challenging topics, a community panel featuring Utah-based 501(c)3 One Refugee, and keynote speaker Viet Than Nguyen. The forum will address some of the most pressing social problems of today within the context of human rights and global justice, including immigration and genocide.

“Contested Spaces: Surviving and Thriving in the 21st Century"
A conversation to show and teach students how an abstract geopolitical space on a map can become a space for survival, memory-holding, and identity-preserving place.

Schedule of Events

Wednesday, September 25

Big Questions Forum
Wednesday, September 25
7 - 9p.m.
South City Campus
1575 S. State Street, Salt Lake City
Grand Theatre

Reserve Your free Tickets Today

Thursday, September 26

The Phoenix of Gaza XR: Immersive Journey to Gaza
Thursday, September 26
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Taylorsville Redwood Campus
4600 S. Redwood Road, Salt Lake City
Academic and Administration Building (AAB) Atrium

Immerse yourself in the virtual sanctuary of The Phoenix of Gaza XR, the only 360-degree documentation of a city scarred by destruction. This virtual realm encapsulates sacred places, like the Church of Saint Porphyrius, and offers a poignant testament to the resilience of Gaza's community. Our project goes beyond the rubble, capturing life in Gaza beyond violence, and presenting a narrative that unveils the daily struggles and complexities faced by its people.

Dr. Ahlam Muhtaseb is a professor of media studies and the graduate coordinator of the Department of Communication and Media at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB). She is the recipient of the 2024 Women Support Organization’s Distinguished Woman of the Year award and the 2024 Activism and Social Justice Scholarly Influence Award by the National Communication Association’s (NCA’s) Activism and Social Justice Division. Her documentary “1948: Creation & Catastrophe” was screened at over 20 film festivals and at universities and community organizations throughout the world. The film won the Jerusalem International Film Festival’s 2019 Special Jury Award in the Feature Documentary category. She is the faculty director of the Gaza XR project.

Naim Aburaddi is a media instructor at the University of Colorado Boulder. With over seven years of experience in digital media, he has served as a digital content editor, social media manager, and social media specialist at several international media production companies. In addition, Aburaddi was featured by various media outlets including the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, BBC, and other prominent channels and newspapers. He is presently pursuing his Ph.D. in media studies at CU Boulder. His primary research revolves around metaverse and virtual reality technologies. Aburaddi is the founder and manager of the Gaza XR project.

Panel with One Refugee
Thursday, September 26
11:30 - 12:30 p.m.
Taylorsville Redwood Campus
4600 S. Redwood Road, Salt Lake City
Academic and Administration Building (AAB) Room 135

Mindfulness Session
Thursday, September 26
1- 2 p.m.
Taylorsville Redwood Campus
4600 S. Redwood Road, Salt Lake City
Academic and Administration Building (AAB) Room 135