Research Symposium

BIO

I am a sophomore at Florida State University studying psychology and women's studies. I am currently a research assistant to my mentor Darrian McKiernan on her project studying adult survivors of child sexual abuse and their experiences with parent disclosure responses. Throughout the remaining years of my undergraduate career, I hope to continue gaining research experience in clinical and/or social psychology. After graduating, I plan to further my education in pursuit of a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I hope to ultimately reach a career in counseling, working specifically with survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse.

Adult Survivors’ of CSA Experiences with Parent Disclosure Response

Abstract

Childhood Sexual Abuse, or CSA, is a fairly common occurrence in both men and women, with 25% of women and 15% of men reporting CSA experiences (Dube, et al.).While some literature examines disclosure as an important aspect of understanding CSA, the existing literature on the topic lacks information regarding the impact of an individual’s disclosure to a parent or parent figure specifically. This information is an incredibly vital component to the development of CSA treatment and prevention methods, and is a topic that has unfortunately been neglected, creating a barrier in the ongoing effort to learn more about CSA treatment and prevention (McKiernan, 2023). This study examines CSA disclosure to a parent or parent figure and the response to that disclosure. More specifically, it examines how these disclosure responses are perceived by these individuals, and how these perceptions influence the relationship between these individuals and their parents or parent figures. Fifteen individuals who had experienced CSA and chose to later disclose their experiences to a parent or parent figure were interviewed with the goal of understanding the effects of the response to their disclosure. The study found that responses that were perceived as negative led to a significant negative impact on the relationship or a complete hindrance of the relationship. Responses that were perceived as positive tend to lead to strengthening of these relationships. This shows that how CSA survivors perceive disclosure responses from their parent or parent figure has a significant impact on their relationship with these individuals.

Keywords: Adult CSA Disclosure

BIO

Initially captivated by curiosity, my interest in research has swiftly evolved as I recognize its pivotal role in deepening our comprehension of the world around us. Being a research assistant has granted me to opportunity to realize my true passion for neuroscience, and I aspire to become a doctor in my future.

Mechanisms that promote cooperative behavior in groups

Abstract

Cooperation is crucial for human success. People cooperate with close friends and family, their community, and even complete strangers. One mechanism that promotes cooperation is punishment. The consequences associated with punishment include the prevention of future wrongdoings and setting a precedent of unacceptable behavior. Another (understudied) mechanism that may increase cooperation is compensation or reward, which can redeem the victim and promote behavior that is favorable. Therefore, we aim to understand how an individual's dominance and prestige orientation impacts their likelihood to respond to wrongdoers with punishment and compensation in a public or private condition.

Keywords: Cooperation, Dominance, Prestige, Reward, Punishment

BIO

My name is Henry Li and I am from Albuquerque, New Mexico. I am a second-year student at FSU majoring in Biological Sciences on a Pre-Med track. My research interests include LGBTQ+ community wellness and neuroscience.

Systematic Review of the Abuse of LGBTQ+ Elders with HIV

Abstract

The LGBTQ+ community, more specifically LGBTQ+ elders with HIV, face discrimination and
abuse from society and even those around them, especially as they grow older. Prior research has
largely looked at different aspects of this discrimination and abuse, such as who is often behind
the discrimination and abuse, the effects on the LGBTQ+ elder individuals, and intervention
methods. However, there has not been a systematic review to cover all this information in one
paper. We used Covidence to sort through 10,519 articles, marking them as relevant or irrelevant
to our research project. We used a pre-determined set of criteria to make this choice. Our
preliminary sorting has removed 2703 irrelevant articles and moved 188 articles to a full-text
review. Our findings will allow future researchers to find all the information about the abuse of
LGBTQ+ elders with HIV, identify gaps in the research about the topic, and decide where to focus future research.

Keywords: LGBTQ+, Discrimination, Abuse, Systematic Review

BIO

My name is Kelly Garcia, and I am majoring in Biology on a Pre-Veterinary track. I’m from Miami, FL, and I am a sophomore here at FSU! I’m involved in several clubs and organizations including Kesem and Animal Society, and am very interested in topics such as biology, psychology, sociology, and most of all, animals. While primarily pursuing a career in small animal medicine, I enjoy exploring my other topics of interest through the form of hobbies and other opportunities I am fortunate enough to be given by Florida State, such as UROP.

