Celebration of Learning 2022 Oral Presentations III

Oral Presentations III will run from 1-2:15 p.m.

Physics, Engineering and Astronomy Olin 305 (Session B)

Utilizing a Novel Neutron Filtering Technique to Analyze Multi-Neutron Datasets

Presented by Oscar Peterson-Veatch; advisor Dr. Nathan Frank

I worked with nuclear physics data from the MoNA Collaboration to characterize highly unstable nuclides. An experiment was performed at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory in which a 27Ne radioactive ion beam was fired into a target of liquid deuterium. Collisions between the 27Ne ion beam and the liquid deuterium target produced various nuclides. Many nuclides decay producing a charged fragment and at least one neutron. 26F is formed when 1-proton is removed from a 27Ne beam, which results in 25F, 24F, or 23F with one, two, or three neutron emission. My research focused on extracting information about multi-neutron particle emission from unstable isotopes. Comparison of experimental data was completed by running simulations that represent various decay paths of the nuclides. The simulated and experimental data are then compared to draw conclusions about what types of decay certain isotopes undergo. This process is refined through the use of a new multi-neutron filtering method developed by collaborators. This filtering method helps to better distinguish between true multiple neutron events and neutrons that interact with the detectors more than once. I will be presenting a comparison of results between data and simulation.

Raster Scanner - Second Generation

Presented by Anas Akkar; advisor Dr. Nathan Frank

The raster scanner is a device whose purpose is to reproducibly transport radioactive samples in a rectangular pattern over the surface of a charged particle detector to map the pulse height response over the detector's surface. A prior version of a Raster Scanner used stepper motors that were very close to a 500 micrometer thick Silicon-PIN (Si-PIN) detector, which resulted in electronic noise overwhelming the signal. In order to reduce the electronic noise and refine the data collection, an entirely new mechanism was designed to work with the Mesytec MVME data acquisition system. The results of this system will be presented.

Developing Fulldome Astronomy Programs at the John Deere Planetarium

Presented by Dr. Lee Carkner

Political Science Olin 209 (Session C)

Examining Student Perception in Higher Education Governance in Sweden

Presented by Ayradi Catron and Fernanda Rubi; advisor Mariano Magalhaes

For two weeks during the 2022 Spring Semester, a trio from Augustana's Political Science Department conducted research at Uppsala University in Sweden on students' perceptions of their influence in higher education governance. This project was inspired by a curiosity to learn how parliamentary ordinances and laws mandating student participation are actualized within a university structure. Immersing themselves in the Swedish culture and using the democratic innovations framework by Graham Smith to collect responses from students, professors, and faculty from multiple levels of the university hierarchy, they gained useful insight on the voice of students in decision-making at UU. Join the students part of this project as they share details from their trip and tentative findings from their conversations!

More than a Fútbol Rivalry: Comparing the Quality of Female Representation within Argentina and Brazil

Presented by Rylie Schurter; advisor Mariano Magalhaes and Xiaowen Zhang

The systematic exclusion of women from platforms of public power has come to be one of the most substantial challenges to Latin American democracy. Within this challenge, mechanisms to increase women's representation in politics have been introduced. This paper will seek to understand key differences and similarities between Argentina and Brazil in regards to female representation, and the relationship this aspect has with the number of women who hold government positions. Furthermore, this investigation will seek to understand the influence factors such as mobilization within and outside of the government have on female representation. Perhaps there are lessons that can be learned from Argentina that can aid Brazil in increasing the number of female elected officials. Perhaps Argentina can learn from Brazil as well. Understanding the significance of Argentina and Brazil in promoting the participation of women in politics can also unveil further insights as to which societal components affect a woman's path to political power. This project will use the following research question to conclude these findings: Looking at the countries of Argentina and Brazil, is the number of women who hold elected positions an accurate reflection of the quality of female representation within the government?

At the Global Intersection of Sex, Crime, and the Internet: An Analysis of International Efforts to Combat Sex Cybercrime

Presented by Rosalie Looijaard; advisor Mariano Magalhaes

The internet has become a new platform for transnational sex crime. Sex trafficking, child pornography, and other exploitative practices and forms of sex crime are now being facilitated through various loosely regulated servers and websites. As sex cybercrime is further complicated by the fact that is transcends borders, any attempt at remedying this issue must consider transnational cooperation and multilateral efforts. However, these efforts do not come without difficulties. This project outlines the unique issues that plague the fight against sex cybercrime. It further examines previous cooperative efforts made to address various facets of sex cybercrime in order to conclude what approach any future efforts should take, including measures for identification, prevention, and prosecution that are suited to the unique nature of sex cybercrime.

