Students present research at Penn-York

More than a dozen students from the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford presented papers and posters on history, political science, environmental studies, environmental science, business, psychology, education, biology and chemistry during the annual Penn-York Undergraduate Research conference held earlier this month at Houghton (N.Y.) University.

Students making oral presentations were Gabe Jakovlic, a senior history-political science major from Allison Park; Kaylee Rain McCracken, an environmental science and environmental studies major from DuBois; and Anouk Khloe Bernard, a biology major from Lisbon, Portugal; and Dylan Mitchell, a social studies education 7-12 major from Camas, Wash.

Jakovlic presented “Se Caen y Duran: Spain’s Enduring Struggle for Democracy,” which explores the challenges Spain faced during its transition to democracy after Francisco Franco’s fascist dictatorship ended in 1975 and the complexities that have persisted in the decades since.

McCracken presented “The Symphony of Knowledge: A New Paradigm for Scientific Exploration and Environmental Harmony,” which argues that Western science is flawed due to its limitations and exclusion of other knowledge systems.

Bernard’s presentation, “Investigating the Anti-Bacterial, Anti-Viral and Ovicidal Effects of the Medical Plants Zingiber officenale, Curcuma langa and Ilion sativum,” investigated the medicinal benefits of three well-known spices -- ginger, turmeric and garlic.

Mitchell presented “Dad’s Degree: Balancing Fatherhood and College Life,” a first-person case study of his experience as a single father at a public liberal arts university.

The remaining students gave poster presentations: Julia Bruton, an accounting and business management major from Thorndale, “Corporate Social Responsibility Issues: Does Execution Match Expectations?”; Reanna Carrier, a psychology major from Cuba, N.Y., “The Effects of Working Memory and Organizational Skills on Academic Functioning in Students with ADHD”; Jason Cochran, a psychology major from Clairton, “Campus Events: Why They’re Important and How to Get People to Come”; Olivia Kinney, a psychology major from Kane, “Effects of Parasocial Relationships”; 

Taylor Poliseo, a biology major from Port Charlotte, Fla., “Effects of Top-Down Predation by the Reintroduction of Gray Wolves to North America”; Chael Relaford, a biology and forensic science major from Tioga, “The Impact of Saltwater or Freshwater on Mammalian Decomposition”; Enoki Wildman, a psychology major from Warren, Ohio, “Associations of LGBTQ+ Bullying and Mental Health in College and High School Students”; and Sissel Wu, a biology major from Parker, Colo., “Degradation of Pollutants Using Plantain Peel Activated Charcoal.”

Students whose papers were accepted, but who were unable to present were Daisy Cheshire, a senior environmental science major from North Huntingdon; Matthew Morgan, an environmental science major from Henrietta, N.Y.; Austin Reese, a history-political science and international affairs major from Bradford; and Ciera Johnson, a psychology major from Williamsport.

The Penn-York Undergraduate Research Conference was founded in 2000 to give undergraduates an opportunity to present in front of an audience and to see presentations from other member colleges and universities, which, in addition to Pitt-Bradford and Houghton, include St. John Fisher University, St. Bonaventure University, Alfred University, and Pennsylvania Western University. Pitt-Bradford will host next year’s conference.

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