Digital Commons Network^™

Academic Internship - Deborah's Place, Olivia Redmond

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Within Deborah’s Place (a non-profit providing shelter and housing opportunities for women experiencing homelessness), I am interning at Teresa’s Interim Housing. Teresa’s is a ten-bed, 120-day interim housing program. I give initial intake assessments, facilitate group activities, and allocate resources to 4 program participants. I use the harm reduction framework while practicing motivational interviewing techniques as I work with clients to find permanent, stable housing.

My overarching goal is to transition 5-7 clients into permanent housing. Many steps go into getting clients housed - some within my control and many are not..

I have the following learning and achievement goals …

Aspire Scholarship 2025 Learning Portfolio, Isabella Paluzzi Steele

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

This is my reflection on my PLSC 398 Engaged Learning Class - Internship in which I interned for the DC Office of Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez.

Social Media And Health Disinformation, Ammar Haroon, Emily Sarmiento

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

In our presentation, we looked at how social media acts as a facilitator of health disinformation. In particular, we looked at the strategies that social media platforms use and how that contributes to health disinformation online.

Should We Trust The Noma Model?, Sarah Allen

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

This project will explain Stephen Jay Gould’s Nonoverlapping Magisteria Model (NOMA) and then explore two differing sides' critiques of the model. Criticism from those who subscribe to scientism will argue that NOMA holds science back due to morals being out of its domain, and the faith-based criticism will argue that NOMA oppresses religious findings and evidence while arguing that science and religion work together to produce facts. To conclude the project, we will reexamine NOMA to determine if it’s a trustworthy model or if a new model is needed to better explain the relationship between religion and science.

The Role Of Identity Within Flat-Earth Believers, Samantha N. Gebusion

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

My presentation examines how the Flat-Earth movement is driven less by evidence and more by identity and community. This presentations draw on research about science denial, conspiracy thinking, and online echo chambers, presenting on how Flat-Earthers reinterpret their belief as a personal "awakening" that reshapes their sense of self. The Flat-Earth belief persists not because of ignorance of scientific institutions, but because rejecting scientific consensus strengthens members' identity and provides validation, purpose, and community.

Science And Environmentalism In Indigenous Traditions And Christianity, Kaitlyn Vale

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Conflict with science is a phenomenon seen somewhat frequently within sects of Christianity, while Indigenous religions more commonly weave science into their beliefs, which goes hand in hand with their stewardship of the earth. This research explores why the two traditions relate to the environment differently, using their relationships with nature and science to contextualize their environmentalism. Understanding science denial within different religious contexts can help us understand and mend the gap between dominant US culture and the environment.

The Inaccessibility Of Scientific Writing And Science Denial, Emma Eisen

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

The inaccessibility of scientific writing causes an increase in science denial. The frustration experienced by nonscientists due to the exclusivity, both in language and cost of subscriptions to scientific journals, often results in the rejection of scientific consensus and acceptance of the more accessible and understandable alternative perspectives presented by science deniers. Through the analysis of demographic studies on the relationship between native language and access to higher education and attitudes toward vaccines, this presentation further discusses how these marginalized demographics are excluded from scientific consensus leading to an increase in science denial.

The Dangers Of Science Denial: Creationism And Cult Organization, Elizabeth Sherman

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

In this research, my evaluation of my evidence led me to claim that the same factors that contribute to poor mental health outcomes in former cult members are present in the Young Earth Creationist(YEC) movement, suggesting that former YEC members may face similar mental health risks. I concluded this claim by evaluating to what extent the YEC movement’s organizational structure compared to that of cults, as defined by social psychologist Alexandra Stein, in order to evaluate if the same structures that led to negative mental health outcomes in cult members existed within the YEC movement. My evaluation led me to …

Science Denial And Public Policy, Mary Kae Kuenster

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

This research project will investigate the influence science denial has on public policy. This topic is extremely relevant in today’s political climate, with many issues being centered around scientific debates. This project focuses on education policies regarding evolution and intelligent design. To accomplish this research, I will examine sites that both advocate for and disagree with the implementation of intelligent design in the classroom, as well as historical and recent legal cases surrounding the topic. By examining these examples, this project aims to highlight how science denial undermines evidence based decision making.

