The Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Nazarbayev University, in collaboration with the Sociology and Anthropology Students’ Association (SASA), successfully hosted Capstone Sparks on August 21, 2025. The event created a platform for alumni and current students to engage in dialogue and share research insights, fostering an exchange of experience across generations of scholars.
The evening opened with Alumni Talks, where graduates Adiya Baimurzina, Alexandr Lopukhov, Bekzat Bulatov, Aisha Raimagambet, and Dayana Azmukhametova reflected on their capstone journeys. They not only presented their projects but also discussed the methods they used, the challenges they faced, and the insights they gained during their studies. Their stories highlighted the relevance of sociological and anthropological research for understanding contemporary social dynamics. Alumni supporters Zhamila Bilal and Nazerke Amanbekova also joined the event, with several participants traveling from Almaty to reconnect with faculty and students.
After a networking coffee break, the spotlight shifted to Student Pitches, where current students presented their emerging capstone ideas. Topics included organ and body donation in Kazakhstan, the gap between law and lived reality of inclusion, the role of parents in inclusion and exclusion, cultural identity expressed through architecture and interior design, migration experiences shaped by work-and-travel programs, and the intersections of stigma, institutions, and families.
All student participants received certificates of recognition from the Department Chair, Dr. Reed Coil, for their creativity and contribution. The event was moderated by Dr. Dana Burkhanova, who guided discussions and ensured an engaging exchange between students and alumni.
Capstone Sparks once again underscored the department’s commitment to building strong alumni-student connections, encouraging critical research, and inspiring the next generation of sociologists and anthropologists.
For more details and upcoming events, please follow us on social media: @soc_anthro_nu and @nu_s_a.
The evening opened with Alumni Talks, where graduates Adiya Baimurzina, Alexandr Lopukhov, Bekzat Bulatov, Aisha Raimagambet, and Dayana Azmukhametova reflected on their capstone journeys. They not only presented their projects but also discussed the methods they used, the challenges they faced, and the insights they gained during their studies. Their stories highlighted the relevance of sociological and anthropological research for understanding contemporary social dynamics. Alumni supporters Zhamila Bilal and Nazerke Amanbekova also joined the event, with several participants traveling from Almaty to reconnect with faculty and students.
After a networking coffee break, the spotlight shifted to Student Pitches, where current students presented their emerging capstone ideas. Topics included organ and body donation in Kazakhstan, the gap between law and lived reality of inclusion, the role of parents in inclusion and exclusion, cultural identity expressed through architecture and interior design, migration experiences shaped by work-and-travel programs, and the intersections of stigma, institutions, and families.
All student participants received certificates of recognition from the Department Chair, Dr. Reed Coil, for their creativity and contribution. The event was moderated by Dr. Dana Burkhanova, who guided discussions and ensured an engaging exchange between students and alumni.
Capstone Sparks once again underscored the department’s commitment to building strong alumni-student connections, encouraging critical research, and inspiring the next generation of sociologists and anthropologists.
For more details and upcoming events, please follow us on social media: @soc_anthro_nu and @nu_s_a.