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Characterization Of An Ambe Tagged Neutron Source For A 30-Ton Wbls Detector, Rylee Grover Aug 2026

Characterization Of An Ambe Tagged Neutron Source For A 30-Ton Wbls Detector, Rylee Grover

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Understanding the detection capabilities of water-based liquid scintillator (WbLS) is critical for its deployment in next-generation neutrino detectors such as THEIA and Phase II of the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE). This study focuses on the characterization and alignment testing of an Americium-Beryllium (AmBe) radioactive neutron source. We plan to dope the 30-ton WbLS detector at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) with Gadolinium (Gd) to improve neutron detection capabilities. This will be tested by the implementation of an AmBe source as a calibration metric. The AmBe source emits neutrons coincident with a 4.4 MeV gamma ray, making it possible to perform …


Catalyst: A Unified Framework For Orbital Debris Risk, Conjunction Analysis, And Space Policy, Tyler Barr Aug 2026

Catalyst: A Unified Framework For Orbital Debris Risk, Conjunction Analysis, And Space Policy, Tyler Barr

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Catalyst is an analyst grade mission console and offline simulation service that operationalizes the Embry Riddle MIT Orbital Capacity Assessment Toolbox Monte Carlo (E-MOCAT-MC) for Space Situational Awareness (SSA) aligned assessment, connecting scenario assumptions to time tagged events, quantitative stability indicators, and evidence preserving exports. E-MOCAT-MC serves as the authoritative generator of seeded scenario runs under explicit configuration control, ingesting locally served Two Line Element sets (TLEs) and persisting each run as a structured record containing configuration data, stochastic seeds, event logs, derived metrics, and replayable artifacts for deterministic analysis. Unlike systems that primarily visualize TLEs and object tracks, Catalyst …


Ai-Based Pilot Fatigue Monitoring For Enhanced Aviation Safety, Joshua Henderson, Alexander Landau, Braxton Moor, Jacky Yang, Caleb Difabio Aug 2026

Ai-Based Pilot Fatigue Monitoring For Enhanced Aviation Safety, Joshua Henderson, Alexander Landau, Braxton Moor, Jacky Yang, Caleb Difabio

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Pilot fatigue remains a persistent systemic operational hazard in commercial aviation because it can degrade attention, reaction time, decision-making, and crew coordination during safety-critical phases of flight. Although regulatory duty-time limits and Fatigue Risk Management Systems provide baseline protections, these controls rely heavily on voluntary reporting and post-event analysis, which may fail to detect fatigue in real time. The purpose of this project was to design and evaluate an artificial intelligence-enabled fatigue monitoring concept intended to reduce undetected pilot fatigue risk within the airline Safety Management System framework. The study applied a structured research approach including a literature review to …


Human Factors Challenges In Automated Flight Operations, Jorge Ivan Gonzalez Rivera, Zoe Guyette, Emma Hatten, Katie Huynh, Benjamin Marsh Aug 2026

Human Factors Challenges In Automated Flight Operations, Jorge Ivan Gonzalez Rivera, Zoe Guyette, Emma Hatten, Katie Huynh, Benjamin Marsh

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Automation complacency, a critical aviation hazard, is commonly seen amongst flight crews in high-automation commercial flight decks. This issue occurs when over-reliance on automated systems leads to a decline in manual flying expertise and situational awareness, posing a severe risk of loss of control in-flight (LOC-I) and catastrophic accidents. To bridge the safety gap between current operational demands for efficiency and the regulatory requirement for pilot proficiency, this study proposes the Manual Flight Compliance and Monitoring System (MFCMS). This solution integrates engineering and administrative controls to reduce automation-related risks by mandating 15 minutes of manual flight per hour during cruise …


Lightweight Uav-To-Uav Detection And Tracking For Advanced Air Mobility Applications, Taylor Hostetter Aug 2026

Lightweight Uav-To-Uav Detection And Tracking For Advanced Air Mobility Applications, Taylor Hostetter

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Lightweight UAV-to-UAV Detection and Tracking for Advanced Air Mobility Applications addresses the significant challenge of reliable UAV-to-UAV detection on resource-constrained platforms, particularly within Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) environments where dense, low-altitude airspace requires robust detect-and-avoid capabilities. This work presents the development and experimental evaluation of a lightweight detection and tracking framework for autonomous detect-and-avoid applications. The approach is designed to support real-time onboard operation in multi-vehicle environments characteristic of emerging AAM systems. The proposed framework integrates optical and LiDAR sensing with a low-complexity machine learning decision-support layer that reduces false detections without replacing the underlying control-oriented detection pipeline. This design …


