Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

How Curriculum Developers Cognitive Theories Influence Curriculum Development, Andrew Boudreaux, Andy Elby

Physics & Astronomy

[This paper is part of the Focused Collection on Curriculum Development: Theory into Design.] When we examined student responses to questions about the direction of the static friction force in various situations, we both had strong ideas about how to write a tutorial to promote deeper understanding. But our ideas were quite different. In this theoretical paper, we present the two contrasting tutorials and show how their differences can be traced to different theoretical orientations toward cognition and learning. We do not claim that one tutorial—or the theoretical framework loosely associated with it—is superior. Instead, we hope to illustrate two …

Designing Research-Based Instructional Materials That Leverage Dual-Process Theories Of Reasoning: Insights From Testing One Specific, Theory-Driven Intervention, Mila Kryjevskaia, Mackenzie R. Stetzer, Beth A. Lindsey, Alistair Mcinerny, Paula R. L. Heron, Andrew Boudreaux

Physics & Astronomy

[This paper is part of the Focused Collection on Curriculum Development: Theory into Design.] Research in physics education has contributed substantively to improvements in the learning and teaching of university physics by informing the development of research-based instructional materials for physics courses. Reports on the design of these materials have tended to focus on overall improvements in student performance, while the role of theory in informing the development, refinement, and assessment of the materials is often not clearly articulated. In this article, we illustrate how dual-process theories of reasoning and decision making have guided the ongoing development, testing, and analysis …

Incorporating Climate Change Predictions In Ecological Risk Assessment: A Bayesian Network Relative Risk Model For Chinook Salmon In The Skagit River Watershed, Eric J. Lawrence

Institute of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry Publications

Climate change is expected to have widespread impacts on future ecosystem services in the Puget Sound and around the world. It is important that climate change be included in ecological risk assessment so that changing climate variables and potential interactive effects with chemical stressors can be taken into account. In this research, I focused on the question of how water temperature changes generated by climate change interact with organophosphate pesticide toxicity to affect Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) population size in the Skagit River, WA. To answer this question, I conducted an ecological risk assessment using the Bayesian network relative risk …

Can Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Protect Rubus Idaeus From The Effects Of Soil-Borne Disease And Parasitic Nematodes?, Erika J. Whitney

Institute of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry Publications

Chemical controls for agricultural pests and diseases can have detrimental effects on human health and the environment. One alternative is to introduce soil microbes, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), that can improve crop resilience to pests and pathogens. While many plants form symbioses with AMF, not all crops benefit from inoculation. We conducted three studies that questioned the effect of AMF from various sources on R. idaeus growth and resilience to pests/pathogens. First, in a small observational study, we investigated whether AMF colonization of raspberry roots covaried with stand vigor. In two subsequent greenhouse experiments, we asked (1) if …

The Political Economy Of Nuclear Energy: Why There Is Not Broad Public Support For Nuclear Policy & Why There Should Be, Willa Grace Mei Lee

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

In this paper, I examine how the nuclear incidents at Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima impacted public support for nuclear energy in the United States. Particularly, I look at the ways the media has influenced public perception, and thus, nuclear policy. I also consider the economic arguments for and against using nuclear power and highlight the effects of decommissioning nuclear fleets as was seen in the aftermath of the major nuclear incidents. Lastly, I discuss how the public can become better informed on nuclear energy.

Ultimately, the three major nuclear incidents spurred anti-nuclear sentiment, which shut down nuclear plants, …

Characterizing The Behavior Of Mutated Proteins With Emcap: The Energy Minimization Curve Analysis Pipeline, Matthew Lee, Bodi Van Roy, Filip Jagodzinski

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Studies of protein mutants in wet laboratory experiments are expensive and time consuming. Computational experiments that simulate the motions of protein with amino acid substitutions can complement wet lab experiments for studying the effects of mutations. In this work we present a computational pipeline that performs exhaustive single-point amino acid substitutions in silico. We perform energy minimization as part of molecular dynamics (MD) of our generated mutant proteins, and the wild type, and log the energy potentials for each step of the simulations. We motivate several metrics that rely on the energy minimization curves of the wild type and mutant, …

