Research Symposium

BIO

Hi, Im Dennis Kraemer. I'm majoring in Biology aiming to pursue a career in the healthcare field. Currently I am working as an Anesthesia Support Technician at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. I am from Celebration, Florida where I previously worked as a manager for a Landscaping company for 4 years while going to high school. In high school, I completed the International Baccalaureate Program, received the AP Scholar award and Florida's Golden Seal of Biliteracy, as well as being a member to National Honor Society and Student Government Association.

Science Teachers' Vision for Promoting Productive Classroom Talk

Abstract

We explored the instructional vision of two biology teachers who attended an NSF-funded professional development program (PD) focused on fostering productive epistemic discourse in science classrooms.
● The vision interviews focused on understanding how teachers envision high-quality science instruction.
● We explored how the teachers’ instructional vision maps translated into the vision of high-quality science instruction discussed in the literature. We explored the level of sophistication in teachers’ vision based on vision rubrics.
● The results of data analysis supported to reveal for a holistic view of the teacher’s vision. Exploring teachers’ instructional vision and its development can allow us to promote development of a shared vision between teachers and stakeholders, allowing for the goals of reaching a high-quality science environment to be mutually understood.

Keywords: Education, Teachers, Qualitative Analysis

BIO

Hello! My name is Maitri Wallen I am a senior FSU student majoring in Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences with a concentration in Clinical Professions. I have a love for research and gaining knowledge from others. After graduation I plan on taking a gap year to study for the MCAT and apply to medical school.

A Mixed Study Exploring Student’s Creation and Use of Notes and Their Study Habits

Abstract

University students utilize various tools and resources to succeed academically in their courses. This research study highlights the study resources students use, including the creation of their notes. This exploratory study used an online Qualtrics survey and interview process that was available to students around campus. The survey allowed students to talk about their note-taking experiences and their general study resources. An interview was then conducted to allow for more in-depth questions asking about specific classes. The results showed that students: use drawings to supplement their learning, review their notes and make changes later, and condense their notes to study. Some of the top ways students used to study the lecture material were using Quizlet, informational videos, flashcards, and practice problems. These results suggest that students emphasize the importance of taking notes, but their notetaking abilities can be improved in additional ways.

Keywords: study, education, habits

BIO

Harrison Betz is a first-year Honors student at Florida State University. Although he is currently planning on double majoring in International Affairs and Spanish, Harrison was inspired to undertake his current research due to his longstanding love of literature, especially Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy.

Harrison would like to thank all of the people that have supported him on his journey over the past year: all of the friends who have proofread (and proof-reread) papers, all of the faculty members who have provided a firm structure of support (both academically and personally), his family, and, above all, his research mentor, Dr. Elizabeth Coggeshall. Grazie mille!

“Un libro, un sueño”: Latin American Adaptations and Interpretations of Dante’s Francesca

Abstract

Since its publication in the 14th-century, the Inferno by Dante Alighieri has supplied artists with a well of inspiration. Multiple archival attempts have been made to define the literary impact of Dante’s poems; however, the way in which many cultures interpret these works remains uncatalogued. One such culture is Latin America. To rectify this epistemological gap, this investigation seeks to track Latinx representations and reimaginings of one of the most well-known characters of the Inferno: the semi-historical, semi-literary figure of Francesca da Rimini. Analyzing how Latin American poets and authors employ Francesca in their work, a greater understanding of culturally specific interpretations of the Inferno and the motivations behind them may be reached. Initial research has indicated that Francesca (and the literary authority that her character holds) is often referenced in attempts to redefine notions of sexual and romantic relationships. Furthermore, some scholars have pointed to subversions of Francesca’s narrative and cultural significance as possible attempts to establish an independent, non-Eurocentric Latin American identity given Dante’s entrenched connection to European culture. Amassing a greater body of literary references and analysis may reinforce or reinterpret these initial findings.

