Text
Centre College
presents the 13th annual
Symposium
May 2020
The 2020 Symposium is sponsored by the Dean’s Office
and all academic programs.
May 4, 2020
Dear RICE participants,
Welcome to the thirteenth annual Centre College RICE Symposium! This event is normally
culmination of Undergraduate Research Week. Due to circumstances beyond our control,
have had to rethink the RICE Symposium for this year. However, we wanted to celebrate
achievements of all the work that our students have done this year with our students and
Centre College community.
the
we
the
the
The RICE (Research, Internships, and Creative Endeavors) Symposium is a forum for
showcasing the outstanding research achievements, creative endeavors, and independent projects
completed by Centre students. An integral part of experiential learning is moving beyond the
consumption of existing knowledge to becoming an active contributor of new knowledge. RICE
represents a unique opportunity for students to share their contributions in a professional,
scholarly setting that is made rich by the active participation of many members of our
community.
This year we have 41 presentations from across the academic disciplines, including oral and
poster presentations. These presentations have been archived and made available through the
efforts of the Grace Doherty library. We invite all members of our community to participate in
the various presentations by watching, listening, and leaving questions or comments for our
participants. Most of all, we invite all to enjoy the diversity of what Centre students have to
offer.
Sincerely,
Eva María Cadavid and Karin Gill,
2020 RICE Symposium co-chairs.
Presentation abstracts
Presentations are grouped by divisions and listed in alphabetical order by last name of the
participant.
Division I Humanities
Oral Presentations
Science in Emily Dickinson: Uncovering Circumference, Aly Beckham
Mentor, Dan Manheim, English
During Dickinson’s lifetime in the mid-19th century, as Fred White says, science was
transforming the world, and the conception of humanity’s place in it. Scientific pursuits and
findings were becoming society’s new “Holy Grail in the quest for certainty.” The new emphasis
on empiricism, or the belief that knowledge can only be verified by observation or experience
and not thought or logic, characterized scientific thinking, and epistemological questions of what
constitutes knowledge permeated intellectual circles. The nineteenth century saw an evolution in
science’s definition to mean, as J.A.V. Chapple says, “the systematic study of the material and
natural universe.” This affected Dickinson’s writing and her thinking on the nature of fact and
truth. Through the investigations conducted in her poems, Dickinson studies the world around
her. Dickinson, however, is concerned with capturing the unknowable nature of the phenomena
she examines, content to leave many questions open-ended.
Diversity Audit at BCPL: Reaching the Latinx Community, Lainy Castañeda
Mentor: Laura Chinchilla, Spanish
How is the latinx population represented at the public library? Where do we see latinx
representation? In this presentation I will discuss the Latinx components of a diversity audit I am
conducting at the Boyle County Public Library. It is important to see what groups are being
portrayed in the Young Adult collection so that the public can find what Karen Jensen states as
“mirrors and windows”. “Mirrors” are books that people see themselves being represented in and
“windows” are books where readers can learn about other cultures, ethnic groups, disabilities,
etc. To analyze the collection, I go through the catalog book by book reading summaries, themes,
and genres to categorize the book. Currently at a midway point in the work, I have found a few
patterns when it comes to Latinx representation in the collection that I will explore in detail in
the presentation.
1
“Starlit Dream:” Original Musical Composition for Piano and Violin, Madison Ebel
Mentor: Larry Bitensky, Music
I will be presenting my composition titled “Starlit Dream” written for piano and violin. I will
play the audio track of a live recording and then discuss my creative process and how the piece
came together.
African American Track Athletes at Southern Colleges in the 1960s-1970s, Kit Haist
Mentor: Amy Frederick, Art History
This paper is part of a larger project: a multi-campus ACS grant to build a shared online digital
archive relating to the history of desegregation at Centre College, Furman University, Rollins
College, and Washington and Lee University. As southern colleges founded long before the Civil
Rights movement in the United States, the experiences and stories of our African American
students, staff, and faculty within the historical contexts of our local communities have not been
fully understood, researched, or archived. For our Race, Photography, and America class last
fall, we wrote visual analyses of photographs in the Centre archives relating to the project. This
paper will first provide a brief formal analysis of a Centre College track team photo from 19691970. Using the formal analysis as a point of departure, the paper will then explore the
sociocultural environment African American athletes experienced at southern colleges during the
time.
Memoria Colectiva: Las Madres de Plaza de Mayo y la Guerra Sucia en Argentina,
Madeline Huber
Mentor: Laura Chinchilla, Spanish
La Guerra Sucia (1976-1983) en Argentina era una de las guerras más violentas en Sudamérica
durante el siglo XX. Aún después de la guerra, la población de Argentina tenía miedo de la
memoria de esta época con respeto a la memoria de las víctimas de la violencia. Sin embargo,
para exigir justicia y recordar la víctimas de la guerra, una organización que se llama las Madres
de Plaza de Mayo se formó en 1977, durante la dictadura de Jorge Videla. Todavía una
organización activa hoy en día, las Madres continúan a exigir que Argentina recuerde la
violencia de la Guerra Sucia. En esta presentación, voy a explorar y demonstrar cómo y por qué
las Madres de Plaza de Mayo es un grupo de mujeres que transformaron la memoria pública del
evento con sus memorias individuales.
2
The New Superhero: Authenticating Female Power in "Captain Marvel," Zamira Hussain
Mentor: Stacey Peebles, English/Film
Superhero films have had an unprecedented presence in popular cinema over the last decade.
Many argue that Marvel Studios’ 2008 film, "Iron Man", jumpstarted a mainstream cultural
phenomena with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, it took eleven years before Marvel
Studios released their first [female-led] film, 2019’s "Captain Marvel". This isn’t to say there
haven’t been many other action heroines over the last several decades. However, while
performing an analysis of 2019’s "Captain Marvel", I will address how this depiction seeks to
authenticate female power through physical violence without recourse to the necessary narrative
elements of the early to mid 2000s “action babe cinema.” Range within representation is
important as female heroes deserve to exist in roles and plots that are not reliant on their gender.
Captain Marvel is made multi-dimensional as her femininity and power is allowed to co-exist.
La Fotografía de Paz Errázuriz ; Documentando las Comunidades Marginadas Debajo la
Dictadura Militar de Chile, Rebecca Markham
Mentor: Genny Ballard, Spanish
Chile’s military dictatorship (1973-1990), headed by General Augusto Pinochet, was a period
marked by extreme violence, repression and fear. Throughout Pinochet’s regime, Chilean
photographer Paz Errázuriz photographed marginalized Chilean communities, including sex
workers, psychaitric patients and homeless individuals. Through an investigation of Errázuriz’
work and the sociopolitical context in which she worked, this presentation explores the act of
subversion through photography. Additionally, this presentation examines Errázuriz’
photography as an act of defiance that holds an important place in the historical memory of
Pinochet’s dictatorship.
The Presence of African American Men at Centre College in the Late Nineteenth Century,
Annalise Palmer
Mentor: Amy Frederick, Art History
This paper is part of a larger project: a multi-campus ACS grant to build a shared online digital
archive relating to the history of desegregation at Centre College, Furman University, Rollins
College, and Washington and Lee University. As southern colleges founded long before the Civil
Rights movement in the United States, the experiences and stories of our African American
students, staff, and faculty within the historical contexts of our local communities have not been
3
fully understood, researched, or archived. For our Race, Photography, and America class last
fall, we wrote visual analyses of photographs in the Centre archives relating to the project. This
paper will first offer a visual analysis of a photograph from the 1898 edition of the Ec-Centric
titled “Electricity Laboratory.” The visual analysis will serve as a transition for researching the
employment and possible education of African Americans on southern campuses during the late
nineteenth-century.
Overlooked Precursors to Anglophone Environmental Ethics: Francophone Existentialist
Thinkers, Jacob Potter
Mentor: Christian Wood, French
Modern environmental ethics pulls heavily from anglophone thought and literature. However,
documents like the Brundtland Report, which drive our environmental decision making, have
connections to French existentialism. Thinkers like Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre
argued that each individual is responsible for every consequence of their actions, which leads to
a more holistic approach to decision making. Due to their historical context, texts like The Ethics
of Ambiguity and The Wall focus on personal freedom after a period of fascism instead of
discussing environmentalism. However, many of the same ideas translate to modern ethical
dilemmas we face in our relations with the environment. One of these key challenges is how to
assign responsibility for our effects on the environment, like climate change. Perhaps, an
environmental existentialist framework would give us a clear answer; each individual is
responsible for all of their actions. This presentation will be in French.
Seeing Beyond the Second Sex: An Intersectional Approach to Simone de Beauvoir,
Hannah Reis
Mentor: Christian Wood, French
In 2020, 70 years after the publication of Simone de Beauvoir’s Le Deuxième Sexe, changes in
the perception of identity politics have uncovered gaps in the original text while simultaneously
creating new avenues for the application of de Beauvoir’s theoretical framework. To close this
gap, an intersectional analysis of Le Deuxième Sexe can be undertaken, allowing for the text to
be modernized, therefore regaining a more generalized sense of applicability for use as a
theoretical framework for understanding various forms of social inequality. By marrying de
Beauvoir’s own philosophical work with social theorists addressing issues of race, socioeconomic class, and sexuality, it is possible to apply de Beauvoir’s original work to more
contemporary issues, ensuring that her influential work can maintain its relevance into, and
beyond, this new decade (this RICE presentation will be in French).