Hanson 102 (Session D)

Biology

Auryon™ Laser in Peripheral Arterial Interventions

Presented by Nicholas Fedele; advisors Dr. Stephanie Fuhr and Dr. Nicolas Shammas 

The Auryon 355 nm laser atherectomy system (AngioDynamics, Inc., Latham, NY) showed a low rate of target lesion revascularization (TLR) at a 6-month follow-up in the investigational device exemption study. At present, real-world data are not available. We analyze major adverse events (MAE) and 6-month outcomes with the Auryon laser system in treating infrainguinal arterial disease in all comers at a single center. Conclusion In a real-world cohort of patients with complex diseases, the Auryon laser had excellent freedom from TLR at 6 months, but was less effective at one year. 

Geography

Putting Drones to Work for the College: Development of a Roof Geodatabase from Drone Data

Presented by Amanda Walljasper; advisor Dr. Reuben Heine

The Department of Geography and Facilities teamed up on a multi-year project to create a digital version of the campus buildings, grounds, and infrastructure. This "digital campus" project will streamline operations and maintenance and support future sustainability projects. My research contributes to this larger effort by using GIS to extract important roof features and attributes from high-resolution drone data. Specifically, my research converts drone data into a geodatabase that represents roofs as 2D and 3D polygon features. Because drone mapping generates both point clouds and aerial images, I created a new methodology to measure 3D areas and slopes from these data. I am in the process of generating features for every college-owned roof on campus. The digital database also allows for attaching key pdf files to the roof sections. Working with Mr. Al Alexander and Mr. Bob Lanzerotti, I have scanned and attached all known roof documents to the geodatabase. These include roof-zone diagrams, repair records, and warranty information. This geodatabase will provide an interactive way for facilities to manage the rooftops on campus. The geodatabase will allow facilities staff to quickly quantify the roof surface areas when repairs are needed and it can be used to find optimal places for additional solar panels. Calling up documents and attributes is as easy as clicking on the digital map.

During the fall term, I took Dr. Reuben Heine's new drone-mapping class. I along with a handful of other students also earned my FAA Part 107 Pilots license. In that class, we used drones and Pix4DMapper software to generate a 2.0 cm resolution aerial image of the campus. Mine is just one of many projects happening to benefit our campus using GIS and drone data.

French Old Main 117 (Session E)

Where is home? Finding identity post colonialism

Presented by Alondra Ochoa; advisor Dr. Kiki Kosnick

Generational Trauma and Coping Mechanisms in Nina Bouraoui

Presented by Amayrani Lopez; advisor Dr. Kiki Kosnick

I will be discussing how generational trauma has impacted the life of the narrator Nina and what coping mechanisms she uses throughout her novel to deal with this generational trauma. I will analyze the ways in how her generational trauma has been passed down by her mother. The coping mechanisms that I will be focusing on are the use of the character Amine and how Nina's writing is being used for a therapeutic purpose. I will also be discussing the side effects of this generational trauma as well, such as fragmentation of memory. Overall, this analysis will offer a possible perspective of the psychological state of the character Nina.

Feminism in the Auto-Fiction of Abdellah Taia and Nina Bouraoui

Presented by Juno Krumm; advisor Dr. Kiki Kosnick

Auto-fiction on the subject of sexuality and gender identity necessarily intersects with questions of feminism. In this presentation, I examine the problems and successes of two Arabic/French authors who wrote auto-fictional novels on the topic of growing up gay in Francophone Africa.

Religion Old Main 132 (Session G)

Religion and Spirituality in Healthcare, the Importance of Understanding Relationships and Trust in Physical Therapy

Presented by Karsten Zielinski; advisor Dr. Erick Stewart and Dr. Michelle Wolff

This project examines the relationships that patients have with healthcare providers and more specifically physical therapists through religion and spirituality. Understanding this relationship leads not only to better communication but better treatment in general.

"...and rive the very self from itself": Incarnationalism, Sacramentalism and Environmentalism in Love in the Ruins

Presented by Annelisa Burns; advisor Dr. Michelle Wolff and Jason Peters

This paper argues that Catholic sacramentalism and Aldo Leopold's land ethic are two related solutions to the problems of Gnosticism and dualism and the current climate crisis. The paper first argues that Walker Percy's Love in the Ruins is a metaphor for how Gnosticism and dualism create conflict not just within one's self, but between humankind and the natural world, through alienation of the body and spirit. According to Norman Wirzba, by abstracting humans from the physical world, Gnosticism excuses disregard for the Earth due to its status as a temporary home and even allows abuse of the Earth as it is an extension of the so-called "fleshy prisons" that Gnosticism makes human bodies out to be. The paper then delves into two possible answers that are alluded to, though not fully developed, in Percy's novel. The first is Catholic theology, specifically Catholic understandings of the incarnation, sacramentalism, and the Eucharist. The paper engages with several Catholic writers and theologians to support this uniquely Catholic affirmation of the physical and the bodily as a counter to Gnosticism. The second answer is a land ethic, as articulated by Aldo Leopold and supported by Wendell Berry, which invites humans to fundamentally alter their relationship with the land by extending the definition of "community" to include the non-human, including plants, animals, water, and dirt. Finally, the paper argues that Leopold's land ethic is intimately related to, if not based in, Catholic sacramentalism and understandings of the incarnation.

