The 26th annual Student Independent Research Symposium was held December 15, 2023 in Cornelia Clapp Auditorium, as well as livestreamed and recorded. .
Students who participated in the semester-long study abroad course presented the culmination of their independent research projects in 15-minute talks over the course of the day.
The scheduled presentations for the day are as follows:
8:10 - 8:15: Dr. Linda Hyman, Director of Education
Welcome and introductory remarks
8:15 - 8:30: Chanda Cragnotti, The New School
An Exploration of Microenvironmental Drivers of Tardigrade Abundance and Species Composition in the Lichen Xanthoria parietine in Woods Hole
8:30 - 8:45: AJ Paprocki, Oberlin College
Interactions between Crabs and the seagrass Zostera marina in West Falmouth Harbor
8:45 - 9:00: Calliope Saban, Lake Forest College
Effects of Elevated Temperature on Epiphytic Communities of Zostera marina
9:00 - 9:15: Jessalin Nguyen, University of Chicago
Sargassum (S. filipendula) Growth, Photosynthesis, and Biochemical Response to Temperature Increase
9:15 - 9:30: Elena Gdula, University of Chicago
Crepidula fornicata Growth and Feeding Rate Response to Temperature and Environmental Variability
9:30 - 9:45: Andrew Huffman, University of Chicago
Coral-Seaweed Cocultures: How Sargassum and Gracilaria mammillaris Affect Astrangia Poculata in Field and Laboratory Settings
9:45 - 10:00: Ruby Krasnow, Clark University
Improving Models of Kelp (Saccharina latissima) Aquaculture by Accounting for Regional Variation in Thermal Tolerance
10:00 - 10:30: Coffee Break
10:30 - 10:45: Samantha Schmidt, University of Evansville
The Impact of Microplastics on Astrangia poculata Feeding Behavior and Oxygen Consumption
10:45 - 11:00: Lillian Cusa, Dickinson College
Bioaccumulation of Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) in Astrangia poculata from Ingested PPCP-incubated Brine Shrimp and Microplastics
11:00 - 11:15: Sam Supan, Rhodes College
The Effect of Antibiotic Contaminants on the Life History and Trophic Dynamics of Brachionus manjavacas
11:15 - 11:30: Jaslin Aguirre, University of Chicago
Why all this N2O and CH4? Microbially Derived Gas in Trunk River
11:30 - 11:45: Natalie Davies, Ripon College
Whose producing all this oxygen? A Quest to Discover What Microbe is Making Oxygen without Light in Trunk River
11:45 – 12:00: Alexandria Schmidt, University of Chicago
Competition of Sulfate Reducers and Methanogens in Siders Pond
12:00 - 13:30: Luncheon – Main Dining Hall, Swope Center*
13:30 - 13:45, Nyah Lues, University of Chicago
Marsh Methane Mystery- Exploring Changes in O2 Production and Catalase Activity in the Roots and Photosynthetic Activity in Leaves of Typha angustifollia in Response to Varying Salinity Inputs
13:45 - 14:00: Aaron MacDonald, University of Toronto
The Effects of Beech Leaf Disease
14:00 - 14:15: Kayla Garcia, St. Mary's University
The Impact of Sea Level Rise on Great Sippewissett Marsh Plant Communities and How it Affects Organic Matter Storage
14:15 - 14:30: Ellen Warmerdam, Oberlin College
Impact of Phragmites australis Invasion on Carbon and Nitrogen Storage in Salt Marsh Sediments
14:30 - 14:45: Daniel Arad, University of Chicago
Nitrogen Cycling under Different Plant Species in the Great Sippewissett Marsh
14:45 - 15:00: Alex Jones, Dickinson College
Investigating Geospatial Variations in Groundwater C-DOM Content Between Different Watersheds Leading into Waquoit Bay
15:00 - 15:15: Anna Watson, University of Chicago
Effect of Urban-Development on the Concentration and Lability of Oxygen Nitrogen Inputs to Estuaries
15:15 - 15:30: Audrey Maxim-Rumley, Wesleyan University
Nitrogen Cycling, Sediment Respiration, and Oxygen Dynamics in Little Pond Sediments
15:30 - 15:45: Annie Qian, University of Chicago
Impact of Cranberry Bog Restoration on Nutrient Uptake and Channel Structure in the Coonamessett River
Closing: Semester Retrospective - Mirta Teichberg, SES Program Director
There will be refreshments and a celebratory awards ceremony in the Meigs Room at Swope Center after the symposium.
*Students, parents and guests, faculty and instructors welcome who have indicated in advance that they will attend.