Poster Session

Saturday, February 13

2:45 - 3:30 PM

Student Posters are housed electronically on an external site. To view the posters, please visit the “View Student Posters” link. There will be a Zoom Session on Saturday, February 13 in which you will have the opportunity to interact with the students who submitted posters. We encourage you to review the posters prior to the Zoom session.

Political Influences by the Catholic Church and Spanish Government in Colonial Mexico
Dorian Barboza, University of North Florida

The work presents some of the mechanisms that shaped Mexico during its colonization. As the colonizing Spanish implemented new laws, language, and religion, the Indians adapted to the changes. Although abuse and brutality existed, the work focuses on aspects that allowed Indian culture to merge with the European until eventually it became its own. The merger gave rise to a new culture that continues to combine Indian, Catholic, and Spanish into what is Mexico.

Islamophobia and the Rise of Right-Wing Populism in Eastern Europe
Hannah Bass, University of North Florida

Islamophobia has led to widespread human rights violations throughout the world, and Eastern Europe is a region that has seen an intensification of anti-Muslim sentiment in recent years. I believe this can be attributed to the growth of right-wing populism in countries like Poland and Hungary, and the use of Orthodox Christianity as a tool for rallying people against Muslims. In my poster, I’ll evaluate the circumstances surrounding the increase in Islamophobia in Eastern Europe.

Alice in Wonderland Syndrome
Drew Burgess, Florida Atlantic University

Alice in Wonderland Syndrome (AIWS) is a neuropsychological condition in which sufferers believe they are living the life of a fictional character. Like the character, the rare few that experience this syndrome perceive themselves to be smaller or even larger than their surroundings. AIWS is a mysterious disturbance of perception rather than a psychological condition. Its association with migraines is often the focus. Though untreatable, focusing on making the patient more comfortable is advised.

School Gardens to Reduce Inequalities
Clio Chazan-Gabbard, Katherine Evans, Kathryn Fox, University of North Florida

We propose and advocate for a national non-profit organization that would implement, monitor, manage, and facilitate school gardens in underprivileged areas. We believe this is the best way to tackle the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #10 Reduced Inequalities because school gardens in disadvantaged schools can level the playing field for all students, by reducing academic and health disparities, all while helping the environment.

Music Shaped the Counterculture of the 1960s by Capturing Events and Emotions of the Decade in Song
Katherine George, Hillsborough Community College

By examining the popular music of the 1960s, which included The Temptations, Mathew Jones, The Doors, Syl Johnson and Jimi Hendrix, Marmalade, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones, we are able to understand the impact of the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Counterculture moment of the 1960s.

An Event To Remember (Community Service Project)
Hana Kabil, Jonathan O’Berry, University Of North Florida

Our service project poster describes our Honors Colloquium first year experience at UNF where we created a Halloween event for refugee children in Jacksonville, FL. This will focus on our personal experiences and the larger themes that make helping a part of our community impactful especially in a global pandemic.

The New Normal in Education Delivery
Emilee Lopez, Beatriz Natera, Hillsborough Community College

The impact of the pandemic has affected our daily lives, which has directly altered education delivery and our way of learning. Understanding the differences between online and in-person learning is crucial in addressing how students learn best in the current learning environment. An analysis of the different effects these learning platforms have on students (benefits and drawbacks) will serve to provide meaningful change.

A Comparison Between Living Arrangements and Mental Health in University Students
Jessica Miceli, Florida Gulf Coast University

The mental health of university students, particularly first-year students, can suffer when separated from their hometown, family, and friends. The living arrangement choices undergraduate students make can affect their overall mental health. Choosing the best living arrangements for themselves could contribute to a better sense of self and more motivation. The results of our study can be used to assist students in choosing housing or living arrangements that best accommodate their current mental health situation.

Reducing the Destructive Effects of Eutrophication Through Filter Ecosystems
Faith Nevin, Jessica Fliess, Jaelyn Floyd, Scott Caflin, University of North Florida

Eutrophication is a serious issue that is affecting aquatic and human life on a global scale. Eutrophication is caused by an excess of nutrients within an aquatic environment, leading to unnatural growth of algal blooms. This growth is responsible for deaths of organisms by blocking necessary factors for life within the water. This poster explains what eutrophication is, its devastating effects on the environment and society, and what can be done about it.

English Tutors: Level 100/200
Erin Ogrodnik, Eleanor Ascheman, Samantha Brunjes, University of North Florida

Our group spent a semester volunteering with Catholic Charities of Jacksonville to help tutor adult refugees in English. We worked specifically with beginner level students, who had a very basic understanding of the English language. Despite the unconventional, virtual environment, we were still able to make an impact of the lives of the students, helping them to strengthen their conversational English skills. Our experience positively impacted not only the students, but our group as well.

Talking Planimlas! Identifying Genes Associated with Coral Bioacouatics
Camila Rimoldi Ibanez, South Florida State College

Possible genes related to the reception and/or emission of sound were tested to determine its presence in the coral specie Cyphastrea. These genes include WAKL2, Otof, FOLH1, and TRPV. Degenerate primers were developed for these genes which were later amplified via PCR. Agarose gels were utilized to test the presence of these genes. Preliminary trials seem to suggest non-specific amplification occurred during PCR amplification. Further trials are required to reach a well-supported conclusion.

Impact of the Framing Effect on Perceptions of Physical Disabilities
Rebekah Rodriguez, Florida Gulf Coast University

This study examines the impact of frame, or the way in which information is presented, on attitudes toward physical disability. Four hypothetical vignettes describe individuals who vary based on ability (physical disability versus no physical disability) and activity level (physically active versus not physically active). Two validated scales (Attitudes Toward Disabled Persons and competence/warmth stereotype content) assess attitudes. It is predicted that active disability conditions will relate to more positive scores. Results will be discussed.

Finding Biomarkers for Early Alzheimer’s Detection
Savannah Snider, University of West Florida

The purpose of the current research is to identify a biomarker within human cerebral spinal fluid that would be used for early detection of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). To attain this goal, we have used a phage-peptide display to screen for the presence of abnormal forms of tau protein. Because tau is so closely correlated with AD progression, we hypothesize that post-translational changes to tau represent a rational target for further biomarker development.

Florida Tech Reads
Jennifer Tolliver, Florida Institute of Technology

As a member of the Student Honors Council, I led the Florida Tech Reads initiative in which students create audiobooks on a volunteer basis by reading selections from within the public domain. The recordings are made available via YouTube for the benefit of everyone with particular attention to the visually-impaired, English language learners, young readers, and those suffering from eye strain due to the increased screen time resulting from the pandemic.