4
Performance in Correspondence: The Letters of Emily Dickinson, Diana Smith
Mentor, Dan Manheim, English
Emily Dickinson’s use of language as a kind of performance has been the subject of careful
study, and most scholars are familiar with the obscure, more calculated version of Dickinson we
see in her letters to writer Thomas Higginson. However, fewer readers are familiar with her
letters to her beloved friend, Elizabeth Holland. In this presentation, I will compare the
Dickinson we find in early correspondences with Higginson, a public intellectual whom she did
not meet until eight years into their correspondence, to the Dickinson who emerges from a close
reading of her last letter to Elizabeth Holland, a friend she held so dear that she often referred to
her simply as "sister." By exploring Dickinson's manipulation of identity through her use of
language, I hope to reveal a more candid, sentimental version of the poet than we are used to
seeing: not the Dickinson who distanced people with performative irony, but one who held
friends close through the power of words alone.
Cultural Immersion and Community Engagement in Mérida, México, Brady Swift
Mentor: Satty Flaherty-Echeverría, Spanish
Centre College students visited various "casas digitales", or educational centers, weekly as part
of a community-based learning project while studying in the Yucatán program. Each group of
students was assigned a particular educational center. The students planned and taught the
academic and human enrichment programming at their assigned education centers over the
course of the semester. In this presentation I focus on two important aspects of the experience:
connection and undoing power dynamics.
5
Division II Social Studies
Oral Presentations
Supporting Information Communication Technology Education in Ghana, Princess Allotey
Mentor: Sarrah Murray, Education
This research explored the state of Information Communication Technology (ICT) education in
Ghana, including the current state of ICT integration into the basic, junior and secondary school
curriculums. Some sources used were current literature on ICT education in Ghana, government
policy documents, the national syllabus for ICT, and annual reports on the ICT Basic Education
Certificate Examinations (BECE). Perspectives from experiences with the integration of ICT in
Ghanaian schools were incorporated into this work. Comparisons were made regarding how ICT
is integrated into Singapore, US and Ghana. This presentation provides essential information on
the development of ICT in Ghanaian schools including best practices such as making ICTs
available, accessible and sustainable. These factors are necessary for assisting Ghana as it strives
to incorporate technology into its school curriculum.
An Observational Study: The Approach to the Teaching and Learning of Mathematics in a
Singapore Primary School, Princess Allotey
Mentor: Sarrah Murray, Education
This observational study examined mathematics pedagogy in a primary school in Singapore.
Background information was obtained from a review of literature on education in Singapore. The
participants of the study were fifteen Grades 1 to 6 classes, their respective teachers, school
administrators and mathematics education professors. Data was gathered on factors that might
affect the students’ approach to the teaching and learning of mathematics, including the Teaching
and Learning Materials (TLMs) available, and how mathematics is related to the students’ daily
lives and culture. The school administrators and mathematics education professors interviewed
provided information on programs and teaching practices that have been introduced to help
students effectively explore mathematics and develop an interest in the subject. Findings showed
that the school mostly incorporated activities (such as the Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract approach)
to motivate the students to further explore mathematics.
6
Effective Volunteering: Traditional Societies, Agriculture, and Modernization, Marina
Burke
Mentor: Jean Faye, Environmental Studies
The term “modernization” implies a transformation from a traditional, rural, agrarian society to a
more secular, urban, industrialized one. However, such a process rarely follows a simple and
linear trajectory, and can be rife with misconceptions and judgments in error as Western
ideologies and scientific thought continue to permeate into traditional societies. Drawing from
different theories of development and closely examining successful examples of agricultural
integration between traditional societies and Western practices (including French colonialist),
this research seeks to identify the key distinctions which set apart successful, sustainable
development efforts from failed ones. Central to this success lies a willingness to understand and
participate in the cultural and institutional heritage of traditional societies. Research for this
project is focused on anglophone and francophone sources of various ethnic groups in Western
Africa, with special attention paid to the country.
An Empirical Investigation of the Effect of Education on Economic Growth, Isaiah Bryant
Mentor: Maria Apostolova, Economics and Finance
This paper replicates the results of Mankiw, Romer, and Weil (1992) regarding the contribution
of human capital to economic growth. It also adds variables relating to a country’s openness to
the outside world and the size of a country’s government to understand how these factors impact
economic growth. This paper successfully replicates the conclusion that measures of human
capital do have a significant positive impact on economic growth, and that the convergence
effects exists. Possible extensions include improving the measurement of the investment rate and
the population change.
Understanding Taiwan's Colonial History, Jeffrey Chen
Mentor, John Harney, History and Asian Studies
This research explores the social understanding of Taiwan by conceptualizing Taiwan’s status
during two significant transitions in its history, the seventeenth century Qing expansionism and
the fifty years of Japanese colonial period. The underlying perception of Taiwan being an
uncharted territory is crucial in understanding the notion of Taiwan retrospectively. The
historical accounts and descriptions of Taiwan created a multilayered narrative of Taiwan in its
respective context. The social dynamics of the respective imperial empires constructed a unique
7
hybrid Taiwanese identity in its culture. Built on top of its historical narratives, Taiwan faces a
complex and convoluted barrier in constructing a coherent account of its past; however, through
the lens of its occupied history, Taiwan has always been seen as a separate entity.
“Too Many Birthdays”?: Models for Successful Aging Among Danville’s Senior Citizens,
Hannah Drury, Alice Ensign-George, Lisbegnalis Gonzalez, Jessye Hammonds, Luke Johnson,
Olivia Johnson, Anukriti Kunwar, Maddie Lam, Daniel Low, Giselle Martinez, Ethan Noel,
Aranxa Parra, Jezebel Roldan, Jessica Salyers, and Maggie Sunseri
Mentor: Jamie Shenton
This roundtable presents ongoing research of students in ANT 301: Qualitative Field Methods.
Students are partnering with two eldercare facilities in Danville, KY, one residential and one
non-residential. This research aims to understand fulfillment in old age: What are the dimensions
of emotional, social, and spiritual fulfillment among the elderly in our society? How do
institutions devoted to the elderly facilitate this fulfillment? What are the models for aging our
society has developed, and in what ways do they confirm or contradict the lived experiences of
the elderly? Though multi-sited research involving two different institutions that offer different
kinds of living, learning, and social opportunities, students are exploring these questions in a
variety of ways: gendered and racialized experiences of aging; social versus medical models for
aging; independence and interdependence; creativity; goal-setting; grief and loss; exercise; love
and relationships; among others.
How to Make the Most of Your Money (for College Students), Kore Severance
Mentor: Maria Apostolova, Economics and Finance
Using the book Making the Most of Your Money Now, I will pick out the sections that apply
directly to the typical college age group (18-22) and summarize Jane Bryant Quinn’s financial
advice. I will also use the books Money Honey and Passive Income, Aggressive Retirement: The
Secret to Freedom, Flexibility, and Financial Independence (& how to get started!) by Rachel
Richards, a Centre College Alumna. I will use these sources to create a presentation that looks at
ways for students between the ages of 18 and 22 to build a lasting financial foundation, as well
as improve their current financial situation. My goal is to give practical advice to all students that
can be applied immediately.
8
Poster Presentations
Trouble in the Water: Environmental History and Racism in Danville, Kate Leahey
Mentor: Sara Egge, History
Intrigued by the contamination surrounding Danville’s past landfill locations, I explored the
environmental history of Clark’s Run and surrounding neighborhoods, engaging with themes of
environmental racism and memory-building. Clark’s Run creek was a major water source for
Danville’s early residents. Today, Clark’s Run remains a central point in the community: it’s
where children cool off in the summer, school groups conduct research, and local organizations
host trash clean-ups. However, the creek’s history also includes incidents of contamination from
landfills and industrial waste from nearby factories. Because of the creek’s proximity to
predominantly African-American neighborhoods, the environmental hazards became human
health hazards that disproportionately affected this group of Danville residents. Using newspaper
articles, interviews, and local educational organizations as sources, I discovered connections
between environmental burdens, race, and Danville's racial history.
9
Division III Science and Mathematics
Oral Presentations
The Invisible Female & the Invisible Father: Under-representation in 200 Best-selling
Children's Picture Books, a 2019 Update, Madeline Abell, Allison Perry, and Cathy Yan
Mentor: Mykol Hamilton, Psychology
This content analysis of children’s picture books is a replication, two decades later, of two
published studies by Drs. Hamilton and Anderson and two students. They examined the 200 topselling picture books of 2001 and found that male to female ratios for pictures, title characters,
and main characters, as well as the roles and behaviors of the sexes, showed little to no change
compared to books from the previous few decades. They also analyzed a new variable—the
portrayal of fathers. They predicted, and found, that fathers were both under-represented and
stereotyped. In this study, we analyzed 200 best-sellers of 2019, predicting a degree of
improvement since 2001. But males still greatly outnumber females, and stereotyped roles and
behaviors for females in general and fathers in particular still dominate. The implications of our
findings are important, as picture books are influential in the lives of young children.
How to Promote Prospective Juror Bias Disclosure: Decrease Prehabilitation in Questions,
Increase Dissension in Answers, Annie Ripper and Breanna Olson (Centre Alumni)
Mentor: Mykol Hamilton, Psychology
Typical jury selection questions don't insure impartiality. Hamilton et al. (2015) found that issues
in wording cause social desirability pressure, lowering disclosure of anti-defendant bias. For
example, I might have some difficulty putting aside pretrial publicity increased disclosure
compared to I would be able to. The current experiment replicated the 2015 study and tested a
new hypothesis: dissension by others from the self-serving norm of denying bias would “allow”
participants to dissent more. 109 college students read a newspaper story and watched a video
about a real murder case. We presented false information on percentages of people
acknowledging anti-defendant bias, with control, 60%, and 90% conditions. Participants then
answered putting aside publicity and presuming innocence questions. Both wording and dissent
hypotheses were confirmed. As in the Asch (1951) line study, the 60% and 90% conditions
increased disclosure equally. Implications for voir dire questioning are discussed.