Swipe for Heartfelt Connections: An Examination of Physiological Effects of Swiping on Dating Applications

Abstract

Relationships, romance, and dating have remained at the center of our
lives as human beings throughout time. Children spend their youth observing the relationships pursued by the
adults in their life and eventually grow up to create their own. Dating, having evolved alongside
society’s newest technology, now involves applications that are used to find potential suitors in
real time rather than meeting them organically. “Online dating” using apps such as Tinder,
Bumble, and Hinge has become widespread and ordinary in today’s culture. Considering the
large role dating plays throughout most lifetimes, little is still known about the physiological
effects it is capable of having on one’s body as they pursue romantic relationships. Allowing
thorough observations to be made as a varied set of individuals reacted physiologically to
stimuli relating to relationships as they swiped “yes” or “no” to potential suitors on dating
applications provided us with gradual insight on what physiological effects transpire when
individuals participate in online dating specifically. By the utilization of correlation and
regression analyses, we were able understand that dating applications have minor implications
on physiological health. Swiping “yes” on a suitor was positively associated with systolic blood
pressure after several intervals of time, but not generally related to diastolic blood pressure
whatsoever.

Keywords: Physiology, Dating Applications, Dating Behavior, Mate Selection

BIO

Amaya Hanna is currently a Second-year student at Florida State University College of Health and Human Sciences where she is pursuing a degree in Human Development and Family Sciences (BS) with a minor in Chemistry. She is originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Northeast Florida, her entire life she has wanted to become a Doctor, and in 2019 she decided on wanting to become an Endocrinologist. She is currently in the CARE program as well as SSS-STEM at FSU. She wants to pursue more research into how parent-child relationships affect a child's mental and physical well-being.

“What does it mean to parent?” A Qualitative study of parenting group perceptions

Abstract

TIPs for Parents is a free 8-week parenting group intervention study led by trained marriage and family therapy clinicians aimed at parents of five-to-ten-year-olds providing trauma-informed parenting support. The 8-week program consists of a 1.5-hour group session per week and emphasizes a different parenting topic each week through discussion, presentations, and take-home activities to help implement these new ideas into the home and offers a free participation option with a research component. The research involves pre- and post-interviews with the group participants regarding their parenting experiences, along with three paper surveys to gauge the effectiveness of the discussed topics. Using data from interviews before the group started, the present study uses qualitative methodology to explore seven parents’ reasons for seeking a parenting group, as well as expectations and hopes for treatment outcomes. Most parenting group studies focus mainly on post-group experiences and quantitative data. This study adds to the current literature by assessing possible barriers to treatment or ways to increase interest in parenting groups. Notably, the parenting group is scheduled for the Spring of 2024, with a single group of parents with children between 1 and 9 years of age. The rationale for this research is to enhance parents' self-understanding and strengthen connections with their children through a trauma-informed approach. The methods encompass interviews and surveys, and the outcomes are expected to shed light on the program's impact on parenting practices. The findings and their implications will be discussed to provide insights into the significance of trauma-informed parenting support.

Keywords: Child development, Parent relationships

BIO

I am a second-year student at Florida State University, majoring in Clinical Professions within the College of Medicine's Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences Program. After completing my undergraduate studies, I plan to attend medical school and pursue a career as a physician.

Providing Feedback for Surgical Training and Assessment using Artificial Neural Networks

Abstract

Up to 100,000 deaths occur annually from preventable surgical errors due to subjective, time-consuming training and assessments. This study proposes that the development of an objective, time-efficient, and automated system of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques be integrated into the surgical education process to correct the current biases hindering surgical success. A surgical rubric, designed to collect consistent, structured feedback from experts (surgeons) with both categorical and open-ended responses was created, alongside the collection of high-quality laparoscopic suturing videos under the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) program. Tool motion sequences were extracted from the videos and utilized to predict surgeons' multiple-choice feedback, using am AI model. A Proof of Concept (PoC) was demonstrated to further validate the methodology for predicting multiple-choice feedback. Going forward, this research lab aims to create an open-source, Large-Language Model (LLM) that uses open-ended feedback for personalized feedback per trial, without predefined categories.

