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Enriching the STEM System
Get PDFThis project is about the driving factors behind the lack of women and minorities in the STEM field. As I acquired a deeper understanding of the harmful misconceptions and stereotypes that play a huge role in this, I decided to compose a research presentation that featured not only the causes of the problem but solutions for how to increase diversity at College of DuPage. The presentation highlights solutions that will empower young women and minorities to feel validated and supported in the STEM field.
Faculty Sponsor: Tom Carte
Fighting PTSD with Horses
Get PDFAfter determining my research topic, the effects of therapeutic riding in treating mental disorders, I volunteered at a therapeutic riding center throughout the semester. This opportunity brought first-hand experience and inspiration to my work. Observing how the horses brought joy and brightened the lives of the veterans in the “Helping Hands” program I volunteered with, led me to develop my research question: Can horses (therapeutic riding) help fight the symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in veterans? Using both published findings of similar research, as well as my own experience working with the veterans in the program, there was an overwhelming amount of evidence that suggests horses do, in fact, reduce the effects of common PTSD symptoms. Examining the relevant statistics, reviewing the latest research and noting the most memorable interactions from my volunteering, has contributed to the making of this project.
Faculty Sponsor: Lisa Higgin
Inside the Mind of a Psychopath - Are We Born Evil?
No full textIn 2012, both Dr. William Shoemaker and Dr. Arber Tasimi each presented their own research on how humans become evil. Shoemaker’s study involved surveying evil people in jail, and those considered to be not evil in the general population. Shoemaker then conducted brain scans on both surveyed groups to see if there were any major differences in the physical structure of their brains. After comparing the brain scans, Shoemaker found that almost all of those considered to be evil were lacking mirror neurons and had a deformed fusiform face area in the temporal lobe of the brain compared to those in the general population, suggesting that people are born evil. Tasimi’s research was conducted at Yale University’s Infant Cognition Center. In his research, he acted out simple puppet shows that featured a good guy, bad guy, and a bystander for infants ranging from 6 - 18 months. Following the puppet shows, the majority of infants were attracted to and wanted to play with the good guy over the bad guy or bystander in any given situation which implies that it is a human’s environment that determines if they will become evil since babies have not had enough experience in their environment for it to shape them. In my own research, I surveyed 153 of my peers to better understand society’s opinion on the topic. The participants were first asked if they believe humans are born or made evil without being provided any background information. 92% of the surveyed agreed that humans are made evil. To avoid survey errors, the participants were asked if they were familiar with either Tasimi or Shoemaker’s studies, and none were familiar with Shoemaker, and only 2% were familiar with Tashimi’s research. Following these questions, the participants were provided with information that explained the results of Shoemaker’s study. Despite his findings, 83% still agreed that humans are made evil. Finally, when provided with the findings of Tasimi’s study, 93% agreed that humans are made evil, as Tasimi’s findings suggested. The survey results were incredibly interesting because the participants did not find Shoemaker’s evidence to be very convincing, which suggests that the general opinion is that humans are made to become evil by their environment - not by the way their brain is formed.
Faculty Sponsor: Trina Sotirakopulo