10
Poster Presentations
DNA Interactions with Transition Metal Complexes, Ella Aponte and Madison Jeziorski
Mentor: Erin Watcher, Chemistry
Coordination complexes have exhibited significant anticancer activity through unique binding
and interaction mechanisms with DNA, such as intercalation. A series of ruthenium(II) and
iron(II) complexes were synthesized using polypyridyl ligands.The structure and properties of
these coordination complexes were characterized using NMR spectroscopy and absorbance
spectroscopy. Through absorbance spectroscopy, the interactions between the transition metal
complexes and DNA were studied. The results from the DNA studies could yield information
regarding the binding process of transition metal complexes with DNA.
Stratified Fluids as a Model of Geophysical Systems (Energy Dissipation in Reflecting
Internal Waves), Clayton Bell, Edward Jia and Sili Wu
Mentor: Bruce Rodenborn, Physics
Many geophysical fluid systems have a density that varies as a function of height. For example,
both the Earth’s ocean and atmosphere are such stratified fluids. The density variation allows for
a special type of wave, called internal waves, to propagate within the fluid. In the ocean, these
waves are hidden, but in the atmosphere, we often see clouds that appear in bands, which is
evidence of internal waves propagating in the atmosphere. The Rodenborn lab studies these
systems using laboratory experiments where the density is varied using a salt solution and the
motion of the fluid is measured using cameras and laser illumination. We present interesting
results that may help explain why continental slopes are eroded to a particular angle throughout
the world. We also discuss how density variation affects the stability of the fluid, which is
relevant to how planets first form.
Tourist State of Mind: The Effects of Geography on Dispositional Awe, Personality and
Life Satisfaction, Ellie Bernard and Madison Malloy
Mentor: Matthew Kassner, Psychology
Dispositional awe is an emotion mixed with fear and wonder, which remains fairly stable over
time. This study sought to determine if trait-level awe emerges as a function of the environment.
In this study, 1,001 participants were surveyed throughout the United States to attain individual
levels of dispositional awe and determine geographic region. Each individual was categorized by
personality geo-cluster and ranked by the amount of tourism in their state, as determined by hotel
11
bookings per state. We hypothesized that people from states with higher tourism rates will have
greater dispositional awe. Additionally, we expect to see differences in trait-level awe between
personality clusters, with the highest levels in the relaxed and creative region.
Modifying Polyurethane Cure Rate via Varying Catalyst Concentration, Mackenzie
Conkling with Matthew Hinton, Eric Galindo, Sabine Fuierer, Michael Hargather, and Chelsey
Hargather Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering New Mexico Institute of
Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM
Mentor: Bruce Rodenborn, Physics
Polyurethanes are formed when polymers such as hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene (HTPB)
react with diisocyanates and are commonly used as rigid insulation, adhesives/bonding agent, or
as a binder in solid composite rocket propellant. Polymers cure faster when the amount of
catalyst is varied, which allows for different applications. In this work, the HTPB is cured with
two diisocyanates: touluene diisocynate (TDI) and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI). Dibutyltin
dilaurate (DBTDL) catalyst is used to accelerate the cure rate of the polyurethane, and the
viscosity of the curing polymer is measured as a function of time for a series of curative and
catalytic agents. Conclusions can be drawn on cure rate by measuring viscosity, which increases
with faster cure rate. Experimental data showed that increasing the amount of catalyst increases
the cure rate of the HTPB, and that temperature effects from increased catalyst caused a nonlinear relationship between HTPB viscosity and temperature.
Identification of Vertebrate Fossils from the Middle Devonian in Central-Eastern
Kentucky, Amanda Flatt
Mentor: Amanda Falk, Biology
Central Kentucky is home to the Boyle Formation, dated to be from the Middle Devonian. While
vertebrate fossils have been identified in the geologically younger rocks of the knobs regions of
Kentucky, and invertebrate fossils have been identified from the Boyle Formation, there are no
vertebrate fossils described from the Boyle formation. The purpose of this research is to
determine if vertebrate fossils exist in this locality as well as identify these vertebrates. This will
inform our understanding of the environment in central-eastern Kentucky during the Middle
Devonian. The identification of the fossils was performed by qualitative comparison of the
extracted fossils against the known fossil record. This led to the tentative identification of the
first fossil as a placoderm, as well as possible identification of the second fossil as a rib or neural
spine fragment.
12
Constructing a Yeast-1-Hybrid to Analyze Leaf Senescence Regulation in Medicago
Truncatula, Laura Fryar and Cyrus Salazar
Mentor: Christina García, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology/Biology
Leaf senescence is a late process in plant development when cells are broken down and nutrients
are transported to other parts in the plant and has important applications in agriculture. Previous
research has indicated that the asparagine-synthetase 1 gene (AS1) and two transcription factors
of the MADSBox gene family are upregulated during senescence in the legume plant Medicago
truncatula. By constructing a yeast-1-hybrid assay of these transcription factors and the AS1
gene, it can be determined if these transcription factors are involved in the regulation of
senescence and nutrient mobilization in legume plants. Results indicate that half of the control
yeast-1-hybrid system has been successfully constructed, providing groundwork to complete the
control yeast-1-hybrid and begin constructing the assay with the AS1 gene and transcription
factors.
Relaxed Subproblems for Dominance Queries in Conditional Preference Network, Liu
Jiang and Michael Ramage
Mentor: Thomas Allen, Computer Science
Conditional preference networks (CP-nets) have received significant attention for modeling
preferences over combinations of features. However, inferring from a CP-net whether one
outcome is preferred over another is NP-hard, requiring exponential time in practice. In our
project, we introduce using disjoint relaxed subproblems as a heuristic for faster inference from
CP-nets. We show how to partition the dependency graph and conditional preference tables of a
relatively large network into small problems that can be solved easily. These solutions can be
stored in a pattern database to guide heuristic search. We prove that our heuristic function is
consistent and admissible, guaranteeing optimality and completeness. We show from
experiments on randomly generated binary and multivalued CP-nets that the method scales better
for large problems and can be combined with other pruning techniques to answer dominance
queries multiple times faster than the state-of-the-art methods.
Testing the Animal=Male Bias Among School Aged Children, Katie Kamenish
Mentor: Mykol Hamilton, Psychology
In a study titled "The Animal = Male Hypothesis: Children’s and Adults’ Beliefs About the Sex
of Non–Sex-Specific Stuffed Animals" , researchers found that children are more likely to
13
gender an animal as male if no specifying information is given. This bias reveals a preference for
male mental imagery over female even in children as young as three years old, and modeling
interventions by adults have yet to prove successful. The current study aims to see if this bias
persists when the animals are presented as stuffed animals rather than as photographs.
Participants, children aged 6-10 years, will be shown various stuffed animals and asked a series
of questions, including what the animal's name is and if the child can tell a story about the
animal. Data will be coded by marking which pronouns the children use to describe the animal.
By determining the extent to which this bias persist across modalities, researchers will have more
information with which to develop a successful modeling.
The Effects of Indoor Live Plant Presence on Physiological and Psychological Markers of
Stress and Mood, Katie Kamenish
Mentor: Aaron Godlaski, Behavioral Neuroscience
A growing body of research has demonstrated the physiological and psychological benefits of
viewing natural landscapes, including reduced physiological stress, increased parasympathetic
nervous system activity, and improved mood states. More specifically, visual stimulation of
foliage plants induces psychological relaxation as indicated by measures of prefrontal cortex
activity and mood state profiles. These findings extend to the distinction between live and
artificial plants, in which the live plants produce more relaxed and comfortable feelings than the
artificial alternative. Additionally, indoor plant exposure may improve performance on tasks
involving attention capacity. Explanations for these effects have ranged from an evolutionary
preference for natural environments to the release of organic compounds called phytoncides by
plants and trees. Although there is existing literature regarding the effects of indoor plant
exposure, further research is necessary.
New Methods for Analyzing the Microfossil Tasmanites from the Devonian Biotic Crisis in
Kentucky, Lee Kendall
Mentor: Amanda Falk, Biology
The Late Devonian extinction is believed to have eliminated at least 70% of the species on Earth.
However, it remains unclear if this mass extinction took place over a short or extended period of
time. The goal of this research project is to shed light on the general ecological conditions of the
Devonian period, so that we can better understand the length of the Late Devonian extinction. To
accomplish this, we plan on performing a stable nitrogen isotope analysis on algal specimens
from the genus Tasmanites, dating from the middle of the Devonian period. This requires
chemically cleaning Tasmanites specimens in bulk, as residual rock matrix would interfere with
14
the analysis. Here we tested multiple potential methods for processing Tasmanites specimens in
large quantities, in preparation for an eventual stable nitrogen isotope analysis.
Microscopic Swimming (Building Bacterial Robots), Jin Lee and Jake Pfaller
Mentor: Bruce Rodenborn, Physics
The swimming of microorganisms is typically studied using biological experiments or numerical
simulations because of the difficulty of making microscopic measurements of forces and torques.
