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Science, Society, and the Arts at Washington & Lee University, March 15-16th, 2019
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Friday, March 15
 

5:00pm EDT

Music Department Convocation
Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64
Felix Mendelssohn
I. Allegro molto appassionato (1809-1847)
Paige Anderson ’22, violin, from the studio of Jaime McArdle

Vainement, ma bien-aimée
Eduard Lalo
from Le Roi d’Ys (1823-1892)
Caleb Peña ’21, tenor, from the studio of Gregory Parker

Toglietemi la vita
Alessandro Scarlatti
from Pompeo (1660-1725)
Levi Lebsack ’21, tenor, from the studio of Gregory Parker

Lied
Luciano Berio
(1925-2003)
Carissa Petzold’21, clarinet, from the studio of David Perry

Papillons blancs
Jules Massenet (1842-1912)
Jiwon Kim ’20, piano, from the studio of Shuko Watanabe Petty

Variations Serieuses, Op. 54
Felix Mendelssohn
Robert Masi ’21, piano, from the studio of Timothy Gaylard

Etude in C Major, Op. 10, No. 1
Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)
Eli Bradley ’22, piano, from the studio of Shuko Watanabe Petty

Nocturne in F Major, Op. 15, No. 1 Frédéric Chopin
Lisa Roth, piano, from the studio of Timothy Gaylard

Sonata in F-Sharp Major, Op. 78 Ludwig van Beethoven
II. Allegro vivace (1770-1827)
Zachary Brandt ’19, piano, from the studio of Timothy Gaylard

Accompanist: Anna Billias

Artists
CP
CP
EB
JK
LL
LR
PA
RM
ZB

Friday March 15, 2019 5:00pm - 6:00pm EDT
Wilson Performance Hall
  Performances, Subtype 2

5:00pm EDT

Visual Arts display
The Visual Arts will be on display through Saturday at 4:00pm.
Mary Helen Powell: "Birdhouse"
Brittany Osaseri: "Rulers of the Cards"
Brianna Osaseri: "Stories Forgotten"
Lauren Engelbrecht: "String Superellipse"
Laws Smith: "String Art"
Becs Licata: "Pandora's Knot"
Callie Garst: "Connecting in and out"
Xinxian Wang: "Photo I project"
Michael Kerr: "Mickey + Mary"
Artists
BL
BO
BO
CG
LE
LS
MH
MK
XW

abstracts for visual art pdf
Friday March 15, 2019 5:00pm - 10:00pm EDT
Lykes Atrium, Wilson Hall
  Visual Arts

7:30pm EDT

SSA Performing Arts Showcase
Klazics Dance Group Performance: "College: Loss and Belonging"
Refuge Chamber Choir: "Reflections upon Peace"
Ramonah Gibson and Micah Holcomb: "Voices of W&L - Two Views Through Campus"
General Admission Acapella
Zack Ely and the Nelson St. Band
Artists
GA
KD
RG
RC
ZE

abstracts for performances pdf
Friday March 15, 2019 7:30pm - 8:30pm EDT
Wilson Performance Hall
  Performances

8:30pm EDT

Reception
Please join the performers after the show for hors d'oeuvres, cupcakes, and cocoa! And then head to FUDG at the ARC House for more great student work!
Speakers
HD

Friday March 15, 2019 8:30pm - 9:30pm EDT
Lykes Atrium, Wilson Hall
  Reception

10:00pm EDT

FUDG
After the SSA reception in Wilson Hall, head out to the ARC House for more great performances!
Speakers
HT

Friday March 15, 2019 10:00pm - Saturday March 16, 2019 12:00am EDT
ARC House, Washington Street
  FUDG
 
Saturday, March 16
 

9:30am EDT

Questions answered, Breakfast snacks, T-shirt pick up
Speakers
GH

Saturday March 16, 2019 9:30am - 11:00am EDT
Living Room, Elrod Commons
  General helpfulness (and bling!)

10:00am EDT

Colloquium: "A Universe from Nothing" by Lawrence M. Krauss
Speakers
LT

Saturday March 16, 2019 10:00am - 10:45am EDT
Payne 107
  Colloquia

10:00am EDT

Colloquium: "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
Speakers
LR

Saturday March 16, 2019 10:00am - 10:45am EDT
Elrod 206
  Colloquia

10:00am EDT

Colloquium: "Belonging: A German Reckons with History and Home" by Nora Krug
Speakers
LD

Saturday March 16, 2019 10:00am - 10:45am EDT
Payne 117
  Colloquia

10:00am EDT

Colloquium: "Black Panther" (2018)
Speakers
LL

Saturday March 16, 2019 10:00am - 10:45am EDT
Hillel 203
  Colloquia

10:00am EDT

Colloquium: "Blade Runner 2049" (2017)
Speakers
LT

Saturday March 16, 2019 10:00am - 10:45am EDT
Newcomb 304
  Colloquia

10:00am EDT

Colloquium: "Call Me by Your Name" by Andre Aciman
Speakers
LD

Saturday March 16, 2019 10:00am - 10:45am EDT
Elrod 116
  Colloquia

10:00am EDT

Colloquium: "Caucasia" by Danzy Senna
Speakers
LV

Saturday March 16, 2019 10:00am - 10:45am EDT
Elrod 214
  Colloquia

10:00am EDT

Colloquium: "Dirty Computer" by Janelle Monae
Speakers
LC

Saturday March 16, 2019 10:00am - 10:45am EDT
Newcomb 120
  Colloquia

10:00am EDT

Colloquium: "Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom" by David W. Blight
Speakers
LS

Saturday March 16, 2019 10:00am - 10:45am EDT
Newcomb 310
  Colloquia

10:00am EDT

Colloquium: "Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women's Anger" by Rebecca Traister
Speakers
LS

Saturday March 16, 2019 10:00am - 10:45am EDT
CGL 123
  Colloquia

10:00am EDT

Colloquium: "My Life as a Foreign Country: A Memoir" by Brian Turner
Speakers
LP

Saturday March 16, 2019 10:00am - 10:45am EDT
Washington Hall 218
  Colloquia

10:00am EDT

Colloquium: "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen
Speakers
LE

Saturday March 16, 2019 10:00am - 10:45am EDT
Leyburn M11
  Colloquia

10:00am EDT

Colloquium: "Shame: How America's Past Sins Have Polarized Our Country" by Shelby Steele
Speakers
LM

Saturday March 16, 2019 10:00am - 10:45am EDT
Elrod 114
  Colloquia

10:00am EDT

Colloquium: "Sharp Objects" HBO mini-series
Speakers
LA

Saturday March 16, 2019 10:00am - 10:45am EDT
Leyburn M42
  Colloquia

10:00am EDT

Colloquium: "Spirit of Intimacy: Ancient Teachings in the Ways of Relationships" by Sobonfu Some
Speakers
LM

Saturday March 16, 2019 10:00am - 10:45am EDT
Payne 212
  Colloquia

10:00am EDT

Colloquium: "Strength to Love" by Martin Luther King Jr.
Speakers
LH

Saturday March 16, 2019 10:00am - 10:45am EDT
Elrod 216
  Colloquia

10:00am EDT

Colloquium: "Summer" by Karl Ove Knausgaard
Speakers
LJ

Saturday March 16, 2019 10:00am - 10:45am EDT
Hillel 102
  Colloquia

10:00am EDT

Colloquium: "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Speakers
LE

Saturday March 16, 2019 10:00am - 10:45am EDT
CGL 103
  Colloquia

10:00am EDT

Colloquium: "The Idiot" by Fyodor Dostoevsky, trans Alan Myers
Speakers
LN

Saturday March 16, 2019 10:00am - 10:45am EDT
Leyburn M41 (or the sitting area in front of it!)
  Colloquia

10:00am EDT

Digital shorts (on continuous loop until 4:00pm)
  • "Greekend Update" by Gareth Minson and Kassidy Strosnider
  • "Chinese Public Opinion on Domestic Pollution and Global Climate Change" by Brooklyne Oliveira and Reggie Zhao
  • "A W&L Story: The Early Black Athlete Experience" by Nick Watson, Caroline Hall, and Jeremiah Kohl
  • "A Visual Essay of Ran" by Leah Jackson and Mickie Brown
  • "A Myriad of Medical Dimensions" by Sawera Khan and Midha Ahmad

