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

Call for Abstracts Due Jan. 29

 

The Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Symposium Committee is pleased to announce the Call for Abstracts for the Seventh 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 12, 2016.  (Please note: All CAS classes beginning before 4:30 p.m. on April 12, 2016 will be cancelled that day for 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.  Current students, as well as December 2015 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 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 29, 2016.  This deadline is firm.

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 4/12/16 (e.g. COBE/COE/CON class meetings, athletic events, 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 (http://ashlandurca.blogspot.com).  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, if you have any questions about presenting at the Symposium or the abstract submission process, contact Hilary Donatini or Diane Bonfiglio.

Congratulations to the URCA Student Presenters!

Wow, what a day we had on Wednesday! As is true every year, the students presenting their work at the URCA Symposium amaze me. I was impressed all day by the intellect, the creativity, and the poise of our presenters. Please indulge me as I share some of the photos I took during the poster sessions. If you have pictures you'd like to share, please email them to me (dbonfigl@ashland.edu) and I'll upload them to the Facebook page and include them on a future blog post.

 Hannah Baumann

 Alison Biro and Peter Kobunski

 Kylee Bogner

 Nicole Brigham and Jimmy Lentine

Dr. Christopher Chartier, Sara Lautzenhiser, Emily Embrescia, Ashley Keres, Melissa Smith, Sara Amato, Emily Shrider, Edie Henthorne, and Olivia Perna 

Edie Henthorne (and family!)

 Ashley Keres

 Sara Lautzenhiser

 Danielle Rhonemus

Melissa Smith and Sara Amato

Tips from the Veterans #4

What another of our seasoned veterans wants new presenters to know:

"The most important thing is practice.  If you understand your project and the process you have taken to get there, you are half way there.  The other half is understanding how to effectively communicate your project to people who are not in your field or are just entering your field.  It was challenging to explain some of the complex scientific techniques used in my project, but my professors and my parents listened to me practice several times and gave me feedback. And of course, have fun! If you have worked hard on your project, sharing it should be an enjoyable experience."  --Lindsey Knapp (Biology), 2012 URCA Presenter

We are grateful to Ashland University's Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurial Studies and its Director, Read Wakefield, for their support of the 2015 URCA Symposium! Thanks to their generous support, we are able to commission the construction of a movable wall that will be used for exhibitions of art in the Symposium. We are also thankful for the talented carpenters of AU's Facilities Management and Planning division, who are handling the wall's construction. Be sure to check out the wall when you attend the Symposium on April 8th!

Paul Pernici to Present at Posters on the Hill

Congratulations to 2015 URCA Presenter Paul Pernici, whose work "Comparing Feature Extraction and Feature Selection Algorithms in Pattern Recognition" was selected for presentation at the 2015 Posters on the Hill event! Paul's abstract was one of just 60 selected for inclusion from a pool of more than 500 submissions. Paul and his faculty sponsor, Dr. Paul Cao, will present his work to an audience of legislators in Washington D.C. in late April.

Presenter Workshops Set

The URCA Committee will host two workshops in March to assist students in preparing their URCA Symposium presentations. The Committee will host a Poster Presentation Workshop on Wednesday, March 18th at 8:00 p.m. and an Oral Presentation Workshop on Monday, March 30th at 8:00 p.m. Both workshops will be held in Schar 103.

URCA Committee members will offer tips and advice on presenting at the URCA Symposium.  Presenters who attend the Workshop should bring their presentation materials (in whatever shape or form they are in!) and will receive personalized feedback from URCA Committee members.  In previous years, presenters have remarked that they've found these workshops to be helpful, and we hope this year's presenters will find them helpful as well.

Though reservations are not required, it would be helpful for planning purposes to have a general idea of how many presenters will be attending.  Please email dbonfigl@ashland.edu if you think you might attend.