Our research group uses robots that are about 10 cm in size, but we cannot use water as the fluid
because of the size difference. Instead, we use a highly viscous silicone oil that is 100,000X
more viscous than water. We can then measure the forces and torques more easily since
microorganisms that are typically 10 µ m. Our models let us explore fundamental theories and
compare them to the laboratory data.
The Lifeways of Kamakami Village in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Madison Luken
Mentor: Aaron Godlaski, Behavioral Neuroscience
The landscape of Kawakami Village has undergone physical and cultural changes in response to
the evolution of agriculture and fuel production in Yamaguchi prefecture, the mountainous
region on the southernmost tip of the Honshū mainland of Japan where it resides. The Abugawa
Dam that sits at the doorstep of the local Abugawa Museum of History and Folklife necessitated
that the land where Kawakami Village previously resided be submerged underwater in 1966.
Still, old river boats remain to tell the story of ayu fishing and the fishing of now endangered
cherry salmon, while rafts and sickles expound upon the logging of Japanese cedar and cypress
that displaced many native deciduous trees. Ultimately, the lifeways of the people who once
lived in Kawakami Village reveal the beauty of mountain village life as well as the effects of the
encroachment of pressures of modernization after the Meiji Restoration.
The Effect of a Putative UDP-N-Acetylglucosamine Enolpyruvyl Transferase (Mur A)
Inhibitor Combination on the Eukaryote Tetrahymena, Taylor Luken and Ainsley King
Mentor: Peggy Richey, Biology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
New drug treatments are needed to combat the serious threat that antibiotic-resistant bacterial
pathogens pose to public health. The enzyme UDP-N-acetylglucosamine enolpyruvyl
15
transferase(MurA) catalyzes the first step in the synthesis of peptidoglycan, a crucial component
of bacterial cell walls. Consequently, MurA presents an excellent target for antibacterial drugs.
An in silico analysis indicated that 1,3,4-cyclohexane tricarboxylic acid (LT040) may inhibit
MurA. LT040 has been shown to partially inhibit some bacteria by itself, and completely inhibit
the same bacteria in combination with fosfomycin, a MurA inhibitor. Because bacteria are
prokaryotes, it was hypothesized that neither fosfomycin, LT040, nor the combination will
inhibit eukaryotes because they do not synthesize MurA. To evaluate the effect of fosfomycin
and LT040 on a eukaryote, the growth of Tetrahymena, a protist, in the presence of the drugs
was determined. Results revealed that the growth of Tetrahymena was not hindered.
Does Virtual Reality Gaming Make You Smarter? Marissa Metzger
Mentor: Melissa Burns-Cusato, Behavioral Neuroscience
Current literature focuses on traditional gaming platforms (e.g., PC games, and gaming consoles)
and has found evidence that suggests individuals who play video games that use complex and
dynamic settings show an increase in cognitive performance. Recently, more advanced and
immersive technology has been gaining popularity in the gaming community. The current study
aims to explore the effects of advanced game play, using immersive virtual reality (VR) on
cognitive performance. Results suggest that playing 8 hours of video games using VR
technology improved cognitive performance in the areas of memory, attention, and processing
speed. However, the improvement in processing speed for the CTL arm, suggests a potential
practice effect in this measure. Accordingly, the processing speed outcomes for the VR arm
should be interpreted with caution.
VR Induced Awe Effects on Ingroup/Outgroup Charity Giving, Dominic Nayan, Kristen
Mulcahy, and Luis Barreras
Mentor: Matthew Kassner, Psychology
Awe is defined by a perceived vastness followed by the need for accommodation, or put more
simply, as something perceptually massive or grand that requires a reworking of prior schemas
and conceptions (Keltner & Haidt, 2003). These characteristics of awe are true across several
domains, including social, aesthetic, natural and religious awe. A unique characteristic of awe is
that it can be both positively and negatively valenced. However, the study of awe has remained
relatively underdeveloped, particularly its role in prosocial behavior. In regards to prosocial
behavior, an earlier study indicates that awe increases one’s willingness to help others (Piff et al.,
2015). This may be due to awe’s association with increasing one’s sense of self as a part of a
greater whole; awe encourages the individual to think less of his/herself and more of the group
16
(Shiota et al., 2007). Awe has also been seen to increase the perception of time when helping
others. In addition, awe can increase the value of experiences over material rewards, and increase
overall happiness (Piff et al., 2012), which shows how it can affect perceptions. The foundational
component of awe and prosocial behavior has been set. The purpose of this experiment is to
expand the literature and examine whether virtual reality induced awe creates preferential
prosocial behavior towards one’s ingroup and/or outgroup.
Synthesis and Spectroscopy of Iron and Ruthenium Complexes, Will Newton
Mentor: Erin Watcher, Chemistry
Coordination complexes have become increasingly more important to anticancer studies within
the past few years due to their capacity to bind with DNA through multiple methods. Metal
polypyridyl complexes have been shown to bind with DNA through electrostatics or intercalation
with high affinities depending on the ligands present.1 The synthesis of various polypydriyl
ligands was performed and characterized through NMR, and then were attached to metal centers
to form target coordination complexes. Of particular interest were the analogous ruthenium(II)
tris-2,2-bipyridine and iron(II) tris-2,2-bipyridine complexes, which were successfully
synthesized, analyzed through NMR and absorbance spectroscopy, and the different
characteristics of these complexes were observed.
Stop and Smell the Paint: Time, Knowledge, and the Perceived Value of Art, Caroline K.
Stallings, Sarah Mandviwala, and Carter J. Alvey
Mentor: Drew Morris, Psychology
Study 1 found that those who self-report higher knowledge about art value paintings significantly
less than those with less knowledge. Study 2 looks to explore how time spent viewing the piece
is a factor in the perceived value of the artwork. Participants were invited to view a piece of art
and rate how valuable they thought it was. Time spent viewing the piece was recorded. A test of
mediation was used to find the relationship between the three variables, with knowledge as a
predictor of value, and time as the mediator. Results show that knowledge about art does not
predict how valuable the piece of art was rated (p=.802). However, knowledge does predict time
spent looking at the piece (p=.026, r=.66), and time spent looking predicts value (p=.016, r=.25). Those trying to increase the perceived value of art, may benefit from limiting the amount of
time spent assessing it.
17
Improving Cancer Cytotoxicity of Mithramycin Analogues with Semi-Synthetic
Derivatives, Marielena Villaran
Mentor: Daniel Scott, Chemistry
Mithramycin (MTM) is an antibiotic produced naturally by the bacterium Streptomyces
argillaceous. With the use of genetically engineered M7W1 mutant strain, the bacteria produces
three new MTM analogues: MTM SK, MTM SDK, MTM SA. MTM SK and MTM SDK are
more effective anticancer agents, while MTM SA is much less effective. The difference between
MTM SA and the other analogues is the presence of a carboxylic acid in a key location, which is
also thought to be the cause for the decreased cytotoxicity. In order to improve its anticancer
ability, small molecules were used to modify MTM SA and remove the carboxylic acid. Using
cytotoxicity assays with non-small cell lung cancer cells, the new derivatives showed significant
cytotoxicity improvement compared to both MTM SA and MTM SK/SDK. Current work is
focused on scaling up the reactions to allow complete structural characterization with NMR and
mass spectrometry.
Retinol Esterification in the Hepatopancreas of the American Lobster (Homarus
Americanus), Collin Wells, Olivia Honaker, and Yuzhang Li
Mentor: Stephanie Dew, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Vitamin A (retinol) is a necessary nutrient in higher animals. In mammals, the pathways by
which retinol is transported and metabolized are well described. One important reaction in these
pathways is the conversion of retinol into retinyl esters, which occurs in several tissues,
including the small intestine, liver, and eye. Little is known about the conversion of retinol into
retinyl esters in invertebrates. We have identified an acyl-CoA:retinol acyltransferase activity in
the hepatopancreas of the American lobster (Homarus americanus). This activity shows a linear
dependence on time and microsome concentration. It shows temperature dependence and an
optimal pH of 6.5. We have characterized its acyl-CoA preference and determined Km and
Vmax values for both retinol and acyl-CoA.
18
Committee
2020 RICE SYMPOSIUM COMMITTEE
Eva María Cadavid
Karin Gill
Ellen Goldey
RICE Symposium Co-chair
RICE Symposium Co-chair
Vice President for Academic Affairs and
Dean of the College
CENTER FOR TEACHING AND
LEARNING
Robyn Cutright
Interim Director of the Center for Teaching
and Learning
Kristi Burch
Academic Technology Specialist
Lisa Curlis
Office Manager
Andrew Patrick
Assistant Director of CTL & Experiential
Learning Coordinator
Todd Sheene
Event and Video Production Coordinator
Candace Wentz
Assistant Director of CTL & Instructional
Technology and Design Coordinator
MEMBERS OF THE UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH COMMITTEE
Katherine Andrew
Sponsored Research Specialist
Academic Affairs
Associate Professor of Philosophy
Associate Professor of History
Assistant Professor of Spanish
Assistant Professor of Behavioral
Neuroscience
Assistant Professor of International Studies
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Eva María Cadavid
Sara Egge
Satty Flaherty-Echeverría
Karin Gill
Petra Hendrickson
Matthew Kassner
Karoline Manny
Reference, Instruction and Assessment
Librarian
Assistant Professor of History (ex-officio)
Professor of Biology and Biochemistry &
Molecular Biology
Andrew Patrick
Peggy Richey
19
Bruce Rodenborn
Assistant Professor of Physics
Daniel Scott
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
A special thank you to Grace Doherty Library and Mary Girard, Digital Scholarship Librarian,
for making virtual RICE possible.