Keywords: Latin America, Dante, Literature

BIO

I am currently a second year student and I am originally from Charleston, South Carolina. I am double majoring in music (oboe) and cyber criminology. I was interested in this project because it bridges my interests in Criminology, Psychology, and Data Science into one study. I hope to pursue a career in Cyber Security, while continuing my passion for research. Here at Florida State I am currently in the Wind Orchestra and in my free time I enjoy reading and drinking coffee!

Trauma and Aggressive Fantasies as Predictors of Criminal Involvement in an Internet Sample

Abstract

Past studies indicate, if a subject has a higher level of childhood trauma their likelihood for criminal involvement increases. However, there is a discrepancy when comparing aggressive fantasies and their relationship to criminal involvement. Some argue that aggressive fantasies are an indicator of future criminal involvement, while others believe them to be a coping mechanism which reduces criminal involvement. Our research aims to identify if aggressive fantasies will still reduce criminal involvement when trauma is used as a mediating factor. To explore this trend we used an internet population selected from Amazon’s Mechanical Turk of 357 participants which was composed of 145 male and 211 female subjects from different racial backgrounds with a mean age of 33.92 years. Three scales were used in this study to measure trauma, aggressive fantasies and criminal involvement: (1) the Adverse Childhood Trauma Scale measures the total adverse experiences in a participant's childhood, (2) the Criminal Involvement Scale measures the criminal involvement of the participant, and (3) the Aggressive Fantasies Scale measures how often a participant thinks, daydreams, or imagines harming others. Our results showed that 68.1% of the variance between aggressive fantasies and criminal acts was accounted for by ACES indirectly in comparison to only 31.9% that was accounted for by aggressive fantasies. From a criminologists standpoint, it is important to understand the impacts of trauma and aggressive fantasies in order to prevent criminal involvement and also to predict recidivism of offenders.

Keywords: Criminology, Aggressive Fantasies, Childhood Trauma, Developmental Psychology

BIO

Hello! My name is Madison Walker and I'm a sophomore in chemistry major with a math minor. I'm from Oviedo, Florida and I'm planning on becoming a chemist with my chemistry degree.I have loved my time at FSU so far in this major and this research project for the last year. I'll take a school, i'm a part of FSU Rowing as a rower and I serve as Secretary of the executive board. I was recently elected into the role of Vice President of this sports club.

Linking the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province and the End-Triassic Extinction Through Carbon Isotope Measurements

Abstract

This research paper works to observe the connection between the large igneous province, the Central Atlantic magmatic province (CAMP), and the mass extinction, the End-Triassic extinction (ETE). We believe this large igneous province (LIP) is a main cause of this specific mass extinction because in geological history, LIPs have been shown to be a trigger of mass extinctions. To study this mass extinction, we are using the geological records from the Florida Geological Survey, located of the Panhandle of Florida. By measuring the amount of carbon released from the samples and creating models of CO2 released at certain temperatures and compositions, we can come closer to knowing if the magma intrusions specific to CAMP caused the End-Triassic mass extinction.

Keywords: Mass extinction, large igneous provinces, carbon isotope

BIO

I am from a small town in central Florida called Leesburg. Growing up I had many different interests which ranged from playing soccer to bull riding. Late in my high school career, I learned that I had an overwhelming interest in higher education and research. The thought of exploring the questions that we have about the world and participating in unraveling the mysteries of science is very appealing to me. I chose biomedical engineering as my Major because it is where I believe the most important discoveries are being made. It is a very rewarding discipline that is undoubtedly important to the world.

Thermal conductivity of Polymers

Abstract

A block copolymer is a group of polymer blocks combined to create a new material. These groups of polymers are composed of different species of monomers that have been synthesized together. These polymers are used very often in batteries and we want to specifically look at how heat is absorbed into these polymers. Our goal is to study the effect of combining two different types of polymers with high and low thermal conductivity. Also, we are interested in studying the thermal conductivity’s effect from adding metal nanoparticles in a block copolymer. We used a hot press to create the samples and a C-Therm trident to test the sample's thermal conductivity. Our data has shown that the surface of the polymer and the temperature and humidity of the room has a massive effect on the thermal conductivity. By putting the polymer samples into different microphases we are hoping to see how the thermal conductivity changes.