Keywords: Biomedical Engineering, AI, Surgical Feedback, Machine Learning

BIO

Hello! My name is Chinyere Oko, and I am a second-year junior from West Palm Beach, FL, majoring in Exercise Physiology. From a young age, I've always been interested in the anatomy and physiology of the body, trying to understand how illnesses can arise and what preventative measures can be used to combat them. This interest led me to join the Dr.Parvatiyar's lab where we are researching the effects of smoking on the cardiovascular and respiratory system in mice, by altering proteins and analyzing their response to the smoke. In the near future, my goal is to go to medical school to become a primary care physician, while also traveling worldwide to provide medical care to underserved populations. Overall, I am grateful that UROP has taught me many skills and experiences that I will carry on with me as while I continue my education and pursue my professional career.

The Effects of Oxidative Stress on Sacrcospan- Deficient Mice in the Cardiovascular and Respiratory System

Abstract

The use of tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States. Smoking has increased at an alarming rate, especially with e-cigarettes being easily accessible these days. Smoking has a direct effect on homeostasis functions within the body, but in our studies we looked at the impact it had on the cardiovascular and respiratory system in Sarcospan- deficient mice. In this research we studied the Sarcospan gene (SSPN) which is a part of the dystrophin-associated glycoprotein complex (DGC). The DGC is an important complex that is seen to stabilize the muscle membrane and protect muscle fibers. If the SSPN gene is altered genetically, causing dysfunction to its expression, the individual can be at risk for cardiovascular disease. Using White-Type Mice (WT) , and Sarcospan deficient mice (SSPN), we would subject them to cigarette smoke (CS) for extended amounts of time. This is so we could assess what oxidative stress does to the expression of the SSPN gene, and see how it affects the heart and lungs.

Keywords: Smoking, Cardiovascular System, Respiratory System

BIO

I am a freshman at Florida State University majoring in Biochemistry. I aim to get a PhD in some branch of chemistry in the near future.

Synthesis and Photochemistry of trans-trans-1,4-Diphenyl-1,3-butadiene-1-C13

Abstract

The photochemistry and photophysics of the α,ω-diphenylpolyenes (DPPs) are of interest because they are considered to be models for the retinyl polyenes that are related to vitamin A and the visual pigments. C13 substitution has a large effect on the photophysics of β-carotene. This work concerns the C13 effect on photochemistry and photophysics of 1,4-diphenyl-1,3-butadiene (DPB). We are synthesizing trans,trans-1,4-diphenyl-1,3-butadiene-1-13C (tt-DPB-C13) in order to compare its photochemistry and photophysics. to that of ordinary tt-DPB. Specifically, processes that will be compared are the efficiencies of photoisomerization to ct-DPB isomer under direct and triplet sensitized excitation conditions, the fluorescence quantum yield and the excited state lifetimes. The importance of kinetic isotope and nuclear hyperfine effects will be evaluated.

Keywords: Photochemistry, Synthesis

BIO

My name is Anghea "Angie" Dolisca and I am currently a fourth-year student studying biomedical engineering at Florida State University. I currently am a Research Assistant at the High-Performance Institute Lab and a Teaching Assistant for the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program here on campus.

