Student Research Symposium Program Spring 2024

Caitlyn Vela - “Special Session: Patrol Procedures” Isabell Wallace - see DuPont Abagail Walters & Kyleigh Browning - “Deafness/Hard of Hearing” (poster session) Hearing impairment can have a significant impact on one’s quality of life. According to recent statistics, approximately 36 million Americans suffer from some form of hearing loss who are less than the age of 65. Deafness, in particular, can pose significant challenges in the context of education. Students with this disability may face difficulties in learning general education, leading to problems with speaking, school success, reading comprehension, and social skills. It is important for everyone, including students, to understand the gravity of hearing loss and its potential impact on academic and social experiences. Sha Wilson - “Shots Fired: The Bulletproof Influence of NRA Lobbying on American Politics” Gun groups like the NRA have historically shaped the political landscape around guns. The NRA has used its money and influence to control politicians and everyday citizens’ thoughts and feelings around guns. Thus we barely see research about the harms of these weapons done by government funded agencies in the United States, this has stifled the safe research over the weapons which directly worsens the ability to propose gun control legislation. Impacts of this lack of research and legislation has hurt the people of the United States in multiple ways: first the control of the NRA has allowed for things like the boyfriend loophole to be enacted, second lack of gun control legislation has empowered paramilitary groups to stockpile weapons for future harms, and thirdly the relaxed gun laws have allowed for an increase in mass shootings. Dawson Woehr - “Comparison of Community Composition of Fishes in the Salt Fork Creek Between 2018 and 2024” (session 16) The purpose of this study was to make temporal comparisons of the community composition of fishes in the Salt Fork Creek, Saline County, MO. This comparison has allowed us to assess changes in the biodiversity of the Salt Fork Creek throughout time and potentially identify variables that influence biodiversity on a local scale. Fish were sampled between February and April 2024. Our results were then compared to data collected between 2018-2023. All fish were released unharmed at point of capture.

Dawson Woehr - “Ethical Concerns of Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer” (session 4) The purpose of this study was to examine ethical concerns regarding practices utilizing Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer. SCNT is a method of cloning that transfers the nucleus of a mature cell into an egg cell. This now fertilized egg cell can be used for the production of stem cells, or it can even be brought to term. SCNT for the purpose of reproduction and stem cell therapy are discussed in depth in this study. The ethical questions surrounding these cloning techniques will be analyzed through differing viewpoints. This will aid in future considerations of the legality of these practices. Randy Wright III - see Hoffman

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