Keywords: Thermal Conductivity Polymers

BIO

Hello! My name is Kathy Nguyen and I am originally from Kansas City, Missouri. My research interests include educational interventions that promote achievement success within minority and low socioeconomic status communities.

Examining the Role of Dialect in Children’s Writing Samples

Abstract

This research study focuses on the role of dialect in children’s writing samples, specifically African American English (AAE) dialect. Written samples of 35, second-grade African American students were coded for AAE using dialect density measures and graded for narrative writing quality using a 6-point rubric. Samples were graded by main idea, organization, sentence structure, and word choice, out of 72 points total. Relations between dialect density and narrative quality writings were analyzed using Pearson product-moment coefficient. There was a medium to large correlation between the use of Mainstream American English and perceived narrative quality ratings (n = 35, r = .45, p = .007). Proportions of dialect use helps explain 20% of variance in narrative writing quality. Further development of dialect awareness can benefit educators by assisting AAE speakers in becoming more proficient in language learning.

Keywords: African American English Dialect, Narrative Writing Quality

BIO

I am Sydney Fruhwirth and from Orlando, Florida. I am a sophomore Finance and Management Information Systems major who is in the honors program at Florida State University. Researching instability in the Medicaid program was interesting to me as it is something very relevant to daily life and finding the cost advantages of keeping people stably insured relates to my Finance major.

Instability in the Florida Medicaid Population

Abstract

Medicaid is a healthcare plan that has been established in Florida to help cover healthcare expenses for low-income residents and retirees for more than fifty years. This study examined the Medicaid claims from 2014-2019 to better understand the system’s shortcomings. Specifically, the relationship between the Medicaid population’s demographics and stability was explored. This was accomplished through the use of Stata to analyze the Medicaid database with a focus on the variables of zip3, age, race, and their interaction with stability. The yearly data gathered from this analysis was then compiled and examined.

Key terms: Medicaid, Unstable Coverage

Keywords: Medicaid, Unstable Coverage, Insurance

BIO

My name is Brian Zhang and I'm a freshman studying finance on a pre-law track from Sarasota, Florida. I hope to attend law school following my time at Florida State in order to use a legal and business education to serve people and their work. In my free time, I enjoy studying history, reading schools of thought, and competing in Olympic weightlifting.

Race, Firearms, and Religion in the 20th Century

Abstract

The 20th century’s civil rights movement marked a cultural shift in the United States. During this time of change, different ideological groups emerged with their own solutions on how to campaign for these rights, one prevalent group being the Black Panther Party. Founded in 1966, the Black Panthers was a controversial group to the public due to violent encounters, despite this, the Panthers actively worked to develop social programs for African American communities across the country, such as free breakfast for school children and health clinics. The churches of these areas were the holding grounds for these programs, interlocking the Panthers with the symbol of Christ. By analyzing historic newspapers, this research explores the relationship between the Black Panther Party and the churches they associated with to not only tell their story but also examine the public perception on them as well. A total of28 churches were evaluated and out of these, 12 held relevant sources. A total of 71 sources were compiled into a database, and out of these, Sacred Heart Church stood as an outlier consisting of 28% of all sources found. The investigation into Sacred Hearts reveals a controversy involving the Panthers allegedly distributing a coloring book depicting violence towards police. While the pastor and Panthers deny involvement, the press takes a critical and doubtful position towards them. This research works to use this story as part of the greater connection of faith, race, and firearms in 20th century America.

Keywords: Race, Firearms, Religion, History

BIO

Joelyz Wolcott is a second-year student majoring in behavioral neuroscience. As a UROP student, she assisted on a research project analyzing the behaviors that maintain variation in the color patterns of Trinidadian guppies. In addition to UROP, Joelyz is involved in Sustainable Campus, the Neuroscience Student Association and Connecting Girls to STEM. Joelyz plans to continue being involved in research on campus and hopes to pursue a graduate degree in neuroscience post-graduation.