Project Minerva, Lena Wang, Gannon English, Ethan Yemm, Gabrielle Guirguis, Jose Murphy Aug 2026

Project Minerva, Lena Wang, Gannon English, Ethan Yemm, Gabrielle Guirguis, Jose Murphy

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Project Minerva is a multidisciplinary engineering initiative at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) dedicated to the design, integration, and deployment of high-altitude balloon (HAB) systems for stratospheric research and aerospace hardware validation. The project challenges student researchers to engineer flight-ready payloads capable of maintaining structural and electronic integrity in extreme temperatures and low-pressure environments in the stratosphere. Typically utilizing 600g latex balloons filled with helium, Project Minerva missions aim to achieve altitudes exceeding 22,000 meters to facilitate vertical atmospheric profiling of variables such as CO₂ concentration, humidity, temperature, and pressure. Beyond its technical objectives, the project serves as a professional training …


Beyond Walls And Wires: The Supreme Court’S Recognition Of Digital Privacy Under The Fourth Amendment, Joanna Morris Aug 2026

Beyond Walls And Wires: The Supreme Court’S Recognition Of Digital Privacy Under The Fourth Amendment, Joanna Morris

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The Founding Fathers included the Fourth Amendment in the Bill of Rights to protect individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures and their right to privacy. However, rapid advances in modern digital technology have challenged traditional definitions of privacy, raising constitutional questions about digital privacy rights. Smartphones and location tracking collects personal information that does not fit neatly within pre-digital era Fourth Amendment doctrines. This research examines how the United States Supreme Court has adapted interpretations of the Fourth Amendment to address digital privacy concerns, focusing on the tensions between Fourth Amendment doctrines and technology that enables extensive government access to …


Multimodal Interpretation Of Pilot–Controller Communications For Runway Safety Assurance And Enhanced Atc Situational Awareness., Chaebin Song, Juin Park Aug 2026

Multimodal Interpretation Of Pilot–Controller Communications For Runway Safety Assurance And Enhanced Atc Situational Awareness., Chaebin Song, Juin Park

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Recent runway safety events have highlighted the importance of accurate and timely interpretation of pilot–controller communications, especially in complex airport environments where aircraft and ground vehicles interact on or near active movement areas. In light of the recent LaGuardia Airport collision, which has drawn attention to communication, coordination, and surface safety challenges, this project investigates how multimodal data can support air traffic controllers’ situational awareness and safety assurance. This study develops an in-progress framework that combines Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) of pilot–controller radio communications with ADS-B trajectory data to improve interpretation of operational intent and cross-check communications against observed aircraft …


System And Method For Detecting Subsurface Voids Using Controlled Heat Addition, Chase Nilsson Aug 2026

System And Method For Detecting Subsurface Voids Using Controlled Heat Addition, Chase Nilsson

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This study evaluates controlled heat addition in a confined space to estimate enclosed volumes for irregularly shaped spaces. The intent is to detect hidden voids in cave environments. Conventional methods for identifying such voids are often costly, logistically difficult, and limited in accuracy. Preliminary experiments were conducted with a controlled heat source, a temporary thermal barrier to isolate the test chamber, and simple temperature sensors. Temperatures were recorded for the pre-test baseline, the heating interval, followed by a cooling period. The thermal response showed clear engineering trends that warrant further exploration and modeling. Preliminary results indicate that transient temperature changes …


A Cyber-Physical Flight Simulation Platform For Real-Time Visualization Of Aircraft Dynamics And Sensor-Based Control, Gabriel Martinez, Michael Poinsett Aug 2026

A Cyber-Physical Flight Simulation Platform For Real-Time Visualization Of Aircraft Dynamics And Sensor-Based Control, Gabriel Martinez, Michael Poinsett

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Understanding aircraft dynamics through traditional simulations can be limiting, as results are often confined to screen-based visualization. This project aims to enhance learning and experimentation by creating a system where aircraft motion can be both simulated and physically observed in real time. The primary objective is to develop a cyber-physical flight simulation platform that links mathematical models with physical hardware. The system is designed to (1) represent aircraft dynamic behavior through real-time motion and (2) provide a foundation for integrating sensors and control strategies for responsive flight behavior. The platform combines aircraft dynamic models with a hardware interface capable of …