Scalable and Passive Carbon Nanotube Thin-film Sensor for Detecting Micro-strains and Potential Impact Damage in Fiber-Reinforced Composite Materials

Abstract

Structural health monitoring (SHM) of brittle structures will require versatile sensing instrumentation that can transmitting transient loadings into rapid electrical responses. This research investigated the sensing performance of CNT Buckypaper (CNT-BP) thin-films on stressed fiber-reinforced composites, which are integral materials to various industries of the infrastructure. Three-point bending experiments revealed an extraordinary gauge factor (∼40) and impressive response linearity. Electrical responses were instantaneous; moreover, low force impacts were detectable, the sensors provided clear indications of spatial recognition. Most importantly, the manufacturing methods are scalable and cost effective compared to commercialized strain gauges. This study examined micro-strain measurements (<1%) of carbon fiber composites, in which bending strain of 0.002% could be detected. In addition, damage progressions of glass fiber composites were recorded in response to low-impact energies. Less than 20 J of impact energy was detectable by the sensor, and the severity could be assessed from drastic changes in the sensing behavior.

Keywords: Carbon Nanotube, Detecting Micro-strains, and Potential Impact Damage

BIO

Hello! My name is Anna Strickland and I am a second year psychology student from Gainesville, Florida. My inspiration to study social media use comes from the integration that social media has made into our everyday lives. I am fascinated by the implications that this has for us as a society, and it is something I intend to work further on, especially during my psychology career.

The Technology Time Trap: Managing Social Media Use

Abstract

Social media use has become ubiquitous among young adults. With the widespread use of apps like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and X (formerly Twitter), there is no shortage of data regarding the many negative outcomes that result from social media use. There is, however, a dearth of data regarding the positive experiences that people have on social media. In this study, data has been collected from 1-on-1 interviews that questioned college-aged students about their social media use, as well as the positive and negative emotions that arise from that use. Participants were also asked how they mitigate negative outcomes associated with social media use, and how they promote positive outcomes. Preliminary results suggest that many college-aged students experience negative emotions concerning the amount of time they spend on the app TikTok; however, some data also suggest that many people experience positive emotions through the use of social media.

Keywords: Social Media, Emotion, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Youtube, Streaming, Psychology

BIO

My name is Michaela Krushinskie and I'm from Gainesville, Florida. I am majoring in Political Science with a double minor in Biology and International Affairs. I am interested in any field of research, but specifically I like to research underrepresented topics because I like to find out what causes them to be understudied and the possible important implications they have for their field. I have done research in gender inequality and marketing techniques so far. In my own field, I am interested in working with the District Attorney's office and I hope to specialize in prosecution. I am a member of Phi Alpha Delta at Florida State University as well. Outside of school, I am active in the community through my sorority Delta Zeta, where we work closely with the Florida State Speech and Hearing Clinic, along with raising money for the Starkey Hearing Clinic. I aspire to continue my education in law school after I graduate from Florida State.

Gender Inequality in Archaeology: the dual faceted nature of the ground stone tool

Abstract

This project investigates the underrepresentation of women in prehistory due to the need for archaeological experts to include women in activities other than those regarding the household or children. Specifically, this project will look at how there has been less emphasis on ground stone tools in archaeology because of their association with women and domestic activities. There has not been an enough scholarly interest in ground stone tools until the last twenty years because of the assumption that they were utilized in mundane daily activities, such as food preparation, thought to have been largely under the purview of women in prehistory. Our understanding of prehistoric society and its people may be skewed, therefore, in part because we have given less attention to these artifacts due to modern biases. Using a random sample of 41 articles, I argue that theses biases also directly impact modern trends in archaeological research, whereby women have predominantly studied ground stone tools and men have studied other types of stone tools, such as chipped stones. Strides to debunk the nullability associated with stone tools would be useful to the analysis of these
tools because there might be more historical implications to these artifacts other than their use in daily activities. Also, it would help to stop the stereotype of women being associated only with daily activities or child-rearing.

Keywords: Archaeology, ground stone tools, women

BIO

Collin is a first-year Mechanical Engineering Major and Music Minor from Lake Mary, FL. He is a part of the honors program and the Marching Chiefs.