Seasonal Differences In The Optical Properties Of Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter At Hoag’S Pond, Wa, Kimberly Wallace

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays an important role in carbon cycling in lakes and ponds. DOM sources may vary with elevation due to vegetation differences. To examine this, optical properties of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) were investigated between a season with heavy rainfall (wet season) and a season without much rainfall (dry season) in Hoag’s Pond, Washington, USA. This is the first study of CDOM optical properties on Hoag’s pond. Data shows that there is an increase of CDOM in Hoag’s Pond during wet season as compared to dry. Three-dimensional fluorescence excitation-emission matrices (EEM’s) showed that Hoag’s Pond contains …

Toward A Framework For The Natures Of Proportional Reasoning In Introductory Physics, Andrew Boudreaux, Stephen E. Kanim, Alexis Olsho, Suzanne W. Brahmia, Charlotte Zimmerman, Trevor I. Smith

Physics & Astronomy

We present a set of modes of reasoning about ratio and proportion as a means of operationalizing expert practice in physics. These modes, or natures of proportional reasoning, stem from consideration of how physicists reason in context and are informed by prior work in physics and mathematics education. We frame the natures as the core of an emerging framework for proportional reasoning in introductory physics, that will categorize the uses of proportional reasoning in introductory physics contexts, and provide guidance for the development of reliable assessments. We share results from preliminary assessment items indicating that university physics students have difficulty …

Evaluating Impacts Of Nanopesticides And Microplastics In An Agricultural Rhizosphere, Emma Nordlund, Manuel Montaño

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

The goal of this project was to develop a methodology for assessing the behavior and effects of two emerging contaminants in an agricultural environment. A greenhouse experiment was conducted using corn as a model organism with Kocide-3000-O and polyester microfibers as treatments. Additional benchtop experiments were carried out to evaluate the bioavailability and other chemical properties of the microfibers and nanopesticide.

Incorporating Characteristics Of Gene Drive Engineered Ae. Aegypti As Methods To Reduce Dengue And Zika Virus Into The Bayesian Network – Relativ Esian Network – Relative Risk Model, Using P E Risk Model, Using Ponce, Puer Once, Puerto Rico As A Case Study, Steven R. Eikenbary

Institute of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry Publications

This study proposes the use of the Bayesian network relative risk model (BN-RRM) to estimate the risk associated with the release of gene drives as vectors to control disease, using Ponce, Puerto Rico as a case study. Bayesian networks are an appropriate risk assessment tool for quantitatively and probabilistically examining complex systems involving multiple stressors acting on multiple endpoints in a wide variety of situations. The emerging field of synthetic biology has the capacity to drastically alter ecological systems with the use of gene drive engineered organisms as a method to alter population dynamics. The purpose of the release of …

San Francisco Delta Risk Assessment Year 1 Report, Wayne G. Landis, Steven R. Eikenbary, Ethan A. Brown, Colter P. Lemons, Emma E. Sharpe, April J. Markiewicz

IETC Publications

The Relative Contributions of Contaminants to Environmental Risk in the Upper San Francisco Estuary: Progress Report Year 1

Prepared for: The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

Prepared by: Wayne G. Landis, Steven R. Eikenbary, Ethan A. Brown, Colter P. Lemons, Emma E. Sharpe, and April J. Markiewicz

Institute of Environmental Toxicology, Huxley College of the Environment

Western Washington University

Bellingham, WA 98225

June 30, 2020

San Francisco Delta Risk Assessment Year 1 Report Appendices, Wayne G. Landis, Steven R. Eikenbary, Ethan A. Brown, Colter P. Lemons, Emma E. Sharpe, April J. Markiewicz

IETC Publications

The Relative Contributions of Contaminants to Environmental Risk in the Upper San Francisco Estuary: Progress Report Year 1: Appendices

Prepared for: The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

Prepared by: Wayne G. Landis, Steven R. Eikenbary, Ethan A. Brown, Colter P. Lemons, Emma E. Sharpe, and April J. Markiewicz

