Call for 2017 URCA Abstracts

The Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Symposium Committee is pleased to announce the Call for Abstracts for the Eighth Annual College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (URCA) Symposium. This event will highlight the research, scholarly, and creative activities of students throughout the College of Arts and Sciences, and will be held on Tuesday, April 11, 2017. Please consider submitting your work to the Symposium!

All students who are declared majors in a program within the College of Arts and Sciences are invited to participate in this year’s Symposium. Please note that for group projects where there are members who are majoring outside of the College of Arts and Sciences, exceptions to this policy will be considered by the URCA Committee. Current students, as well as December 2016 graduates, are welcome to present their work. Presenters may choose to give an oral presentation, poster presentation, exhibition, or performance. All presentations should have a significant research or creative component; examples of such include, but are not limited to, summer research conducted at Ashland University or elsewhere, results of independent study projects, thesis work, literary readings or analysis, musical or theatrical performances, and exhibitions of artwork.

All abstracts submitted require approval of a faculty sponsor who is familiar with the student’s work and can attest to the quality of the work. At the time of submission, students will indicate who their faculty sponsor is. The URCA Symposium committee will then contact the sponsor via e-mail to confirm that the sponsor has viewed and approved the abstract. In approving a submission, a faculty sponsor is indicating that the abstract meets the faculty sponsor’s standard for professional work, and that the abstract is print-ready. Submissions that have not been approved by a faculty sponsor will not be accepted for presentation.

Students who wish to present at the Symposium should contact a College of Arts and Sciences faculty member who can act as a faculty sponsor. When the project is ready, the student should work with the faculty sponsor to prepare an abstract in Microsoft Word and email that Word document to the URCA Symposium Committee at au.urca@gmail.com. Students must copy their faculty sponsors on the email that contains the submission. The deadline for submitting abstracts is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 27, 2017. This deadline is firm.

A complete submission must include ALL of the following:

1. Name of Student Presenter(s)
2. Campus AND Home Addresses of Student Presenter(s)
3. Class Year (e.g. junior, senior) and Major(s) of Student Presenter(s)
4. Name of Faculty Sponsor
5. College of Arts and Sciences program in which the work is focused (e.g. Biology, Psychology, Music)
6. Title of the Presentation
7. Preferred Format of Presentation (Poster Presentation, 12 Minute Performance, 12 Minute Oral Presentation, or Art Exhibition)
8. Special Equipment Required (PCs and projectors are provided; if no other equipment is needed, please indicate “No special equipment needed”)
9. Body of the Abstract (250 words or fewer)
10. Anticipated Scheduling Conflicts for Symposium on 4/11/17 (e.g. COBE/COE/CON class meetings, athletic events, or other commitments that cannot be moved on this date; if none, please indicate “No scheduling conflicts anticipated”)

Students who would like to see examples of acceptable abstracts may view abstracts from the prior years’ events on URCA blog. Additionally, these submission instructions and helpful hints for preparing submissions will be archived on the blog. The URCA committee will hold an abstract writing workshop in January in order to assist students in polishing their abstracts. In the meantime, should you have any questions about presenting at the Symposium or the abstract submission process, please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Jeff Weidenhamer at jweiden@ashland.edu.

Students Continued Zebrafish Research This Summer

Student research continued this summer for seniors Hayden Eighinger and Kelly Murray. They worked in Dr. Mason Posner's lab using the National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant to continue the research using small zebrafish to investigate the causes and prevention of lens cataract. READ FULL STORY

URCA 2017: April 11

The 2017 Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Symposium will be held Tuesday, April 11. Save the date on your calendar NOW! 

