C35. “Gender’s Role In Nursing Burnout Levels”
Time: 2:40 – 3:00 p.m. | Location: Olin 124 | Session Type: Classic
Student Author(s): Josie Johnson
Mentored by: Dr. Karla Knutson, Scott Olsen
”Abstract”
One of the many issues presently burdening the American healthcare system is the nursing shortage. This shortage is partly due to COVID-19 pandemic’s exacerbation of existing problems within the healthcare system, one of which being the undervaluing of nurses and the work they do. The most critical aspect of any direct patient care role is one’s ability to empathize with the patient. Emotional connection between patients and providers improves health outcomes while in the hospital, and lack thereof is detrimental. However, the emotional labor of nurses is the most undervalued and under-supported aspect of their work in comparison to physical, technical, and serviceable labor. Research has shown that nurses displaying emotional exhaustion and compassion fatigue are more likely to have increased burnout levels and that these rates are elevated in female nurses. Many studies briefly mention that the assumed reason for this increase in female nurses is due to higher levels of empathy in women. My research seeks to add to the conversation on emotional labor by elaborating on the societal forces that maintain gender binaries, and therefore the devaluation of “women’s work,” or professions that employ more feminine qualities like compassion, warmth, gentleness, tolerance, and sensitivity. I will use methods of literature review and textual analysis, utilizing psychological studies of nurses connecting concepts of empathy, emotional labor, and burnout, along with relevant gender scholarship. Though my focus is on the nursing profession, much of it can be applied to female-dominated professions in general, like teaching and social work.
C36. “The Need for Increased Participation of Women in Computer Science”
Time: 3:00 – 3:20 p.m. | Location: Olin 124 | Session Type: Classic
Student Author(s): Shristi Chapagain
Mentored by: Damian Lampl
”Abstract”
The field of computer science has one of the largest gender disparities in participation, with women receiving just around 20% of undergraduate degrees in the field, which has been in decline for decades with few to little improvements in recent years. Stereotypes in the field of computer science such as a subject for “computer nerds” and “socially awkward people” make girls feel they do not fit in, affecting their decision to not choose computer science as their potential major. The disparities and the fact that computer science is a male-dominated field can deter girls from taking introductory computer science classes. Without enough role models in computer science, it becomes difficult for girls to see themselves working in the field. This research will examine how receiving guidance from a professional mentor and engaging in activities such as workshops, hackathons, and training can influence the career aspirations of individuals in the field of computer science. The findings from this research indicate a notable increase in the likelihood of women choosing computer science as a potential career as a result of participating in these activities.
C37. “Mending the Broken Basket: The Vitality of the Earth and Kinship Among All Who Breathe in Ghosh’s The Nutmeg’s Curse and Hogan’s People of the Whale”
Time: 2:40 – 3:00 p.m. | Location: Morrie Jones C/D | Session Type: Classic
Student Author(s): Amber Eken
Mentored by: Dr. Jonathan Steinwand
”Abstract”
In my reading of Amitav Ghosh’s The Nutmeg’s Curse and Linda Hogan’s People of the Whale I see a common idea concerned with three essential relationships—the relationship between humans and the nonhuman, the relationship between one another as humans, and the relationship between humans and the human beings who have gone before. These relationships are often damaged among people today strongly due to colonialism. By braiding the three relationships into one through the languages of kinship and vitality, we may mend these connections and find ourselves, rewriting what it means to be human in a world so impacted by the history of colonialism. In The Nutmeg’s Curse, Ghosh argues that climate change is deeply intertwined with the rise and expansion of Western colonialism. He suggests that we must rethink our relationship with the Earth and with one another through recognizing the vitalism of the planet and listening to the stories of others with empathy, and this may rekindle an understanding of the kinship connecting us all. Hogan’s novel, People of the Whale, demonstrates how colonialism has damaged a fictional tribe and their relationships between each other, their ancestors, and the whales they used to hunt and love. One character struggles after returning from war to find himself and connect with those around him. Eventually, he learns to again see the vitality and kinship in the world, listening to the breaths and stories of all beings, and he finds himself through healing the three relationships that were severed through colonialism.