Designing and Developing a Game-based Learning Experience for Healthier Eating

Abstract

Educating individuals on healthy eating habits is important in order to negate the development of eating disorders and correct unhealthy eating habits. Game-based learning has been proven to be instrumental in demonstrating certain scenarios where players can explore in a safe environment. This is valuable to teaching healthy eating habits that can then be practiced in real life, as teaching in a game-based environment allows room for error and improvement in eating practices. Making players aware of how to practice intuitive and mindful eating through game-based learning will encourage a preference for healthier meals based on decisions made about attitude. This game simulation includes gauges for satiation, satisfaction, and nutrition, which are all measures that can be used to determine healthy or unhealthy eating in real life. Players will balance and maintain these gauges through trial and error in navigating how to make healthy food recipes. If the player ends up making unhealthy food, the game will provide multiple-choice questions on how to make certain recipes healthier. A balanced and attentive approach to food consumption can be attained by cultivating an awareness of emotional triggers for eating. The ultimate goal of this educational game is to provide an alternative approach to educating individuals about healthy eating practices through game-based learning, emphasizing self-awareness and rejecting restrictive diets in favor of a more customized and holistic approach to well-being.

Keywords: Game Based Learning, Game Development, Healthy Eating

BIO

My name is Hannah Wiencek and I am a second year majoring in cell and molecular neuroscience. I am originally from Ohio and I am interested in research on human behavior.

Impact & Efficacy of Collegiate Recovery Programs (CRP's) on student outcomes: A systematic review of literature

Abstract

It is important to recognize the importance for a widespread availability of recovery programs on college campuses as they can lead to a better physical and emotional well-being for students in recovery and promote academic achievement. Although majority of evidence suggests this, there should still be an increase in research studies to test the efficacy of these programs as a whole.

Keywords: Recovery, psychology, review

BIO

Daniel, a second-year undergraduate student at Florida State University, is pursuing a major in Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences on the Pre-Medical Track. Actively engaged in campus life, he holds an Emergency Medical Responder license through his involvement with the university's Medical Response Unit. Through his medical endeavors, Daniel collaborates with organizations like SGA to enhance campus safety for all. Additionally, he serves as an undergraduate research assistant for the Collegiate Recovery Program, working under Dr. Chelsea Shore. In this role, Daniel contributes to researching addiction and establishing a comprehensive database for the Association of Recovery in Higher Education (ARHE). This database aims to aid institutions, researchers, and faculty in developing their own Collegiate Recovery Programs, fostering support for collegiate students on their recovery journeys. Daniel’s academic interests extend to healthcare, public policy, and combating substance abuse.

Descriptive Database for the Field of Collegiate Recovery Programs

Abstract

A scoping literature review conducted by N. Vest et al. (2021) revealed a noteworthy deficiency in available evidence pertaining to CRPs (Collegiate Recovery Programs). A thorough search conducted up to August 2020 yielded only 54 articles meeting stringent criteria. Addressing this gap and furthering the work of Vest et al., Dr. Shore, supported by the Association of Recovery in Higher Education (ARHE), established an online descriptive database designed to assist collegiate recovery program providers and collegiate administrators. The database has over 100 (N = 122) meticulously analyzed articles related to CRPs and college student recovery from substance (mis)use. Articles are systematically categorized by Author, Journal, Year, Title, Methodology, Analyses, Key Findings, SJDEI Topics, Theories, and Integrated Behavioral Health Areas, ensuring its utility as a comprehensive and structured resource for advancing research. The database aims to guide practitioners in the field of collegiate recovery, facilitating the development and improvement of CRPs within higher education institutions (HEIs).

Keywords: substance abuse, collegiate recovery, CRP

BIO

Hello, my name is Julieta Flores, and I am a second-year student at FSU studying Biological Sciences because I want to become a veterinarian. Florida contains 5 out of the 7 turtle species; however, Florida is known for its high boat traffic, which has resulted in high rates of sea turtle strandings due to vessel strikes. That is why we wanted to evaluate the ability of turtles in avoiding vessels as well as the behavioral responses to try reducing collision risk, so we came up with this research study.