Contest Winners Announced

Ashland University Entrepreneurial Studies has announced the winners for the URCA Idea Competition 

URCA Participant Idea Contest Winners

• 1st ($500): Meghann Fitzpatrick, "Coat of Hope" to reduce toxic metal exposure in cookware
• 2nd ($300): Casandra Craig, "Preventing Cataracts"
• 3rd ($200): Hannah Thome, "Advocating for Women in Art"
• $20 AU Gift Card winners: Dane Zunich and Ed Hunt

URCA Non-Participant Idea Contest Winners 

• 1st ($500): Danielle Smith, "Bye-bye Blues" blue colored lenses in glasses for cancer patients to promote calmness during treatments
• 2nd ($300): Nathaniel Minneman, "A Painter's Social Media Site" to create a painters community to discuss and promote their art inspired by Rachel Yeager's presentation
• 3rd ($200): Kiana Ziegler, "Be a Man" artwork to counter the problems of the distorted views of masculinity
• $20 AU Gift Card winners: Jim Toth and Miki Yamamura

Mathematics Major Grace McCourt Defeats Graph Pebbling

mathoverflow.net

At her 3:15 p.m. URCA presentation in the Faculty Room, Mathematics & Integrated Mathematics Education major Grace McCourt (sponsored by Dr. Christopher Swanson, Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science) will explain the game of graph pebbling. As explained in her abstract, she "will derive the pebbling numbers and cover pebbling numbers for “special graphs” such as path graphs, cyclic graphs, and complete graphs on n vertices."

Ivan Larson Compares Justice Scalia to the Founders

Political Science/History major Ivan Larson (sponsored by Dr. Christopher Burkett, Associate Professor of Political Science) will compare Justice Scalia’s judicial theory to that of James Madison, the “Father of the Constitution” at the 2 p.m. URCA session in the Faculty Room of the Convocation Center. In his abstract, Ivan states, "While the Founders did not all agree on how to interpret the Constitution, Scalia at least shares similar views on the matter with Madison."

Computer Science Majors Develop Software for Campus

Nine computer science majors (Rupesh Maharjan, Raymond Acevedo, Abdullah Aldhfyan, Abdulmohsen Alsalman, Zachary Brown, Omar Busheel, Joseph Hemperly, Ashley Herman, & Dylan Moats) will report at URCA at the 2 p.m. session in the Trustees Room on the challenges that they have faced and the lessons that they have learned in their real-world project for the University's IT department. From programming sensors to developing software components and using different technologies, this team-project (sponsored by Dr. Iyad A. Ajwa, Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science) is titled Monitoring Environmental Data Using Software Applications (MEDUSA).

Toxicology Major Megan Kracker Tests Protein Drinks

Toxicology major Megan Kracker (sponsored by Dr. Jeffrey Weidenhamer, Professor of Chemistry) will present her research on cadmium in protein drinks at the 2 p.m. URCA session on April 12 in the Trustees Room. As stated in her abstract: "The objective of our research was to determine the cadmium concentrations in select protein drinks and nutritional protein powders...According to Consumer Reports, an average athlete consumes roughly three servings of protein powder a day. If so, potential cadmium exposure from this product would be more than four times greater than the PDE, suggesting a serious health hazard.

Biology Major Finds and Studies Wetland Fowl

Biology major Olivia Widenmeyer (sponsored by Merrill Tawse, Professional Instructor of Biology) presents her investigative findings on the Virginia and Sora Rails within the Ashland University Black Fork Wetlands at the 12:45 p.m. poster/exhibition session in the Alumni Room. In her research, she located 2-3 territorial males at one pond and 2 at the other pond. The fact that these birds are listed as a species of concern by ODNR, makes this a significant find by Olivia.

Communication Students Compare 'Play 60' to 'Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act'

Public Relations/Strategic Communication & Health and Risk Communication major Kylie Shober, and Public Relations/Strategic Communication & Sport Communication major Allison Vredenburgh (sponsored by Dr. Dariela Rodriguez, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies) compare the NFL's 'Play60' campaign with Michelle Obama's 'Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act' at the 12:45 p.m. poster/exhibition URCA session in the Alumni Room on April 12.

As stated in their abstract: "Obesity in the United States is an increasing problem. According to the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 127 million people in the country are overweight, while 60 million are obese (O'Connell, Price, Roberts, Jurs, & McKinley, 1985)."

Commercial Art Major Makes Her Designs Personal

At her 11:45 a.m. poster/exhibition session on April 12 in the Convocation Center's Alumni Room, Kaylin Henry (sponsored by Michael Bird, Assistant Professor of Art) displays and explains her commercial art designs. As she described in her URCA abstract, "In my designs I use a polished, modern and mechanical aesthetic to communicate an idea or brand creatively in a professional setting that will resonate with my clients and viewers...I then integrate an essence of eccentricity from my own personality and hand drawn elements to add a sense of uniqueness."

