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Predictors of Student Success in College-Level General Chemistry
Get PDFSuccess in college-level general chemistry is important because it is a required course for many different STEM majors and student success in early STEM classes correlates with retention of students in STEM. Identifying factors associated with success and failure can give educators a better understanding of the warning signs to look out for in struggling students. This paper compares factors and behaviors with final grades in general chemistry courses at Binghamton University, including adjectives selected from a word bank (“valued,” “supported,” etc.), resources used, and opinion on group work as it relates to learning. Correlations were found between student adjective selection and final grade, resource use and final grade, and perspective on group work and final grade
Concerning Classification: American Alternative Classification Systems 1930 - Today
Get PDFLibrary of Congress Classification (LCC) and Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) have been widely used in American libraries for over 100 years. Since their adoption, librarians have been interrogating the structure of these classification schemas and finding that these systems will not equitably represent the resources in their collections. One solution to this problem is creating an alternative classification system that modifies the existing schema or creates a wholly new alternative.
This presentation will explore two different types of alternative classification systems: those built for special libraries and those constructed to improve access to resources by and about historically marginalized groups. It will introduce alternative or modified classification schemes created from as early as the 1930s through the modern day. These systems make room for non-English, non-white, and non-Eurocentric modes of knowledge organization that can be more intuitive and beneficial to patrons. Exploring these systems allows librarians to trace gaps and marginalization that have persisted in systems like LCC and DDC and provides a foundation for finding solutions
Investigation of nanoalloy catalysts and their performances in proton-exchange membrane fuel cells
Get PDFThe current use of fissile fuels to generate energy produces air pollution, which has been attributed to one of the main causes of lung cancer and other respiratory diseases. Hydrogen offers an alternative and environmentally friendly energy source which generates zero emission. Proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) have become an effective electrochemical energy conversion system in which the chemical energy from the oxidation-reduction reaction of hydrogen and oxygen is converted into usable electricity, with water as the only by-product. The challenge for this electrochemical energy conversion to work is the requirement of platinum as a catalyst to overcome the high activation energy of the reaction taking place at the cathode. Platinum is not only an expensive metal with limited global supplies, but also suffers the propensity of deactivation by surface poisoning. One of the approaches to addressing this problem is the design of alloy catalysts by alloying Pt with different transition metals that reduce costs while maintaining catalytic efficiency. Several chemical methods have been developed for synthesizing different nanoalloys and catalysts. In this work, we investigated different factors controlling the synthesis and preparation of ternary nanoalloy catalysts. The catalysts were characterized to determine their composition, size, and phase structures in terms of lattice parameters. Selected catalysts were tested in PEMFC to evaluate their performances in correlation with their nanophase structures. The results will be discussed for developing an insight into the design of better nanoalloy catalysts for the application in hydrogen fuel cells
Renewable Portfolio Standards Throughout the United States: Strengths and Weaknesses of Current Renewable Energy Policies
Get PDFThis project reviews the Renewable Portfolio Standards of individual states, to analyze their strengths and weaknesses at encouraging renewable energy. The RPS will be evaluated on a series of criteria to examine their effectiveness and how realistic they are. The first criterion will be the goals set by RPS for renewable energy production within their state and their timeline for achieving transitions. The change in renewable energy usage after the establishment of the RPS will be examined to determine legitimacy of the standard, and its ability to combat climate change. In order to assess the practicality of RPS, the technology required to meet the goals established will be explored through literature review of currently available technology. These assessments will be used to determine the need for more RPS in the future, what currently limits RPS from reaching their goals, and what is preventing them from being adopted in more states.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2024/1009/thumbnail.jp
Why is Binghamton School District Amongst the Lowest Graduation Rates in New York State?
Get PDFIn the past twenty years, the City of Binghamton school district has had some of the lowest test scores and lowest graduation rates in New York State. Furthermore, they are also among the worst in state test scores. I intended to shed some light on why the school district had this very poor reputation but instead found something much more interesting. It was found that since students have returned to in-person schooling after COVID-19, the state testing scores have risen by a significant margin in addition to the dropout rate going down by a few percent since 2021. Programs have been put in place by the school district in the past to improve their terrible reputation and these programs only recently finding success ended up being a much larger part of this project than originally intended.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2024/1015/thumbnail.jp
Impact of Constructive Dialogue Modules on Binghamton University Students
Get PDFEffective constructive dialogue skills are crucial for college students’ social development. This study explored the impact of constructive dialogue modules on conflict management, affective polarization, and intellectual humility among first-year Binghamton University students. We addressed the following research question: Will the completion of the constructive dialogue module significantly impact student awareness in conflict resolution/intellectual humility/affective polarization compared to a control group of students who did not complete the module? All participants completed pre- and post-surveys (questions utilizing Likert scales) assessing these skills. Responses were analyzed through dependent and independent T-tests, which did not indicate statistical significance between students completing the constructive dialogue module and the control group. However, analysis of open-ended survey items and focus group responses revealed perceived development in constructive dialogue skills post-module completion. These findings highlight potential benefits of educational programs aimed at enhancing college students’ ability to communicate with individuals with diverse perspectives.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2024/1021/thumbnail.jp
Supporting Americans with Disabilities: UBI vs Targeted Benefits Programs
Get PDFThe amount of support provided to people with disabilities in America today may be growing, but it is not enough for them to live comfortably in their own country. In comparison with a non-disabled person, the expenses associated with a disability can be more than ten times higher. Currently, this research is investigating the possibility of using an UBI to support the existing welfare programs they have in order to provide them with better support. Research has been conducted on the subject of how we can acknowledge equality without compromising the individuality of people, which has been identified as a dilemma in the current field research. Moreover, they believe that people should be able to guard their own well-being within the limits of their abilities and functions, and that they should also have the right of freedom.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2024/1045/thumbnail.jp
The Controversies of Specimens of Oriental Manuscripts
Get PDFHave you ever wanted to chop up a bunch of ancient books? In 1928, George M.L. Brown cut up a bunch of rare manuscripts from Asia and published them into a book, which was just a box of folders containing scattered pages. He called this book, Specimens of Oriental Manuscripts. This research uses Brown and Specimens of Oriental Manuscripts to explore the history of “Orientalism,” examining how traces of Brown’s racist views of these specimens and their origins are left behind, both in his introductory descriptions and the treatment of the manuscripts. This project also compares Brown and this book with other instances of infamous “book breaking,” exploring the tension between making a rare book accessible to many people and the entitlement of sellers who feel they have the power to destroy Asian rare books in the name of education. Ultimately, this research hopes to provide a better understanding of the complexities of these debates and the histories behind this book.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2024/1065/thumbnail.jp
On Earth As It Is In Heaven? Toward a History of Catholicism and Universal Basic Income
Get PDFPope Francis has come out in support of Universal Basic Income multiple times throughout his Papacy, being the first Pontiff to do so. Despite a wide-ranging support base, Universal Basic Income (UBI) has never been embraced by Catholic orthodoxy. Although some scholars have discussed the theological compatibility of UBI with Catholic Doctrine, there has been no review to date of the history between the two traditions. This paper therefore offers a historical and empirical review of the relationship between Catholic Social Teaching and UBI proposals, focusing on how the Catholic understanding of property rights influenced the development of both the clergy and lay Catholics’ stances on Basic Income proposals and the relations between land reformer movements and the Catholic Church.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2024/1086/thumbnail.jp