The 2020-2021 academic year was largely virtual for many Honors scholars. That challenge didn’t change the incredible engaged learning experiences of our scholars. Students participated at remarkable rates in research with faculty, virtual internships and civic engagement experiences, and even virtual study abroad. They developed their written and spoken communication skills, tackled challenging problems, planned and innovated, and contributed to the Honors College community, leaving it stronger than when they entered.
Description of the video:
Hello and welcome, I’m Kristy Sheeler, the Executive Associate Dean of the IUPUI Honors College. Thank you for participating virtually in our Honors College Showcase. The student projects featured here demonstrate what Honors learning looks like from multiple disciplinary perspectives and showcase the unique opportunities in which Honors scholars participate along the Profiles of Learning for Undergraduate Success to grow as communicators, problem solvers, innovators, and community contributors.
For example, check out the projects by Neuroscience junior Sarah Ali and Kelley School of Business junior Katy Fulton to learn more about their creative, scientific, and international scholarship that showcases their expertise as communicators.
IUPUI Honors scholars routinely work in research labs with faculty who are national leaders in their fields, providing students with hands-on opportunities to grow as problem solvers. For example, Biology and Medical Humanities double-major Supriya Chittajallu has been working on a multi-year project aimed at reversing muscle pain and inflammation in mice. Grace Mattingly, a junior majoring in physics and applied mathematics, showcases her impressive problem solving abilities in research involving superconducting plates and magnets. And Biology sophomore Reginald Parker discusses his research testing a new drug believed to have therapeutic potential to address osteopetrosis.
Honors scholars are incredibly innovative and creative as you can see in the projects of these three Honors scholars. Check out the innovations in sound developed by music technology freshman Hope Leonard’s two projects and the artistic interpretation of Nancy Lee, an English Creative Writing senior, who brings together literature, painting, and creative writing. And for something else entirely, be sure to view Computer Engineering and Technology junior Luke Rector’s creation, a self-driving car.
Finally, Honors scholars are committed to learning that will have a positive impact on our local and global communities. For example, you can view several presentations by Honors scholars who had planned to travel to Costa Rica for a service learning experience. While the travel did not occur, students took advantage of alternative learning assignments to increase their knowledge of economics, healthcare, deforestation, and other industries vital to the country. You can check out students’ final poster presentations and witness their commitment to global learning in our Showcase.
I hope you enjoy browsing around the Honors College Showcase and that it provides you a taste of what IUPUI Honors scholars are capable of. Thank you for participating.
Myra Kivett
Sophomore
Communications and Journalism
E-Portfolio Curation
For my MUS M174 Honors Project, my professor Darrell Bailey encouraged me to create an E-Portfolio documenting my involvement with music, the arts and academics. The initial portfolio was created over the fall semester, but is continually being added to.
Rishi Chandran
Junior
Sports Management
Why the UFC Should Implement a Dynamic Price Structure
I conducted the research project as my honors requirement for Dr. Pierce’s Selling in Sport class. I collected data for 201 UFC Pay Per View (PPV) events to determine what factors affected the amount of PPV buys for an event. Through this research, I was able to quantify demand for an event based on event and fighter variables, and suggested a dynamic price structure based on that demand.
Makenna Sunbury
Freshman
Neuroscience
Innovation of Humanities Education and Clinical Ethics in Pediatric Medicine
I composed a 16 page Honors research report highlighting the impact an education in the arts and humanities has on pediatric care specialists. Along with this research paper, I composed a presentation for my Medical Humanities and Health Sciences class addressing key concepts from my paper along with highlights from my interviews with four pediatric health care specialists.
Satyajit Kulkarni
Senior
Biology BS and Chemistry BA
Isoflurane and Carbon Dioxide Elicit Similar Behavioral Responses in Rats
In this project, we examined the behavioral responses of rats to isoflurane and carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide was found to be more aversive than isoflurane on initial exposure, but no differences were found on repeat exposure. Isoflurane was found to be more aversive on repeat exposure than on initial exposure.
Alli Beard
Sophomore
Biology
Focusing on Integrated Care at the IU-Methodist Family Medicine Center
This project consists of understanding the treatment patterns in an Integrated health primary care clinic for rising mental health concerns. Research has consisted of reviewing and understanding patients through referral forms and compiling a literature review focusing on Integrated Care and the positive outcomes of the healthcare model.
Faith Prochaska
Senior
Biology and Neuroscience
Effects of Treatment with the DYRK1A Inhibitor CX-4945 on Down Syndrome Phenotypes in Ts65Dn Mice
This study highlights the neurodevelopmental differences in the Ts65Dn mouse model of Down Syndrome (DS), importance of evaluating potential sex differences, and explores a possible treatment that targets a trisomic gene as means to improve for detrimental DS phenotypes.
Anna Guinn
Freshman
Communications and Tourism, Conventions, and Event Management
Hotels in Different Cultures
This project looks at major differences between hotels in two cultures and how those differences affect daily interactions between employers, employees, and guests. I completed this project for Honors credit for Keith Parish's TESM-H 105 course.
Aditi Ravikumar
Senior
Neuroscience and Biology
Neuropathology Research Internship
I completed an internship in which I examined human brain tissue to diagnose neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.