Speakers
GM
BO
NW
LJ
SK

abstracts for digital shorts pdf
Saturday March 16, 2019 10:00am - 4:00pm EDT
Stackhouse Theater, Elrod Commons
  Digital shorts

11:00am EDT

Panel: Digital Shorts
Digital Shorts will feature the works below. These films will be running on a continuous loop from 10:00-11:00am and noon-4:00pm as well.
  • Gareth Minson and Kassidy Strosnider: "Classics Meets Weekend Update through Stefon"
  • Brooklyne Oliveira and Reggie Zhao: "Chinese Public Opinion on Pollution and Global Climate Change"
  • Nick Watson, Caroline Hall, and Jeremiah Kohl: "A W&L Story: The Early Black Athlete Experience"
  • Leah Jackson and Mickie Brown: "Visual Essay of Ran"
  • Sawera Khan and Midha Ahmad: "A Myriad of Medical Dimensions"
Speakers
SK
GM
BO
NW
LJ

abstracts for digital shorts pdf
Saturday March 16, 2019 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Stackhouse Theater, Elrod Commons
  Panel discussions

11:00am EDT

Panel: Health Practices
Health Practices features these students and these papers:
  • Sawera Khan, Midha Ahmad: “A Myriad of Medical Dimensions”
  • Alyssa Bower: “Telemedicine: A Behavioral Approach to Monitoring Hypertension in Rural Communities”
  • Ryder Babik, Tyler Runge, Griffin Coffey, Anna Soroka, Riwaj Shrestha, Emma Aldrich, Callie Garst: “Biosand Water Filtration Project in Belize - Engineering Community Development”

Speakers
SK
AB
RB
TR
GC
AS
RS
EA
CG

abstracts for health practices pdf
Saturday March 16, 2019 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Huntley 301
  Panel discussions

11:00am EDT

Panel: Kakehashi Inouye Scholars Program
  • Bella Frazier-Pool: "Japanese Food"
  • Marina Croy: "Religion and Customs in Japan"
  • Sinan Abuzaid: "Homestay and Kanazawa University"
  • Kathryn Fagan: "Japanese History and Traditions"
Speakers
BF
KF
MC
SA

abstracts for Kakehashi Inouye Scholars Program pdf
Saturday March 16, 2019 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Huntley 221
  Panel discussions

11:00am EDT

Panel: Novel Perspectives
Novel Perspectives features these students and these papers.
  • Mary Helen Powell: “Examining Viewship of Goya’s “The Second of May, 1808“ through New Approaches”
  • Kitanna Hiromasa:  “Magical Feminism: A Hybrid Essay Evaluating Mysticism and Feminism”
  • Caio Albernaz Siqueira, Linda Konrad, Sofia Stechina, Lisette Bourinet, Nourhan Shaarawy: “Textbook selection: an evaluation model conceived by students”
  • Nathan Brewer: “Amicitia­–Augustinian Appropriation of a Classical Virtue”
Speakers
CA
NB
KH
MH

abstracts for panel novel perspectives pdf
Saturday March 16, 2019 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Huntley 321
  Panel discussions

11:00am EDT

Panel: Our Bodies
Our Bodies features these students and these papers:
  • Genna Feirson: “Sex: Our Motivations, Education, Satisfaction, and The Risks We Take”
  • Reid Denter:  " Gnosticism and the Eucharist”
  • Katherine Richard: “Mind-Wandering Intentionality and Executive Function”

Speakers
GF
RD
KR

abstracts for panel our bodies pdf
Saturday March 16, 2019 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Huntley 230
  Panel discussions

11:00am EDT

Panel: Pushing Boundaries
Speakers
LC
MM
AV
KD

abstracts for panel pushing boundaries pdf
Saturday March 16, 2019 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Huntley 219
  Panel discussions

11:00am EDT

Panel: Transitions in Power Balance
Transitions in Power Balance features these students and these papers:
  • Hung Chu: “Behavioral Economics: A New Look at Income Inequality and the Growing Wage Gap”
  • Alankrit Shatadal:  “Language as a Pathway to Changing Mindsets on Domestic Work”
  • Caroline Grace: “Dads in Ads: Exploring Stereotypes of Fatherhood in Advertising”
  • Soon Kwon: “The Impact of 4th Industrial Revolution”

Speakers
AS
HC
CG
SK

abstracts for panel transitions in power balance pdf
Saturday March 16, 2019 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Huntley 235
  Panel discussions

12:00pm EDT

Keynote luncheon and speaker
The Keynote is a time when everyone can gather and eat and chat, and then listen to a speaker who bridges science, society, and the arts. There will be a large, yummy Mexican food buffet for all to enjoy, and then Gary Staab, of STAAB STUDIOS, will present "Digital Dinosaurs: Fleshing out the Past," which will draw on his work as a freelance artist and expert in paleontology sculptures. The keynote lunch and speaker are free but sign up is required at ssa.wlu.edu.

He sculpts using wood for skeletons, shapes muscles and body shape with wire, and uses resin for flesh. The National Geographic Society and the Smithsonian Institution have work by Staab, as well as Disney -- Gary designed models three main characters for the movie Dinosaur. His more recent work includes a replica of Ötzi, the 5,000-year old “Iceman” discovered on the Italy-Austria border. This work was commissioned by the Dolan DNA Learning Center and is documented in a NOVA special, “Iceman Reborn.” In addition to his freelance work, Staab is a research associate with the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, as well as an honorary affiliate faculty at Idaho State University. A graduate of Hastings College, Staab completed a flexible degree program that combined practical museum experience with studies in art and biology.

To read more about Gary and see more of his work, go to staabstudios.com

Speakers
FM
SS


Saturday March 16, 2019 12:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Evans Dining Hall
  Keynote luncheon and speaker

2:00pm EDT

Easel 01: Belfast Trailhead Geophysical Study
This study sought to find the depth to bedrock and general subsurface composition in the study area for the USDA Forest Service and for W&L Engineering students’ capstone project. The study will aid in the engineering of a parking lot for the Belfast Trailhead, the start of the trail to Devil’s Marbleyard, which regularly sees congestion due to its relatively small size. In the field, W&L geology students, as part of a geophysics class, collected both electrical resistivity data and seismic refraction data over the course of several days, as well as using airborne drone photography to create a 3D model of the study area. Students then used this data to create several models of subsurface geology. The area lies on a complicated geological area that is still debated; we hope that our results will also aid in further understanding of the local geology.

Speakers
MR
CM
SW

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Kamen Gallery, Lenfest Center
  Kamen Gallery Poster Session

2:00pm EDT

Easel 02: Mycenaean Chamber Tombs of the Athenian Agora
This summer I worked as a field archaeologist with the Athenian Agora Excavations in Athens, Greece (agathe.gr). Although, there are many different periods and artifacts that have been uncovered at this site, my presentation focuses upon Mycenaean chamber tombs. The Mycenaeans were ancient Greeks who lived during the Bronze Age (ca. 1600-1100 BCE), and the ones who were thought to have sacked Troy during the Trojan War! This presentation will be of interest to students of Classics, archaeology, geology, art history, history, and religion. I show that a study of ancient Greek tombs in Athens not only gives a glimpse of their contemporary life through the objects found inside, but also helps us understand the ancient landscape, since these tombs tended to be built into hills and along main roads. Furthermore, burials give insight to the Mycenaean beliefs about death and afterlife.
Speakers
AJ

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Kamen Gallery, Lenfest Center
  Kamen Gallery Poster Session

2:00pm EDT

Easel 03: Victim or Delinquent?: A Comparative Study of the Response to Underage Sex Workers from the United States and Those Brought from Abroad
The response in the United States to underage sex workers may include treating those individuals as victims or juvenile delinquents. This paper compares the treatment of underage sex workers who are American citizens to the treatment of those who have been brought to the United States from abroad. This paper will attempt to determine if there is disparate treatment between the two and if so, what can be done to more successfully protect children who have become involved in sex work regardless of their country of origin. This research will be useful to those in the fields of law, social work, and criminal justice.
Speakers
LM

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Kamen Gallery, Lenfest Center
  Kamen Gallery Poster Session

2:00pm EDT

Easel 04: Does Snacking-Induced Obesity Impact Metabolic Rateand GI Tract Function in Female Rats?
Obesity has reached epidemic levels with 1 in 5 children in the US now classified as obese. With this in mind, our lab has explored the central idea of the effects of snacking on childhood obesity, using a rat model. From this, we have focused on particular areas of obesity, including the topic we explored this past summer, pertaining to the GI Tract and metabolism. Our hypothesis stated that 1) metabolic rates of the snacking rats will decrease more rapidly over time than in control rats and 2) the structure and function of the GI Tract will be compromised as a result of snacking-induced obesity.