Psychology's Bryce McClish Reveals Study Results

Photo credit: blog.cappex.com

Psychology major Bryce McClish (sponsored by Dr. Curt Ickes, Associate Professor of Psychology and Dr. Christopher R. Chartier, Assistant Professor of Psychology) conducted a study titled Factors Influencing the College Choice of First-Year College Students. At the 11:45 a.m. URCA poster/exhibition session in the Alumni Room of the Convocation Center on April 12, he will reveal his results which: "indicate that the three factors most influencing choice were as follows: availability of major (M = 4.61, SD = .72), scholarship opportunities (M = 4.19, SD = 1.06) and cost of tuition (M = 4.12, SD = .95). Least influential characteristics were: number of faculty publications (M = 2.22, SD = .95), skill of athletic teams (M = 2.41, SD = 1.48) and the institution’s core curriculum (M = 3.12, SD = 1.05)."

Social Work's Stephanie Julian Studies Sexual Orientation Disclosure

Social Work major Stephanie Julian (sponsored by Dr. Michael Vimont, Director of Social Work) will share her findings of her exploratory study on the decision making process initiated by lesbian and gay older adults in disclosing their sexual orientation to external systems. Her presentation is scheduled for the 10:30 a.m. URCA session in the Faculty Room of the Convocation Center on April 12. As explained in her abstract:

Ten older adults identified as lesbian or gay were interviewed in one-on-one sessions ... The study is not meant to generalize the populations, but rather to obtain rich stories from members of this population.

Creative Writing & Religion Major Reveals His Nonfiction Essay

Photo Credit: Max Klingensmith
www.flickr.com/photos/mklingo/

At the URCA Symposium's 10:30 a.m. session in the Trustees' Room at the Convocation Center on April 12, Creative Writing and Religion major Garrison Stima (sponsored by Dr. Joe Mackall, Professor of English) reveals his nonfiction essay, "My Tree House." As he states in his abstract:

My essay explores my interior causes for depression and self-loathing..."My Tree House" is not about renouncing my psychological issues; rather it is about who I am because of them and how rectifying them unto myself has helped to open up the avenue for moving forward.

Music Education Major Opens 2016 URCA

Junior music education major Jaylynn Buchmelter (sponsored by Dr. Christina Fuhrmann, Professor of Music) will be the first oral presenter for the 2016 URCA Symposium on April 12 at 9 a.m. in the John C. Myers Convocation Center. Below is a synopsis of her abstract which is published in the URCA program.

Jaylynn's presentation titled "Acceptance of Fate in Franz Schubert's Winterreise (1827-1828)" will focus on particular songs in this song cycle which are poems by Wilhelm Müller set to music by Schubert. In the series of songs, the protagonist (the wanderer) embarks on a long journey resulting in an acceptance of his own destiny. Winterreise's wanderer moves toward his destiny throughout the cycle by relinquishing old ways of thinking and feeling, becoming self-aware, and finally embracing his fate. Jaylynn will explain how this work conveys the wanderer's discovery of and acceptance of his destiny. She will also analyze musical devices used by Schubert to represent the wanderer's internal and external journey toward his destiny.

2016 URCA Schedule Released

The 2016 URCA Symposium Schedule has been released. The event will begin at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, April 12 and continue all day until 4:30 p.m. at the John C. Myers Convocation Center with 55 different research and creative activity presentations from the students of the College of Arts & Sciences.

