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Pre-lab Videos for CHM 103
No full textShort lecture/demo videos meant to prepare students to begin lab work as soon as class starts. All videos CC-BY-NC-SAhttps://digitalcommons.conncoll.edu/oer/1004/thumbnail.jp
The Power of Filmmaking through a Migratory Lens
Get PDFIn a divided society, creative mediums such as filmmaking are often used to counter hegemonic narratives to criticize forms of oppression. This engaged artistic narrative thus intends to raise questions on how promoting social cohesiveness between cultures can effectively contribute to the current political climate. Innumerable films of this type have tackled challenging subjects with the same aim, one of them being migration. This essay will bring to light the complexities of undocumented migration through the study of two documentaries made by Italian filmmakers Gianfranco Rosi and Andrea Segre. Additionally, it will examine Italy’s migrant crisis and its history of white privilege to contextualize Rosi’s and Segre’s migratory visual representations in documentary filmmaking focusing on Lampedusa, one of the primary European entry points for North African, Central African, and Middle Eastern refugees. These analyses, accompanied by a personal statement on the power of local and global-scale storytelling, will reveal how films from different corners of the world may be used to counter monological narratives and as educational tools to encourage intercultural understanding and thereby invite viewers to consider the interconnectedness of people across borders
The Role of Pic12 Proteins as Negative Regulators in the Plant Immune System
No full textProtein phosphorylation mediated by protein kinases is important in plant immune signaling transduction and has been extensively investigated. The reverse action of protein dephosphorylation via protein phosphatases, however, is less understood. Based on transcriptome data, 14 tomato PP2C phosphatases were identified which may be involved in pattern triggered immunity (PTI). These PP2C phosphatases were named as PP2C immunity-associated candidates (Pic). In the context of this current project, four Pic proteins were screened for their impact on resistance to the bacterial pathogen, Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst). Using loss-of-function mutants, the roles of four Pic proteins were characterized for overall impact on growth of Pst, and their possible effect on Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) production or the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. Additionally, we used an agrobacterium-mediated transient overexpression approach to further examine the function of Pic5, Pic10 and Pic12 in the regulation of immune pathways. Our results showed that a loss-of-function mutation in Pic2, Pic5 or Pic10 did not significantly alter disease resistance to Pst. Also, ROS production and MAPK activation in these mutants were not affected. Interestingly, we found loss-of-function pic12 mutant had enhanced disease resistance to Pst and likely is involved with the MAPK cascade. This research can provide insight into the molecular mechanisms of the plant immune response and further inform plant breeders on ways to develop more disease resistant crops
Characterization of Neuro2A cells as a Model for Examining the Effects of Glucocorticoids on Neuronal Differentiation
No full textBrain development is a complex process that is not fully characterized, and also susceptible to alterations due to exogenous and endogenous effects. These endogenous factors could originate from childhood trauma. Here, we use corticosterone to simulate this effect. We report a cell model that could be used to study the neural differentiation in an undergraduate lab setting, and how we used it to study the effects of glucocorticoids on the neurogenesis process. The effects of glucocorticoids were characterized using neurite outgrowth assay, immunofluorescence, and RT-qPCR. These findings were confirmed using publicly available sequencing datasets. Our findings suggested the inhibition of neurogenesis, and up regulation of the gliogenesis processes with synthetic and endogenous glucocorticoids. This study lays the ground for further mechanistic work on these processes, as the effect of these treatments have been characterized for this cell model
A Summer With The Architectural Conservation Institute
No full textThis summer I had the opportunity to learn and utilize conservation techniques with the Architectural Conservation Institute. During the program we studied techniques in Belmonte, Italy then moved to Corinth, Greece to work on-site. I had the opportunity to work with other undergrads as well as professionals in the field. We worked with an ancient Roman opus sectile floor. Another part of the program was taking interns to various historical sites to supplement our learning
Internship with the Environmental League of Massachusetts
No full textLucy Koester, a double major in environmental studies and sociolgy, and part of the Holleran Center (PICA), interned with the The Environmental League of Massachusetts (ELM) where she also made a connection with their Development Director, Ben Bailey \u2795. One of the main projects she helped with was studying the awareness of and enthusiasm for offshore wind in Holyoke, MA (which was designated as an environmental justice community). Having been exposed to intersectional perspectives at Conn, Lucy became aware that staff at ELM might not have the same awareness, which could be critical as they attempted to assess and communicate with the public. Through this lens, in addition to building skills in communication, graphics, creating bios, and community outreach, she successfully employed critical thinking, advocacy, and diplomacy to encourage staff and other fellows to consider DEI perspectives in the context of environmental policy and outreach. Being able to communicate what language I thought we should use and why was a really important skill I learned, because it humanized the experiences of community members and showed the ELM team how DEI can be further incorporated into their work. Additonally, she was able to attend State House events and become involved with projects within the New England for Offshore Wind Coalition, which partners with different environmental groups fighting for clean energy in New England
Alerta Verde Internship Reflection
No full textThis internship with Alerta Verde, an organization dedicated to establishing gardens in personal homes and communal spaces, involved a full-time, 9-to-5 commitment over two months. It provided an opportunity for in-depth community engagement and collaboration with my team. For my SIP, I conducted surveys to assess local needs related to gardening and food access. Alerta Verde was receptive to my ideas and collaborated on my data collection process which yielded meaningful feedback from community members. This collaboration shaped our approach to garden setups and educational outreach within the community as well. The experience significantly enhanced my gardening skills, communication abilities, and understanding of sustainable practices
Fidelity Investments on Summer Street Internship Reflection
No full textThis is my reflection of my internship for the summer of 2024. I worked at Fidelity Investments on Summer Street in Boston, MA. I worked as a Private Wealth Management and Executive Services intern. My job was to support the home office team that helped support complex financial planning services