A Preliminary Analysis of Marine Turtle Behavioral Response to Vessel Approach during Transect Surveys

Abstract

Marine turtles often occur in areas that are characterized by high-frequency and high-speed boating activity. This is of conservation concern due to growing evidence for the interactions between marine turtles and vessels and consequent impacts. It is important to understand how turtles respond to vessels because we can use it to develop regulations to reduce disturbances caused by vessels that affect the natural behavior of marine turtles to preserve marine life. In this study, we leveraged the data obtained from the drone footage of the transect surveys to examine the fine-scale behavioral response of turtles to vessel presence. We watched 66 hours of footage and identified just four occurrences of marine turtles of three species (Chelonia mydas, Caretta caretta, and Lepidochelys kempii) during our drone transects. Preliminary results indicate that the behavioral responses of turtles to vessels varied; while some individuals displayed evasive behavior (e.g., displacement or direction change), other individuals showed no behavioral response to the vessel approach. With additional data from more individual turtles, the true variation of behavioral response of marine turtles to vessels can be determined. Ultimately, this data can be incorporated as an additional covariate into models of marine turtle abundance and density from drone surveys. Nevertheless, for further conclusions on the fine-scale behavioral response of turtles to vessel approach, additional survey methods such as biologgers should be employed because they can collect data on the behavior of turtles to aim for a better solution to minimize the impacts of vessel traffic on turtles.

Keywords: marine turtles, vessel strike, behavior, marine conservation

BIO

Greetings! My name is Rolner Benjamin. I’m a current sophomore here at FSU studying biomedical engineering.

The Black Artist’s Way

Abstract

My research project goes into a deeper knowledge of the different artistic expressions of
African Americans. There’s a long list of many different African American performers who exerted
their passions in such a unique way through singing, acting, and dancing. There are many different
examples of magnificent artists that’ll be mentioned throughout this specific research such as Toni
Morrison, Billie Holiday, Josephine Baker, Dorothy Dandridge, Zora Neale Hurston, and Lorraine
Hansberry. These women will illustrate the complexity and differentiation of expression through
their different artistic abilities. There will be a couple of videos created for educational purposes for
students to learn the history and background of expression in general and how it is portrayed in the
performance arts world. The videos will initiate such an importance of historical rich content of
artists using their gifts and talents in their own successful way. A timeline of greatness will be
displayed

Keywords: Excellence

BIO

Zionne Cummings is a freshman at Florida State University majoring in Media Communications. They aspire to pursue a career in broadcast journalism.

Incels and Firearms

Abstract

The word “Incel” is a portmanteau consisting of the words involuntary and celibate. Members of this
community form small online subgroups in which they discuss similar ideologies on topics such as
dating, women, and their lifestyles. Due to the violent nature of a lot of these conversations and the
declaration from many mass shooters that they belong to the incel community, they have a negative
reputation. This research project aims to analyze the discussions within these groups and whether or
not these intersect with firearm ownership. With the rise of mass shootings over the years,
researchers have noticed that often, the perpetrator will post their intentions of causing harm
online. This is usually done on social media apps such as 4chan, Twitch, Reddit, etc. In order to
better understand the behavior of this subgroup, we joined a multitude of these platforms with the
intention of recording conversations between the subgroups and noting the intensity of their
comments and the frequency of how much they occur.

Keywords: Incel, Firearm, Gun, Misogyny

BIO

Hi, my name is Natalia. I am a sophomore from Lake Worth, Florida, majoring in Biological Science and minoring in French on the pre-medical track. I joined UROP because I value how it empowers undergraduate students interested in conducting research by providing them with the tools, resources, and encouragement that they need to get started and take ownership of their research journeys. Coming from a Hispanic family, I am passionate about healthcare access and addressing linguistic disparities because I have witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by limited English proficiency patients in accessing quality care. My research with Dr. Carli Zegers from the FSU College of Nursing focuses on healthcare translation standards for Spanish-speaking patient populations. By delving into the effectiveness of these standards, particularly in conveying culturally sensitive medical information, we aim to enhance health literacy and outcomes. I am driven to improve communication in healthcare, and I am dedicating myself to learning French to broaden my ability to interact with diverse patients. Through my healthcare research and multilingual background, I aspire to provide inclusive, culturally competent care as a future physician that ensures all patients feel supported and understood, advancing the cause of health equity in diverse sociocultural settings.

