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April 5, 2017

SENIOR HONORS PRESENTATIONS

Rachel Hutchinson, Chemistry & Mathematics

Title: How Safe is Your Soil? Analysis of Lead Content of Soil in North Chili

Description: Lead is a dangerous environmental toxin that can cause health problems including brain and kidney damage, intellectual disabilities, weakness, and even death (WHO Lead Factsheet). Lead is often present in soil near buildings with lead paint, which was commonly used until it was banned in 1978 (www.epa.gov/lead). Therefore, I am measuring the lead content of soil near buildings on and near the Roberts Wesleyan College campus and studying how the building’s age and the distance from the building affect the lead content. I collected a total of 107 samples near 15 different buildings that ranged from 2 years to 174 years old. I collected samples 2-4 in, 3 m, 6 m, and 9 m away from each building. I am using a method described by the Environmental Protection Agency to extract the lead from the soil, and then using atomic absorption spectroscopy to measure the lead in each sample. I plan to use inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy to measure the lead content in the samples later this semester.

Stephanie Buettner, Computer Science

Title: "SocialMe Events: Examining the Use of Apps to Mine Calendar Events from Social Media."

Social media has come to contain a wealth of information, and the purpose of my project is to look at how information, such as information about upcoming events, can be gathered from social media. 

Hannah Kreider-Letterman, Biology

Title: The Origins of Humanity: Understanding Biblical Context in a Modern Culture

After struggling with reconciling the human origins account in Genesis with the theory of evolution, I decided to research the topic for my senior honors project. Working with Dr. Richard Middleton, a wonderful mentor and biblical scholar, I have been able to take a closer look at the creation of humans in Genesis 1 and 2. Juxtaposing this account with the theory of evolution, I was able to find that there are overarching ideas from both that have implications for what it means to be made in God's image and how we approach the world around us.

Ben Leahy, Biology

Title: Using Digital Media to Increase Student Dissection Competence and Knowledge