Strategies Of Science Denial In Contemporary Politics, Yumi Li

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

My presentation applies the FLICC acronym to different sources of science denial during the COVID-19 pandemic and Trump's handling of it.

Scrolling For Meaning: How Social Media Influence Young People’S Spirituality And Trust In Scientific Authority, Archna Yadav

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

This project examines how social media and secular digital culture influence the spiritual growth, moral values, and trust in science among young people. My claim is that social media acts like a parallel source of authority, shaping ideas about meaning, morality, and truth. Evidence from studies shows that many young people now form personal belief systems by blending religious ideas, secular practices, and even pseudo-scientific claims. The warrant is that online algorithms, influencers, emotional content, and identity-based communities strongly guide what youth believe. As a result, spiritual and moral formation is increasingly shaped by digital platforms rather than traditional institutions.

Religious Beliefs And Organ Donation: Investigating Religious Beliefs And Their Positions On Donation, Alejandra Penaranda

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

The worldwide demand for organs is not being met, creating the Organ Crisis. A common belief is that religions are against the practice of donation and transplantation of organs. This presentation will dive deeper into the different religious beliefs of the most populated religions to determine their stances on the issue.The evidence used was religious websites and articles, journals, and news articles. Through this research, the positive opinions that religions have regarding organ donation will come to light, suggesting that something else is to blame when people are choosing against donating their or a loved one’s organs.

Introduction To Vaccine Misinformation, Samah Fayaz

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

The presentation will examine how misinformation, selective data use, and social media chambers influence public attitude towards vaccines. The hesitancy in vaccine has become a very growing concern in public health. By analyzing such factors, the project will reveal how these tactics deepen vaccine denial and play their part in science denial. Understanding this information will allow there to be improvements and rebuild confidence in not only vaccines but also scientific information.

Misinformation In The Digital Age: How Social Media Fuels Science Denial And Ways To Stop It, Jocelyn Morales

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

This paper examines how social media platforms contribute to the spread of science denial and explores strategies to combat misinformation. The rise of digital platforms such as Twitter (now X) and Facebook has transformed how information is shared, but it has also created fertile ground for the rapid diffusion of false or misleading content. Research by Harman et al. (2025) demonstrates that science denial has far-reaching social consequences, delaying policy responses, undermining collective action, and increasing societal vulnerability. Lanier et al. (2022) further reveal how hashtags like #plandemic and #scamdemic on Twitter amplified COVID-19 misinformation, fueling pandemic denial and anti-public-health …

Faith And Evidence: Can Religious Belief And Science Coexist? An Investigation Of Galileo’S Discoveries And The Heliocentric Model, Amelia Atia

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

My research project focuses on the middle ground between science and religion. I focused on Galileo’s discoveries and how he experienced backlash due to his Heliocentric model, since it contradicted religious beliefs. By studying Gaileo’s model, I was able to better understand the concept of science denial. I have proposed that there’s a middle ground between science and faith. This is supported by Tycho Brahe, as he was able to propose a theory that still accepted the Geocentric model as it is applied to the physical world and also accepted the Heliocentric model as it applies to the natural world.

Faith Over Fossils: How Creationist Deny The Authenticity Of Carbon Dating, Mason Black

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

My claim is that young-earth creationist groups, such as Answers in Genesis, deny the authenticity of radiometric dating by excluding any evidence that goes against their belief that the Earth is only a few thousand years old. I did this by looking at various articles made by Answers in Genesis to see what arguments are made and what information is left out.