Experimental Cyber-Physical Platform For Aircraft Dynamic Response Across Subsonic To Hypersonic Regimes, Michael Poinsett, Gabriel Martinez Aug 2026

Experimental Cyber-Physical Platform For Aircraft Dynamic Response Across Subsonic To Hypersonic Regimes, Michael Poinsett, Gabriel Martinez

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Understanding how aircraft behavior changes across different flight regimes is essential for modern aerospace design, yet it is often limited to theoretical or purely computational analysis. This project aims to provide an experimental approach to visualize and study these dynamic changes in a more intuitive and practical way. The primary objective is to develop an experimental cyber-physical platform capable of representing aircraft dynamic response across a wide range of flight conditions, from subsonic to hypersonic regimes. The system is designed to (1) analyze how key dynamic parameters vary with changing conditions and (2) provide a physical representation of these effects …


Project Adam: Hybrid Microturbine Power & Propulsion System, Owen Maute, Daniil Em, Zayne Sotolongo, Audrey Luu, Austin Bruce, Tal Senderovitz Aug 2026

Project Adam: Hybrid Microturbine Power & Propulsion System, Owen Maute, Daniil Em, Zayne Sotolongo, Audrey Luu, Austin Bruce, Tal Senderovitz

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This work presents a hybrid microturbine power and propulsion system designed to address the limitations of conventional battery-powered unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), particularly in high-speed and high-endurance applications. Current UAV platforms are constrained by the relatively low energy density of lithium-based batteries (1 MJ/kg) compared to hydrocarbon fuels such as jet fuel (43 MJ/kg), limiting their ability to achieve both long range and high velocity simultaneously. This project explores a compact, integrated system that leverages a microturbine to provide both thrust and onboard electrical power using commercially available components. The proposed system couples a COTS microturbine with a high-speed electric …


Radaround: A Field-Expedient Direction Finder For Contested Iot Sensing & Em Situational Awareness, Owen Maute, Blake Roberts Aug 2026

Radaround: A Field-Expedient Direction Finder For Contested Iot Sensing & Em Situational Awareness, Owen Maute, Blake Roberts

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This paper presents RadAround, a passive 2-D direction-finding system designed for adversarial IoT sensing in contested environments. Using mechanically steered narrowbeam antennas and field-deployable SCADA software, it generates high-resolution electromagnetic (EM) heatmaps using low-cost COTS or 3D-printed components. The microcontroller-deployable SCADA coordinates antenna positioning and SDR sampling in real time for resilient, on-site operation. Its modular design enables rapid adaptation for applications such as EMC testing in disaster-response deployments, battlefield spectrum monitoring, electronic intrusion detection, and tactical EM situational awareness (EMSA). Experiments show RadAround detecting computing machinery through walls, assessing utilization, and pinpointing EM interference (EMI) leakage sources from Faraday …


Applying The Hfacs Framework: A Case Study Of Air Florida Flight 90, Ashley Perez-Galvan, Cenk Altinkum, Ryan Hunt Aug 2026

Applying The Hfacs Framework: A Case Study Of Air Florida Flight 90, Ashley Perez-Galvan, Cenk Altinkum, Ryan Hunt

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Applying the HFACS Framework: A Case Study of Air Florida Flight 90 Abstract   This study applies the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS), a widely used safety framework for identifying human and organizational contributors to accidents to examine the crash of Air Florida Flight 90 crash on January 13, 1982. The accident occurred shortly after takeoff from Washington National Airport during severe winter weather, when the aircraft failed to gain sufficient lift and impacted a bridge before entering the Potomac River.   The goal this analysis is to understand how multiple layers of human and organizational factors contributed to this …


The Impact Of Environmental Contributing Factors In Spatial Disorientation And Non-Spatial Disorientation Related General Aviation Accidents, Victoria Cornaro, Molly Mersinger Aug 2026

The Impact Of Environmental Contributing Factors In Spatial Disorientation And Non-Spatial Disorientation Related General Aviation Accidents, Victoria Cornaro, Molly Mersinger