Institute of Environmental Toxicology, Huxley College of the Environment

Western Washington University

Bellingham, WA 98225

June 30, 2020

San Francisco Delta Risk Assessment Year 1 Report & Appendices, Wayne G. Landis, Steven R. Eikenbary, Ethan A. Brown, Colter P. Lemons, Emma E. Sharpe, April J. Markiewicz

IETC Publications

The Relative Contributions of Contaminants to Environmental Risk in the Upper San Francisco Estuary: Progress Report Year 1 and Appendices

Prepared for: The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

Prepared by: Wayne G. Landis, Steven R. Eikenbary, Ethan A. Brown, Colter P. Lemons, Emma E. Sharpe, and April J. Markiewicz

Institute of Environmental Toxicology, Huxley College of the Environment

Western Washington University

Bellingham, WA 98225

June 30, 2020

Quantification And Characterization Of Nanoparticulate Zinc In An Urban Watershed, Shaun Bevers, Manuel David Montaño, Laya Rybicki, Thilo Hofmann, Frank Von Der Kammer, James F. Ranville

Environmental Sciences Faculty and Staff Publications

The recent expansion in the use of nanomaterials in consumer and industrial applications has led to a growing concern over their behavior, fate, and impacts in environmental systems. However, engineered nanoparticles comprise only a small fraction of the total nanoparticle mass in aquatic systems. Human activities, particularly in urban watersheds, are increasing the population of incidental nanoparticles and are likely altering the cycling of more abundant natural nanoparticles. Accurate detection, quantification, characterization, and tracking of these different populations is important for assessing both the ecological risks of anthropogenic particles, and their impact on environmental health. The urban portion of the …

Investigating Transfer Of Energy Concepts Learned In Physics To Biology Contexts, Brittany Mureno, Eric Mckenzie

Scholars Week

Problem solving interviews were used to investigate student understanding of energy concepts in a biology course for preservice K-8 teachers. Interview subjects constructed an energy-based explanation for a biology scenario. Subjects had previously taken a physics course in which an energy-based model for interactions had been developed. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed to identify common themes in student reasoning. These themes describe discipline-specific understanding, but also cut across disciplines, providing insight into how learners make sense of energy as a unifying concept.

The Past Is The Key To The Present: Reconstructing Changes In Seasonal Precipitation Triggered By Ancient Climate Change, William Ward

Scholars Week

Plant biomarkers have grown in use for defining paleoclimates in the geologic record, especially during major climate change events. Research utilizing these biomarkers often looks at leaf waxes within preserved organic matter in the rock record. These waxes are resilient to decomposition and thus are invaluable to paleoclimate reconstruction. Specifically, changes in the composition of hydrogen isotopes (D/H) in leaf wax lipids (n-alkanes and fatty acids) reflect changes in precipitation and can be used to model variability in the hydrologic cycle during major climate change events, such as abrupt global warming events (e.g. hyperthermals). The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), about …

Modeling Park Visitation Using Transformations Of Distance-Type Predictor Variables With Lasso, Ashley Hall

Scholars Week

We examine three common transformations (identity, fourth-root, and log) to determine the most suitable transformation for evaluating the importance of certain common features surrounding the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area (TCMA) city parks on park visitation. The distances between these features and city parks are approximately exponentially distributed by noting that their relative locations closely follow the spatial Poisson process. Because a fourth-root transformation improves the normality of exponential random variables, we verify that the fourth-root transformation is considered best by comparing correlation coefficients of the fourth-rooted data to the untransformed and log-transformed data via simulation. Using the TCMA city parks …

Calibration Optimization Of A Stream Temperature Model Applied To The Nooksack River, Ian Edgar

Scholars Week

The River Basin Model (RBM) is used to assess how stream temperatures will change in the Nooksack River due to warming climates by tracking heat exchanges along stream segments. Before modeling forecasted climate scenarios, I first calibrated the model to observed historical stream temperatures. The calibration of the RBM to a stream network involves the adjustment of eleven different variables until the simulated temperatures match observed historical stream temperatures. Because the manual process of calibrating the model is extremely time consuming, I developed a Python script to converge on the optimal variables required for the RBM calibration. The script adjusts …

Microplastic Monitoring In Richardsonius Balteatus From Ross Lake, Wa, Sarah Vanlandingham, Anne Fuenzalida