20
presents the 13th annual
Symposium
May 2020
The 2020 Symposium is sponsored by the Dean’s Office
and all academic programs.
May 4, 2020
Dear RICE participants,
Welcome to the thirteenth annual Centre College RICE Symposium! This event is normally
culmination of Undergraduate Research Week. Due to circumstances beyond our control,
have had to rethink the RICE Symposium for this year. However, we wanted to celebrate
achievements of all the work that our students have done this year with our students and
Centre College community.
the
we
the
the
The RICE (Research, Internships, and Creative Endeavors) Symposium is a forum for
showcasing the outstanding research achievements, creative endeavors, and independent projects
completed by Centre students. An integral part of experiential learning is moving beyond the
consumption of existing knowledge to becoming an active contributor of new knowledge. RICE
represents a unique opportunity for students to share their contributions in a professional,
scholarly setting that is made rich by the active participation of many members of our
community.
This year we have 41 presentations from across the academic disciplines, including oral and
poster presentations. These presentations have been archived and made available through the
efforts of the Grace Doherty library. We invite all members of our community to participate in
the various presentations by watching, listening, and leaving questions or comments for our
participants. Most of all, we invite all to enjoy the diversity of what Centre students have to
offer.
Sincerely,
Eva María Cadavid and Karin Gill,
2020 RICE Symposium co-chairs.
Presentation abstracts
Presentations are grouped by divisions and listed in alphabetical order by last name of the
participant.
Division I Humanities
Oral Presentations
Science in Emily Dickinson: Uncovering Circumference, Aly Beckham
Mentor, Dan Manheim, English
During Dickinson’s lifetime in the mid-19th century, as Fred White says, science was
transforming the world, and the conception of humanity’s place in it. Scientific pursuits and
findings were becoming society’s new “Holy Grail in the quest for certainty.” The new emphasis
on empiricism, or the belief that knowledge can only be verified by observation or experience
and not thought or logic, characterized scientific thinking, and epistemological questions of what
constitutes knowledge permeated intellectual circles. The nineteenth century saw an evolution in
science’s definition to mean, as J.A.V. Chapple says, “the systematic study of the material and
natural universe.” This affected Dickinson’s writing and her thinking on the nature of fact and
truth. Through the investigations conducted in her poems, Dickinson studies the world around
her. Dickinson, however, is concerned with capturing the unknowable nature of the phenomena
she examines, content to leave many questions open-ended.
Diversity Audit at BCPL: Reaching the Latinx Community, Lainy Castañeda
Mentor: Laura Chinchilla, Spanish
How is the latinx population represented at the public library? Where do we see latinx
representation? In this presentation I will discuss the Latinx components of a diversity audit I am
conducting at the Boyle County Public Library. It is important to see what groups are being
portrayed in the Young Adult collection so that the public can find what Karen Jensen states as
“mirrors and windows”. “Mirrors” are books that people see themselves being represented in and
“windows” are books where readers can learn about other cultures, ethnic groups, disabilities,
etc. To analyze the collection, I go through the catalog book by book reading summaries, themes,
and genres to categorize the book. Currently at a midway point in the work, I have found a few
patterns when it comes to Latinx representation in the collection that I will explore in detail in
the presentation.
1
“Starlit Dream:” Original Musical Composition for Piano and Violin, Madison Ebel
Mentor: Larry Bitensky, Music
I will be presenting my composition titled “Starlit Dream” written for piano and violin. I will
play the audio track of a live recording and then discuss my creative process and how the piece
came together.
African American Track Athletes at Southern Colleges in the 1960s-1970s, Kit Haist
Mentor: Amy Frederick, Art History
This paper is part of a larger project: a multi-campus ACS grant to build a shared online digital
archive relating to the history of desegregation at Centre College, Furman University, Rollins
College, and Washington and Lee University. As southern colleges founded long before the Civil
Rights movement in the United States, the experiences and stories of our African American
students, staff, and faculty within the historical contexts of our local communities have not been
fully understood, researched, or archived. For our Race, Photography, and America class last
fall, we wrote visual analyses of photographs in the Centre archives relating to the project. This
paper will first provide a brief formal analysis of a Centre College track team photo from 19691970. Using the formal analysis as a point of departure, the paper will then explore the
sociocultural environment African American athletes experienced at southern colleges during the
time.
Memoria Colectiva: Las Madres de Plaza de Mayo y la Guerra Sucia en Argentina,
Madeline Huber
Mentor: Laura Chinchilla, Spanish
La Guerra Sucia (1976-1983) en Argentina era una de las guerras más violentas en Sudamérica
durante el siglo XX. Aún después de la guerra, la población de Argentina tenía miedo de la
memoria de esta época con respeto a la memoria de las víctimas de la violencia. Sin embargo,
para exigir justicia y recordar la víctimas de la guerra, una organización que se llama las Madres
de Plaza de Mayo se formó en 1977, durante la dictadura de Jorge Videla. Todavía una
organización activa hoy en día, las Madres continúan a exigir que Argentina recuerde la
violencia de la Guerra Sucia. En esta presentación, voy a explorar y demonstrar cómo y por qué
las Madres de Plaza de Mayo es un grupo de mujeres que transformaron la memoria pública del
evento con sus memorias individuales.
2
The New Superhero: Authenticating Female Power in "Captain Marvel," Zamira Hussain
Mentor: Stacey Peebles, English/Film
Superhero films have had an unprecedented presence in popular cinema over the last decade.
Many argue that Marvel Studios’ 2008 film, "Iron Man", jumpstarted a mainstream cultural
phenomena with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, it took eleven years before Marvel
Studios released their first [female-led] film, 2019’s "Captain Marvel". This isn’t to say there
haven’t been many other action heroines over the last several decades. However, while
performing an analysis of 2019’s "Captain Marvel", I will address how this depiction seeks to
authenticate female power through physical violence without recourse to the necessary narrative
elements of the early to mid 2000s “action babe cinema.” Range within representation is
important as female heroes deserve to exist in roles and plots that are not reliant on their gender.
Captain Marvel is made multi-dimensional as her femininity and power is allowed to co-exist.
La Fotografía de Paz Errázuriz ; Documentando las Comunidades Marginadas Debajo la
Dictadura Militar de Chile, Rebecca Markham
Mentor: Genny Ballard, Spanish
Chile’s military dictatorship (1973-1990), headed by General Augusto Pinochet, was a period
marked by extreme violence, repression and fear. Throughout Pinochet’s regime, Chilean
photographer Paz Errázuriz photographed marginalized Chilean communities, including sex
workers, psychaitric patients and homeless individuals. Through an investigation of Errázuriz’
work and the sociopolitical context in which she worked, this presentation explores the act of
subversion through photography. Additionally, this presentation examines Errázuriz’
photography as an act of defiance that holds an important place in the historical memory of
Pinochet’s dictatorship.
The Presence of African American Men at Centre College in the Late Nineteenth Century,
Annalise Palmer
Mentor: Amy Frederick, Art History
This paper is part of a larger project: a multi-campus ACS grant to build a shared online digital
archive relating to the history of desegregation at Centre College, Furman University, Rollins
College, and Washington and Lee University. As southern colleges founded long before the Civil
Rights movement in the United States, the experiences and stories of our African American
students, staff, and faculty within the historical contexts of our local communities have not been
3
fully understood, researched, or archived. For our Race, Photography, and America class last
fall, we wrote visual analyses of photographs in the Centre archives relating to the project. This
paper will first offer a visual analysis of a photograph from the 1898 edition of the Ec-Centric
titled “Electricity Laboratory.” The visual analysis will serve as a transition for researching the
employment and possible education of African Americans on southern campuses during the late
nineteenth-century.
Overlooked Precursors to Anglophone Environmental Ethics: Francophone Existentialist
Thinkers, Jacob Potter
Mentor: Christian Wood, French
Modern environmental ethics pulls heavily from anglophone thought and literature. However,
documents like the Brundtland Report, which drive our environmental decision making, have
connections to French existentialism. Thinkers like Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre
argued that each individual is responsible for every consequence of their actions, which leads to
a more holistic approach to decision making. Due to their historical context, texts like The Ethics
of Ambiguity and The Wall focus on personal freedom after a period of fascism instead of
discussing environmentalism. However, many of the same ideas translate to modern ethical
dilemmas we face in our relations with the environment. One of these key challenges is how to
assign responsibility for our effects on the environment, like climate change. Perhaps, an
environmental existentialist framework would give us a clear answer; each individual is
responsible for all of their actions. This presentation will be in French.
Seeing Beyond the Second Sex: An Intersectional Approach to Simone de Beauvoir,
Hannah Reis
Mentor: Christian Wood, French
In 2020, 70 years after the publication of Simone de Beauvoir’s Le Deuxième Sexe, changes in
the perception of identity politics have uncovered gaps in the original text while simultaneously
creating new avenues for the application of de Beauvoir’s theoretical framework. To close this
gap, an intersectional analysis of Le Deuxième Sexe can be undertaken, allowing for the text to
be modernized, therefore regaining a more generalized sense of applicability for use as a
theoretical framework for understanding various forms of social inequality. By marrying de
Beauvoir’s own philosophical work with social theorists addressing issues of race, socioeconomic class, and sexuality, it is possible to apply de Beauvoir’s original work to more
contemporary issues, ensuring that her influential work can maintain its relevance into, and
beyond, this new decade (this RICE presentation will be in French).