Speakers
HA
EM
TK
CR
DH

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Kamen Gallery, Lenfest Center
  Kamen Gallery Poster Session

2:00pm EDT

Easel 05: Biosand Water Filtration Project in Belize - Engineering Community Development
NOTE: Requesting a lecture-style presentation, not poster session. However, this form of presentation was not an option provided below.
The mission of the Engineering Community Development Club at Washington & Lee is to combine the efforts of not only engineering students, but of all majors and interests in order to enhance the living conditions of developing communities locally and worldwide. Through returning to Belize Basecamp this February break to construct another biosand water filter (previous project in 2017 held the same project goals), the ECD trip team will provide a much-needed clean drinking water source to the small community of Unitedville. We will work alongside local Belizean contractors and become close with the locals to ensure a functioning filter after our team departs as well as a sustained partnership in Belize for future years.
Speakers
RB
TR
GC
AS
RS
EA
CG

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Kamen Gallery, Lenfest Center
  Kamen Gallery Poster Session

2:00pm EDT

Easel 06: CRISPR/Cas9 -mediated gene knockout of WNT inhibitory factor 1 (Wif1) in 293T cells
Wingless type (WNT) pathway plays an important role in the activation of genes that promote the normal development of cells. Abnormalities in the WNT pathway have been shown to promote cancerous cell growth in lung cancer. WNT inhibiting factor (WIF-1), a secretory protein, binds to WNT protein and inhibits their activities. Previous research suggests that WIF-1 may serve as a key antagonist of the WNT pathway to prevent the development of cancer progression. CRISPR/Cas9 is used to alter DNA sequence and modify gene function, to knockout WIF-1 in mammalian cells. 20 nucleotides guide sequence of the guide RNA (gRNA), designed to be complementary to the target DNA site, were ligated into the BsmB1 site of the lentiviral vector LentiCRISPRv2, which contained the human codon-optimized S. pyogenes Cas9-expression cassette and LentiGuide-Puro with gRNA expression cassette. HEK 293 cell line was used to select the stable clones and verify the knockout efficiency.



Speakers
VB

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Kamen Gallery, Lenfest Center
  Kamen Gallery Poster Session

2:00pm EDT

Easel 07: Pyrethroid Treatment of Xenopus laevis During Early Development Induces Morphological Abnormalities and Decreased Survival and Locomotor Activity
Synthetic pyrethroids are a class of insecticides synthesized from the pyrethrum extract of the Chrysanthemum flower.

Here we assess the effects of pyrethroids on vertebrates by examining the impacts of three pyrethroids from two different classes – on the physiology of developing frog embryos, Xenopus laevis. Xenopus are a good model to assess the effects of potential teratogens on vertebrates, due to their physical transparency in early embryonic stages, rapid growth, and external development. Specifically, we show the toxicity of pyrethroids, behavioral measurements including heart rate, swimming behavior, length, kyphosis (spine curvature), and cardiac edema.

Preliminary data suggest all four pesticides caused significant mortality. We observed significant effects of all four pesticides on reductions in swimming activity: fewer numbers of lines crossed and decreased total distance. Spinal length was decreased by exposure to higher concentrations of all four pesticides along with a higher presence of spinal bends at higher concentrations.





Speakers
TA

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Kamen Gallery, Lenfest Center
  Kamen Gallery Poster Session

2:00pm EDT

Easel 08: Reverse Racism: The Impact of Perception of Affirmative Action
The study aims to examine perceptions of reverse discrimination. We hope to determine at what level of perceived support for affirmative action from the judges will White participants attribute their low hireability score to discrimination based on race as opposed to attributing to their low hireability score to their own abilities. We believe White participants will partially attribute their negative test results to discrimination when discrimination is a possibility.



Additionally, as per the Personal Group Discrimination Discrepancy, we know that minority group members tend to downplay the amount of discrimination they face and therefore require a substantial amount of evidence before they will attribute a negative result to discrimination. Majority group members, in particular White people, are not known to experience this effect, and therefore we believe White participants will have a relatively low threshold of evidence required in order to attribute their negative results to discrimination (Ruggiero, 1997).
Speakers
LB
RM
TD

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Kamen Gallery, Lenfest Center
  Kamen Gallery Poster Session

2:00pm EDT

Easel 09: Working Towards Inducing Expression of Two Candidate Aggregate Glue Proteins in E.coli
From their abdominal glands, spiders secrete seven types of silk with unique mechanical properties. Specifically, aggregate glue secreted by members of the superfamily Araneoidea is able to retain an exceptional level of adhesion, even in humid conditions - something synthetic glues cannot do. Thus, we attempted to clone and express two aggregate silk proteins. PCR was used to isolate the two target aggregate silk genes, which were then ligated to expression vectors to produce recombinant DNA. E.coli were transformed with the recombinant DNA and forced to express the target proteins. Target genes were successfully ligated to expression vectors and E.coli were transformed; however, E.coli were unable to express the target aggregate silk proteins.
Speakers
VB
AK
ES
TL
DA

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Kamen Gallery, Lenfest Center
  Kamen Gallery Poster Session

2:00pm EDT

Easel 10: Evolutionary Effects on Memory
It has been shown that individuals tend to remember more evolutionary-survival words compared to neutral words, and that this increased recall can result in false memories. We are interested in whether memory processes would differ if individuals are presented with reproductive-fitness words compared to evolutionary-survival words. Additionally, we want to see if the tendency towards false memory varies between the word categories. We expect to find that in a college setting reproductive-fitness words would be remembered more due to relevance, but they would also be more susceptible to false memories. It is our hope that our research will extend previous findings on evolution and memory processes by also including reproductive fitness.
Speakers
LN
GF

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Kamen Gallery, Lenfest Center
  Kamen Gallery Poster Session

2:00pm EDT

Easel 11: Corpus-Based Assessment of Novelty and Diversity in Creativity
This psychometric study tested the reliability of a new metric of semantic creativity called the corpus-based assessment of novelty and diversity (C-BAND). C-BAND quantitatively measures novelty and idea diversity via semantic distance, an algorithm which assesses co-occurrence of words in large corpora of texts, bypassing subjective coding. Novelty is commonly studied in creativity research, but diversity had not been well-studied using a semantic distance framework.



Participants from Amazon’s Mechanical Turk generated creative words in response to five prompt nouns and were asked to rate their top ideas. The duration of the task (30s, 60s, or 90s) and the number of top words they were asked to rate (2, 3, or 4) were manipulated. Semantic distance scores were measured using three large corpora of texts and calculated in R using the LSAfun package’s Cosine() function.



Results using omega demonstrated that C-BAND is a highly reliable measure of novelty and diversity.