Manufacturing Doubt: How The Conservative Movement Shaped American Climate Denial, Bjorn Anderson

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

The American conservative movement has used its power to spread climate change denial through organizational infrastructure, psychological exploitation, and sustained messaging campaigns, producing measurable polarization in public opinion. I reference articles which document the organizational infrastructure of the movement, which study psychological mechanisms that explain conservative receptiveness to climate denial, and which detail the resulting shift in societal beliefs through data analysis and polling. These sources establish a relationship between the deliberate campaign from corporations and conservative leaders and resulting increases in climate change denial.

Recommendation Report: Campus Transportation, Sujaan Vhora, Prachi Patel, Liliana Drobny, Camilla Gorokhova, Matthew Zimmerman

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Our group examined transportation challenges between Loyola University Chicago’s Lake Shore Campus and Water Tower Campus from a student perspective. Through a student survey, an interview with a Campus Transportation staff member, and research on other Chicago universities, we found that shuttle delays, unpredictable travel times, and limited parking create stress and cause students to arrive late or miss activities. We evaluated three possible solutions: improved transportation communication, expanded parking partnerships, and an upgraded UPass+. We recommend UPass+ supported by clearer communication to give students more reliable travel options, reduce parking pressure, and improve the overall commuting experience.

Sakai Recommendation Report, Gena Coronel, Ellie Meyer, Michael Johnson, Naz Wahdi, Shivh Patel

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

As a group we took on the project of creating an analysis and recommendation report in order to show how we are able to help better the development of Sakai future prospect.

Commuter Student Engagement - Undergraduate Project, Soktear Anita Suon, Annette Parcero, Andrea Perla Olvera, Marko Kiperovic

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

A commuter engagement undergraduate research project for ENGL210-WE. This project further explores the issues regarding commuter engagement at Water Tower Campus in comparison to Lakshore Campus at Loyola University in Chicago. The research project had extensive research, surveys, and interviews in order to come up with possible solutions that the school couple implement to improve student engagament among its commuer population at WTC campus.

Core Curriculum Report, Jessica Nguyen, Tatyana Camacho, Shania Camacho, Abigail Lewis

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

This presentation examines Loyola University Chicago’s Core Curriculum and evaluates how effectively it supports student learning, flexibility, and Jesuit values. Using survey data, student and faculty interviews, and comparisons with peer Jesuit institutions, we identify key challenges related to integration, relevance, and academic flexibility. We present three potential solutions and assess each based on coherence, feasibility, student impact, and mission alignment. The presentation concludes with a recommendation to strengthen integration across Core tiers while preserving Loyola’s mission-driven educational foundation.

Religious Miracles In The Noma Model, Alexander Piero

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Miracles can fit within the NOMA model with some limitations. Miracles are defined as events that break the laws of nature. Christopher Miller helps illustrate how to use the NOMA model as a tool to determine when miracles may have occurred. This helps show that the NOMA model provides a framework in which to evaluate miracles. Ursula Goodenough helped highlight that the NOMA model takes liberties that allow for things like miracles and their varying interpretations to fit within Gould’s model. Finally, the challenge by Johnson doesn’t exactly hold up, and his critiques of miracles seem to be reasonably answered …

A Gooder Way To Say More Fun, Ethan Scofield

Fresh Voices: Composition at Cal Poly

No abstract provided.

How Does Language Learning Work?, Luis Wiley

Fresh Voices: Composition at Cal Poly

No abstract provided.

Major Pressure, Emma Scudero

Fresh Voices: Composition at Cal Poly

No abstract provided.

Learning To Learn: The Value Of General Education Courses, Trefor Szabo

Fresh Voices: Composition at Cal Poly

No abstract provided.

3d Bioprinting: The Best Solution To The Organ Shortage, Kristin Abele

Fresh Voices: Composition at Cal Poly

No abstract provided.

Old School Is Back In Style, Rachel Semple

Fresh Voices: Composition at Cal Poly

No abstract provided.

Get Housed, Stay Housed, Megan Rupard

Fresh Voices: Composition at Cal Poly

No abstract provided.

Death With Dignity: A Human Right, Crystal Loza

Fresh Voices: Composition at Cal Poly

No abstract provided.