Maintenance of Color Pattern Variation in the Trinidadian Guppy, Poecilia reticulata

Abstract

The color patterns of Trinidadian guppies can help us understand the mechanisms that maintain genetic variation in populations. Male guppies with rare color patterns have an advantage in mating success, and the goal of this study is to determine whether competition between males contributes to this. I am blind to the overall study’s hypothesis, and instead have focused on determining whether the color patterns of the guppies impact how competitive they are. We ran behavioral trials to determine which of the three Iso-Y lines was more likely to follow the same female as a rival male. Males from the same line had similar color patterns and males from different lines had different color patterns. We expect to find that male guppies from the IF10 line will be the least likely to follow the same female as a rival male. This would indicate that males with more orange pigmentation don't need to be as competitive compared to males with less orange pigmentation. The results of this study will help us determine if the amount of orange pigmentation on a guppy impacts their behavior.

Keywords: genetic variation, color patterns, fish, evolution

BIO

I am from Orlando, Florida and I am currently in the Marching Chiefs. I am interested in underwater archaeology and the discovery of submerged sites. After I graduate, I hope to either go to graduate school or find work in archaeology.

Can Sonar be Used to Find Submerged Ceramics? An Experimental Test of the HALD Method

Abstract

Since the Last Glacial Maximum ~24,000 years ago, sea-levels have caused the inundation of land across the globe. Due to early people’s movements and settling of the American continents during these times, many pre-Contact archaeological sites are now underwater. Recently, the trend for more cost-effective and faster survey techniques has caused archaeologists to focus on remote sensing methods to identify targets quickly and accurately. The Human-altered Lithic Detection, or HALD, method is one remote sensing technique archaeologists have started to use in order to hasten the identification of sites underwater. This method uses a sub-bottom profiler (SBP) to detect acoustic signatures emitted by knapped lithics. These signatures appear as small, wavy lines, or “haystacks,” above the seafloor. These tests focus on lithics though, because they are arguably one of the most common artifacts found at pre-Contact underwater sites. Another artifact type found at archaeological sites in the Americas is pottery. Pre-Contact pottery was either unfired or fired at low temperatures for long periods of time, so we obtained earthenware to test, along with stoneware (more contact post-European contact) and porcelain. This project analyzes how these various ceramic types react when excited acoustically by a sub-bottom profiler. We did not find any haystacks when scanning the porcelain and stoneware. We did find that earthenware created very defined haystacks, however it is likely due to air bubbles trapped in the earthenware itself. Further testing will be needed to see the affects of air bubbles and ceramics.

Keywords: Archaeology, Ceramics, Underwater Archaeology

BIO

My name is Andrew Poirier and I'm a second-year Computer Engineering major and Computer Science minor. I was born in raised in Gainesville, FL and moved to Tallahassee in Fall 2020. When I graduate, I hope to either jump right into the engineering workforce or to continue my studies in a Cybersecuirty route.

Partial Mesh Network for Self-Powered Cyber Physical Systems

Abstract

In summary, there was one sensor NRF5340 microcontroller connected to a BMA 250 chip accelerometer, in hopes of being connected to a temperature sensor and a voltage sensor. Sensor microcontrollers play an important role in cyber-physical systems because they’re important for detecting potential system failure signs by reading certain pieces of data including but not limited to temperature and voltage. This experiment utilizes the Microsoft Visual Studio program and the Nordic Semiconductor nRF Connect software to produce this design. Furthermore, this method takes a different approach compared to the conventional methods, which typically utilize built-in hardware functions. Instead, this low-level programming approach will allow for more configurations for the operations of all connected devices. The results of this experiment will show whether or not this change will be more efficient and useful in terms of its application to cyber-physical systems.