Speakers
AD
JH
DD

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Kamen Gallery, Lenfest Center
  Kamen Gallery Poster Session

2:00pm EDT

Easel 12: Organophosphate Treatment of Xenopus laevis during early development induces abnormalities in the cytoarchitecture of spinal neurons
Organophosphate pesticides (OPs), a subset of acetylcholinesterase-inhibiting chemicals, are widely used to protect crops, homes, and businesses from insects. Despite a U.S. ban on residential use of organophosphates such as chlorpyrifos (CPF), widespread use of these pesticides continues in agricultural settings of developing countries. We utilized a line of frogs expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) in their spinal neurons and used immunofluorescence co-localization with a dorsal root ganglion neuron (DRG) marker, gamma synuclein, to establish DRGs as a subpopulation of neurons expressing GFP. We then examined the effects of CPF exposure on the neurons of developing Xenopus laevis over a 21-day period. Using confocal microscopy, our preliminary data showed increased defects in neuronal migration and varied neuronal growth at developmental stages 37 and 47. Our preliminary results provide evidence that OPs have profound neurological effects on the sensory neurons of developing vertebrates.
Speakers
KD
AW
JH
DF

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Kamen Gallery, Lenfest Center
  Kamen Gallery Poster Session

2:00pm EDT

Easel 13: Summer in Nepal
Uma Sarwadnya ‘19 and Anukriti Shrestha ‘19 spent four weeks during the summer of 2019 at Kathmandu, Nepal, Anukriti’s hometown funded by the Christian A. Endeavor Grant. There were three main aspects to the project: build a clean water supply for Timal village, a science camp at a local school, and a women’s health camp in Panauti village.

We would like to create a poster about our projects in Nepal, including pictures and descriptions about what we accomplished. We think that SSA would be a great way to let other students know about the Endeavor grant as well as the work we were able to do in our time in Nepal.

Speakers
AS
US

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Kamen Gallery, Lenfest Center
  Kamen Gallery Poster Session

2:00pm EDT

Easel 14: Effects of Fixed-Trial Stimulus Exposures on Exploratory and Avoidance Responding in the Pogonomyrmex occidentalis
Habituation, a form of non-associative learning, is the reduction of a response that results from repeated or extended exposure to a stimulus. It is thought to underlie important survival functions in ants, such as nestmate recognition. Previous literature has principally examined this change in behavior using aggression assays. We sought to characterize habituation in western harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex occidentails) outside of an aggressive context by measuring exploratory and avoidance responding to an innocuous, pure odorant stimulus using a fixed-trial protocol. Individual ants were harnessed and exposed to twenty discrete 10 second stimulus presentations (either 2-heptanone or an untreated cotton-tipped applicator), following which they were tested for generalization to a novel stimulus. Avoidance behavior, but not exploratory behavior, showed a reduction across habituation trials. However, this reduction was not stimulus-specific. These findings suggest that another mechanism (such as sensory adaptation) might be contributing to the observed decrease in responding across trials.
Speakers
HW
LH
EE

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Kamen Gallery, Lenfest Center
  Kamen Gallery Poster Session

2:00pm EDT

Easel 15: The Ancient Graffiti Project
We wish to present our work on the Ancient Graffiti Project, a project that has been ongoing for the past several years. The aim of the project is to collect graffiti from ancient sites, before they are lost forever, and present them in a way that can help researchers conduct a more in depth analysis. Using interactive maps, featured graffiti, and translations, we also seek to make information about the ancient world more widely available to a broader audience. The site, http://ancientgraffiti.org, has already been used in some high schools and colleges.
Speakers
TS
AN
MY

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Kamen Gallery, Lenfest Center
  Kamen Gallery Poster Session

2:00pm EDT

Easel 16: Associative Learning and Resulting Foraging Behavior in Pogonomyrmex Occidentalis
Associative learning in ants is crucial for the distinction of different stimuli, allowing for successful foraging behavior. We have begun to collect data examining Y-maze learning in western harvester ants (Pogonomyrex occidentalis) using short- and long-term memory retention tests. After 48 hrs of food deprivation, individual animals were given 5 Y-maze training trials in which one arm contained both a plant stimulus and food (S+) and the other contained plant stimulus alone (NS). Animals were tested either 5-minutes or 24-hours post-training under extinction conditions, during which both initial choice behavior and total time in each arm was recorded. Overall, ants are demonstrating a preference for the S+ arm of the Y-maze through their choice behavior (p < 0.05), but do not spend significantly more time exploring the reinforced arm (p’s > 0.5). Our findings highlight the significance of different forms of behavioral expression as potential indicators of a learned association.
Speakers
GW
ZS

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Kamen Gallery, Lenfest Center
  Kamen Gallery Poster Session

2:00pm EDT

Easel 17: Music Tonality Impact on Context-Dependent Memory and Context Congruence when Recalling Emotionally Valent Words
Music seeps into our everyday life. Past research has shown that memory is affected by music key, which tend to be associated with different emotions. More research needs to be conducted concerning mood and music key on memory (Mead and Ball, 2007). Our study is focused on music tonality’s impact on context-dependent memory and context congruence when recalling emotionally valent words. This study would peak the interest of college students who often listen to music while studying and any science or music major who would like to see the relationship between music and memory. We expect to present results suggesting that participants exposed to words and music that provoke the same emotion will remember more words than participants exposed to words and music that do not provoke the same emotion.
Speakers
BK
JK

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Kamen Gallery, Lenfest Center
  Kamen Gallery Poster Session

2:00pm EDT

Easel 18: Turkish Nationalism and its Impact on The Reception of Migrants and Minorities
Considering Turkey’s complex trichotomy of nationalism, including Conservative, Kemalist, and Ethnic nationalism, in conjunction with the recent influx of Syrian refugees coming into the country, public opinion about the crisis is undoubtedly contentious. In this exploratory study, I specifically examine how different cultural perceptions of Kemalist nationalism may influence the readiness of nationals to accept migrants and/or minorities. Survey data and qualitative interviews were used to collect information regarding preferences for particular migrants and the qualities necessary to become a "Turk." The study reveals that the significance placed on Kemalism by its advocates may incite tension between nationals and “outsiders,” such as migrants and minorities, especially those that do not pose any material advantage to them. Kemalists are protectionists when it comes to preserving their culture and maintaining Ataturk’s doctrines, and when their ideology is threatened, they begin to place blame on the “outsider,” for deviating from the status quo.
Speakers
SS

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Kamen Gallery, Lenfest Center
  Kamen Gallery Poster Session

2:00pm EDT

Easel 19: Muscimol induces object discrimination deficits and hyperexcitation of the rodent hippocampus
One crucial component of memory is the ability to distinguish between multiple similar events. This process requires that brain circuits generate distinct representations of overlapping inputs, a process called pattern separation.Previous studies have shown a correlation between performance on tasks that measure this ability to discriminate between similar stimuli and activity in the CA3 and dentate gyrus (DG) of the human hippocampus.we wished to determine the contribution of CA3/DG to object discrimination abilities in rodents through infusion of muscimol, a GABAa agonist, into the hippocampus. Unexpectedly, histological analyses revealed hyperexcitation of CA1, CA3, and DG, rather than inactivation.Muscimol infusions increased levels of IEG mRNA across all hippocampal sub-regions of the hippocampus, while vehicle infusions did not. These data suggest that muscimol infusions inactivated a critical number of interneurons to produce hyperexcitability among hippocampus principal cells, and highlight the necessity of validating neural activity levels in inactivation studies.
Speakers
TC

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Kamen Gallery, Lenfest Center
  Kamen Gallery Poster Session

2:00pm EDT

Easel 20: Genetic Variation in the Range-Restricted Peaks of Otter Salamander, Plethodon Hubrichti
Salamander biodiversity is an increasingly salient issue due to their function as bioindicators of overall habitat health. The Peaks of Otter salamander, Plethodon hubrichti, lives along 19 km of woodland near the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. Because this region of the Appalachian Mountains is inhabited by the most diverse collection of salamander species in the world, it is important to monitor the stability of endemic salamander populations. To evaluate the genetic diversity and evolutionary history of P. hubrichti, we analyzed 8 microsatellite loci and found that P. hubrichti is more genetically diverse and has a more pronounced population structure than the more common Red-Backed salamander, P. cinereous. In addition to finding no genetic evidence of hybridization between the two species, our results suggest that P. hubrichti is not under an immediate threat of extinction through introgression and may have been evolving in this region longer than P. cinereus.
Speakers
CC

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Kamen Gallery, Lenfest Center
  Kamen Gallery Poster Session

2:00pm EDT

Easel 21: Effect of Emotionally Arousing Words on Cognitive Processing
Our study investigates how words that are emotionally arousing affect our cognitive processes and how we attend to things in our environment. Previous studies have found that emotional words were better recognized than neutral words and that the recognition effect was mediated by arousal as opposed to attention. This increase in attentional resources being allocated towards these words is thought to be mediated by the degree of arousal of the stimuli, which facilitates thorough processing of pertinent stimuli to guide adaptive behavior of an individual. The aim of our study is to examine whether the processing involved in the Emotional Stroop Task is due to implicit or explicit processing and whether this particular processing is dependent on the arousal level of the word. Our study was created as part of a PSYC-354 advanced methods course and conducted on Washington and Lee undergraduate students.

