Science and Math Students Showcase Their Research

What happens when trace amounts of antidepressants contaminate groundwater and soil? What are some better ways to write calculus textbooks? How do southern toads respond to increased levels of salt?

Joye Nettles shows off her app research that can be used by geochronologists.

These were just a few of the questions asked by more than 300 students and faculty in the College’s School of Sciences and Mathematics this academic year. And last week, on April 16, 2015, they provided some answers at the school’s 27th annual poster session, highlighting just a portion of the scientific and mathematical research that occurs each year at the College.

Students working with faculty advisors presented 132 posters this year, as summarized in this list of abstracts.

Among the research projects, several were singled out for awards, including research done by Haley Cabaniss, who was named “Best in Session” for her geological study of how to better predict the eruption of volcanoes.

Also recognized:

Colleen Quaas and Meredith “Merry” Andersen for their investigation of anti-tumor immune response (Biology)

Benjamin Stephens for his study of solubility parameters and a new proposed method by which to compute them (Chemistry and Mathematics)

Alexander Jacobs for his investigation of better ways to classify galaxies through the use of deep belief networks (Computer Science)

Alexis Payne for his investigations of shifts in wind power during daytime (Physics & Astronomy)

Dean Mike Auerbach presents Haley Cabaniss with a “Best in Session” award for her research of volcanoes.