Undergraduate Research Day 2024
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Undergraduate Research Day was held at Southern New Hampshire University April 3, 2024. The event featured student work across campus including independent and course-based research projects, posters, video/online games, films, artwork, engineering projects, Makerspace projects, etc.
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Item SNHU's Red-tailed Hawks(Southern New Hampshire University, 2024-04-03) Naska, Makenzie; Morse, Jonathan; Salyards, Emily; York, KatharineDuring our first year at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), in fall 2021, we noticed two Red-tailed hawks on campus that we named Hank and Katy. Throughout the school year, we observed frequent changes to the school environment, like trees that were cut down. The loss of forested areas caused us to worry about the safety of the hawks. We questioned the hawks’ roles on campus and wanted to learn more. Our curiosity led us to initiate this research to educate other students and conserve the hawks’ presence on campus. After about a year, the hawk pair bred and hatched a chick we named Finn. The introduction of a juvenile to the hawk family carried our data along into the 2nd year of research. The guiding questions of our research were (1) How does the family of Red-tailed hawks interact with the SNHU campus and community? and (2) In what area of the campus are the hawks nesting? We used a campus survey, social media, observations, and drone deployment to collect data. We found there was a mutualistic relationship between the campus and the hawks. The campus provided a habitat for the hawks while the hawks controlled animal populations through hunting. We also found that the SNHU community was knowledgeable about the hawks' presence, as shown by their involvement in the survey and social media. We did not locate an exact nesting site. However, we believe that the southern forested area of campus is the most likely location due to the protective habitat provided by the trees. We aim to continue our research through next year by engaging with the community and creating an informative plaque to display our research.Item How Can New Hampshire be Available for Youth with Mental Illness?(Southern New Hampshire University, 2024-04-04) Kelly, McKayla; Gilbert, AdamItem From Dark Days To Musical Ends: A Case Study on the Effects of a Musical Social Event on the Wellbeing of Geriatric Populations with Dementia(Southern New Hampshire University, 2024-04-12) Gage, Olivia; Hendery, MichaelDementia is one of the leading diagnoses of senior citizens. While scientists have started to discover the causes of dementia, there is no cure. Therapists and families turn to compassionate care for their loved ones with a dementia diagnosis during their final years. Music therapy is an upcoming field of therapy established in the 1970s. In recent years, therapists have started to use music therapy as a form of compassionate care. There have been minimal studies conducted to examine the effects of music therapy on the well-being of geriatrics with dementia. Through this study, caretakers of geriatrics with dementia will observe residents over 10 days surrounding a music therapy session. Via self-reported notes or interviews, the observations will be collected and analyzed to determine if there is a significant effect on the well-being of geriatrics with dementia due to music therapy. Through tagging of positive and negative well-being traits, it was concluded that there was not a significant increase in positive well-being. However, there does appear to be a skew in the data due to an increase in residents being observed after music therapy that had negative well-being traits. Comments from a second participant indicate that there may be a correlation between sleep and mental reset canceling out the positive effects of music therapy overnight. This study did not explore this correlation but foresees a possible correlation that could aid in the interpretation of this study in the future.Item Educator Perspectives on Inclusivity and Belonging in the Classroom(Southern New Hampshire University, 2024-04-12) Luby, Shannon; Bergen, AbigailIn 1993, Carol Goodenow and Kathleen Grady “defined school belonging as ‘the extent to which children feel individually welcomed, respected, included, and supported by others within the school social environment’” (Allen, 2022, para. 4). This definition still applies today, but has evolved to include children feeling as though they can be their authentic self in the classroom, even if that is the only place they can be their true self. The intent of this research is to use a survey to examine educator perspectives on inclusive practices, with a focus on two elements of a classroom with a sense of belonging. First, what does an inclusive classroom environment feel like for students, and second, what strategies and practices do teachers implement that create an inclusive classroom? The results of the survey will be analyzed and presented to showcase how educators can ensure all students are celebrated, and to compare the research to what is currently happening in the classroom.Item The Grass Isn't Always Greener on the Sod Side(Southern New Hampshire University, 2024-04-15) Choiniere, Caroline; Collins, Dr. AaronPredatory insects and biological controls may allow for decrease of chemical treatments of sod crops. A study must be conducted to determine the role of biological controls in the quality and production of turfgrass sod.Item Ten Years of Mutations of the Chytrid Fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) in Amphibians Across Varying Climates(Southern New Hampshire University, 2024-04-24) Cardoso, Tyler; Duryea, Dr. KatieThis project will be both joining and spearheading a new avenue for the ongoing chytrid project in examining local frogs for the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. In this project we are taking swabbed samples and performing DNA extraction, PCR, and then gel electrophoresis. These are to show if the samples are positive for chytrid and mark where these positive samples are coming from, as well as age, sex of the frogs, and if they have any external injuries or discoloration. The focus of my topic proposal, is taking primers found on a scientific journal from ten years ago, getting them to replicate with our samples, sending them out to be sangar sequenced. Then, this data will be BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool) against the sample in GenBank from the paper of 10 years ago. The goal is to establish why NH frogs are testing positively for chytrid increasingly, but frogs are not dying. The focus of this project is to examine the genes and see if there are variances that could be responsible for a decrease in mortality rates. The results show that there are currently two strains of chytrid in NH, one which matches the strains of New England over the past ten years, and one that is new to the area. The genetic avenue of this new strain is a factor to be examined further. If this further testing gave information on possible mortality changes, other strains globally can be sequenced and continue one step further to look to what the DNA encodes for. This study will be a gateway to saving frogs.Item Exploring the Dangers of Anabolic Steroid Misuse and the Influence of Social Media(Southern New Hampshire University, 2024-04-27) Brunette, Jennessa; Nwankwo, Adaobi; Duryea, KatieIn this study we examined the impact of social media on anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) misuse through conducting a literature review. We found social media platforms contain image-centric ideology surrounding narratives of body image and fitness ideals. Due to this, societal pressure and misconceptions surrounding AAS pose a significant health risk to individuals who are influenced to use AAS.Item Magnetosphere VR Simulation - Inkwell Studio Project for UNH and NASA MMS Mission Outreach(Southern New Hampshire University, 2024-04-27) Kosa, Jade; Miller, Shea; Furey, Kyle; Parker, Ryan; Cooney, Dennis; Tower, Zachary; Trudelle, Nya; Owen, Joe; Shaepe, Nicholas; Bujno, Kevin; Brillant, EdThe project mission is to create an educational Virtual Reality simulation to demonstrate magnetic fields in space. Our team has reached our Year 1 Milestone goals, which were to create a visually pleasing, easily approachable experience, where the user can throw a particle into these fields and see how it is affected by them. The project will be used for education & outreach in grade K-12 classrooms, as well as at scientific conferences, and to aid researchers in visualizing their work. More information about the NASA Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) Mission can be found here. https://mms.gsfc.nasa.gov/Item Examining Rates of Chytrid Fungal Infections in Male and Female Amphibians(Southern New Hampshire University, 2024-04-29) Thompson, Mikayla; Gravell, Ava; Pietz, Skylar; Turner, Matthew; Duryea, KatieAs SNHU students working to complete the Biology Capstone, we performed DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and gel electrophoresis on samples collected from frogs in environments near campus in order to uncover any cases of chytrid fungus in local frog communities. Studying chytrid fungus deepens our understanding of fungal biology, ecology, and its effects on ecosystems. Particularly, research in frog populations provides crucial insights into disease ecology and transmission patterns. These discoveries guide conservation efforts aimed at protecting endangered amphibians from fungal diseases.