Speakers
AB
LS
DW

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Kamen Gallery, Lenfest Center
  Kamen Gallery Poster Session

2:00pm EDT

Easel 22: The Dark Triad and Career Choice Motivation
I hope to present a poster with findings from my senior thesis in Psychology. My thesis will examine how the “Dark Triad” traits (Narcissism, Machiavellianism, Psychopathy) may influence career choice. Specifically, I will examine what happens when career interests are pitted against a higher salary offer. This research is relevant for students and employers because job choice has many implications later in life. I expect those high on the Dark Triad to be more inclined to take a career for a high salary as opposed to its congruence with their personality. This could have many negative consequences in the workplace including dissatisfaction in their career or counterproductive work behaviors. Conversely, I predict that individuals who score low on the Dark Triad will prefer a job that aligns with their interest regardless of the salary offered.
Speakers
JA

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Kamen Gallery, Lenfest Center
  Kamen Gallery Poster Session

2:00pm EDT

Easel 23: Directed Self-Assembly of Nanoparticles under Electric Fields
We develop an experimental and theoretical approach to study the effect of electric bias on particle-coverage densities produced during nanoparticle self-assembly. Experimentally, we utilize a parallel plate capacitor to allow for the application of a uniform external electric field during the self-assembly of SiO2 nanoparticles on glass slides. We refer to this procedure as directed self-assembly of monolayers (DSAM). To determine particle-coverage densities, we use scanning electron microscopy. In our theoretical analysis, we modify existing cooperative sequential adsorption models to account for diffusion under an applied electric field. We then apply the mean field approximation to these modified models to obtain master equations, which we solve for particle-coverage densities. To ascertain the validity of these models, we compare computer simulations produced using our theoretical approach to our experimental data.
Speakers
MW
EB
EH
CM
NZ
MR
BZ

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Kamen Gallery, Lenfest Center
  Kamen Gallery Poster Session

2:00pm EDT

Easel 24: The Orientalist Discourse and Palestine: The Impact of Orientalism on the Making of British Policy and the Representation of Palestine During the Arab Rebellion in 1936
The Orientalist discourse was an essential part of the representation of Palestine in Britain from 1915 to 1936. The impact of Orientalism in this period was demonstrated by first examining the making of British policy for Palestine from 1915 to 1922. For content analysis, two samples were taken from The Times and The Manchester Guardian and examined for their representations of Palestine during the Arab Rebellion in 1936. These samples were scrutinized for the perspectives they produced, and each perspective was studied for its use of the Orientalist discourse. It was concluded from this study that the Orientalist discourse was predominantly used explicitly in the Zionist perspective, but also implicitly in the Government perspective. The Palestinian Arab perspective generally challenged the assumptions of the Orientalist discourse, but because the Palestinian Arab perspective was far less prominent, their challenges to the Orientalist discourse were seldom represented and thus far less effective.
Speakers
DM

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Kamen Gallery, Lenfest Center
  Kamen Gallery Poster Session

2:00pm EDT

Easel 25: Feminists Confront Sexism
Our study is examining the impact of the label "feminist" and gender on participant's perceptions of a scenario involving a male or female individual labeled (or not labeled) feminist confronting a sexist statement. We have hypothesized that respondents will perceive this interaction differently based on the label and gender of the confronter so that women who are labeled feminists will be perceived more aggressive, less likable, and less competent than women without labels or men with or without labels. Currently, our study is in the data collection phase with the expectation that we will have data and corresponding analysis ready for the current study, and potentially any necessary follow-up studies, for presentation at SSA.
Speakers
IG
CP

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Kamen Gallery, Lenfest Center
  Kamen Gallery Poster Session

2:00pm EDT

Easel 26: Computational Model Successfully Recreates Circadian Rhythms in Spiders and Proposes Best Experimental Practice for in vivo Circadian Experiment
Circadian rhythms are 24-hour cycles that characterize many vital physiological processes, including sleep and metabolism, found in all flora and fauna. Spiders have some of the shortest (17.4 hours in Allocyclosa bifurca) and longest (29.1 hours in Frontinella communis) internal circadian periods ever discovered, but little is known about their underlying clock mechanism. Despite their wide range of internal periods, spiders survive naturally in the wild (with 24-hour cycles) without any known negative repercussions. Our project adapts an existing mathematical model to describe the molecular clock in spiders and make predictions for in vivo experiments. The independent, linear light degradation model we developed successfully recreated sustained oscillations, achieved the entire range of internal circadian periods in spiders, and replicated their response to light. These promising results helped us propose best in vivo experimental practice, and we hope further research with spiders will lead to applications for human health (sleep disorders).
Speakers
AL
DN
DN
AM

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Kamen Gallery, Lenfest Center
  Kamen Gallery Poster Session

2:00pm EDT

Easel 27: Expression in Spider Gene Cloning of L. hesperus and N. clavipes Through Transformed E. coli Cells
Our research aimed to isolate and express spider silk proteins from the L. hesperus and N. clavipes species. We are specifically interested in the elastic and adhesive properties of aggregate glues and flagelliform fibers which are unlike any other natural or man-made fibers. In orb-weavers, unique domains in flagelliform silk protein sequences form chains of amino acids that create a strong and elastic capture spiral. Aqueous aggregate glue protein droplets line the flagelliform capture spiral to adhere prey that have hit the web. In cob-web weaver spiders, aggregate glue silk surrounds the gumfoot and draglines of their webs. Our procedure expressed spider proteins by inserting target genes into an E. coli bacteria vector. Results show that recombinant genes in E. coli are able to express spider silk proteins. Expression of these silks can be implemented in medical, militaristic, and commercial goods that require elastic fibers or humidity-resistant glue.
Speakers
TL
WP

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Kamen Gallery, Lenfest Center
  Kamen Gallery Poster Session

2:00pm EDT

Easel 28: Japanese Hospitality
A group of 23 students and 2 chaperones from Kanazawa, Japan will visit W&L in March, 2019 as part of the Kakehashi Inouye Scholars Program in collaboration with TOMODACHI Initiative. In February the W&L group will visit Kanazawa University as part of an eight-day study tour. There we will introduce the Kanazawa University students to W&L with a presentation on our university and the significance of SSA. Kanazawa University, will visit Washington, D.C. and Lexington as part of their study tour. They plan to present a poster introducing Kanazawa University to the W&L community.
Speakers
SI
EK
SM
RM
MY

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Kamen Gallery, Lenfest Center
  Kamen Gallery Poster Session

2:00pm EDT

Easel 29: KUTANI Living in the Modern World
Speakers
AI
KO
SH
RM
KM
FM

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Kamen Gallery, Lenfest Center
  Kamen Gallery Poster Session

2:00pm EDT

Easel 30: Let's Have a Meal of Kanazawa
Speakers
MK
MK
TK
TN
KF
EY

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Kamen Gallery, Lenfest Center
  Kamen Gallery Poster Session

2:00pm EDT

Easel 31: One Day Trip in Japan Like a Guide Book
Speakers
YU
TK
ST
YD
SY
AY

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Kamen Gallery, Lenfest Center
  Kamen Gallery Poster Session