Scholars Week

Recent work has shown that microplastics are present in glaciers. This is a concern for water bodies such as Ross Lake (WA) where glacier runoff may transport the microplastics into the watershed and be available to aquatic organisms. Currently there is no evaluation of how organism storage methods may impact microplastic recovery. In this study microplastic type and color in whole body Richardsonius balteatus (redside shiners) from Ross Lake were counted. Fish were collected from Ross Lake on July 6th, 2019. Approximately half of the samples were stored in ethanol and the remainder on ice. Characteristics including color and type …

Submonolayer Nucleation In Ultrathin Liquid Films: Scaling Properties And The Effects Of The Critical Nucleus Size, Haley Doran

Scholars Week

Scaling phenomena during submonolayer thin-film formation and growth has been a subject of interest for several decades, motivated in part by its relevance to understanding deposition and growth of technologically-important electrode and semiconductor materials. There are several models that effectively describe various scaling behaviors in regimes where the critical island size i* is very small (typically i* < 4 monomers). These models capture many essential properties of of submonolayer nucleation and growth in vacuum-deposited films quite well, however systems with large i* values such as those that occur during solution-phase nucleation remain unexplored due to the high computational cost of traditional approaches. Such systems are of particular interest for the fundamental understanding of the physics behind the growth of large, low-defect organic crystals via organic-vapor-liquid-solid deposition, which have novel semiconductor applications. Here we discuss a multiscale model that combines traditional mean field and classical nucleation theory approaches with a self-consistent treatment of i*, stochastic treatment of nucleation, and analytically calculated monomer diffusion via the 2D diffusion equation. This approach allows us to model large i* systems and compare scaling patterns to those of small i* systems.

Modeling Adsorption Of Molecular Semiconductors On An Ionic Substrate: Ptcda And Cupc On Nacl, Julia Thorpe

Scholars Week

Molecular adsorption can be accurately studied using computational chemistry methods. Experimental results suggest that molecular geometry and energies can be influenced by the presence of thin film substrates as well as surrounding molecules. In our study, Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Molecular Mechanics (MM) are used to model the configurations of the organic semiconducting materials, Perylene Tetracarboxylic Dianhydride, C24H8O6 (PTCDA), and Copper Phthalocyanine, C34H16CuN8 (CuPc), as adsorbed on single and double layer NaCl substrates of various dimensions and charge settings. After geometry and charge optimization of the molecules using DFT, the molecular geometries are optimized under different environments using computational …

Quantifying Extinction Risk In Commercial Marine Species, Rondi Nordal

Scholars Week

The sustainability of some species is at risk as a result of anthropogenic influences such as climate change and harvest. This study focused on the combined role of economic and ecological factors that can lead to overharvesting of commercial marine species and aimed to understand the relationship between ecological extinction risk, biological productivity, and economic value. We used existing economic, ecological, and extinction risk data and compiled it for use in the analysis. We focused on maximum sustainable yield as an indicator of productivity, economic data that indicated the landed value of a species, and International Union for the Conservation …

Presence Of Microplastics In Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, And Trichoptera Of North Cascades National Park, Madison Pongon, Amy Owen

Scholars Week

The presence of microplastics in glaciers has led to concern for freshwater systems connected to the glaciers. In areas such as the North Cascades (WA), glacier runoff could transport these microplastics into the watershed and into organisms in the streams. Benthic macroinvertebrates are good indicators of water quality because they may be sensitive to pollution. Their relatively low status on the freshwater food chain suggests the possibility for accumulated microplastics in macroinvertebrates to be a source of microplastics to predators, proving a hazard to the health of freshwater ecosystems. Samples analyzed in this study were Emphemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Tricoptera collected …

Vikingbot: The Starcraft Artificial Intelligence, Tyler Barger, Daniel Peterson

Scholars Week

VikingBot is an automated AI that plays StarCraft by using a combination of machine learning and artificial intelligence. High level strategies are planned using the Brown-UMBC Reinforcement Learning and Planning (BURLAP), library which implements planning algorithms and provides interfaces for defining a domain and models of that domain for planning. For the planning, we used the BURLAP implementation of the sparse sampling algorithm because the time complexity is independent of the size of the state space, and we have to plan quickly in real time. SARSA reinforcement learning is used for a machine learning model that controls combat units. Various …