The Correlation Between COPD and Select Patient Characteristics

Abstract

To improve healthcare access and effectively address existing health disparities, it is essential to examine the various factors that may potentially influence patient interactions with the medical community. Language barriers and patients’ socioeconomic backgrounds are commonly known to exacerbate access gaps to healthcare, further highlighting the need for quality translation standards among other solutions. Ideally, these measures would help improve the relationship between patients and medical institutions as well as empower providers to create culturally sensitive and inclusive healthcare experiences. To further understand the relationship between disease and language among other patient characteristics, this particular study focuses on analyzing the correlations between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and survey participant demographics. Such findings deepen insight into the impact of language as well as other potential factors that should be taken into close consideration when developing future interventions in order to best promote health equity and mitigate the impact of disparities on patients' health.

Keywords: COPD, healthcare access, language, disparities

BIO

Hello! My name is Karen Salazar-Angeles, I am nineteen years-old, and I was born and raised in Tallahassee, Florida. I am currently a sophomore student pursuing a bachelor degree in Information, Communication, and Technology as well as minors in Spanish and Data Analytics. My current research interests involve fields such as technology, data analytics/transcribing, and more. I am interested in pursuing a career in STEM, specifically the tech field, and some career areas I am interested in are project management, data analysis/management, and cybersecurity. Alongside UROP, I am Social Media Director for the STEMental Health Association and Professional Development Coordinator for the Mexican-American Student Association. I am also a member of The Garnet and Gold Key Leadership Honor Society, ForwardFSU, The 1910 Honorary, and the Lambda Pi Eta Communications Honor Society.

Teens, Teachers, and Online Information

Abstract

With social media's surge in popularity, particularly among teenagers, the question as to how these teenagers interpret the information they see online is crucial. How teens interpret online information, and how their teachers facilitate and enhance this online learning is the main focus of this study. Previous studies have researched teens’ choices regarding their preferred social media platforms for news consumption. However, these results are vague, and little research has been done to take an in-depth approach as to why teenagers gravitate towards a “media choice.” These research studies have made it a point to determine the top social media sites used by teens, and the main devices they use to access these social media sites. Keeping this in mind, this research fails to determine how teens utilize this information in their daily lives, especially in an educational setting. In this current ongoing study, the way that teens interpret online information and current events was researched through various measures. Interviews were conducted in which teen participants describe their top social media platforms, and the information they encounter on these platforms. Data is collected through a Qualtrics survey for a week in which participants submit screenshot artifacts from their media encounters, as well as a video diary in which they describe their media usage and encounters for the week. Anticipated findings for this ongoing study are that while teens encounter a variety of information online, they may not fact check, research further, or discuss such issues with their teachers in school.

Keywords: teens, social media, online, teachers, information

BIO

Kassia Stevens is a fourth-year biology student, graduating in May 2024, with a focus in ecology and evolution. She is currently part of an FSU pathway program for Geographic Information Systems and intends to pursue a career in conservation biology after attending graduate school.

The Effects of Food Availability on Reproduction in Simultaneous Hermaphrodite Doto chica

Abstract

Understanding the impact of environmental factors on reproductive activity is crucial when it comes to studying population dynamics, particularly in ever-changing coastal marine ecosystems. The present study explores the effects of food availability on the mating behavior of Doto chica, a simultaneous hermaphrodite nudibranch found along the Gulf coast of Florida. Through controlled laboratory trials, we investigate whether varying levels of food access has an influence in copulation dynamics in this species. While copulation initiation remains unaffected by food availability, our results indicate a significant correlation between food access and copulation duration; individuals with restricted food access exhibit shorter mating durations compared to those with unrestricted food access. Oviposition rates, though, do not differ significantly across treatments, suggesting potential resilience to short-term food scarcity. These findings suggest that D. chica may allocate reproductive energy based on resource availability, which would align them with the concept of ‘capital breeders.’ This study emphasizes the importance of considering environmental factors when analyzing the reproductive strategies of marine invertebrates in intertidal zones.

Keywords: Reproductive biology, Invertebrate, Marine science