2:00pm EDT

Easel 32: Analysis of Churchill's Rhetoric towards the Soviet Union
The project reviewed statements made by Winston Churchill throughout his life to analyze his position towards the rising Soviet Union from the late 1910s until his death in 1965. It sought to understand Churchill's feelings towards the Soviet Union in the years before, during, and after the British alliance with the USSR during WWII. This was done by reviewing statements made by Churchill, sourced from The Times, the British paper of record, as well as his own writings and biography. Observers of the presentation will be educated on Churchill's changing rhetoric and his three distinct phases: opposition to Soviet communism, alliance as a necessary evil, and finally hope for peace in Europe. Generally, Churchill opposed the rise of the Soviet Union but was willing to work with them to defeat the greater evil of Hitler.
Speakers
JF

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Kamen Gallery, Lenfest Center
  Kamen Gallery Poster Session

2:00pm EDT

Easel 33: Distracting Effects of Audio and Visual Text Notifications on Attention
In modern-day society, communication technologies are commonly owned, and humans are constantly receiving auditory and visual cues in the form of emails, calls, text messages, and more. Previous research has found that the presence of a such devices can diminish attention to a task at hand and decrease performance (Thornton et al., 2014). Our research seeks to replicate these distracting effects, and to further examine whether distraction will increase if a notification is read but not responded to immediately. In this study, participants will engage in a Math Equation task that includes paired audio and visual message notifications throughout the task. In some trials, participants will be forced to respond to the notification immediately. In others, a math problem must be completed before responding. We hypothesize that when one does not respond, there will be lingering distraction effects on attention due to the creation and maintenance of task-irrelevant thoughts.
Speakers
SC
DW
CB
MP

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Kamen Gallery, Lenfest Center
  Kamen Gallery Poster Session

2:00pm EDT

Dessert reception
Follow up the delicious lunch and stimulating talk with fantastic desserts! Mini cannoli, linzer tarts, chocolate mousse tartlets, mini cheesecake -- and more. Because SSA.
Speakers
FD

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Lykes Atrium, Wilson Hall
  Reception

2:00pm EDT

Visual Arts display
The Visual Arts will be on display through Saturday at 4:00pm.
Mary Helen Powell: "Birdhouse"
Brittany Osaseri: "Rulers of the Cards"
Brianna Osaseri: "Stories Forgotten"
Lauren Engelbrecht: "String Superellipse"
Laws Smith: "String Art"
Becs Licata: "Pandora's Knot"
Callie Garst: "Connecting in and out"
Xinxian Wang: "Photo I project"
Michael Kerr: "Mickey + Mary"
Artists
BL
BO
BO
CG
KH
LE
LS
MH
MK
XW

abstracts for visual art pdf
Saturday March 16, 2019 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Lykes Atrium, Wilson Hall
  Visual Arts

2:15pm EDT

Easel 34: ENVS: Assessing Acid Mine Drainage Remediation at the Morris Creek Watershed
Acid mine drainage (AMD), a byproduct of improper post-mining management, often contains high levels of dissolved metals which can cause loss of aquatic life in contaminated water-bodies, and can inhibit stream use for consumption and recreation. The Morris Creek Watershed in Montgomery, WV contains four active AMD remediation sites which we expect are not operating successfully. We will measure the pH of the creek at pre- and post-treatment points as well as determine the dissolved metal content at these locations in order to assess the success or failure of the different modes of treatment at these sites. We will also investigate economic and political limitations associated with AMD remediation, and how these obstacles have been overcome in the past at Morris Creek Watershed Management. Subsequently, we will make recommendations for a cost-effective treatment plan that may include a new approach to AMD remediation in the Morris Creek Watershed.
Speakers
SH
KW
WR

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:15pm - 3:30pm EDT
Great Hall, Science Center
  Great Hall Poster Session

2:15pm EDT

Easel 35: ENVS: Sustainability in the Craft Brewing Industry
The craft brewing industry has seen a recent growth in popularity: from 37 craft breweries in 1985 to over 4,225 in 2015 in the U.S. alone. Despite its locally-focused appeal, the industry is very energy and resource intensive. The aim of this capstone is to provide a brewery with a plan to market its sustainability initiatives, as well as to create an overarching sustainability certification process and to develop a stronger understanding as to when companies should implement sustainability initiatives into their operations. These specific goals will be accomplished through literature review and partnering with Beltway Brewery in Sterling, VA. Along these lines, the project will answer the following research questions: How do sustainability practices and reporting of metrics play a role in the brewing industry? When is an appropriate time to implement green initiatives? How can communications regarding sustainability initiatives improve brand value for craft brewers?
Speakers
EC
AM
MH

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:15pm - 3:30pm EDT
Great Hall, Science Center
  Great Hall Poster Session

2:15pm EDT

Easel 36: ENVS: U.S. Prisons and Inequalities in Environmental Risks and Hazards
Many U.S. prisons are located near sources of pollution that are known to negatively impact human health. Inmates can resultantly develop a range of chronic health issues that can be attributable in part to the environmental risks and hazards external to the prisons. My research examines whether U.S. prisons are disproportionately located in Census Block Groups with above-average environmental risks and hazards. I utilize data from EJSCREEN, the U.S. EPA’s environmental justice screening and mapping tool, to quantitatively measure the environmental indicators ranging from particulate matter to hazardous waste proximity present in Census Block Groups. My research also explores the factors contributing to this possible correlation between prison sites and environmental risks and hazards such as the prison siting process. A further understanding of how the prison system can worsen health risks experienced by inmates is important towards addressing environmental injustices.

Speakers
KC

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:15pm - 3:30pm EDT
Great Hall, Science Center
  Great Hall Poster Session

2:15pm EDT

Easel 37: ENVS: The relationship between academic curricula pertaining to issues and themes of sustainability and student engagement in campus sustainability at institutions of higher education
The core research question of my capstone asks the following: To what extent does the academic curriculum pertaining to issues and themes of sustainability at institutions of higher education influence on-campus student engagement? This research will be guided by data collected from the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS). This self-reported assessment measures the sustainability performance of 362 participating colleges and universities across a wide range of impact areas. STARS provides data to build an econometric model that will examine the correlation between curriculum and campus engagement scores. My model will control for institution governance, student body and faculty size, endowment size, region, program type (baccalaureate, masters, or associate), and STARS version. This research could provide insight into how academic curricula influence student engagement in sustainable practices and contribute to the overall environmental performance of a campus.
Speakers
CS

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:15pm - 3:30pm EDT
Great Hall, Science Center
  Great Hall Poster Session

2:15pm EDT

Easel 38: ENVS: The Effects of Integrated Reporting on Financial Performance ***ENVS***
The purpose of this project is to investigate into the effects of Integrated Reporting on the financial performance of companies who have adopted it. The Integrated Reporting framework (IR) was developed to assist with standardization of corporate sustainability information by linking this nonfinancial information directly to traditional financial information. This should theoretically assist companies with reducing their environmental impacts, while simultaneously improving the efficiency of their operations.

For this project, a sample of companies from the South African Johannesburg Stock Exchange have been chosen due to the mandated adoption of Integrated Reporting by the exchange in 2009. The companies’ Return on Assets will be compared with the quality of the Integrated Reports in order to discover any possible relationship. If it is demonstrated that it is beneficial for companies to incorporate environmental and social issues into corporate strategy, market forces should make sustainable innovations a key part of future business.