Ashland University College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Symposium April 12, 2016 John C. Myers Convocation Center
Oral Session I: 9:00-10:15 A.M., Trustees Room
Dr. Dawn Weber  Dean, College of Arts and Sciences	Welcome and Opening Remarks
Jaylynn Buchmelter	Acceptance of Fate in Franz Schubert’s Winterreise (1827-1828)  Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Christina Fuhrmann, Music
Paul Pernici	A Population Growth Model with Time-dependent Carrying Capacity  Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Christopher Swanson, Mathematics
Lucas Trott	Pressure and Time: A Critique of the American Penal System in The Shawshank Redemption  Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Maura Grady, English
Emily Shrider	Tacit Coordination: The Profile of a Coordinator  Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Christopher Chartier, Psychology
Oral Session II: 10:30-11:30 A.M., Trustees Room
Joey Barretta	Why the War Came: Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Emily Hess, History/Political Science
Garrison Stima	My Tree House Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Joe Mackall, English
Victoria Gruber	Enhanced Techniques for Performing Base N Arithmetic and Conversion Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Iyad Ajwa, Computer Science
Jeremy Hanna	The Effects of Distraction on Exercise Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Christopher Chartier, Psychology
Oral Session III: 10:30-11:30 A.M., Faculty Room
Zachary Lindesmith	The Broken Branch: How the Media Has Failed in Its Role in Political Discourse as It Moves Towards a More Democratic Platform Faculty Sponsor: Dr. David Foster, History/Political Science
María Cardona	Lares: Revolution, Love, and an Awakening Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Joe Mackall, English
Stephanie Julian	Exploring Factors Impacting the Decision to Disclose Sexual Orientation: A Qualitative Study of Older Gays and Lesbians in Ohio Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Michael Vimont, Social Work
Cortney Kourie and Samantha Carson	Effects of Dietary Stress on Capture Behavior in Mice Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Dolly Crawford, Biology

Poster/Exhibition Session I: 11:45 a.m.-12:45 P.M., Alumni Room
Poster #1	Derek Baker and Dan Whitacre		The Effect of Color on Athletic Performance Faculty Sponsors: Dr. Christopher Chartier and Dr. Curtis Ickes, Psychology
Poster #3	Cassie Craig		Manipulating Amounts of the Lens Protein Alpha A-Crystallin Can Alter the Development of Lens Cataract Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Mason Posner, Biology
Poster #5	Emily Embrescia		Introverts and Extraverts on the Clock: Who will Perform Under Pressure? Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Christopher Chartier, Psychology
Poster #7	Meghann Fitzpatrick		Reducing Cookware Corrosion Can Reduce Metal Exposures in Developing Countries Faculty Sponsors: Dr. Jeffrey Weidenhamer and Dr. Rebecca Corbin, Chemistry
Poster #9	Alexander Kaple		Investigation of the Chemistry of Red Maple Foliage, Acer rubrum L. Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Jeffrey Weidenhamer and Dr. Robert Bergosh, Chemistry; Dr. Mark Berhow, USDA
Poster #11	James Lentine		The Presence of Another: Video Game Stress Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Diane Bonfiglio, Psychology
Poster #13	Garet Litwiler and Rachel Swartz		The Absence of Larval Small-Mouth Salamanders: Is it Food, or Is It Flooding? Faculty Sponsors: Prof. Merrill Tawse and Dr. Patricia Saunders, Biology
Poster #15	Dillon McClain and Krista Lewis		Analytical Tools for Determination of Nematicidal Chemicals Released Into Soil Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Brian Mohney, Chemistry
Poster #17	Bryce McClish		Factors Influencing the College Choice of First-Year College Students Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Curtis Ickes, Psychology
Exhibition #1	Emma Daugherty		Graphic Designers are Problem Solvers Faculty Sponsor: Prof. Michael Bird, Art
Exhibition #3	Kaylin Henry		Design is Personal Faculty Sponsor: Prof. Michael Bird, Art
Exhibition #5	Alicia Jones		The Bruise Faculty Sponsor: Prof. Keith Dull, Art
Exhibition #7	Janice Richards		Inner Waking Faculty Sponsors: Dr. Diane Bonfiglio, Psychology and Prof. Keith Dull, Art
Poster/Exhibition Session II: 12:45-1:45 P.M., Alumni Room
Poster #2	Ethan Patterson		Changes in Microbial Gut Fauna Due to Dietary Stress Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Dolly Crawford, Biology
Poster #4	Olivia Perna		Color Priming and Concentration Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Curtis Ickes, Psychology
Poster #6	Kylie Shober and Allison Vredenburgh		Play60 as Compared to the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Dariela Rodriguez, Communication Studies
Poster #8	Morgan Snyder		Impact of Visual Representation on the Attitudes Towards Transgender Transitions  Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Christopher Chartier, Psychology
Poster #10	Corey Turpin and Lacy Hepp		Calixarene-Core Star Polymers: Building Blocks for Micelles and Drug Delivery Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Perry Corbin, Chemistry
Poster #12	Samantha Ward		Wide Host Range Bacteriophages in Fecal Samples from Northern Ohio Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Paul Hyman, Biology
Poster #14	Olivia Widenmeyer		Gaining an Understanding of the Dynamics of an Ohio Species of Concern the Wetland Fowl: Sora and Virginia Rails Faculty Sponsor: Prof. Merrill Tawse, Biology
Poster #16	Hannah Wiles and Jonathan Albaugh		Linking Health Literacy to Health Communication Behavior: A Pilot Study Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Ted Avtgis, Communication Studies
Poster #18	Dane Zunich		The Google Effect Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Christopher Chartier, Psychology
Exhibition #2	Abigail Nye		Leaving OSU Faculty Sponsor: Prof. Keith Dull, Art
Exhibition #4	Hannah Thome		Do I Have to Be Naked to Get Your Attention? Faculty Sponsors: Prof. Keith Dull and Prof. Cynthia Petry, Art
Exhibition #6	Rachel Yaeger		Challenges of Change Faculty Sponsor: Prof. Keith Dull, Art
Oral Session IV: 2:00 P.M.-3:00 P.M., Trustees Room
James Coyne		Answering the Irish Question: Winston Churchill and the Formation of the Irish Free State Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Justin Lyons, History/Political Science
Alexandra Newhouse		The Illustrator's Identity: An Analysis of the Artwork in Willa Cather's My Ántonia Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Linda Joyce Brown, English
Megan Kracker		Pumping Iron and Cadmium? The Cadmium Content of Protein Drinks and Nutritional Powders Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Jeffrey Weidenhamer, Chemistry
Rupesh Maharjan, Raymond Acevedo, Abdullah Aldhfyan, Abdulmosen Alsalman, Zachary Brown, Omar Busheel, Joseph Hemperly, Ashley Herman, and Dylan Moats		MEDUSA: Monitoring Environmental Data Using Software Applications Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Iyad Ajwa, Computer Science
Oral Session V: 2:00 P.M.-3:00 P.M., Faculty Room
Joshua Frey		Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, and the Compromise of 1850 Faculty Sponsor:  Dr. Emily Hess, History/Political Science
Ivan Larson		How to Interpret the Constitution: Justice Scalia and the Founders Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Christopher Burkett, History/Political Science
Emily Nieberding		"Falling, Falling Snow" Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Maura Grady, English
Olivia Perna		Estimating the Reproducibility of Psychological Science Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Christopher Chartier, Psychology