4
Performance in Correspondence: The Letters of Emily Dickinson, Diana Smith
Mentor, Dan Manheim, English
Emily Dickinson’s use of language as a kind of performance has been the subject of careful
study, and most scholars are familiar with the obscure, more calculated version of Dickinson we
see in her letters to writer Thomas Higginson. However, fewer readers are familiar with her
letters to her beloved friend, Elizabeth Holland. In this presentation, I will compare the
Dickinson we find in early correspondences with Higginson, a public intellectual whom she did
not meet until eight years into their correspondence, to the Dickinson who emerges from a close
reading of her last letter to Elizabeth Holland, a friend she held so dear that she often referred to
her simply as "sister." By exploring Dickinson's manipulation of identity through her use of
language, I hope to reveal a more candid, sentimental version of the poet than we are used to
seeing: not the Dickinson who distanced people with performative irony, but one who held
friends close through the power of words alone.
Cultural Immersion and Community Engagement in Mérida, México, Brady Swift
Mentor: Satty Flaherty-Echeverría, Spanish
Centre College students visited various "casas digitales", or educational centers, weekly as part
of a community-based learning project while studying in the Yucatán program. Each group of
students was assigned a particular educational center. The students planned and taught the
academic and human enrichment programming at their assigned education centers over the
course of the semester. In this presentation I focus on two important aspects of the experience:
connection and undoing power dynamics.
5
Division II Social Studies
Oral Presentations
Supporting Information Communication Technology Education in Ghana, Princess Allotey
Mentor: Sarrah Murray, Education
This research explored the state of Information Communication Technology (ICT) education in
Ghana, including the current state of ICT integration into the basic, junior and secondary school
curriculums. Some sources used were current literature on ICT education in Ghana, government
policy documents, the national syllabus for ICT, and annual reports on the ICT Basic Education
Certificate Examinations (BECE). Perspectives from experiences with the integration of ICT in
Ghanaian schools were incorporated into this work. Comparisons were made regarding how ICT
is integrated into Singapore, US and Ghana. This presentation provides essential information on
the development of ICT in Ghanaian schools including best practices such as making ICTs
available, accessible and sustainable. These factors are necessary for assisting Ghana as it strives
to incorporate technology into its school curriculum.
An Observational Study: The Approach to the Teaching and Learning of Mathematics in a
Singapore Primary School, Princess Allotey
Mentor: Sarrah Murray, Education
This observational study examined mathematics pedagogy in a primary school in Singapore.
Background information was obtained from a review of literature on education in Singapore. The
participants of the study were fifteen Grades 1 to 6 classes, their respective teachers, school
administrators and mathematics education professors. Data was gathered on factors that might
affect the students’ approach to the teaching and learning of mathematics, including the Teaching
and Learning Materials (TLMs) available, and how mathematics is related to the students’ daily
lives and culture. The school administrators and mathematics education professors interviewed
provided information on programs and teaching practices that have been introduced to help
students effectively explore mathematics and develop an interest in the subject. Findings showed
that the school mostly incorporated activities (such as the Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract approach)
to motivate the students to further explore mathematics.
6
Effective Volunteering: Traditional Societies, Agriculture, and Modernization, Marina
Burke
Mentor: Jean Faye, Environmental Studies
The term “modernization” implies a transformation from a traditional, rural, agrarian society to a
more secular, urban, industrialized one. However, such a process rarely follows a simple and
linear trajectory, and can be rife with misconceptions and judgments in error as Western
ideologies and scientific thought continue to permeate into traditional societies. Drawing from
different theories of development and closely examining successful examples of agricultural
integration between traditional societies and Western practices (including French colonialist),
this research seeks to identify the key distinctions which set apart successful, sustainable
development efforts from failed ones. Central to this success lies a willingness to understand and
participate in the cultural and institutional heritage of traditional societies. Research for this
project is focused on anglophone and francophone sources of various ethnic groups in Western
Africa, with special attention paid to the country.
An Empirical Investigation of the Effect of Education on Economic Growth, Isaiah Bryant
Mentor: Maria Apostolova, Economics and Finance
This paper replicates the results of Mankiw, Romer, and Weil (1992) regarding the contribution
of human capital to economic growth. It also adds variables relating to a country’s openness to
the outside world and the size of a country’s government to understand how these factors impact
economic growth. This paper successfully replicates the conclusion that measures of human
capital do have a significant positive impact on economic growth, and that the convergence
effects exists. Possible extensions include improving the measurement of the investment rate and
the population change.
Understanding Taiwan's Colonial History, Jeffrey Chen
Mentor, John Harney, History and Asian Studies
This research explores the social understanding of Taiwan by conceptualizing Taiwan’s status
during two significant transitions in its history, the seventeenth century Qing expansionism and
the fifty years of Japanese colonial period. The underlying perception of Taiwan being an
uncharted territory is crucial in understanding the notion of Taiwan retrospectively. The
historical accounts and descriptions of Taiwan created a multilayered narrative of Taiwan in its
respective context. The social dynamics of the respective imperial empires constructed a unique
7
hybrid Taiwanese identity in its culture. Built on top of its historical narratives, Taiwan faces a
complex and convoluted barrier in constructing a coherent account of its past; however, through
the lens of its occupied history, Taiwan has always been seen as a separate entity.
“Too Many Birthdays”?: Models for Successful Aging Among Danville’s Senior Citizens,
Hannah Drury, Alice Ensign-George, Lisbegnalis Gonzalez, Jessye Hammonds, Luke Johnson,
Olivia Johnson, Anukriti Kunwar, Maddie Lam, Daniel Low, Giselle Martinez, Ethan Noel,
Aranxa Parra, Jezebel Roldan, Jessica Salyers, and Maggie Sunseri
Mentor: Jamie Shenton
This roundtable presents ongoing research of students in ANT 301: Qualitative Field Methods.
Students are partnering with two eldercare facilities in Danville, KY, one residential and one
non-residential. This research aims to understand fulfillment in old age: What are the dimensions
of emotional, social, and spiritual fulfillment among the elderly in our society? How do
institutions devoted to the elderly facilitate this fulfillment? What are the models for aging our
society has developed, and in what ways do they confirm or contradict the lived experiences of
the elderly? Though multi-sited research involving two different institutions that offer different
kinds of living, learning, and social opportunities, students are exploring these questions in a
variety of ways: gendered and racialized experiences of aging; social versus medical models for
aging; independence and interdependence; creativity; goal-setting; grief and loss; exercise; love
and relationships; among others.
How to Make the Most of Your Money (for College Students), Kore Severance
Mentor: Maria Apostolova, Economics and Finance
Using the book Making the Most of Your Money Now, I will pick out the sections that apply
directly to the typical college age group (18-22) and summarize Jane Bryant Quinn’s financial
advice. I will also use the books Money Honey and Passive Income, Aggressive Retirement: The
Secret to Freedom, Flexibility, and Financial Independence (& how to get started!) by Rachel
Richards, a Centre College Alumna. I will use these sources to create a presentation that looks at
ways for students between the ages of 18 and 22 to build a lasting financial foundation, as well
as improve their current financial situation. My goal is to give practical advice to all students that
can be applied immediately.
8
Poster Presentations
Trouble in the Water: Environmental History and Racism in Danville, Kate Leahey
Mentor: Sara Egge, History
Intrigued by the contamination surrounding Danville’s past landfill locations, I explored the
environmental history of Clark’s Run and surrounding neighborhoods, engaging with themes of
environmental racism and memory-building. Clark’s Run creek was a major water source for
Danville’s early residents. Today, Clark’s Run remains a central point in the community: it’s
where children cool off in the summer, school groups conduct research, and local organizations
host trash clean-ups. However, the creek’s history also includes incidents of contamination from
landfills and industrial waste from nearby factories. Because of the creek’s proximity to
predominantly African-American neighborhoods, the environmental hazards became human
health hazards that disproportionately affected this group of Danville residents. Using newspaper
articles, interviews, and local educational organizations as sources, I discovered connections
between environmental burdens, race, and Danville's racial history.
9
Division III Science and Mathematics
Oral Presentations
The Invisible Female & the Invisible Father: Under-representation in 200 Best-selling
Children's Picture Books, a 2019 Update, Madeline Abell, Allison Perry, and Cathy Yan
Mentor: Mykol Hamilton, Psychology
This content analysis of children’s picture books is a replication, two decades later, of two
published studies by Drs. Hamilton and Anderson and two students. They examined the 200 topselling picture books of 2001 and found that male to female ratios for pictures, title characters,
and main characters, as well as the roles and behaviors of the sexes, showed little to no change
compared to books from the previous few decades. They also analyzed a new variable—the
portrayal of fathers. They predicted, and found, that fathers were both under-represented and
stereotyped. In this study, we analyzed 200 best-sellers of 2019, predicting a degree of
improvement since 2001. But males still greatly outnumber females, and stereotyped roles and
behaviors for females in general and fathers in particular still dominate. The implications of our
findings are important, as picture books are influential in the lives of young children.
How to Promote Prospective Juror Bias Disclosure: Decrease Prehabilitation in Questions,
Increase Dissension in Answers, Annie Ripper and Breanna Olson (Centre Alumni)
Mentor: Mykol Hamilton, Psychology
Typical jury selection questions don't insure impartiality. Hamilton et al. (2015) found that issues
in wording cause social desirability pressure, lowering disclosure of anti-defendant bias. For
example, I might have some difficulty putting aside pretrial publicity increased disclosure
compared to I would be able to. The current experiment replicated the 2015 study and tested a
new hypothesis: dissension by others from the self-serving norm of denying bias would “allow”
participants to dissent more. 109 college students read a newspaper story and watched a video
about a real murder case. We presented false information on percentages of people
acknowledging anti-defendant bias, with control, 60%, and 90% conditions. Participants then
answered putting aside publicity and presuming innocence questions. Both wording and dissent
hypotheses were confirmed. As in the Asch (1951) line study, the 60% and 90% conditions
increased disclosure equally. Implications for voir dire questioning are discussed.