C38. “Global Narratives, Local Stories: A Collection of Immigrant Narratives in the Journey to Normalizing Cross-Cultural Interaction”
Time: 3:00 – 3:20 p.m. | Location: Morrie Jones C/D | Session Type: Classic
Student Author(s): Anna Kronbeck
Mentored by: Dr. Lisa Twomey
”Abstract”
As the Midwest welcomes more immigrants to local communities every year, engagement between native residents and new members of the area is more important than ever. Many scholars in the area of cross-cultural interaction posit that contact between two groups reduces the prejudice between them. In an exploration of how and why immigrants wish to express their story, and in what ways communication between people of diverse backgrounds unites not only people but also communities, I collected immigrant narratives from Fargo-Moorhead and greater Minnesota communities throughout the summer of 2022. While this project could have been made with the hopes of gathering quantitative results, so many statistics of immigrants are left at that: statistics. The importance of recognizing the human story behind the numbers is often lost. The vibrant culture, perspective, and life that immigrants have brought and continue to bring into our communities is something that must be appreciated, and it all starts with a story. We must understand the barriers that exist between populations to move forward in a united way. Cross-cultural interaction benefits all groups involved by building a sense of unity and safety where differences and similarities can be shared alike. The goal of this project is to discover how to further normalize cross-cultural interaction and rhetoric surrounding it, breaking down barriers and teaching lessons of identity, intersectionality, understanding, and community through stories of twenty individuals from eighteen countries around the world.
C39. “Intersectionality in Literature”
Time: 2:40 – 3:20 p.m. | Location: Morrie Jones A/B | Session Type: Panel
Student Author(s): Qwame Martin
Mentored by: Dr. Amy Watkin
”Abstract”
Including more complex intersectional identities in literature, particularly in YA and Children’s books, has significant benefits that can promote representation, inclusivity, critical thinking, and social justice. By providing a nuanced and complex portrayal of identity, literature can challenge stereotypes and promote empathy towards individuals with different identities. This can ultimately lead to greater activism and a more just and equitable society. Intersectionality is a concept that acknowledges that a person’s identity is shaped by multiple factors, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and ability. Including more complex intersectional identities in literature, particularly in YA and Children’s books, has several significant benefits. In “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas, The novel follows and explores themes of race, police brutality, and activism, and features a complex portrayal of black identity. In “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe” by Benjamin Alire Sáenz, The novel explores themes of sexuality, race, and masculinity, and features a nuanced portrayal of queer and Latinx identities. In “The Poet X” by Elizabeth Acevedo a novel-in-verse follows and explores themes of religion, sexuality, and family, and features a powerful portrayal of a Latinx girl finding her voice. “The Power of Representation: Queer YA Literature as a Form of Validation for LGBTQ+ Teens” by Zara M. Wilkinson (2021) explores the impact of queer YA literature on LGBTQ+ teens. The study found that queer YA literature can provide validation, affirmation, and a sense of belonging for LGBTQ+ teens, and can also help non-LGBTQ+ teens develop empathy and understanding. The overall goal is to better understand how representations in literature better help students of color with comprehension and belonging within the classroom.
C40. “The Creative Process of Interpreting Literature in a Second Language”
Time: 2:40 – 3:00 p.m. | Location: Integrated Science Center 338 | Session Type: Classic
Student Author(s): Oliver Carriere
Mentored by: Dr. Lisa Twomey
This presentation will be given in Spanish.
”Abstract”
Cien Años de Soledad by Gabriel García Márquez was written in 1967 and is one of the most well known Spanish novels ever written. The novel follows the long history of the Buendía family and the fictional town Macando. The book was written in a magical realism style, but has many elements that connect back to real events that occured in Colombia. The goal of this presentation is to share the improvement in vocabulary that has occured in the second language as well as display artwork that has been created to represent the different themes present.
C41. “Concordia Choir’s: An Opportunity of a Lifetime.”