Keywords: Computer Engineering, SPI, Microcontroller

BIO

I am a junior at FSU studying Behavioral Neuroscience on the pre-med track. My current research interests include identifying early signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder with the Autism Institute at FSU College of Medicine.

Correlation Between High Body Temperature and COVID-19 Cases

Abstract

Technology such as distance thermometers has played an essential role in disease prevention and identification in recent years, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic when the public embraced its use as a biosecurity measure (“Thermal Detection for Covid-19 Screening”, 2021). An important effect in determining the usefulness of distance thermometers is to measure their ability to identify patients with a fever in order to prevent further spreading of the disease. In this study, we focused on the correlation between the rise of Covid-19 cases in West Palm Beach and patients with high body temperature at the moment of entering a non-urgent medical practice. The expected result would be that more cases of Covid-19 would result in more patients with high temperatures entering the practice. This would support that using distance thermometers is a reliable effort. This study examines a subsample of individuals from a medical practice in South Florida overseeing more than 10,000 patients and we focused on those 18 years or older. The data analyzed in this study was collected using distance forehead thermometers as advised by local protocols (Mohammed et al., 2020). Results include a negative correlation between high body temperatures and daily positive cases of Covid-19, as well as a positive correlation between high body temperature and weather temperature. Future research should include a larger sample pool for greater accuracy, as well as more investigation into how weather affects body temperature.

Keywords: COVID-19, temperature, efficiency, fever

BIO

Eli is a second-year student double majoring in Political Science and Philosophy. His research interests center on public opinion, survey methodology, political behavior, and elections. Outside of his work with Dr. Samuel Staley and the DeVoe L. Moore Center, he is a Fellow with the Institute of Politics at FSU, Director of Operations for the Torchlight Campus Policy Center, a member of the Research-Intensive Bachelor’s Certificate Program, and President of the Pre-Law Society at FSU. Eli also serves as a research assistant for Dr. Lonna Atkeson at the LeRoy Collins Institute. While not studying or conducting research, he enjoys reading and playing the violin.

Political Climate on College Campuses: A Comparative Analysis of Recent Findings

Abstract

The political and social climate on college campuses has become an increasingly salient issue. Private polling companies and state governments alike have taken measures to quantify viewpoint diversity and freedom of expression in university settings. This project analyzes recent survey findings to assess whether political ideology and partisan motivated reasoning impact student views on campus climate.

Two approaches were taken to answer this question. First, descriptive statistics from seven recent surveys on campus climate were aggregated and compared across demographics. Second, OLS regression was used on data from the 2019 Campus Expression Survey—a national poll of undergraduate students with 1,580 respondents—to isolate the causal relationship between political ideology and three measures of respondent opinion on campus climate.

This assessment of recent findings indicates that students who identify as conservative are more likely to engage in self-censorship than those who identify as either moderate or liberal, but that conservative students are less likely to experience mistreatment than other ideological groups. Regression results—controlling for a host of demographic characteristics—confirm the statistical significance of these associations, but the relationship is strongly affected by the strength of a respondent’s ideological identity.

These findings support the theory that party attachment expressed through self-assessed ideological identification causes students to view the climate of their campus differently. This study does not explain why this is the case; more research is needed to uncover the root cause. The researcher plans to conduct a similar survey on the Florida State University Campus to assess whether these results hold.

Keywords: Survey Politics Political Speech Opinion

BIO

Hello, my name is Alara. I am a second-year honors student from Istanbul, Turkey. I like to travel and see new places. I am also the co-founder of the social enterprise Entella company and love entrepreneurship. I’m interested in research areas including psychological and economical well-being and mental health. Additionally, I’m interested in environmental and social sustainability, and entrepreneurship. I love playing tennis and have been playing the piano for more than 10 years. In my free time, I also love to read personal development books and practice mindfulness.

