Lara Morello ’21 was the only high school student to participate in the 2020 International and Intensive Program on Buddhism at McMaster University, a virtual summer study program hosted by the Tianzhu Global Network for the Study of Buddhist Cultures. Intended for college and graduate-level students, the program drew students from colleges all over the world including Harvard, Princeton, Brown and Cambridge universities.

The program, included four seminars delivered by international scholars, which required participants to read primary sources and guide presentations on their research. This year’s seminars included “Nets Without Ties: Buddhism-related Networks in East Asia”; “Buddhist Monastic Law Codes and Commentaries from India to China”; “Buddhism and State in Modern and Contemporary China”; and “Buddhism on the Northern Silk Road as Mirrored in Art.” Participants also heard international scholars present on different topics. They also presented their research papers to instructors, lecturers and peer participants.

Morello shared what she learned with Bolles peers in the Chinese Club, which invited her to speak on Buddhism. She gave a presentation to the group via conference on December 4.