Through generous support from the Templeton Foundation, FINCA International's annual Microfinance Research Symposium Field to Function: Harnessing Social Data to Empower Change recognizes graduate students and young professionals for their outstanding contributions to research and analysis in the field of microfinance. The Symposium features presentations by winners of FINCA’s research monograph competition and commentary by leading microfinance experts. 

The 2008 Symposium  In conjunction with Georgetown University’s Master of Science in Foreign Service Program and partners within the microfinance industry, FINCA offered its third annual Microfinance Research Symposium, Field to Function: Harnessing Social Data to Empower Change (FINCA's annual Microfinance Research Symposium) on April 7, 2008. The event featured a keynote address from FINCA Founder, John Hatch, following three research presentations and panel discussions. Women Advancing Microfinance (WAM) International hosted its second-annual microfinance career event, featuring a panel discussion on careers within the industry. The Symposium was held at Georgetown University in Washington, DC.

The annual Field to Function Symposium is a unique platform where scholars, microfinance industry representatives and students from a variety of disciplines meet to recognize graduate research in microfinance and to continue dialogue on key industry topics. For details, see the Symposium Program, which includes bios of all the presenters and speakers.