The Atlanta Spa Shooting and its Call to Evangelical Christianity: How Robert Allen Long's Actions Show Deep Rooted Issues in the American Evangelical Church

Presented by Cassandra Kruse; advisor Dr. Michelle Wolff

In March 2021 Robert Allen Long murdered eight people in massage parlors in a suburb of Atlanta, claiming he was "sexually tempted" by the services offered. Long's Evangelical church blamed sin for this mass murder, and promptly excommunicated him. In reality, both Long's church and the biblical counseling center where he was receiving treatment for aa pornography addiction bear some responsibility for his harmful theology. In this paper Kruse argues that Long was a product of his culture. She shows through the idea of militant masculinity and a fear of pornography that Long did not commit random acts of violence. Instead, the systems that Long was a part of were employing a cheap Christianity, and not truly following the Gospel. Kruse shows that Long's violence is a real life example of why a complete reformation of biblical counseling and Evangelical culture is needed.

Art and Graphic Design Augustana Teaching Museum of Art (Session H)

Meat Suit

Presented by Erica Amdal; advisor Dr. Kelvin Mason

Through the turmoil of the pandemic beginning in 2020, a spirituality movement intertwined with the continuously growing social media community. As the spirituality movement projected the comfort and self-soothing needed in a time of isolation, enthusiasts advocated the acceptance of a higher-self. The ideal of a higher-self insinuates that through deep self-observation and mindfulness, one's existence and peace will extend outside of the physical world which we inhabit. With the connotations of higher-self floating around, an enticing irony between the spirituality movement and the body-positivity movement unfolded at the forefront of social media. The dichotomy of an individual being more than their physical form, while simultaneously having to appreciate and love their physical form, inspired my tongue-in-cheek interpretation of one's body as an insignificant meat-suit. As our communities spend more time online, on our phones, isolated even more so post-quarantine, social media expands as a means of comfort. In one scrolling session we can view clothing or crystal hauls, meditation or self-love advice, which expose us to other's active lives and coping mechanisms. This exposure provokes reflection into how both body-positivity and spirituality have intertwined into mantras of personal growth. Spirituality projects growth beyond the physical world. Body positivity projects growth within the life and body we were born into. Maybe we are more than our flesh and bones, but for now we are all stuck with our meat-suits.

Augustana Rage Room

Presented by Sophie Osborn; advisor Dr. Kelvin Mason

My body of work is greatly influenced by the concept of a "rage room". A rage room is essentially a place where people go to smash items for fun. I integrated it into a form of art therapy, and by doing this I have allowed it to be a creative outlet which I can use to find my way through difficult situations. I have chosen to focus mainly on anger because I have not seen a solid outlet for it, I have mainly seen ways to manage it but not really a good way for people (myself included) to actually feel their anger and to be able to process it instead of delaying it and bottling it up. The pieces of work I have created are not to show off the skills I have as an artist, they are about using these canvases as an outlet for anger and other destructive emotions that people may not be able to express outright. While I know that these just look like a mess that anyone can do there is a meaning behind them, there are the stressors of school, family and friends, and overall life. I feel as though this idea can help lead me into discovering more anger relief methods instead of just having anger management techniques. I want to draw attention to the fact that there is a gap in therapy when it comes to anger and it needs to be explored more. Anger needs to be normalized to an extent where people can learn to understand and diffuse instead of just pushing it off until they explode from unresolved anger. I sought out anger relief methods I could use because I used to struggle with anger, so when I came onto the rage room idea and started exercising the concept it helped me feel so much better because I targeted my emotions into something constructive and destructive at the same time.

