2023 Symposium Abstract Catalog
The two institutes were blown away by the depth and creativity of all the research presented on Thursday, April 13th at the poster session. Thanks to all who participated and attended the fascinating event. We hope to see you all next year!
GRAND PRIZE WINNER: Mollie Stadlin
Mollie Jo Stadlin
Presenting Author:
Mollie Jo Stadlin | Department of Geography, Kent State University
HONORABLE MENTION: Grace A. Watson
Grace A. Watson, Michael P. Back, Erica E. Horton, and Lauren E. Kinsman-Costello
Presenting Author:
Grace A. Watson | Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University
HONORABLE MENTION: Myron J. Lard Jr.
Data collected from air samplers placed around Colfax indicated increased concentrations of particulate matter for more than half the sites. Air and soil analysis also identified the presence of metals proven to be EPFR generative, and when tested for EPFR presence, radical signals were observed. Due to the increase in public awareness brought on by the research done by our group, the facility has announced that it will be ceasing open disposal operations inside this year.
Myron L. Lard Jr.
Presenting Author:
Myron L. Lard Jr. | Department of Chemistry, Louisiana State University
Poster presenters (alphabetical):
Iron reduction, for example, can be a predictor of phosphate release resulting in harmful algal blooms. The diversity of microbial processes that could influence phosphate solubility and release makes in situ monitoring the process difficult. No specific metabolic process is associated with phosphate release from sediments. Rather, a suite of sometimes competing microbiological processes can induce or limit phosphate release. A clear limitation on current ability to predict internal P loading is the inability to monitor microbiological activities in lake sediments and determine their outcomes with respect to P flux. Given these concerns a sensitive, reliable, and easily deployable approach to detecting the microbial activities is needed. on this basis, we have developed a technique to monitor the electrochemical signals associated with microbiological activities in benthic sediments in real-time using a vertically stacked zero resistance ammetry technique (ZRA). The strength of the ZRA approach to monitoring microbiological activities: it does not rely on detecting a specific chemical species. ZRA detects electrochemical evidence of microbiological activities, like geophysical approaches to detecting microbial metabolism.
Bukola M. Adesanmi, Sai Prasanna Chinthala, Chelsea Monty-Bromer, John Senko, Lauren Kinsman-Costello, and Tim Morin
Presenting Author:
Bukola M. Adesanmi | Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland State University
Michael P. Back, Grace Watson, and Lauren Kinsman-Costello
Presenting Author:
Michael P. Back | Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University
Emily N. Beach
Presenting Author:
Emily N. Beach | Department of Geography, Kent State University
Garrett Boczar
Presenting Author:
Garrett Boczar | Kent State University
Asmita Dahal
Presenting Author:
Asmita Dahal | College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Kent State University
Cody A. Dean
Presenting Author:
Cody A. Dean | Department of Geography, Kent State University
Allyicia C. Diggs-Hall
Presenting Author:
Allyicia C. Diggs-Hall | Department of Geography, Kent State University
Qunxing Ding
Presenting Author:
Qunxing Ding | Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University
This research investigated how children (n=43) aged 8 to 14 years attending summer camp retained information when learning in outdoor and indoor settings, in the context of a lesson plan about Indigenous Peoples. A crossover study design was used, allowing each participant to serve as their own control. Participants completed a quiz after each lesson, as well as a questionnaire asking them to rate their experience with each learning environment, and results were compared.
Findings show that subjects had, on average, better quiz scores from their outdoor lesson. Overall, they enjoyed being outside more than they enjoyed being inside; furthermore, their peer-to-peer interactions were more positive in nature. Teacher observations of the subjects included sharper focus overall when outside, as well as more in depth responses to questions on the quizzes.
Our results suggest that non-traditional learning environments thrive in a camp educational setting, and that children enjoyed it more. Future research should investigate the use of outdoor spaces as a method to improve learning outcomes in a more traditional setting.
Olivia C. Eader and Aimee Ward
Presenting Author:
Olivia C. Eader | Department of Geography, Kent State University
To answer these questions, baseline and biodiversity data needed to be established first. Scenarios were tested along a continuum of wildlife-anthropogenic interfacing that occurs on trails. Formal and informal trails in Cleveland Metroparks were studied, in addition to an area with restored informal trails. Examining the majority of terrestrial, animal wildlife, likelihood of Verified Use was established for each species, guild, and as a whole. Verified Use was defined as any species being detected on both cameras in the pair within a +/- five minute window. I found that non-consumptive, anthropogenic use of trails did not necessarily hinder terrestrial wildlife’s movement as suggested in the literature. In situ, not all terrestrial wildlife used the four trails uniformly to facilitate their movement. Thus, landscape and natural resource managers would be best served to assess informal trail restoration and formal trail creation on a case-by-case basis. By incorporating a second study area, I captured a snapshot of how biodiversity, animal movement, biotic presence and concurrent use may change when an informal trail is restored to its natural habitat.
Michelle Escalambre
Presenting Author:
Michelle Escalambre | Environmental Science and Design Research Institute, Kent State University
Our team is using AWC tree cores collected during the summer of 2021. Our primary objective is to develop a tree ring width index by using high resolution digital photographs and image processing software (ImageJ) to measure the annual ring widths of each core. The indices will then be detrended to develop a tree ring chronology across sites. We will then attempt to cross-date the dead cores with live cores using statistical analyses available through several R packages (dplR and XdateR). In addition, this is an open-source workflow that will provide a new proof of concept for the lab.
Renae Gizzo, Ana Murray, and Grace Michael
Presenting Author:
Renae Gizzo | Department of Geography, Kent State University
Courtney Hrubik
Presenting Author:
Courtney Hrubik | Department of Geography, Kent State University
David M. Kupka
Presenting Author:
David M. Kupka | Department of Geography, Kent State University
Alyssa Lortie
Presenting Author:
Alyssa Lortie | Department of Geography, Kent State University
Morgan Mackey
Presenting Author:
Morgan Mackey | College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Kent State University
Caroline A. Nitirahardjo, Evelynne Morgan, Brendan Lawler, Eliza Aimone, Anika Puri, Johnattan Ontiveros, Robyn Correll, Helen Piontkivska, and Maimuna Majumder
Presenting Author:
Caroline A. Nitirahardjo | Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University
Haydn Palmer
Presenting Author:
Haydn Palmer | Department of Geography, Kent State University
Jeff Papa and Bridget Mulvey
Presenting Author:
Jeff Papa | College of Education, Health, and Human Services, Kent State University
Mitchel Pozwick
Presenting Author:
Mitchel Pozwick | H2Ohio
Hannah V. Schmid
Presenting Author:
Hannah V. Schmid | Department of Geography, Kent State University
Madeline Shaub
Presenting Author:
Madeline Shaub | College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Kent State University
Saba Tajali
Presenting Author:
Saba Tajali | College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Kent State University
Cody A. Ulbricht
Presenting Author:
Cody A. Ulbricht | Department of Geography, Kent State University
Kyote Youst
Presenting Author:
Kyote Youst | Department of Geography, Kent State University