Time: 3:00 – 3:20 p.m. | Location: Integrated Science Center 338 | Session Type: Classic
Student Author(s): Connie Xiong
Mentored by: Dr. Karla Knutson
”Abstract”
Ethnography is the more taking of field research to observe a community of its growing culture, the togetherness of habits, and mutual differences. The very meaning of Ethnography sparked the idea of leads towards Concordia’s well-known Choirs that are entitled ‘best’ in the states. This project consists of the following getting to know better what goes on during the rehearsals and connections between student and teacher, as well as the ongoing development of a community of students singing together despite their differences in education and background. The project consists of the publicity of Concordia’s different choirs and the expectation of each when comparing music and non-music majors. By achieving the information, most of my time was spent joining the choir myself, singing with the choir, and observing them all simultaneously while taking notes. Other methods included were interviews with other members of the different ensembles as an offered perspective of either fresh (Freshmen Choir), communitive (Chapel Choir), or challenging (Concordia Choir). While all held similar keys, all displayed different interpretations of experiences between two other conductors. Overall, by gathering all information, there will be a gap opening of a new opportunity to understand better why Concordia choirs are seen as a “once in a lifetime” opportunity and why many students see the choir as a bonding experience.
C42. “Topography, Soil, Vegetation, and Air Temperature Study of Lifjell in Bø i Telemark, Norway”
Time: 2:40 – 3:00 p.m. | Location: Integrated Science Center 301 | Session Type: Classic
Student Author(s): Rachel Andersen
Mentored by: Dr. Bryan Bishop
”Abstract”
Alpine ecology is an area of study that focuses on the interactions between organisms and their surrounding environment in the alpine environment. The alpine is defined as the area beyond the tree line, usually higher up in mountainous areas where air temperatures are too cold to support tree life. The alpine is also defined by the limited growing season due to prolonged snow cover during the year (Nagy and Grabherr, 1). Despite the lack of tree life, mosses, lichens, and small shrubs thrive in the alpine. It is these types of vegetation (lichens, mosses, and small shrubs) that characterize alpine ecosystems. Alpine ecosystems are critical environments, as they influence many environmental, economic, and social factors beyond the just alpine ecosystems (Beddrich et al., 2022). Alpine ecosystems are also important because they are hotspots for biodiversity, influence weather patterns, and provide large amounts of freshwater due to melting snow (Nagy and Grabherr, 7). As climate change worsens, studying and protecting alpine environments is becoming increasingly crucial as these areas are critically threatened by global warming. Alpine ecosystems are extremely sensitive to changes in temperature and are therefore good indicators of global warming (Frindte et al., 2019).The goal of this report is to describe field work done at Lifjell, an alpine environment. At Lifjell, topography, soil, vegetation, and air temperatures were studied. Through the field work done at Lifjell, it was found that all four of these elements are highly interconnected and interdependent on each other. The core elements of alpine ecology (topography, climate, snow, soil and vegetation) each play an essential role in the ecosystems and each element has a strong impact on the others. The alpine is a beautifully interconnected ecosystem, and further research must be done to fully understand the complexity of it as well as to protect it from further damages from climate change.
C43. “Should I Stay or Should I Grow Now?: Uncovering Auxin’s Role in Phyllotaxy”
Time: 3:00 – 3:20 p.m. | Location: Integrated Science Center 301 | Session Type: Classic
Student Author(s): Joshua Weber, Katie Waugh
Mentored by: Dr. Mallorie Taylor-Teeples
”Abstract”
By understanding how plants grow and organize themselves, we can unlock an opportunity to increase crop yield as a way to fight hunger. In this study that took place over the summer of 2022, we endeavored to use CRISPR-Cas9 and RNA interference to alter several Aux/IAA repressor proteins and upset the auxin pathway in two model organisms: the weed Arabidopsis thaliana and the grass Brachypodium distachyon. The auxin pathway involves the degradation of Aux/IAA repressor proteins to then activate specific developmental pathways at precise times and places within the plant, effectively driving the process of phyllotaxy. If we can disrupt a plant’s normal auxin pathway and observe the changes, we can take a step toward better understanding plant growth and development. In addition to the normal, wild-type versions of Arabidopsis and Brachypodium, mutant Arabidopsis plants that are unable to produce a functional repressor protein were also grown. While these plants resemble non-mutant plants, we hope that breeding plants with multiple non-functional repressor proteins (double or triple mutants) will show a change in phyllotactic patterning. Complimenting this work, we endeavored to use CRISPR-Cas9 to genetically modify the plants’ repressor proteins and prevent their degradation in response to auxin. Additionally, we engineered a way for a key repressor protein to escape RNA interference, further disturbing how auxin functions within the plant. Our work is done in the hope of altering the precise timing of the auxin, which may seem counterintuitive to our goal; however, by taking this initial step of disruption, we aspire to learn even more about phyllotaxy and auxin which brings us closer to the goal of improving crop yield by controlling plant organization.