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The Impact of Environmental Contributing Factors in Spatial Disorientation and Non-Spatial Disorientation Related General Aviation Accidents   Spatial disorientation (SD) is an inherent risk of flying and with a high risk of resulting in a fatal accident (Gibbs et al, 2011). SD related accidents occur when a pilot’s perception of the aircraft altitude, position, or relative motion conflict with reality (Benson, 1999). SD accidents are significantly more likely to result in a fatality than non-SD cases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of different contributing factors on SD and non-SD general aviation accidents. We used the NTSB …


Improving Multi-Agent Swarm Collision Avoidance Using Reciprocal Velocity Obstacles, Nick Wilson Aug 2026

Improving Multi-Agent Swarm Collision Avoidance Using Reciprocal Velocity Obstacles, Nick Wilson

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

As multi-agent systems grow increasingly complex, physical robotic swarms are essential to bridge the gap between limited software simulations and real-world application. The BID4R STARS swarm provides a physical platform for testing diverse algorithms, yet its success relies heavily on fundamental agent capabilities—most notably, obstacle avoidance. Preventing intra-swarm collisions is critical to avoid hardware damage and experimental disruption. To address this challenge, this project implements the Reciprocal Velocity Obstacles (RVO) algorithm onto the STARS swarm. While standard collision avoidance algorithms often overcorrect and induce oscillatory agent movement, RVO factors in the velocity and anticipated responses of all agents involved in …


Ai-Driven Predictive Analysis Of Airline Profitability Under Macroeconomic And Sustainable Aviation Fuels, Shivika Singh Aug 2026

Ai-Driven Predictive Analysis Of Airline Profitability Under Macroeconomic And Sustainable Aviation Fuels, Shivika Singh

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This study presents an AI-enhanced predictive model to assess airline profitability under the combined influence of macroeconomic trends and the adoption of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). By including economic indicators such as GDP growth, inflation rates, and fuel price volatility with airline operational data, including ticket prices and fuel costs, the model simulates profitability across multiple carriers. Scenario-based analyses, encompassing optimistic, moderate, and pessimistic projections, illustrate different financial sensitivities between low-cost and legacy airlines.


Supply Chain Analysis: The Oregonator Autocatalytic Case Study, Abigail Butcher Aug 2026

Supply Chain Analysis: The Oregonator Autocatalytic Case Study, Abigail Butcher

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Understanding stability in complex supply chains remains a critical challenge due to nonlinear feedback, delayed responses, and sensitivity to parameter changes. This project presents a novel framework that applies bifurcation analysis to evaluate system stability, using the Oregonator autocatalytic chemical reaction model as an analog for supply chain dynamics. A parameter sweep of key model variables, particularly the stoichiometric factor f and the reaction rate constants k, is used to identify transitions between stable and oscillatory regimes. These transitions provide insight into how variations in feedback strength can drive instability in real-world systems. The framework will then be extended to …


Observing Antibiotic Resistance In Bacterial Co-Cultures Under Simulated Microgravity, Tyler Jenkins, Marina Vaden Aug 2026

Observing Antibiotic Resistance In Bacterial Co-Cultures Under Simulated Microgravity, Tyler Jenkins, Marina Vaden

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Bacteria grow in complex natural environments with multiple factors affecting their growth, metabolism, and physiology. While astronauts are still preparing to travel to Mars, scientists must learn how to simulate a more realistic Martian environment. While a small volume of publications investigates the independent effects of microgravity or Martian regolith on microorganisms (Liao et al., 2025; Allen et al., 2022; Naz et al., 2023; Duri et al., 2025), to our knowledge no current experiments exist on the joint effects of microgravity and Martian simulant on a co-culture. This experiment aims to investigate the effect of a microgravity analog on the …


Customization That Clicks: Human Factors Evaluation Of A User-Centered Vehicle Customization System, Noah Clark, Shawn Mathura, Sarah Bailey, Paul Seal, Brandon Ibarra, Kailey Hrbek, Carissa Aumack, Kevin Sun, Olivia Honan, Kelly Nguyen, Caroline Deck, Brandon D. Dreslin Aug 2026

Customization That Clicks: Human Factors Evaluation Of A User-Centered Vehicle Customization System, Noah Clark, Shawn Mathura, Sarah Bailey, Paul Seal, Brandon Ibarra, Kailey Hrbek, Carissa Aumack, Kevin Sun, Olivia Honan, Kelly Nguyen, Caroline Deck, Brandon D. Dreslin

