Category: Oral Presentation
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Vote16
By Cameron Spivy, Alanah Muller, Zoe Rapp Faculty Mentor: Jared McDonald Abstract The Vote 16 movement represents a collaboration of advocates and researchers organizing in favor of lowering the voting age to 16 in the United States. Central to the success of this movement is the ability to persuade skeptical Americans that 16- and 17-year-olds…
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Character Displacement Caused by Closely Related Native and Invasive Species
By Daniel Martinez Faculty Mentor: Dr. Bradley Lamphere Abstract Invasive species living with closely related relatives pose an interesting question for community ecology: How do these species coexist? Typically, in nature, when two closely related species evolve together, they will segregate their niches to reduce competition. We can observe how species reduce competition in sympatric…
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Size Dependent Predation on Eastern Oysters (Crassostrea virginica) in the Tidal Rappahannock Estuary
By Chessa Lowery Faculty Mentor: Bradley Lamphere Abstract The eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) is a commercially important shellfish species with a wide variety of predators in the Chesapeake Bay and Rappahannock river. The cownose ray (Rhinoptera bonasus) is recognized as a major predator of C. virginica, however their impact on C. virginica populations is not…
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Mathematics and the Necessity of Though: A Defense of Rational Realism
By Adelaide Gill Faculty Mentor: Dr. Reno Abstract This paper takes up Jerrold J. Katz’s rational realism and presses on its central tension from the outset. If mathematical truths hold with necessity and do not depend on the world, then they resist any account that ties them to experience or convention, yet they still demand…
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FXBG Beautiful
By Natalie Baki, Brianna Miles, Luke Hearsey, Sam Martin, Grace Gower, Marlowe Ryan Faculty Mentor: Andrea Smith Abstract This presentation reports the findings of the FXBG Beautiful preservation planning lab project. The research team evaluated the evolution of downtown Fredericksburg’s streetscape and storefronts. The methodology integrated GIS mapping of public assets with qualitative data gathered…
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If there is a god, he’ll have to beg for my forgiveness: How Judaism survived World War Two in Poland
By Adam Shinberg Faculty Mentor: Dr. Marcel Rotter Abstract The Jewish people have survived countless pogroms, expulsions, and genocides throughout history and the Holocaust was no different. With over 90% of Poland’s Jewish population being murdered during the Holocaust, the question of how Judaism survived the war arises. The survival of Jewish faith and traditions…
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In Jesus Name: How evangelism was used against Indigenous Peoples and African Americans
By Carolyn Jenkins Faculty Mentor: Dr. Marybeth Mathews Abstract This presentation will demonstrate the evangelism tactics used by missionaries on Indigenous Peoples and the evangelism tactics used against enslaved Africans was detrimental to their cultures. Thesis In Jesus Name.pptx
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Reinforcement Learning: Does Memory Improve an AI’s Performance?
By Olivia Buchanan Faculty Mentor: Evan Coleman Abstract Reinforcement learning (RL) enables AI agents to solve complex problems through trial and error instead of using human-coded instructions. This project investigates how these agents perform when information about the world is hidden from them, a scenario that mimics real-life challenges such as a broken sensor. Specifically,…
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Investigating Methionine Restriction–Induced Pyroptosis as a Mechanism for Enhanced Chemotherapy Response in TNBC
By Brooke Martin Faculty Mentor: Laura Sipe Abstract Investigating Methionine Restriction–Induced Pyroptosis as a Mechanism for Enhanced Chemotherapy Response in TNBC Authors: Brooke Martin, Mallory Thompson, Advisor: Laura Sipe, PhD Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) lacks targetable hormone receptors, making chemotherapy the primary treatment option, therefore investigating ways to make chemotherapy more effective is of clinical…
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Myotube and endothelial cell coculture optimization to determine the effect of DM1 on angiogenesis
By Emily Boyd Faculty Mentor: Ginny Morriss Abstract Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 (DM1) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by CTG repeats and results in muscle wasting. Increased concentration and inactivation of platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β (PDGFRβ) has been reported in a mouse model of DM1 and in DM1 patient muscles. PDGFRβ is involved in…
