Again this year, Catawba College students from various disciplines shared their diverse research projects during the 2011 Interdisciplinary Research Symposium held Thursday, April 21 in the Leonard Lounge of the Cannon Student Center. Faculty, staff and students on campus dropped by during the two-hour event to listen and learn from these students.
As usual, Catawba faculty members served as research advisors, and in some cases, co-authors, of the projects. Academic areas represented included biology, chemistry, education and history, honors/English, honors/music, honors/theatre arts, mathematics, psychology, religion and philosophy, Spanish, and theatre arts.
Following is a list of presentations that were on display, along with the names of those students and faculty members who were involved in the research for them:
The effects of increased atmospheric CO2 on the metabolism of the marsh killifish Fundulus heteroclitus:
GPS mapping of salamanders in the Catawba College Ecological Preserve: Jonathan Cooley of Mooresville, with co-authors Travis Burner of Staunton, Va., Jennifer Goble of Salisbury, Johnny Money of King, Lisa Moore of Monroe, Sarah Moore of Mocksville, Jeremy Proctor of China Grove, Devin Rodgers of Glen Burnie, Md., and Kyra Thurow of Holly Springs, and research advisor Dr. Joe Poston. Floristic Study and Plant Communities of the Bittinger Tract in Davie County, North Carolina ; Devin Rodgers of Glen Burnie, Md., and research advisor Dr. Michael Baranski.
Justin Smith of Greensboro, with co-authors Crystal Almond of Albemarle, Gong Cheng of Salisbury and Tony Kluttz of Cleveland, and research advisor Dr. Constance Rogers Lowery. ;
Radio tracking tufted titmice: Kyra Thurow of Holly Springs, with co-authors Travis Burner of Staunton, Va., Jonathan Cooley of Mooresville, Jennifer Goble of Salisbury, Johnny Money of King, Lisa Moore of Monroe, Sarah Moore of Mocksville, Jeremy Proctor of China Grove, and Devin Rodgers of Glen Burnie, Md., and research advisor Dr. Joe Poston.
Metabolic Rates of Limulus polyphemus Due to Ocean Acidification: Patrick Vickers of Bardonia, N.Y., with co-authors Korney Kavanagh of Shoreham, N.Y., Travis Burner of Staunton, Va., and Howard Richardson of McLeansville, and research advisor Dr. Constance Rogers Lowery.
Effects of ocean acidification on the metabolic rates of starfish: Erin Witalison of Salisbury, with co-authors Bianca Boone of Charlotte, Jessica Bound of Waxhaw and Sarah Robinson of Cartersville, Va., and research advisor Dr. Constance Rogers Lowery.
Using Biodegradable Polymeric Nanoparticles for the Intracellular Delivery of Antimicrobial Drugs: Lori Fraley of Cleveland, with co-author Yasamin Moazami of and research advisor Dr. Craig Ogle.
Synthesis and modification of chitosan from crab shell: Nate Griffin of Boomer, with co-authors Biswajit Ghosh and Marek Urban, and research advisor Marek Urban.
Thermal Decomposition of Transition Metal Oxalate Compounds: Jacob A. Hill of Salisbury and research advisor Dr. Thomas C. Devore.
Photon Enhanced Aggregation (PEA) of Single Walled Carbon Nanotube (SWNT) Dispersion: Joseph S. Manser of Mooresville with co-author Jeff Alston, and research advisor Dr. Jordan Poler.
Analysis of Sunscreen Lip Balm Components by High Performance Liquid: Carly Sabat of Warren, Ohio, with co-authors Jacob A. Hill of Salisbury, Elizabeth Nobel of Filltech, USA, Rockwell, and Dr. Mark Sabo, and research advisor Dr. Mark Sabo.
EDUCATION & HISTORY
A Side-By-Side Educational Experience: Cooperative Learning in Middle School Social Studies: Laura E. Ritchie of Salisbury with research advisor Dr. Gary Freeze.
Slippingly Off The Tongue: An Analysis of Speech Errors in Memorized Language: Carrie Foster of Baltimore, Md., with research advisor Dr. Carl Girelli.
Music, Culture, and Healing: Music as an Organic Healer: Felicia K. Youngblood of King, with research advisor Dr. Constance Rogers Lowery.
HONORS, THEATRE ARTS
Opening the Door: The Intersection of Vaclav Havel's "Vanek Plays" and "The Power of the Powerless:" Ryan O'Hare of Milwaukee, Wis., with research advisor Dr. Woodrow Hood.
The Philosophical Implications of Fractals: Cynthia Cook of Franklin, Pa., with research advisor Dr. Sharon Sullivan.
Aversive Bias in Hiring Latinos Under Ambiguous Social Circumstances: Jessica L. Jordan of Meriden, Conn., with co-authors Melanie Mishue of China Grove and Toni Jones of Winston-Salem, and research advisor Dr. Sheila Brownlow.
RELIGION & PHILOSOPHY
'No Holier Temple' Christian Theology and Environmental Stewardship: Kendra Joyner of Petersburg, Va., with research advisor Dr. Barry Sang.
SPANISH (Modern Foreign Languages)
El Crimen del Padre Amaro: Irasema Medrano of Spencer with research advisor Dr. Miren Hodgson.
Stand and Deliver – The Education of Hispanics: Elizabeth Foye of Salisbury with research advisor Dr. Miren Hodgson.
The Merry Fairies of Windsor – Realizing Fairies and Elves Onstage: Claire Robinson of Houston, Texas with research advisors Dr. Dayna Anderson and Professor Erin Dougherty.
PHOTOS: 2011 Interdiscliplinary Research Symposium