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Older adults (OAs) and drivers with disabilities (DwDs) often encounter challenges when customizing vehicle features (e.g., seat adjustment, lighting, climate control) because existing human-machine interfaces (HMIs) may not be designed to accommodate diverse sensory, motor, and cognitive capabilities. HarmonIQ is a biometric-based, user-centered vehicle customization system designed to improve accessibility and inclusivity for OAs and DwDs, developed by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in collaboration with Bethune-Cookman University (BCU). This research, supported in part by the EcoCAR Electric Vehicle Challenge, builds on Fall 2024 proofs-of-concept and Spring 2025 initial development of HarmonIQ and its components, namely the driver profile software and …


Simplified Flight Controls For Urban Air Mobility (Uam), Sierra Martinez, Frank Cunningham Iv, Nicole Giordano, Olivia Honan, Katie Stubits, Heather Bond, Paul Seal, Brandon Ibarra Aug 2026

Simplified Flight Controls For Urban Air Mobility (Uam), Sierra Martinez, Frank Cunningham Iv, Nicole Giordano, Olivia Honan, Katie Stubits, Heather Bond, Paul Seal, Brandon Ibarra

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Air taxis are meant to perform short-distance, lower-altitude flights in challenging terrain- whether it be maneuvering around skyscrapers in urban areas, or for emergency responders in remote, difficult to access areas. It is paramount that the control system is intuitive and user friendly, since air taxi pilots will likely receive less training than commercial airline pilots. The Human Factors Department is working to advance Urban Air Mobility (UAM) initiatives by evaluating alternative inceptors (ie. control systems) that might be used in Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) air taxi designs. The controller itself needs to have specific and distinct enough operations …


Assessing The Impact Of Various Factors On Hypoxic Response, Reese Kim, Allysa Hayden Aug 2026

Assessing The Impact Of Various Factors On Hypoxic Response, Reese Kim, Allysa Hayden

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Hypoxia is a condition in which the body’s tissues are deprived of oxygen and has deleterious effects on cognition, perception, and performance. Hypoxia has a myriad of symptoms such as euphoria, difficulty concentrating, headache, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, tunnel vision, and more. Outward signs of hypoxia include cyanosis (blueing of the fingertips and lips), tremors, loss of coordination, pallor, and complexion change, and can be used to notice the onset of hypoxia in others. Many factors are known to contribute to the manifestation of hypoxia, namely altitude, exposure duration, and certain physiological conditions such as heart problems and low blood flow …


Honeybee-Inspired Swarm Intelligence For Autonomous Adaptability Of Martian Infrastructure, Morgan Kendall Aug 2026

Honeybee-Inspired Swarm Intelligence For Autonomous Adaptability Of Martian Infrastructure, Morgan Kendall

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Current research in autonomous space systems primarily relies on centralized control or swarm methods designed for fixed mission scenarios. These approaches lack the flexibility needed for long-duration Mars operations, where infrastructure must adapt to changing conditions, evolving mission goals, and limited human oversight. This creates a critical gap in developing autonomous systems capable of continuous self-organization. This gap is being addressed by developing a biologically inspired, adaptive Martian infrastructure using swarm intelligence. The scope includes key system domains such as power distribution, communication networks, and surface logistics. Agent-based modeling software will simulate infrastructure components as autonomous agents that evaluate local …


Synchrotron X-Ray Diffraction Method For Continuous Strain Analysis Across Heterogenous Material Interface Layers, Sierra Damon Aug 2026

Synchrotron X-Ray Diffraction Method For Continuous Strain Analysis Across Heterogenous Material Interface Layers, Sierra Damon

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Synchrotron X-ray diffraction method for continuous strain analysis across heterogenous material interface layers   The transfer of strain across a material interface is a relevant concept to quantify for numerous aerospace applications that involve coatings applied to substrates of different materials, particularly in the field of high temperature materials. X-ray diffraction (XRD) is a metrology technique capable of resolving strain within an arbitrary material by quantifying the shifts of Bragg peaks with respect to an unstrained sample and has seen increased use due to the capability of XRD to perform in-situ measurements on materials in extreme environments. Since different materials have …


Nano Aircraft Using Underactuated Technology (Naut), Giol Vinyals I Roca Aug 2026

