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Nuclear Engineering Program Marks 10th Anniversary, Rebecca Jones

The Scope

Ten years ago, Virginians who wanted to study nuclear engineering at the graduate level had to leave the state to do so. But then VCU, with support from Dominion Resources, started a program whose hallmark has been its ability to balance theory and application in its approach to nuclear engineering education.

The Scope, The Scope

The Scope

Collection of all 2016 articles from The Scope.

About The Scope

This magazine was produced by students in Science Journalism (MASC 491-005), which was taught during the Fall 2016 semester by Jeff South, an associate professor in the Robertson School of Media and Culture at Virginia Commonwealth University, and Sara Williams, head of academic outreach for VCU Libraries.

The course, VCU’s first focusing exclusively on science reporting, was supported by a grant that funds projects aligned with VCU’s strategic plan, called Quest for Distinction. VCU selected the Science Journalism course as a “disruptively innovative idea” and as a way …

Many College Students Abuse Alcohol And Adderall, Vanessa Gleiser

The Scope

VCU Counseling Services has seen the gamut of substance abuse problems experienced by college students. “Alcohol is the most abused substance,” says Kristen Kidd Donovan, one of the counselors. Some students also abuse Adderall, which can have serious health consequences.

An Advocate For Minorities In Science, Paige Bellamy

The Scope

Dr. Teshell Greene, who grew up on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts, moved to New York at 14 to pursue her dream of being a science researcher. Today she is an instructor in the VCU Department of Biology and a staunch advocate for underrepresented minorities in the field.

Professor Studies Invasive Species In Africa, Nicole Nelson

The Scope

James Vonesh, an associate professor of biology at VCU, recently returned from South Africa, where he focused on an invasive species of frog. His research question: Why do certain species flourish in a new environment while others do not?

Glove’S A Perfect Fit For Patients With Raynaud’S Disease, Riley Murtagh

The Scope

For a senior project, VCU engineering student Jessica Bishop wanted to help people like herself who suffer from Raynaud’s disease, which constricts blood flow in fingers and other extremities exposed to cold environments or stress. So she invented a pair of “magic gloves” that regulate hand temperature in cold environments.

Study May Reform Police Training Methods, Joe Johnson

The Scope

A VCU doctoral candidate has designed a study that could help improve training of police officers in their interactions with citizens. The study by Shana Mell seeks to show how body worn cameras can be used for observation and subsequent training.

Researcher Honored For ‘Outstanding Early Career’, Chris Rubis

The Scope

Dr. Matthew L. Banks, an assistant professor in VCU’s Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, recently received the university’s Outstanding Early Career Faculty Award. His research centers on two themes – developing behavioral and pharmacological strategies to treat drug addiction, and making existing medications more effective with fewer side effects.

How Do Police Brutality Videos Affect Us?, Joseph Forcier

The Scope

Videos of encounters between police and citizens can be used to hold police accountable or determine whether officers’ actions were justified. But those videos and related comments on social media could cause viewers to experience stress and other emotions, says a researcher at VCU’s Robertson School of Media and Culture.

Project Tracks Veterans’ Brain Injuries, Riley Murtagh

The Scope

About 20 percent of veterans who fought in the Iraq War sustained concussions. Of soldiers who received head trauma, about 8 percent continue to have symptoms, says Dr. David Cifu, chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in the VCU School of Medicine. “We need to understand how they’re going to do in terms of those symptoms.”

A Fluffy Friend Can Chase Stress Away, Jessica Mayfield

The Scope

With final exams looming, VCU students could play with friendly dogs at “Paws for Stress” events held by the Center for Human-Animal Interaction and University Counseling services. CHAI is studying whether interacting with therapy dogs really can lower your stress levels.

International Health Workers Spend Year At Vcu, Vanessa Gleiser

The Scope

Samuel Hanu, a psychiatric nurse from Ghana, is among a dozen health professionals from throughout the world spending the year at VCU as part of the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program. He is researching how the United States treats substance abuse and mental illness.

Exploring Links Between Diabetes And Depression, Kirby Farineau

The Scope

Some people may think mental health and physical health are completely unrelated, but in fact, they are closely linked, says Dr. Briana Mezuk, a researcher and professor at VCU. She recently received a grant from the C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research at VCU to study the relationship between diabetes and depression.

Pine Trees May Shed Light On Global Warming, Nicole Nelson

The Scope

VCU graduate student Constance Bolte has been conducting research at “the intersection of ecology and evolution,” focusing on three species of pine trees: the loblolly, the pitch pine and the table mountain pine. Using temperature and precipitation data, Bolte has been forecasting and “hindcasting” the species’ distribution across North America.

Researchers Head South To Study Mangroves And Birds, Joe Johnson

The Scope

For two weeks in January, VCU researchers Cathy Viverette and Edward Crawford will accompany 18 students to Panama, where they will study mangrove conservation and avian field ecology.