C44. “Evaluating the Rhetorical Messages of Post-Graduate Workplaces using a Narrative Criticism Framework”
Time: 2:40 – 3:20 p.m. | Location: Integrated Science Center 260 | Session Type: Panel
Student Author(s): Rachel Hauschildt
Mentored by: Dr. Indira Neill Hoch
”Abstract”
In a post-covid workplace, there are two different narratives circulating about the success of a liberal arts education. The purpose of this research is to aid and prepare undergraduate students entering the workforce to understand what skills they will need to be prepared to talk about. Through the use of the Narrative Criticism framework, these narratives are evaluated on the effectiveness of their rhetorical messages. Various popular media articles, researched and peer-reviewed sources, and different Liberal Arts Colleges show different messages that confuse recent graduates entering the workforce. In this paper, these sources are compared and contrasted to find the true content of their messages in relation to the objectives of their narratives. Both pre-pandemic and post-pandemic articles are used to fully grasp what skills employers are looking for and what colleges are able to provide. As a result of this rhetoric, colleges are restructuring the measures by which they prepare students for entering the workforce. With all of this confusion, it can be difficult for all members involved to form expectations for students in an ever-evolving post-covid graduate workforce.
C45. “Behind the Scenes (A 21st Century Painting)”
Time: 2:40 – 3:00 p.m. | Location: Integrated Science Center 201 | Session Type: Classic
Student Author(s): Ives Hilgers
Mentored by: Dr. Susan Lee
”Abstract”
The creation of this painting seeks to find parallels between films and artists of the past, and how their influence on the art world can inspire current artists in the way we create artworks in the 21st century. The painting is a piece that incorporates elements of impressionism, surrealism, and references to cinema. The process involved in its creation is covered in a presentation format as well as the initial inspiration for the piece, its progression, and the symbolism and surreal elements incorporated in the artwork. In specific, I will be focusing on research done about Edward Hopper’s interiors and his voyeuristic view into people’s personal space and how we see their introspection. Additionally, I will speak about impressionist Edgar Degas’s use of color and his concept of capturing performances. Finally, I will be looking into Federico Fellini’s film “La Strada” about nomadic life and performing for the crowd. The research for this painting was done by looking through many images of paintings by the two mentioned artists, and by reading books pertaining to the creation of “La Strada”, the primary inspiration for the piece. The progression of the painting was shown by taking photographs at different stages of the painting, all the way until its completion. The result is a painting that is of the 21st century that speaks of now but shows references to past artists.
C46. “Philip Roth’s ‘Defender of the Faith’ through a Double Consciousness Lens”
Time: 3:00 – 3:20 p.m. | Location: Integrated Science Center 201 | Session Type: Classic
Student Author(s): Elizabeth Naugle
Mentored by: Dr. James Postema
”Abstract”
Philip Roth’s short story “Defender of the Faith” appeared in his first collection of stories, Goodbye Columbus. Through research, Gillian Steinberg addresses one source for “Defender of the Faith,” which is a story of four sons from the Jewish Haggadah. Steinberg shows how Roth modernizes this traditional story, but only for readers familiar with Judaism; readers who don’t know the Haggadah would completely miss this aspect. This leads me to look at “Defender of the Faith” through a Double Conscious lens, a concept identified by the early African American sociologist W.E.B. Du Bois. Double Consciousness is known for “twoness” of identity or belief. Looking through Roth’s “Defender of the Faith” in a Double Consciousness lens, we can see that Roth is creating this work for two audiences: the surface level of the story for a general audience, and his modernized version of the Haggadah for a Jewish audience. Roth’s work demonstrates the reality of Du Bois’ theory and illustrates that it can operate between any pairing of dominant and overlooked cultures.