Nano Aircraft Using Underactuated Technology (Naut), Giol Vinyals I Roca

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The Nano Aircraft using Underactuated Technology (NAUT) project presents a novel swashplateless rotor system that achieves cyclic pitch control using a single actuator, eliminating the need for conventional multi-servo swashplate assemblies. This approach is specifically tailored for nano unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operating within Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) environments, where size, weight, and power constraints demand highly efficient and simplified control architectures. A functional prototype has been developed and experimentally validated, demonstrating measurable cyclic pitch variation and effective control authority. Multiple mechanism variants are currently being investigated to evaluate performance trade-offs in responsiveness, mechanical efficiency, and aerodynamic effectiveness. These configurations …


Comparing Student Perceptions: Self-Directed Learner And Sense Of Responsibility With Their Measured Self-Direction In Learning Programming, Abigail Blalock Aug 2026

Comparing Student Perceptions: Self-Directed Learner And Sense Of Responsibility With Their Measured Self-Direction In Learning Programming, Abigail Blalock

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This research poster presents findings from a broader study examining self-direction in learning (SDL) programming among first-year engineering students enrolled in an introductory programming course at Embry-Riddle. Developing learner autonomy and self-direction is essential for fostering lifelong learning and adaptability, particularly in programming, where rapidly evolving tools and techniques require continuous skill development. Using a quasi-experimental approach, this study investigates students’ self-direction in learning using a 25-item validated instrument on the Personal Responsibility Orientation to Self-Direction in Learning Scale (PRO-SDLS). Grounded in the Personal Responsibility Orientation (PRO) model, the instrument distinguishes between the external teaching–learning process and the internal characteristics …


Ronald E. Mcnair Research Symposium Presentation Schedule 2026, Mcnair Scholars Program Aug 2026

Ronald E. Mcnair Research Symposium Presentation Schedule 2026, Mcnair Scholars Program

McNair Symposium

This is the presentation schedule for the 24th Undergraduate Ronald E. McNair Research Symposium 2026.


From Crisis To Reform: How The 1918 Influenza And Covid-19 Pandemics Redefined The Relationship Between Nurses And The American Healthcare System., Anh N V Le Aug 2026

From Crisis To Reform: How The 1918 Influenza And Covid-19 Pandemics Redefined The Relationship Between Nurses And The American Healthcare System., Anh N V Le

Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Symposium

The 1918 Influenza and COVID- 19 pandemic have become two major public health crises that reshaped the role of nurses in the America healthcare system. Although a hundred years apart, both pandemics revealed how deeply the country depends on nurses during emergencies without proper and efficient strategies. This paper argues that these pandemics acted as turning points that redefined the social contract between nurses and the U.S. healthcare system. By examining historical context, nurses’ responsibilities, public perception, and long-term effects, this research show how pandemics expanded nurses’ authority while also exposing long-term weakness of the systems. In 1918, nurses were …


Bioethics As Seen On Stage: Can Theater Change The World?, Sarah J. Cavanaugh Aug 2026

Bioethics As Seen On Stage: Can Theater Change The World?, Sarah J. Cavanaugh

Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Symposium

This research paper investigates the extent to which theatrical works can influence societal reform through the depiction of bioethical dilemmas through time, analyzing performative theater’s ability to change the world through great societal impact. By examining four plays from distinct historical periods—Philoctetes by Sophocles (409 BCE), Whose Life is it Anyway? by Brian Clark (1972), The Waiting Room by Lisa Loomer (1994), and Next to Normal by Brian Yorkey (2010)—this study analyzes how theater has consistently engaged with evolving issues of medical ethics and patient autonomy. Each play presents ethical conflicts reflective of the medical and social dilemmas of …


The "3 A'S" Of Sport Specialization: Emerging Themes To Characterize Athletes' Sport Participation Pathway Decisions, Adelaide F. Stark, Justin S. Disanti Ph.D. Aug 2026

The "3 A'S" Of Sport Specialization: Emerging Themes To Characterize Athletes' Sport Participation Pathway Decisions, Adelaide F. Stark, Justin S. Disanti Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Symposium

In this study, former youth sport participants were grouped by their developmental sport pathways (i.e., if they specialized and when they specialized over the course of their participation) to identify emerging themes regarding why they chose their respective pathway, as well as how this impacted their sport experience. 948 participants completed a retrospective survey measure detailing their sport histories. Based on their specialization trajectory across their sport involvement (i.e., during elementary school, middle school, and high school) participants were sorted into three participation pathways – Early Specialization, Late Specialization, or Continued Multi-sport. Participants responded to open-ended questions about their decision-making …