Uniform Dispersion Of Nanoparticles In Pmma Waveguides For Luminescent Solar Concentrators, Daniel Korus

Scholars Week

With the rise of emissions-related climate change, novel renewable energy sources must be realized. At the same time, evolution of the electric distribution grid away from traditionally large, centralized producers toward smaller, decentralized sources drives the need for next generation technologies that can be more readily integrated into the built environment. Nanocrystal (NC)-doped luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) are waveguides that absorb diffuse and direct broadband sunlight across their surface and direct narrow-bandwidth, high-brightness light to their edges, for conversion into electricity by coupled, bandgap-matched, photovoltaic (PV) cells. LSCs are insensitive to incident light orientation, partial shading, and can be integrated …

Assessing The Legacy Of Large Woody Debris As Coastal Protection In Bc And Washington, Jessica Wilson

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference

Large Woody Debris (LWD) accumulates naturally in the coastal environment (Brennan et al., 2009; Sass, 2009) and is thought to be a vital component of a diverse coastal habitat ( Rich et al., 2014). Decreasing natural coverage of LWD (Heathfield & Walker, 2011) and increasing demand for environmentally sensitive coastal protection techniques has led to the promotion of LWD as a viable nature-based method of shoreline protection (e.g. Johannessen et al., 2014; Stewardship Centre for BC, 2016; Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 2016). However, there is currently no peer-reviewed literature assessing the efficacy of coastal protection using LWD. This …

Northern Kelp Crab (Pugettia Producta) Feeding Preferences - Kelp Crabs Eat Kelp, And Lots Else?, Katie Dobkowski

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference

Bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) is an important source of both habitat and primary production in the Salish Sea and appears to be in decline in certain areas. Northern Kelp Crabs (Pugettia producta) are large crustacean consumers that preferentially consume N. luetkeana over other local seaweed species in laboratory feeding trials and exert some level of top-down control on kelp populations in the field. We have observed differences in kelp crab density around the Salish Sea and noted P. producta living on invasive wireweed (Sargassum muticum) as well as on kelp and in other habitats. We used a combination of laboratory …

Strategizing For Workplace Culture: Developing And Introducing A Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Road Map, Melissa Watkinson

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference

Organizations are familiar with developing a strategic plan to focus their work on achieving their mission and vision. A diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) road map, aligned with organizational values of DEI, is a strategic plan that defines DEI in your work: where you are starting, where you want to end up, and how you are going to get there. Washington Sea Grant (WSG) has developed a 10-year road map that includes 13 ambitious, but achievable goals that are aligned with tangible strategies and expected outcomes. The road map goals range in specificity; examples include “WSG is welcome and inclusive” …

A Journey, Not A Destination: An Agency Approach To Incorporate Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, And Justice, Alexandra Doty

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference

Puget Sound environmental recovery is a complex, wicked problem, including both ecosystem and human and cultural wellbeing. The Puget Sound Partnership (Partnership) is a small Washington State agency that serves as a backbone organization guiding Puget Sound recovery, coordinating and collaborating with hundreds of partner organizations to accelerate recovery of Puget Sound. Our partner organizations include state and federal agencies, tribes, cities, counties, non-profits, academic institutions, special purpose districts, and many others. In 2018, the Partnership began a journey to better enable and foster diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice within the agency itself, as well as within the Puget Sound …

Begin At The Beginning: Steps, Stumbles And Learnings On The Path To Understanding And Implementing Dei Practices In Regional Engo., Christianne Wilhelmson

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference

In 2018, Georgia Strait Alliance made the decision to begin the journey of addressing the complex issue of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in our organization, one that like many environmental groups in BC lacks diversity in its staff and board. We prioritized this as we recognized there is an inherent risk that our work and our organization could become irrelevant if we don’t represent the communities we claim to serve. In addition to diversity, we also needed to address the need to deepen our relationships with indigenous communities in the Georgia Strait region and reflect those relationships in our …