10
Poster Presentations
DNA Interactions with Transition Metal Complexes, Ella Aponte and Madison Jeziorski
Mentor: Erin Watcher, Chemistry
Coordination complexes have exhibited significant anticancer activity through unique binding
and interaction mechanisms with DNA, such as intercalation. A series of ruthenium(II) and
iron(II) complexes were synthesized using polypyridyl ligands.The structure and properties of
these coordination complexes were characterized using NMR spectroscopy and absorbance
spectroscopy. Through absorbance spectroscopy, the interactions between the transition metal
complexes and DNA were studied. The results from the DNA studies could yield information
regarding the binding process of transition metal complexes with DNA.
Stratified Fluids as a Model of Geophysical Systems (Energy Dissipation in Reflecting
Internal Waves), Clayton Bell, Edward Jia and Sili Wu
Mentor: Bruce Rodenborn, Physics
Many geophysical fluid systems have a density that varies as a function of height. For example,
both the Earth’s ocean and atmosphere are such stratified fluids. The density variation allows for
a special type of wave, called internal waves, to propagate within the fluid. In the ocean, these
waves are hidden, but in the atmosphere, we often see clouds that appear in bands, which is
evidence of internal waves propagating in the atmosphere. The Rodenborn lab studies these
systems using laboratory experiments where the density is varied using a salt solution and the
motion of the fluid is measured using cameras and laser illumination. We present interesting
results that may help explain why continental slopes are eroded to a particular angle throughout
the world. We also discuss how density variation affects the stability of the fluid, which is
relevant to how planets first form.
Tourist State of Mind: The Effects of Geography on Dispositional Awe, Personality and
Life Satisfaction, Ellie Bernard and Madison Malloy
Mentor: Matthew Kassner, Psychology
Dispositional awe is an emotion mixed with fear and wonder, which remains fairly stable over
time. This study sought to determine if trait-level awe emerges as a function of the environment.
In this study, 1,001 participants were surveyed throughout the United States to attain individual
levels of dispositional awe and determine geographic region. Each individual was categorized by
personality geo-cluster and ranked by the amount of tourism in their state, as determined by hotel
11
bookings per state. We hypothesized that people from states with higher tourism rates will have
greater dispositional awe. Additionally, we expect to see differences in trait-level awe between
personality clusters, with the highest levels in the relaxed and creative region.
Modifying Polyurethane Cure Rate via Varying Catalyst Concentration, Mackenzie
Conkling with Matthew Hinton, Eric Galindo, Sabine Fuierer, Michael Hargather, and Chelsey
Hargather Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering New Mexico Institute of
Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM
Mentor: Bruce Rodenborn, Physics
Polyurethanes are formed when polymers such as hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene (HTPB)
react with diisocyanates and are commonly used as rigid insulation, adhesives/bonding agent, or
as a binder in solid composite rocket propellant. Polymers cure faster when the amount of
catalyst is varied, which allows for different applications. In this work, the HTPB is cured with
two diisocyanates: touluene diisocynate (TDI) and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI). Dibutyltin
dilaurate (DBTDL) catalyst is used to accelerate the cure rate of the polyurethane, and the
viscosity of the curing polymer is measured as a function of time for a series of curative and
catalytic agents. Conclusions can be drawn on cure rate by measuring viscosity, which increases
with faster cure rate. Experimental data showed that increasing the amount of catalyst increases
the cure rate of the HTPB, and that temperature effects from increased catalyst caused a nonlinear relationship between HTPB viscosity and temperature.
Identification of Vertebrate Fossils from the Middle Devonian in Central-Eastern
Kentucky, Amanda Flatt
Mentor: Amanda Falk, Biology
Central Kentucky is home to the Boyle Formation, dated to be from the Middle Devonian. While
vertebrate fossils have been identified in the geologically younger rocks of the knobs regions of
Kentucky, and invertebrate fossils have been identified from the Boyle Formation, there are no
vertebrate fossils described from the Boyle formation. The purpose of this research is to
determine if vertebrate fossils exist in this locality as well as identify these vertebrates. This will
inform our understanding of the environment in central-eastern Kentucky during the Middle
Devonian. The identification of the fossils was performed by qualitative comparison of the
extracted fossils against the known fossil record. This led to the tentative identification of the
first fossil as a placoderm, as well as possible identification of the second fossil as a rib or neural
spine fragment.
12
Constructing a Yeast-1-Hybrid to Analyze Leaf Senescence Regulation in Medicago
Truncatula, Laura Fryar and Cyrus Salazar
Mentor: Christina García, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology/Biology
Leaf senescence is a late process in plant development when cells are broken down and nutrients
are transported to other parts in the plant and has important applications in agriculture. Previous
research has indicated that the asparagine-synthetase 1 gene (AS1) and two transcription factors
of the MADSBox gene family are upregulated during senescence in the legume plant Medicago
truncatula. By constructing a yeast-1-hybrid assay of these transcription factors and the AS1
gene, it can be determined if these transcription factors are involved in the regulation of
senescence and nutrient mobilization in legume plants. Results indicate that half of the control
yeast-1-hybrid system has been successfully constructed, providing groundwork to complete the
control yeast-1-hybrid and begin constructing the assay with the AS1 gene and transcription
factors.
Relaxed Subproblems for Dominance Queries in Conditional Preference Network, Liu
Jiang and Michael Ramage
Mentor: Thomas Allen, Computer Science
Conditional preference networks (CP-nets) have received significant attention for modeling
preferences over combinations of features. However, inferring from a CP-net whether one
outcome is preferred over another is NP-hard, requiring exponential time in practice. In our
project, we introduce using disjoint relaxed subproblems as a heuristic for faster inference from
CP-nets. We show how to partition the dependency graph and conditional preference tables of a
relatively large network into small problems that can be solved easily. These solutions can be
stored in a pattern database to guide heuristic search. We prove that our heuristic function is
consistent and admissible, guaranteeing optimality and completeness. We show from
experiments on randomly generated binary and multivalued CP-nets that the method scales better
for large problems and can be combined with other pruning techniques to answer dominance
queries multiple times faster than the state-of-the-art methods.
Testing the Animal=Male Bias Among School Aged Children, Katie Kamenish
Mentor: Mykol Hamilton, Psychology
In a study titled "The Animal = Male Hypothesis: Children’s and Adults’ Beliefs About the Sex
of Non–Sex-Specific Stuffed Animals" , researchers found that children are more likely to
13
gender an animal as male if no specifying information is given. This bias reveals a preference for
male mental imagery over female even in children as young as three years old, and modeling
interventions by adults have yet to prove successful. The current study aims to see if this bias
persists when the animals are presented as stuffed animals rather than as photographs.
Participants, children aged 6-10 years, will be shown various stuffed animals and asked a series
of questions, including what the animal's name is and if the child can tell a story about the
animal. Data will be coded by marking which pronouns the children use to describe the animal.
By determining the extent to which this bias persist across modalities, researchers will have more
information with which to develop a successful modeling.
The Effects of Indoor Live Plant Presence on Physiological and Psychological Markers of
Stress and Mood, Katie Kamenish
Mentor: Aaron Godlaski, Behavioral Neuroscience
A growing body of research has demonstrated the physiological and psychological benefits of
viewing natural landscapes, including reduced physiological stress, increased parasympathetic
nervous system activity, and improved mood states. More specifically, visual stimulation of
foliage plants induces psychological relaxation as indicated by measures of prefrontal cortex
activity and mood state profiles. These findings extend to the distinction between live and
artificial plants, in which the live plants produce more relaxed and comfortable feelings than the
artificial alternative. Additionally, indoor plant exposure may improve performance on tasks
involving attention capacity. Explanations for these effects have ranged from an evolutionary
preference for natural environments to the release of organic compounds called phytoncides by
plants and trees. Although there is existing literature regarding the effects of indoor plant
exposure, further research is necessary.
New Methods for Analyzing the Microfossil Tasmanites from the Devonian Biotic Crisis in
Kentucky, Lee Kendall
Mentor: Amanda Falk, Biology
The Late Devonian extinction is believed to have eliminated at least 70% of the species on Earth.
However, it remains unclear if this mass extinction took place over a short or extended period of
time. The goal of this research project is to shed light on the general ecological conditions of the
Devonian period, so that we can better understand the length of the Late Devonian extinction. To
accomplish this, we plan on performing a stable nitrogen isotope analysis on algal specimens
from the genus Tasmanites, dating from the middle of the Devonian period. This requires
chemically cleaning Tasmanites specimens in bulk, as residual rock matrix would interfere with
14
the analysis. Here we tested multiple potential methods for processing Tasmanites specimens in
large quantities, in preparation for an eventual stable nitrogen isotope analysis.
Microscopic Swimming (Building Bacterial Robots), Jin Lee and Jake Pfaller
Mentor: Bruce Rodenborn, Physics
The swimming of microorganisms is typically studied using biological experiments or numerical
simulations because of the difficulty of making microscopic measurements of forces and torques.