Implicit Bias, Mindfulness, and Mental Health

Abstract

Implicit bias, the stereotypical perception toward someone or something,
negatively affects the mental wellbeing of marginalized groups which they struggle to
get help for because of institutional discrimination and bias. Mindfulness, the process
of being nonjudgmentally aware of the present moment, is helpful for mental health by
reducing rumination and anxiety and increasing self-esteem. Intervention studies also
found that mindfulness can reduce racism, prejudice, and discrimination as it increases
awareness of personal biases. Yet, there are few studies on how mindfulness affects
implicit bias to reduce its mental effects, especially in college students and in a wider
demographic. Moreover, the multitude of techniques used in intervention studies makes
it difficult to see how mindfulness affects implicit bias. Therefore, the purpose of this
literature review is to determine how implicit bias affects the mental health of
marginalized college students (e.g., Latinx, women of color, LGBTQ+) and how
mindfulness can be utilized to reduce implicit bias and its effects on mental health

Keywords: mindfulness, mental health, implicit bias, wellbeing

BIO

Amber Bernstein (she/her/hers) is originally from Matawan, New Jersey but moved to Bradenton, Florida about 10 years ago when she was 9 years old. Amber is a senior at Florida State University who plans on graduating in the Summer of 2022 with a bachelor’s in biology. Her goal is to be a medical doctor, more specifically a Hospitalist. Given that she is a High School AA student and missed out on two years of experience and volunteer opportunities that other students her age got to have, she plans on pursuing a Master's in Biology through the course-based master's program available at FSU. This way, she hopes to gain more experience and explore her interest in neuroscience before fully committing herself to medical school. This past year amber has participated in the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP), where she has worked in the Levitan Lab, under the research mentorship of Ph.D. Candidate Melanie Medina. For her doctoral research, Melanie is interested in studying reproduction and mate choice in marine gastropods, particularly sea slugs. Amber has investigated the effects of salinity on the survivorship and oviposition of these sea slugs. Through this experience, Amber has learned effective communication and time management skills.

Salinity Effects on Survivorship and Oviposition in a Local Marine Simultaneous Hermaphrodite

Abstract

The abundance of some marine invertebrates seems to be affected by changes in salinity during the rainy summer months in areas like the Gulf of Mexico. With climate change conditions extending periods of drought and rain, it is unclear how these salinity changes would affect the reproduction and survivorship of certain endemic species. Climate change has made weather more unpredictable, and changes in the weather lead to changes in the ocean, including salinity. To understand how environmental conditions affect survivorship and oviposition in some marine invertebrates, I studied the simultaneous hermaphrodite sea slug Doto chica. I hypothesized that if there are differences in survivorship and oviposition of slugs in different salinities, it is due to changes in the physiological responses. Lower than normal salinity has a greater effect on survivorship. Average salinity in their natural environment ranges from 25-30ppt, and slugs in both low and high salinity treatments were being exposed to a salinity that diverges from the average. Therefore, changes due to climate change can affect local populations by alerting their physiology and therefore, their ecosystem functions.

Keywords: Salinity Effects, Survivorship, Oviposition, Hermaphrodites

BIO

I am a freshman Behavioral Neuroscience major from Miami, Fl. I am interested in research focusing on mental health.

Implicit Bias, Mindfulness, and Mental Health

Abstract

Implicit bias, the stereotypical perception toward someone or something, negatively affects the mental wellbeing of marginalized groups which they struggle to get help for because of institutional discrimination and bias. Mindfulness, the process of being non-judgmentally aware of the present moment, is helpful for mental health by reducing rumination and anxiety and increasing self-esteem. Intervention studies also found that mindfulness can reduce racism, prejudice, and discrimination as it increases awareness of personal biases. Yet, there are few studies on how mindfulness affects implicit bias to reduce its mental effects, especially in college students and in wider demographic. Moreover, the multitude of techniques used in intervention studies make it difficult to see how mindfulness affects implicit bias. Therefore, purpose of this literature review is to determine how implicit bias affects the mental health of
marginalized college students (e.g., Latinx, women of color, LGBTQ+) and how mindfulness can be utilized to reduce implicit bias and its effects on mental health.