Oral Session VI: 3:15 P.M.-4:30 P.M., Trustees Room
Alyssa Predota	Dietary Iron and Fat Levels in Relation to Metabolism in Mice Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Dolly Crawford, Biology
Allison Brosky	Sacred and Secular Law: Frederick Douglass’s Religious and Constitutional Defense of Abolition Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Emily Hess, History/Political Science
Kouri Weber	Emerson and Whitman: A Difference in Proximity Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Deborah Fleming, English
Sophia Leddy	Old, not Dead: Why the US Should Care about the Russian Threat to Europe Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Rene Paddags, History/Political Science
Janice Richards	Inner Waking Faculty Sponsors: Dr. Diane Bonfiglio, Psychology and Prof. Keith Dull, Art

Oral Session VII: 3:15 P.M.-4:30 P.M., Faculty Room
Grace McCourt	Cover Pebbling Numbers Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Christopher Swanson, Mathematics
Tara Marasco	Samuel Adams, James Madison, and Religious Liberty Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Christopher Burkett, History/Political Science
Charlie Michel	#BlackMindsMatter: The Psychological Repercussions of Racial Prejudice Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Sharleen Mondal, English
AJ Thomas	“The Extent of Liberty at Stake”: Justice Anthony Kennedy’s Constitutional Rights Philosophy Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Jeffrey Sikkenga, History/Political Science
Maggie Andrews	My Return to Route 77 Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Joe Mackall, English