Speakers
JF

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:15pm - 3:30pm EDT
Great Hall, Science Center
  Great Hall Poster Session

2:15pm EDT

Easel 39: ENVS: Peniel Farm Remediation and Management Proposal: Planning for the Immediate and Long-Term Future​
In 2005, Washington and Lee purchased an 82 acre property, contiguous to the University’s back campus. The property is a former farm, and any potential activities may be limited by a conservation easement. Nonetheless, the property offers many potential opportunities, both educational and recreational, to help the University achieve its mission and implement its new strategic plan. Additionally, due to past usage of the property, a pond became overly saturated with nutrients. This project also seeks to advise the remediation process of the pond to promote a healthier aquatic ecosystem. Therefore, in order to help inform the University’s decision making process, an in-depth analysis will be conducted to address the following research question: What are the most feasible and sustainable options to remediate, manage, and utilize Peniel Farm for the betterment of student life, while being mindful of Washington and Lee’s future vision for the land?
Speakers
LL
TJ
MW

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:15pm - 3:30pm EDT
Great Hall, Science Center
  Great Hall Poster Session

2:15pm EDT

Easel 40: ENVS: Environmental Resonances in Pro-Environmental Networks at Washington & Lee
When it comes to sustainability at Washington and Lee, the extracurricular and academic spheres stay very separate, with only a few students involved in both. All students share pro-environmental values, so the divergence in patterns of involvement must be caused by social and other factors. To approach the problem in the most holistic way possible in the scope of an Environmental Studies capstone project, this project uses Ian Hodder’s theory of entanglement and network analysis to investigate the social reasons behind different patterns of on-campus involvement amongst different groups of students. Data was gathered from 32 interviews with students majoring or minoring in Environmental Studies, involved in the Office of Sustainability, or involved in the Student Environmental Action League. Coded qualitative data is imposed over a network analysis to determine if respondents’ environmental resonances co-vary with their social networks and associations, ultimately affecting involvement in sustainability.
Speakers
KO

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:15pm - 3:30pm EDT
Great Hall, Science Center
  Great Hall Poster Session

2:15pm EDT

Easel 41: ENVS: Human Impacts on Ichthyochory in the Brazilian Amazon
Ichthyochory is the process by which fish disperse viable seeds of fruit they have consumed. During the flooding season of the Amazon River in Brazil, water levels rise inundating much of the rainforest. Many trees produce and release fruit into the flooded forest where they are then eaten by omnivorous fish. The movements and migratory patterns of these fish can transport the seeds into the surrounding forest where they are released during defecation. This relationship expands or at least maintains Amazonian tree range within the ecosystem and provides fish with access to a nutrient-rich and abundant supply of food, contributing to the biodiversity of the Amazon rainforest. This project expands on research done in Brazil during the summer of 2018 by reviewing the impacts of human activity on the Amazon river and investigate how the current political and social climate has and will influence decisions made about the Amazon Rainforest.
Speakers
SA

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:15pm - 3:30pm EDT
Great Hall, Science Center
  Great Hall Poster Session

2:15pm EDT

Easel 42: ENVS: Single Use Bottles on the W&L Campus
With local recycling infrastructure having changed and W&L now needing to pay recycling center in Roanoke to accept their recyclables, Dining Services has made a switch to compostable food packaging. While this switch is positively impacting the school, the astounding number of single-use plastic beverages has continued to be an issue for Dining Services and the school at large. In order to better serve the school community, our goal is to offer a sustainable solution that fits with student attitudes and preferences towards the issue. To understand student preferences we will issue a choice modeling survey. This survey will look at quantities of plastic sold, recycling percentages, payment methods, and cost to choose the most optimal suggestion for Dining Services. We will also address the marketing that will be necessary for Dining Services to implement in order to align with the universities strategic plan.
Speakers
JT
MR

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:15pm - 3:30pm EDT
Great Hall, Science Center
  Great Hall Poster Session

2:15pm EDT

Easel 43: ENVS: Establishing the Basis for Natural Science Exhibits at Natural Bridge State Park -Employing Water Quality Data, GIS, and Science Communication
Collaborating with Natural Bridge State Park and the Rockbridge Area Conservation Council (RACC), I am conducting a project that will assist them with the analysis of watershed health data and plan the new exhibit on natural environment at the park’s Visitor’s Center.

In this project I will use GIS technology to process data on watershed health collected by RACC. Also, I will compile a list of suggestions for the nature exhibit at the Visitor’s Center that answers the requests from stake holders.

Through this project, I hope to enhance the value of the state park as a place for science education. There are important factors such as agricultural practices and sewage management that contributes to better water quality; this project could guide children, especially in the local area to practice a more sustainable use of the watershed and other natural resources.
Speakers
KS

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:15pm - 3:30pm EDT
Great Hall, Science Center
  Great Hall Poster Session

2:15pm EDT

Easel 44: ENVS: Reassessing Washington and Lee’s energy portfolio
With a motto of not being unmindful of the future and new goals set forth in our strategic plan, Washington and Lee University has the opportunity to approach further plans for alternative energy on a larger scale. With a pledge of Carbon Neutrality set for 2050, there begs the question of how we get there. This project consists of an economic analysis of the various options the university can pursue to reach this carbon neutrality, covering purchasing green energy, on-site and off-site photovoltaics, and participation in carbon offset programs. To asses changing future carbon pricing, a sensitivity analysis will be used for each neutrality route, using proposed carbon taxes in Congress as optimistic and pessimistic benchmarks. Potential findings can act as a guide for Washington and Lee action and decision-making when assessing these various options of sustainable and responsible environmental stewardship in the near future.
Speakers
JA

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:15pm - 3:30pm EDT
Great Hall, Science Center
  Great Hall Poster Session

2:15pm EDT

Easel 45: ENVS: The effects of dam removal on smallmouth bass populations_ENVS
I plan to determine how the removal of the dam at Jordan’s Point Park on the Maury River will effect local smallmouth bass populations. I will utilize telemetry data from smallmouth bass that have radio trackers surgically implanted in them to map out their movements to determine the average distance traveled between detections on an individual basis as well as overall and then the maximum distance traveled on an individual basis as well as the average. I will also conduct a literary review on SMB habitat preferences/ movement patterns as well as how previous dam removals have effected SMB populations.

I will combine my telemetry data with available knowledge of SMB populations to predict how the SMB population will be affected by the removal of the dam and provide the Lexington City Council with insight on how to mitigate any negative consequences the dam removal may have on SMB populations.

Speakers
DB

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:15pm - 3:30pm EDT
Great Hall, Science Center
  Great Hall Poster Session

2:45pm EDT

Easel 46-51: The Sticker Movement: Many Voices, One School
This is a poster "exhibit" that will be put together by the members of the Material Culture of Protest class. Participants will use a total of 6 posters, set up together to share images and text from their examination of how W&L community members use stickers on items such as water bottles and laptops to claim identities for themselves and share political positions in shared spaces such as classrooms. All together, the posters will be a means for students in the Material Culture of Protest class to share what they are learning with the campus and encourage members of our community to open our eyes to the way the widespread use of stickers allows for the pursuit of political claims through the everyday objects amongst us.
Speakers
BC
AG
DA
MV
JS
LM
JC
JS
KR
EE
KP

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:45pm - 3:30pm EDT
Great Hall, Science Center
  Great Hall Poster Session

2:45pm EDT

Easel 52: Evidence for the Sensitization of an Antennal Retraction Response in Pogonomyrmex occidentalis
Habituation is a response decrement resulting from repeated stimulus exposures. Sensitization results in an increase in responding following the presentation of a sensitizing stimulus. We sought to characterize the behavior of western harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex occidentalis) during uninterrupted exposure to a pure odorant stimulus. Animals were subjected to a 10-minute uninterrupted exposure to a pure odorant stimulus (10 µl of Heptanone) or an untreated cotton-tipped applicator (vehicle), followed by either the same or a novel stimulus (10 µl Heptanol) for 3-minutes (generalization test). Individual antennal retractions during stimulus exposure and generalization were hand-scored by a blind observer. There was a significant decrease in responding across both exposure conditions over time, suggesting that an untreated cotton-tipped applicator is sufficient to elicit retraction responses. Responding recovered between the end of habituation and start of the generalization test across all experimental conditions, suggesting that features of the protocol caused a sensitization of behavior.
Speakers
VB
NF
DW

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:45pm - 3:30pm EDT
Great Hall, Science Center
  Great Hall Poster Session