Keywords: Implicit Bias, Mindfulness, and Mental Health

BIO

I am a second year undergraduate student at FSU majoring in cyber criminology. My hometown is Melbourne, Florida. I am interested in research that involves the use of technology and software to analyze and compile data. I also have an interest in research in the field of biological science and environmental science. I am expected to graduate in spring 2023, and I plan on working in the field of cyber security or digital forensics- hopefully for a federal agency or law enforcement department.

Genetic Rescue in guppies: Do migrant males have unusual color patterns that lead to rare male advantages in the wild?

Abstract

Genetic variation in nature is a perplexing phenomenon as natural selection should prioritize certain traits over others in a species. However, genetic variation within species is widespread, and can ensure the survival of populations and even species as a whole in case of environmental changes. Genetic rescue is a conservation method under study in which immigrant animals from one population are brought into small, inbred, and endangered populations in order to increase genetic variation and genetic diversity. A study was conducted where genetic rescue was applied to Trinidadian guppies. Migrant guppies from downstream pools were relocated upstream and allowed to migrate into upstream pools with their respective resident guppies. Female guppies have a preference to mate with males with rare color patterns and colors, in a process referred to as sexual selection. It was hypothesized that due to sexual selection, migrant and hybrid guppies would have better fitness than resident guppies. Images were taken of the migrant, resident, and hybrid guppies throughout the study. These images were then processed through Colormesh, a computer program written in R used for color analysis. The guppies were landmarked to create an average guppy shape. From this guppy shape, a triangulated mesh was applied to each of the images, and sampling points were determined from the mesh triangles. RGB color values were then extracted and calibrated from the sampling points, and this data was then compiled and compared. We predict that migrant males will have novel color patterns compared to their resident counterparts.

Keywords: Guppies, Genetic Rescue, Genetic Variation

BIO

Hi my name is Brianna Morales, and I am currently a Freshman here at Florida State University. My major is Sociology and I plan to be able to get into a Masters Degree program that helps in the higher education system

The Portrayal of Women In Female Directed Films

Abstract

Bollywood films are a popular form of entertainment in India. Producers and directors are recognized all over the world and their films reach places other than India. Our research project analyzes the portrayal of women characters in female-directed Bollywood films. We take into account how Indian cultural contexts differ when analyzing the roles of women. The Bollywood film industry is predominantly patriarchal, male-dominated, and oftentimes views women in society through the male gaze. Many female characters in Bollywood films were created to fit into these paradigmatic social norms. We collected data through watching a series of films and completing surveys analyzing the films. While our results are not finalized, we have noticed patterns depending on the time the film was produced and where the film takes place.

Keywords: Women in Bollywood Films

BIO

My name is Reuven Lurie and I'm from Boynton Beach, Florida. I am currently in my second year studying Biological Science and have a passion for genetics! I find evolution and the genetics behind it fascinating and hope to research it more during my education.

Evolution of Complex Color Patterns in Male Trinidadian Guppies

Abstract

The Trinidadian guppy (Poecilia reticulata) can be used to study the genetic variation among individuals within a single species. Males of this species have been documented to exhibit a negative frequency-dependent selection (NFDS), which is when rare traits have an evolutionary advantage. Researchers interested in genetic variation are interested in NFDS because it is a type of selection that leads to increased variation, unlike other forms of selection that lead to a decrease in variation over time. In this experiment, we used two genetic lines, IF9 and IF10, which have different color patterns, to test whether NFDS is acting on these color patterns. In half the populations, the IF9 lineage was the initially common male phenotype and in the other half, the IF10 lineage was initially common. The expectation was that over time, the initially rare phenotype would become more common, which would indicate a rare male advantage. The offspring that result from this experiment were analyzed through photographs taken of them, allowing us to identify key phenotypic patterns that classify them as IF9 or IF10. The results of this study will increase our understanding of the amount of genetic diversity that is seen within an individual species.

Keywords: biology, fish, evolution