Our research group uses robots that are about 10 cm in size, but we cannot use water as the fluid
because of the size difference. Instead, we use a highly viscous silicone oil that is 100,000X
more viscous than water. We can then measure the forces and torques more easily since
microorganisms that are typically 10 µ m. Our models let us explore fundamental theories and
compare them to the laboratory data.
The Lifeways of Kamakami Village in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Madison Luken
Mentor: Aaron Godlaski, Behavioral Neuroscience
The landscape of Kawakami Village has undergone physical and cultural changes in response to
the evolution of agriculture and fuel production in Yamaguchi prefecture, the mountainous
region on the southernmost tip of the Honshū mainland of Japan where it resides. The Abugawa
Dam that sits at the doorstep of the local Abugawa Museum of History and Folklife necessitated
that the land where Kawakami Village previously resided be submerged underwater in 1966.
Still, old river boats remain to tell the story of ayu fishing and the fishing of now endangered
cherry salmon, while rafts and sickles expound upon the logging of Japanese cedar and cypress
that displaced many native deciduous trees. Ultimately, the lifeways of the people who once
lived in Kawakami Village reveal the beauty of mountain village life as well as the effects of the
encroachment of pressures of modernization after the Meiji Restoration.
The Effect of a Putative UDP-N-Acetylglucosamine Enolpyruvyl Transferase (Mur A)
Inhibitor Combination on the Eukaryote Tetrahymena, Taylor Luken and Ainsley King
Mentor: Peggy Richey, Biology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
New drug treatments are needed to combat the serious threat that antibiotic-resistant bacterial
pathogens pose to public health. The enzyme UDP-N-acetylglucosamine enolpyruvyl
15
transferase(MurA) catalyzes the first step in the synthesis of peptidoglycan, a crucial component
of bacterial cell walls. Consequently, MurA presents an excellent target for antibacterial drugs.
An in silico analysis indicated that 1,3,4-cyclohexane tricarboxylic acid (LT040) may inhibit
MurA. LT040 has been shown to partially inhibit some bacteria by itself, and completely inhibit
the same bacteria in combination with fosfomycin, a MurA inhibitor. Because bacteria are
prokaryotes, it was hypothesized that neither fosfomycin, LT040, nor the combination will
inhibit eukaryotes because they do not synthesize MurA. To evaluate the effect of fosfomycin
and LT040 on a eukaryote, the growth of Tetrahymena, a protist, in the presence of the drugs
was determined. Results revealed that the growth of Tetrahymena was not hindered.
Does Virtual Reality Gaming Make You Smarter? Marissa Metzger
Mentor: Melissa Burns-Cusato, Behavioral Neuroscience
Current literature focuses on traditional gaming platforms (e.g., PC games, and gaming consoles)
and has found evidence that suggests individuals who play video games that use complex and
dynamic settings show an increase in cognitive performance. Recently, more advanced and
immersive technology has been gaining popularity in the gaming community. The current study
aims to explore the effects of advanced game play, using immersive virtual reality (VR) on
cognitive performance. Results suggest that playing 8 hours of video games using VR
technology improved cognitive performance in the areas of memory, attention, and processing
speed. However, the improvement in processing speed for the CTL arm, suggests a potential
practice effect in this measure. Accordingly, the processing speed outcomes for the VR arm
should be interpreted with caution.
VR Induced Awe Effects on Ingroup/Outgroup Charity Giving, Dominic Nayan, Kristen
Mulcahy, and Luis Barreras
Mentor: Matthew Kassner, Psychology
Awe is defined by a perceived vastness followed by the need for accommodation, or put more
simply, as something perceptually massive or grand that requires a reworking of prior schemas
and conceptions (Keltner & Haidt, 2003). These characteristics of awe are true across several
domains, including social, aesthetic, natural and religious awe. A unique characteristic of awe is
that it can be both positively and negatively valenced. However, the study of awe has remained
relatively underdeveloped, particularly its role in prosocial behavior. In regards to prosocial
behavior, an earlier study indicates that awe increases one’s willingness to help others (Piff et al.,
2015). This may be due to awe’s association with increasing one’s sense of self as a part of a
greater whole; awe encourages the individual to think less of his/herself and more of the group
16
(Shiota et al., 2007). Awe has also been seen to increase the perception of time when helping
others. In addition, awe can increase the value of experiences over material rewards, and increase
overall happiness (Piff et al., 2012), which shows how it can affect perceptions. The foundational
component of awe and prosocial behavior has been set. The purpose of this experiment is to
expand the literature and examine whether virtual reality induced awe creates preferential
prosocial behavior towards one’s ingroup and/or outgroup.
Synthesis and Spectroscopy of Iron and Ruthenium Complexes, Will Newton
Mentor: Erin Watcher, Chemistry
Coordination complexes have become increasingly more important to anticancer studies within
the past few years due to their capacity to bind with DNA through multiple methods. Metal
polypyridyl complexes have been shown to bind with DNA through electrostatics or intercalation
with high affinities depending on the ligands present.1 The synthesis of various polypydriyl
ligands was performed and characterized through NMR, and then were attached to metal centers
to form target coordination complexes. Of particular interest were the analogous ruthenium(II)
tris-2,2-bipyridine and iron(II) tris-2,2-bipyridine complexes, which were successfully
synthesized, analyzed through NMR and absorbance spectroscopy, and the different
characteristics of these complexes were observed.
Stop and Smell the Paint: Time, Knowledge, and the Perceived Value of Art, Caroline K.
Stallings, Sarah Mandviwala, and Carter J. Alvey
Mentor: Drew Morris, Psychology
Study 1 found that those who self-report higher knowledge about art value paintings significantly
less than those with less knowledge. Study 2 looks to explore how time spent viewing the piece
is a factor in the perceived value of the artwork. Participants were invited to view a piece of art
and rate how valuable they thought it was. Time spent viewing the piece was recorded. A test of
mediation was used to find the relationship between the three variables, with knowledge as a
predictor of value, and time as the mediator. Results show that knowledge about art does not
predict how valuable the piece of art was rated (p=.802). However, knowledge does predict time
spent looking at the piece (p=.026, r=.66), and time spent looking predicts value (p=.016, r=.25). Those trying to increase the perceived value of art, may benefit from limiting the amount of
time spent assessing it.
17
Improving Cancer Cytotoxicity of Mithramycin Analogues with Semi-Synthetic
Derivatives, Marielena Villaran
Mentor: Daniel Scott, Chemistry
Mithramycin (MTM) is an antibiotic produced naturally by the bacterium Streptomyces
argillaceous. With the use of genetically engineered M7W1 mutant strain, the bacteria produces
three new MTM analogues: MTM SK, MTM SDK, MTM SA. MTM SK and MTM SDK are
more effective anticancer agents, while MTM SA is much less effective. The difference between
MTM SA and the other analogues is the presence of a carboxylic acid in a key location, which is
also thought to be the cause for the decreased cytotoxicity. In order to improve its anticancer
ability, small molecules were used to modify MTM SA and remove the carboxylic acid. Using
cytotoxicity assays with non-small cell lung cancer cells, the new derivatives showed significant
cytotoxicity improvement compared to both MTM SA and MTM SK/SDK. Current work is
focused on scaling up the reactions to allow complete structural characterization with NMR and
mass spectrometry.
Retinol Esterification in the Hepatopancreas of the American Lobster (Homarus
Americanus), Collin Wells, Olivia Honaker, and Yuzhang Li
Mentor: Stephanie Dew, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Vitamin A (retinol) is a necessary nutrient in higher animals. In mammals, the pathways by
which retinol is transported and metabolized are well described. One important reaction in these
pathways is the conversion of retinol into retinyl esters, which occurs in several tissues,
including the small intestine, liver, and eye. Little is known about the conversion of retinol into
retinyl esters in invertebrates. We have identified an acyl-CoA:retinol acyltransferase activity in
the hepatopancreas of the American lobster (Homarus americanus). This activity shows a linear
dependence on time and microsome concentration. It shows temperature dependence and an
optimal pH of 6.5. We have characterized its acyl-CoA preference and determined Km and
Vmax values for both retinol and acyl-CoA.
18
Committee
2020 RICE SYMPOSIUM COMMITTEE
Eva María Cadavid
Karin Gill
Ellen Goldey
RICE Symposium Co-chair
RICE Symposium Co-chair
Vice President for Academic Affairs and
Dean of the College
CENTER FOR TEACHING AND
LEARNING
Robyn Cutright
Interim Director of the Center for Teaching
and Learning
Kristi Burch
Academic Technology Specialist
Lisa Curlis
Office Manager
Andrew Patrick
Assistant Director of CTL & Experiential
Learning Coordinator
Todd Sheene
Event and Video Production Coordinator
Candace Wentz
Assistant Director of CTL & Instructional
Technology and Design Coordinator
MEMBERS OF THE UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH COMMITTEE
Katherine Andrew
Sponsored Research Specialist
Academic Affairs
Associate Professor of Philosophy
Associate Professor of History
Assistant Professor of Spanish
Assistant Professor of Behavioral
Neuroscience
Assistant Professor of International Studies
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Eva María Cadavid
Sara Egge
Satty Flaherty-Echeverría
Karin Gill
Petra Hendrickson
Matthew Kassner
Karoline Manny
Reference, Instruction and Assessment
Librarian
Assistant Professor of History (ex-officio)
Professor of Biology and Biochemistry &
Molecular Biology
Andrew Patrick
Peggy Richey
19
Bruce Rodenborn
Assistant Professor of Physics
Daniel Scott
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
A special thank you to Grace Doherty Library and Mary Girard, Digital Scholarship Librarian,
for making virtual RICE possible.
20