2:45pm EDT

Easel 53A: The Neurological Effects of Chronic Organophosphate Pesticide Exposure on Mazahua Floricultural Workers
This is a summary of a research expedition to Mexico funded by the SOAN department to create a symptom profile for exposure to pesticides in workers of different ethnicities. This data then serves as the foundation for genetic and neuroscience research currently being conducted at W&L to determine the etiology of the symptoms as well.
Speakers
EH

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:45pm - 3:30pm EDT
Great Hall, Science Center
  Great Hall Poster Session

2:45pm EDT

Easel 53B: Developing a model for identifying genes involved in organophosphate exposure
Organophosphate pesticides are the most widely used pesticide in the world. A myriad of ecological and human health outcomes have been documented and attributed to exposure to organophosphates and their residues. In humans, acute intoxication of organophosphate pesticides (OPs) has been well documented and a full symptomatic profile has been elucidated. However, most cases of exposure to OPs present as chronic, subacute exposure. There currently is no established symptomatic profile for this specific form of exposure. Many studies have found correlations between incidences of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases such as Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s in populations faced with chronic subacute exposure to OPs. The present study aims to catalogue symptomatic profiles of individuals chronically and subacutely exposed to organophosphate pesticides in the floricultural industry of the Central Mexican highlands. Participants include both indigenous Mazahua people as well as a Mestizo population.
Speakers
EH

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:45pm - 3:30pm EDT
Great Hall, Science Center
  Great Hall Poster Session

2:45pm EDT

Easel 54: Threshold Housing Project
Elizabeth and I wish to present a poster on the Threshold Housing Survey we did for Sociology 276: Art and Science of Survey Research, with Professor Jasiewicz. For this project, we surveyed homeowners in low-income neighborhoods in the city of Lexington, and then gave a presentation and report to the city of Lexington Town Council on where they should prioritize home renovations and refurbishments. For our poster, we would present our survey questions, our findings, and how we communicated these findings to the city council.
Speakers
AR
EM

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:45pm - 3:30pm EDT
Great Hall, Science Center
  Great Hall Poster Session

2:45pm EDT

Easel 55: MC Greenleaf: Wormhole: A Murder in Worm Blood
A video game demo that I’m creating for my senior art thesis. The viewer plays as a worm infesting a cat’s body, investigating a recent murder. I wrote all of the coding in Python, and likewise produced all of the artwork. It is still a work in progress, but showcases two “stages” in the world, real-time interaction, as well as a modest cast of characters.
Speakers
MG

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:45pm - 3:30pm EDT
Great Hall, Science Center
  Great Hall Poster Session

2:45pm EDT

Easel 56: Finding Apocalyptic Tropes in Creative Expression from the 18th-20th Centuries
In REL 351-01: Visions of the End: Apocalyptic Literature Antiquity to the Present last semester with Professor Brown we each found the apocalyptic themes from the works of different writers/composers/theologians and produced final papers. Combining our in-depth research we will have a poster presenting our findings of apocalypticism in poetry from WWI and WWII, in the short stories of Flannery O’Conner, in the poetry of William Blake, in the speeches and writings of Martin Luther King Jr. and in the Olivier Messiaen music piece “Quartet for the End of Time.” From our individual close studies of these various artist’s works next to ancient apocalyptic texts we have found the enhancement of these works through understanding the apocalyptic themes that drive them. We would love to share our findings at SSA, for we feel it has greatly impacted our views of these artists as well as the world around us.
Speakers
RM
SS
AK
BK
EA

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:45pm - 3:30pm EDT
Great Hall, Science Center
  Great Hall Poster Session

2:45pm EDT

Easel 57: Habituation Learning in the Context of Aggression in Free Moving Pogonomyrmex occidentalis
The current study examined the habituation of aggressive responding in western harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex occidentalis) following exposure to the allospecific red harvester ant (Pogonomyrmex barbatus). We hypothesized that P. occidentalis pre-exposed to P. barbatus would show less allospecific aggression than those without pre-exposure. Habituation training consisted of a 60-min continuous exposure with a metal barrier restricting the interactions between animals. Following habituation, P. occidentalis underwent filmed 5 min exposures to familiar (pre-exposed; retention test) and/or novel (non-pre-exposed; generalization test) stimuli. Tests were subsequently scored for the frequency of different aggressive behaviors. Contact aggression between P. occidentalis nestmates was rarely observed across all conditions, and pre-exposure to P. barbatus significantly decreased contact aggression between P. occidentalis and P. barbatus (p’s < 0.02) relative to all other pre-exposure conditions. Our findings suggest that 60 min of exposure is sufficient to induce a habituation effect towards another species without impacting nestmate recognition.
Speakers
RT
MG

Saturday March 16, 2019 2:45pm - 3:30pm EDT
Great Hall, Science Center
  Great Hall Poster Session

3:30pm EDT

"Musical Relationships" performed by the W&L Choral Program
Performed by members of the W&L Choral Program. Morgan Luttig '14, Conductor.

Cantatrici
Soprano I: Claire Conarroe, Hannah Dewing, Keren Katz, Elizabeth Thompson, Haochen Tu, Bridget Washington
Soprano II: Julia Batavick, Megan Murchie-Beyma, Sarah Gabrielle Lynch, Pamela Steimel, Cecelia Weingart
Alto I: Hayley Allen, Tina Jin, Lisa Roth, Mary Alice Russell
Alto II: Peyton (Fitz) Fitzhugh, Lauren Hoaglund, Virginia McGhee, Leslie Sparling

Men’s Glee Club
Tenor I: Andrew Baca, Levi Lebsack, Caleb Peña, Isaac Thompson
Tenor II: Demmanuel Gonzalez, Jim Grant, Saimon Islam, Troy Larsen
Bass I: Dolph Maxwell, Nate Williams, Andrew Creel
Bass II: Duckery Bracey, Austin Jennings, Soon Ho Kwon

The University Singers
Soprano I: Alice Chambers, Hannah Dewing, Emma Duerstock, Camilla Higgins, Keren Katz, Grace Pelosky, Elizabeth Thompson
Soprano II: Hayley Allen, Alice Gooding, Margaret Kallus, Maria Kisker, Madeleine Lucas, Alankrit Shatadal
Alto I: Alex Keene, Liz Kent, Rose Maxwell, Mary Helen Powell, Elizabeth Underwood, Reggie Zhao
Alto II: McClenny Benson, Kathryn Gerbo, Hailey Glick, Cindy Kim, Kat Porter, Laura Wang, Virginia McGhee
Tenor I: Andrew Baca, Levi Lebsack, Nick Mauer, Caleb Peña, Isaac Thompson
Tenor II: Allan Blenman, Demmanuel Gonzalez, Jim Grant, Phillip Hall, Chase Krouskos, Will McLearn, Luke Powell
Bass I: Nathan Brewer, Bradley Jones, Soon Ho Kwon, Simon Marland, Weld Robinson, Daniel Wetterhahn, Anthony Wong
Bass II: Blaine Brownell, Duckery Bracey, Jesse Chang, Robert Dee, Alex Farley, Austin Jennings, Aidan Valente
Artists
ML

Saturday March 16, 2019 3:30pm - 4:00pm EDT
Great Hall, Science Center
  Choir concert

7:30pm EDT

The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekov, dir by Jemma Alix Levy
The Cherry Orchard (Brustein)
By Anton Chekhov
Adaptation by Robert Brustein
Directed by Jemma Alix Levy 
Presented by special arrangement with Samuel French.
TICKETS ARE REQUIRED (W&L Students $5; Faculty and Staff $11) Contact Lenfest Center.

Chekhov’s final play is a comic masterpiece disguised as a melancholic study of humanity. As Ranevskaya struggles to deal with the realities of losing her family estate, her daughters Anya and Varya choose their own ways to deal with the big changes ahead of them. Meanwhile their neighbor, Lopakhin, tries to solve everyone’s problems with new money and new ideas.  Boasting an ensemble cast of deliciously funny roles, The Cherry Orchard remains one of the greatest modern plays in the Western canon.
Artists
DJ

Saturday March 16, 2019 7:30pm - 9:45pm EDT
Johnson Theater, Lenfest Center
  Performances
 
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