Sarah Ali
Senior
Neuroscience and Biology
Intercultural Understanding Across Health Care Disciplines: My Study Abroad Experience in Japan
In the summer of 2019, I traveled to Japan to gain an intercultural understanding across the health care disciplines, but, little did I know, that I would learn much more than that. With this showcase, I will walk you through my journey in Japan, what I learned, and how I applied what I learned into my coursework at IUPUI through two honors projects in fall 2019 and spring 2020.
Tristan Deaton
Sophomore
Biocomputing (Computer Science and Pre-Med)
Advantages and Disadvantages to the Introduction of Artificial Intelligence in Radiology
This is a literature review containing background information and the advantages and disadvantages to the introduction of artificial intelligence in radiology.
Isra Haider
Senior
Biology and Sociology
Racial Disparities in Breastfeeding Rates and Medicaid Expansion as a Policy to Reduce Disparities
Sara Lansdell
Senior
Media Arts & Science
Fantast-ish
This is a collection of concept art for an animated film about a re-imagined Pinocchio living in a modern world, and her journey exploring the city and beyond.
Lucas Montgomery
Senior
Neuroscience, Biology, and Sociology
Use of Protein Visualization Tools to Analyze Disease Mechanisms in Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Point Mutations causing PEPD
The project presented relays some of my neuroscience and biology capstone work looking at voltage-gated sodium channel mutations in a protein visualization tool to understand the mechanism by which the disease occurs. This presentation highlights two PEPD mutations thought to have interactions with the Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel inactivation gate.
Kaiti Shannon
Senior
Communication Studies and English Literature
Cell Phones and the Mental Health of Young Adults
Over the course of 2020, I worked on this research project to investigate the effect of cell phone use on the mental health of young adults. I began researching this topic prior to the novelty of COVID-19, and with the following influx of screen usage due to lockdown and quarantining, the topic became even more important to me over time. I have IRB approval for this research study and worked with my now graduate advisor to ensure I was following the proper guidelines. This project was submitted to NCA and later submitted to and presented at The Ball State Undergraduate Communication Research Conference where I won a Top Speaker Award. The following video is an audience member's screen recording of the presentation.
Daniel Simeonov
Sophomore
Biomedical Engineering
The Inner Working of a Radio Alarm Clock
For this project I went to a thrift store and purchased a radio alarm clock to learn more about its circuitry. I took apart the alarm clock and this presentation is about what I learned about how it works and the improvements I would suggest.
Sofia Vaides
Freshman
Neuroscience
Neuroscience and Music
For this project I conducted research to learn about the effect of music on neurological disorders and the brain.
Lynder Worsley
Sophomore
Epidemiology and Religious Studies
Vaccine Hesitancy in Underrepresented Communities
In this research project, I interviewed participants to learn about the reasons African Americans may choose not to become vaccinated.
Ava Ward
Sophomore
Global Studies and Japanese
Chinese Language from a Cultural Approach
In this project, I outline how the Chinese cultural thinking patterns influence sentence structures and boundaries.
Hope Leonard
Sophomore
Music Technology and Psychology
Cochlear Implants - A Comprehensive Introduction
This research project explored cochlear implants including what they are, how they work, what it is like to hear with them, how implants influence music perception, and how technological advances have facilitated the development of cochlear implants.
Jasmeen Lally
Sophomore
Neuroscience
Lead Poisoning in Adolescents
This is a research project I completed as an independent study to learn more about the impact of lead poisoning on children.
IUPUI Honors College and University of Rwanda Virtual Exchange
During fall 2020, Honors College students worked with students from the University of Rwanda to learn more about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Their collaborative projects are featured here.
SDG 9: Industries, Innovations, and Infrastructure
Elizabeth Wallace
Junior, Global and International Studies/Spanish
Halee Griffey
Sophomore, Global and International Studies and Sustainable Management & Policy
Project Poster
We researched SDG 9, Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, focusing on social equity, the environment, and economics.
SDG 5: Gender Equality
Halie Minard
Junior, Exercise Science
Kirandeep Kaur
Junior, Forensic Science
Haydah Moo
Freshman, Biology
Project Poster
Our projects is on SDG 5 Gender Equality and we compared some facts on gender equality between the United States and Rwanda.
SDG 7: Affordable Clean Energy
Jonathon Lewis
Senior, Sustainable Management & Policy
Kelsey Pardieck
Junior, Biology and Forensics
Project Poster
We researched SDG 7 on Affordable Clean Energy, comparing and contrasting the efforts of the United States and Rwanda.
SDG 12: Sustainable Consumption and Production
Katy Fulton
Senior, Accounting
Aspen Grieshaber
Freshman, Sustainable Management & Policy and Psychology
Project Poster
We chose to research SDG 12 Sustainable Consumption and Production. We learned that Rwanda is working toward sustainable patterns of consumption by 2030 whereas in Indiana our focus is on recycling.
SDG 13: Climate Action
Pratikshya Purnachandra
Freshman, Neuroscience and Public Health
Courtney Hutslar
Junior, Neuroscience
Project Poster
We chose to research SDG 13 Climate Action and related climate action to Rwanda, India, and the United States. We discuss some of the initiatives of each country and related climate action to our chosen majors.