Depression

Presented by Jinsoo Park; advisor Dr. Kelvin Mason

There are many reasons for making art. For me, I usually make art so that I can express my feelings, emotions in the art and by the art. I want my art to be easy to approach, easy to understand, but also want the audience to find more meaning by looking closer and thinking once more about it. As I grew up, I was influenced by many art and artists, not only by prints or drawings but also movies and books, whether I am consciously influenced by them or not. I am influenced by Keith Haring's art and pictogram, which influenced how I make my art. Also, I tried to use the least amount of color and subject to express aspects of depression, which are mostly black and white. I believe simplicity is easier for the audience to understand what art is about. Obviously each person will have a different view, but I want to make an art that is easy to approach for audiences. I am curious about human's mentality. What is happiness? How can you be happy? What is depression and how does it affect people who have it? All these questions have led me to make art about the mentality and emotions of humans. Therefore my arts are about mental health, especially about depression. I want people to understand what depression is in mental health and understand the pain of those who are suffering from it by looking at my art. Also, for those who are suffering from depression, I want them to feel that they are not the only ones suffering from it so that they can feel better. In other words, I want people who suffer from depression to feel that they are not alone by my art. Mental is something that you cannot see, so as mental illnesses. So, many people do not understand how lethal depression is, because depression isn't visible like a broken bone.

Body Positivity in Art

Presented by Lindsey Johnson; advisor Dr. Kelvin Mason

I feel that an understanding and appreciation of the human figure is important in today's world. Every figure is unique and beautiful in its own way. I have always been told it is shameful to show skin, so through my works I aim to show that people should not be ashamed of their body. All bodies are so vastly different from each other, I do not believe that any two bodies could be exactly alike. I feel as if many people feel uneasiness when it comes to looking at nude figures. I hope to normalize being comfortable in your skin, and to let others know that they have nothing to be ashamed of. When photographing the models we work together to find a composition. The use of dramatic lighting helps to show strong contrast in the figure as well as dramatize the piece. Doing this adds a lot of interest to the piece and overall makes the composition stronger. The models dress down to the comfort level of their choosing as well as pose in a way that makes them feel confident. They are a wide range of body types, each one different from the other. I hope that this can show how beautiful all different body types can truly be. I do want to emphasize that these are nude drawings; they are not meant to be portrayed in a sexual or provocative manner. Though these figures are beautiful, it is time to end the objectification of the naked body. We all need to start realizing that each individual's body is their own and is not existing for others. These pieces are of human beings that deserve to be respected for the work of art that is their body. I hope that upon seeing my work you are taken aback by how enchanting each individual truly is and that each piece can make you feel a little more comfortable with the nude figure, or maybe even with your own body.

Women and the Material Culture of Victorian Mourning

Presented by Elisa Wynn; advisor Dr. Kelvin Mason

My project will examine Victorian mourning attire focusing on its impact on the lives of women from different social classes. Drawing on evidence from museum collections and Victorian women's magazines, I argue that mourning and its associated material culture created both limiting and liberating experiences for women. After the death of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria set a new standard for mourning during her forty year display of grief; thereafter, the death of a spouse required women to stay in mourning for approximately two years. The mourning costume, consisting of black clothing and accessories such as jewelry, veils, and parasols, served as a mandatory outward display of this grief. Women of lower classes often struggled to acquire the necessary garments to participate in mourning and had to dye or borrow clothing, while upper class women typically had easier access to the necessary garments, commonly coming into funds from their spouse. Though the rules of mourning certainly set some limitations for all women, their social status defined their overall quality of life following the death of a spouse. Given the nature of the content, my presentation will include both a number of physical objects as well as a virtual exhibition with materials that highlight just how deeply mourning culture was ingrained into all levels of Victorian society.

Timeless Illusions

Presented by Isabel Warner; advisor Dr. Kelvin Mason

For my senior inquiry, I decided to create three separate 2D graphic animations. These animations revolve around the topic of overthinking. This triptych titled Timeless Illusions is inspired by one of my favorite songs "Overthinker" by the DJ Inzo. This song features quotes by Alan Watts, the famous writer and philosopher. The quotes are from one of Watts' speeches about overthinking and the idea that it can have the power to distort your reality. Over my college career I have learned how much over thinking can impact one's life. I chose these quotes because they have always been a reminder to not let myself dwell in my thoughts. The song "Overthinker" opened my eyes to what I had been putting myself through all of these years, and has helped me be more present in my day to day life. I want others to take away the same message while viewing these three designs. For the illustrations I chose to include skeletons because I have always thought of them as a constant reminder that at the end of the day, we are all human. They are something that we all have in common in this crazy world. These skeletons are surrounded by a colorful array of colors and psychedelic patterns. These patterns are brought to life through looped animation to heighten the feeling of "living in a world of illusion". My style pays tribute to the psychedelic art of the 60s, but adds a new dimension by adding the animated designs. I gravitate towards this style of art because of its tie to music. The 60s psychedelic concert posters have always been a huge inspiration for me and I hope to reflect that in these pieces. Overall I hope that these pieces will act as a catalyst for change within the viewers minds and will remind them that we are more than just our thoughts.