Investigating School Shootings From Biological, Cognitive and Social Perspectives

Mohamed Hammam, Verrazano Class of 2019, earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, and is starting at Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy program at CSI in Fall 2019.

As a psychology major, my four years spent at the College of Staten Island consisted of gaining a better understanding of human behavior along with how to explain, predict, and control such behavioral mental processes. After learning so much about the human mind and the different aspects that shape the actions we perform, I began to try to obtain a deeper insight on the occurrence of school shootings. It is something that is constantly discussed about on all different types of platforms—news outlets, social media, and more. I have noticed that while we are trying to raise awareness regarding school shootings, not much has been done when actually trying to understand why they occur. Such an act should not only be acknowledged, but also understood so that better preventive actions can be taken to lower the occurrence of school shootings. This is what led me to conduct my research on this topic. I have been involved with this capstone project for over the span of two semesters under the guidance of Dr. Peter Costa. 

Mohamed doing work on his capstone

My capstone project focuses on occurrences of school shootings in contexts such as the motives lying behind why they occur, the typical profiles of school shooters, and the underlying dynamics from biological, cognitive, and social perspectives. In addition, preventive measures are examined that can be used by teachers, healthcare professionals, and law enforcement personnel to prevent future school shootings from occurring. This research allowed me to learn about how and why school shootings occur, which is important because the literature investigated can allow not only healthcare professionals to further recognize these factors, but students, teachers, and family also. 

Doing my research with Dr. Costa has allowed me to understand psychology from different perspectives and areas in psychology. Not only have I obtained greater skills in regard to analyzing research, but I also further expanded my knowledge on a topic that I knew very little about. Although I was able to apply previously learned material from my psychology courses to my research, I can now fully incorporate this new information acquired and create a better, overall depiction on the psychological factors involved in the perpetrator’s actions. Seeing my work from before conducting my research to now shows me how much I’ve grown as a college student with Dr. Costa. My decision to conduct research regarding a subject of matter I was interested in contributed to my current knowledge on the topic. 

This capstone project is just the beginning of future research I will be conducting, which is why it is of such importance to me. Now that I will be participating in the Undergraduate Research Conference, I can become better at presenting material to others who may not be as familiar in the topic as I am. This is a great opportunity for me to continue spreading awareness of school shootings along with how and why they occur so that people can detect early warning signs and also be more knowledgeable in the topic. 

Physician of the future, Brandon Fridman Conducts Biochemistry Research

Brandon Fridman, Verrazano Class of 2019, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology with concentrations in Health Science and Neuroscience, with minors in Biochemistry, Chemistryand Philosophy. He begins medical school in the fall 2019.

In Dr.Fred Naider’s research lab, I investigated truncated variants of the N-terminal domain of CCR5, a chemokine co-receptor located on white blood cells that is essential for HIV-1 binding. I mastered laboratory techniques, including solid phase peptide synthesis, peptide cleavage, de-protection, HPLC, mass spectrometry, UV-spectroscopy, and circular dichroism spectroscopy. I collaborated with the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel and contributed to their NMR kinetics studies. I completed my capstone  discussing de-protection kinetics in the study of HIV. 

Brandon presenting his work at CSI's Undergraduate Research Conference

When I first started my research, it was difficult to grasp the high level concepts and sheer volume of information that was required to work in a biochemical lab. However, I learned over time how to develop my own method of learning and how to dedicate large amounts of time and effort towards mastering my field of interest along with what was required of me to work in a lab. 

While reading dozens of journal articles about the subject, I was also learning how to use equipment in my lab, understand and conduct chemical reactions, and manage large data storages of information, which would eventually be used to finalize my research. I learned to organize information and present it in a concise and meaningful way that would show my understanding of the science and work behind my experiments. 

Over time, I learned to be more confident in my abilities and became the senior undergrad researcher in my lab, providing guidance for new students who were seeking research experience. I proudly presented my findings at the Undergraduate Research Conference at CSI, and was happy with the successful results of my research despite many setbacks. 

Overall, the research I conducted during my undergraduate career has helped transform me into a scientist with the ability to critically think and make executive decisions based on a wealth of knowledge and experience. What I have learned during my time in the research lab will undoubtedly contribute to my success in medical school and as an aspiring doctor.  

The Effects of Exercise on Mental and Cardiovascular Health

Thomas Petti, Verrazano Class of 2019, Completed Major in Nursing

When I first found out I had to write a research paper on a topic of my choice I thought it would be a simple task. Writing research papers was nothing new to me. I had been doing it for many years and had a good idea of how to proceed. Choosing a topic, however, was more difficult than I thought it would be. While I had conducted research before and wrote about various issues, I found it hard to select one topic that I wanted to examine and review.