Vaginal Probiotic May Help In Pregnancy, Ryan Carstons

The Scope

Consuming probiotics is a healthy fad that nutritionists and doctors are encouraging; eat enough, and your digestion will improve. However, millions of “good” bacteria live in us and perform healthy functions. Women, for example, have probiotics that originate in the vaginal canal. One particular kind of bacteria there may provide benefits during pregnancy.

E-Cigarettes May Be A Clue At Crime Scenes, Jessica Mayfield

The Scope

You’ve probably seen the show “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” and spinoffs like “CSI: Miami.” VCU researchers could provide the inspiration for a new drama: “CSI: Vaping” – about how e-cigarettes could be critical clues in solving crimes.

A Wonder Drug Against Cancer, Hiv And Other Diseases?, Ryan Carstons

The Scope

VCU researchers are experimenting with a new drug that targets the chaperone proteins that protect cancer cells. The drug AR-12 has the potential to fight off not only cancer but also Ebola, Zika and the human immunodeficiency virus, as well as bacterial infections.

Reimagining Your Rx, Rebecca Jones

The Scope

Your future prescriptions might be manufactured in a portable factory – or even be produced by your body itself. Dr. Thomas Roper, director of pharmaceutical engineering in VCU’s Department of Chemical & Life Science Engineering, says the goal is to shrink the environmental and industrial footprint of the drug manufacturing process while expanding global access to medicines.

Songbird’S Winter Grounds Face Environmental Threats, Kirby Farineau

The Scope

VCU graduate biology student Jessica Reese has documented the environmental threats facing the prothonotary warbler. Development has depleted the mangrove forests of Panama and Colombia where these gray and yellow songbirds spend the winter months.

Method May Revolutionize Athletic Training, Shawn Scornaienchi

The Scope

Speed is the key to success in track, football and most other sports. Researchers at VCU have found that speed is crucial to success in weight room training as well. They are advocating a new method called velocity-based training, which measures how fast an athlete can lift weights.

Researcher Studies Nervous System Development, Paige Bellamy

The Scope

Ashley Purdy, who recently finished a master’s degree in biology at VCU and is now pursuing her Ph.D., is studying nerve cells in zebrafish in hopes of unlocking secrets about the human nervous system. The research could shed light on how neurodevelopmental disorders like multiple sclerosis or epilepsy occur.

Why Can’T They All Be Best In Class?, Malik Hall

The Scope

Researchers at VCU and the University of Florida are developing positive-reinforcement intervention techniques to address problem behavior that may be more prevalent among schoolchildren from low-income homes. The research has an appropriate name: Best in Class.

Perseverance Pays Off For Ph.D. Student, Jacob Jaminet

The Scope

Lauren Griggs, a Ph.D. student in biomedical engineering, is working to increase the number of women and minorities entering the STEM disciplines – science, technology, engineering and mathematics. She was recently awarded VCU’s Susan E. Kennedy Award, which recognizes graduate students who are advancing the presence of women in education.

Commercial Drone Research Takes Off At Vcu, Joe Forcier

The Scope

As microprocessors and mounted cameras have become smaller, unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly known as drones, have skyrocketed in popularity. But UAVs aren’t just child’s play. Researchers at VCU say the devices could be used in a range of beneficial ways, from inspecting bridges and searching for lost hikers to shooting documentaries and surveying land.

Demanding Class Spurs Student To Stanford, Jacob Jaminet

The Scope

Hearing that Nick Rodriguez goes to Stanford, you probably wouldn’t guess that he had dropped out of high school and didn’t get the best grades as an undergrad at VCU. Rodriguez graduated from VCU last spring with a degree in bioinformatics. He is pursuing a Ph.D. in biomedical informatics at Stanford University. He says his interest in biomedical research stemmed from the VCU course Molecular Biology Through Discovery.

Rice Center Focuses On Restoring Wetlands, Chris Rubis

The Scope

Halfway between Richmond and Williamsburg, where Kimages Creek flows into the James River, lies the Inger and Walter Rice Center for Environmental Life Sciences. A restoration project aims to return the area to its original state as a wetland. The project began by removing a dam that had been blocking the flow of Kimages Creek since 1927.

Various Tests Induce, Then Measure, Stress, Malik Hall

The Scope

We all experience stress in some shape or form, especially university students facing final exams and graduating seniors under pressure to find a job. Now these nerve-wracking situations are being replicated in a lab – but this isn’t as sadistic as it may sound.

How A Baby’S Brief Life Had A ‘Positive Impact’, Shawn Scornaienchi

The Scope

Since her son’s death, Sarah Gray has become one of the nation’s leading advocates for organ donations. She has written a memoir, A Life Everlasting: The Extraordinary Story of One Boy’s Gift to Medical Science, and given an inspiring TED Talk that has been viewed nearly 1.4 million times.