Summer Science Symposium Showcases Student Research

Temperatures soared yesterday, but Allison Grant was cool and calm as she explained how climate change has disproportionately affected low income neighborhoods that are impacted to a greater degree by heat.

“Redlining was outlawed over 50 years ago,” said the UMW senior, citing the discriminatory lending practice that prevented minorities from purchasing homes. “Yet it continues to have a damaging impact on current communities, especially African Americans.”

Grant was among the 19 students who participated in the University of Mary Washington’s Summer Science Institute (SSI), which engages undergraduates in an intense 10-week research experience – in collaboration with their professors and peers – and provides a jumpstart on projects they’ll continue throughout the school year. The SSI Research Symposium, held virtually over Zoom for the first time, gave these young scientists the chance to explain their methods and findings to a wider audience.

Students from six concentrations – biology, chemistry, Earth and environmental science, computer science, mathematics and physics – displayed giant posters and delivered oral presentations. They discussed real world topics, from the reduction of carbon emissions during the COVID-19 pandemic and the use of statistical models to predict weather patterns, to pollinator insect diversity and more effective ways for computers to multitask.

“SSI is about providing an authentic research experience, and we’re fortunate that we can continue to give this to our students,” said Associate Professor of Chemistry Davis Oldham, who coordinated this year’s program with Assistant Professor of Mathematics Jeb Collins. “They’re still learning new skills, receiving faculty feedback and getting opportunities they could not get in a classroom setting.”

Hands-on learning is paramount at UMW – especially in the sciences – and some students were still able to do field work or rely on research they did before the pandemic. Sophomore Georgia Bowling collected samples from a neighbor’s pollinator garden for her research on the effect of green spaces on insect diversity, while junior Catherine Crowell used data she gathered last year from visits to bodies of water near a Richmond power plant.

The recently renovated Jepson Science Center provided a place for some students to conduct research while still observing social distancing measures. Henry Mills, a junior math and physics major, commuted from Richmond daily, preferring to study molecular alignment in Jepson’s spacious labs.

“The subject was totally unfamiliar to me,” said Mills, who first met advisor Varun Makhija at last year’s symposium, before the assistant professor of physics joined the UMW faculty. “As my knowledge has progressed, it’s become a really rewarding topic.”

Mills also worked virtually with a group at Stanford University, he said, and was excited when data matched for the two teams.

“It’s a good skill for students to learn, to share complicated ideas without being in the same space,” said Collins, the SSI co-coordinator and a mathematician who frequently collaborates with colleagues in different states and time zones.

Junior Catherine Crowell was able to work mostly from home, but she made a trip to the Jepson Science Center to use one of its spacious labs for her research. Her advisor was Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Science Tyler Frankel. Photo Credit: College of Arts and Sciences.

Sophomore Georgia Bowling’s poster showcases her research into the effect of green spaces on insect pollinator diversity, which she completed with Assistant Professor of Biology Josephine Antwi. Here, Bowling explains her findings to Tyler Frankel, an assistant professor of Earth and environmental science.

Junior Caitlin Holt’s research explores using mathematical models to predict future risks for automobile insurance customers. Her advisor was Associate Professor of Mathematics Julius Esunge.

Junior Catherine Crowell shows a photo of her lab setup at home, which she used to explore how coal ash impacts a species of snail. Her research provides insight on how the trace metals found in coal ash may impact other species, including humans.

Senior Keshyra Smith explains her research on intuitive parallel programming in the Java language to her peers and professors Debra Hydorn, Karen Anewalt and Swati Agrawal. Smith’s research advisor was Associate Professor of Computer Science Ian Finlayson.

Senior Abigail Conklin conducted field work with Assistant Professor of Biology Brad Lamphere on how temperatures and urbanization impact the sex of turtles.

Several projects were shelved when the pandemic hit, but Pamela Grothe seized the opportunity to delve into new research – and like many of her colleagues, shifted to projects that would better accommodate her students. The assistant professor of Earth and environmental science decided that redlining and climate change would be the perfect topic for Grant to pursue at home.

An environmental science major who recently enrolled in UMW’s new practical ethics minor, Grant was eager to combine her two academic interests – and connect with the Science Museum of Virginia’s chief scientist, Jeremy Hoffman. A published expert on the subject, Hoffman has committed to mentoring Grant as she continues her research.

Yesterday, she explained that redlined neighborhoods experience significantly higher temperatures than other communities. “Paved surfaces like concrete and asphalt trap heat and slowly release it in the evening, making the area even warmer,” Grant said, adding that trees have a cooling effect – but urban communities often lack green spaces.

To make matters worse, low income residents often can’t afford the high energy costs required to make their homes comfortable, Grant said. “As heat waves become more frequent and last longer, we need to change policies to help these vulnerable communities.”

She hopes her findings will pave the way.