It took me a while but eventually I decided to write about a topic that pertained to health promotion. Being a nursing major and coming from a biology background I felt that this was a significant topic in today’s society. In nursing I was taught that lifestyle modifications are a major part of promoting a patient’s well-being. One of the biggest modifications that should be utilized is exercise and physical activity. I personally try to stick to a regular exercise regimen to better myself; therefore, this seemed like a great issue to discuss. This is also a topic that is closely related to the field of study I was originally interested in when I first started at CSI. Prior to beginning the nursing program, I was considering taking up physical therapy. Ultimately, I ended up having more of a connection and passion with the nursing profession. However, my Capstone was a way in which I was able to use a topic that relates to both of these healthcare disciplines.

Outlining my ideas and conducting research was difficult when factoring in the workload I had in my final year of nursing school. Once I got myself organized and put in the work, my paper became much more enjoyable and easier to write. I discovered a lot from reviewing other studies and I learned that exercise, in addition to other lifestyle modifications has a profound effect on all aspects of health. 
My paper was limited to cardiovascular and mental health. One of the biggest things I learned from the research is that implementing a regular exercise regimen can significantly reduce risk factors for health issues and enhance a person’s quality of life. This health behavior alone may not make a major impact to everyone’s well-being, but it is necessary to begin leading a healthier way of life.

I came across various studies that emphasized the importance of physical activity, and found that it has a positive impact on the severity of symptoms in disorders such as depression as well as in the cognition in older healthy adults. Aerobic exercise is a healthy alternative to many bad habits associated with mental health issues. Physical activity encourages feelings of calm and improves blood flow to regions of the brain responsible for mood and stress. Some studies found that exercise, even at low levels, could prevent future cases of depression. Inactivity is a significant risk factor that is related to coronary disease, higher rates of cardiovascular events and higher death rates. A regular exercise regimen improves muscular strength and function and enhances the body’s oxygen consumption. Exercise promotes weight reduction, reduces blood pressure and improves general health.

I learned that a big challenge that many people face when starting a physical activity program is adherence to a consistent routine. Many people also do not know all of the benefits that can result from engaging in activity. This is why a multi-disciplinary approach is crucial to addressing health issues. Having healthcare providers communicate and collaborate with exercise specialists and include patients in their own plans of care is a great way to ensure that quality treatment is provided. Different disciplines working together allow custom programs to be developed that are tailored to each individual patient. This will guarantee safety and ultimately lead to better quality outcomes.

After researching this topic and completing my Capstone, I have a greater understanding and appreciation for the benefits that come from participating in a regular exercise program. I am very happy to have been a part of both the Verrazano School and this Capstone project. I plan to use what I have learned to encourage others to become more active and to promote healthy habits in patients I care for in the hospital. This program gave me wonderful experiences and opportunities that I will never forget.

Researching Benefits of Place-Based Education

Nancy Che, Verrazano Class of 2018, Completed Major in Biology Education (7-12)

Nancy with Professor Chamberlain

The capstone experience at first wasn’t entirely what I expected it to be. I was convinced for a while it had to be an intense research project and didn’t know what research topics would be acceptable. While I was interning at the Staten Island Zoo, it randomly occurred to me that I could conduct a study regarding zoos. It was never in my interest to pursue a career in research; however, it has always been a dream of mine to work at a zoo. Coming up with a research question in addition to meeting my collaborating professor’s standards was challenging. There were differences in lab report formatting between my courses in comparison to my mentor’s way of writing reports. Despite the occasional confusion and stress, I developed better research and writing skills through this experience.

My capstone topic was analyzing the benefits of placed-based education, which is hands-on learning primarily with live animals and or real-world examples. It took about two years to complete my research project; one semester focusing on data collection at the zoo through surveys, the rest an arduous span of reading long scholarly papers in search of relatable information to my study.

My professor challenged me to exceed any past paper writing experience, and helped me better understand what a strongly supported scientific paper should entail. It was emotionally challenging to rewrite large sections and meet timed page quotas, but I became better at writing scientific papers because of this. I wouldn’t have learned these essential professional skills from any class, and thus I am very grateful for the mentor-ship.

My capstone research paper turned out to be the longest paper I ever wrote, totaling about 30 pages not including the bibliography pages. This may be a small feat for some, but I am very proud of myself, and being praised by my professor for my hard work also filled me with such happiness. While we searched for scholarly papers, it was to our surprise that my topic was very popular, but I had mixed feelings about that. To me, that meant my topic was too popular and therefore my paper wasn't very special. But to my professor, the glass was half full; it was a significant revolutionary topic, especially since the first paper exploring the topic was conducted in 2007. There was a science education seminar that addressed placed-based education that semester, where my professor brought up my research study to the associate provost. When she told me the associate provost was impressed with my paper at first glance, I felt like my heart grew wings and fluttered out of me with joy and pride. Even though it was a coincidental conversation, my self-esteem was boosted ten-fold knowing that my paper had value.

If I planned on pursuing my masters in science pedagogy, it was recommended that my  capstone paper could be refined to become by master’s thesis. If I were to collect more data at the zoo pertaining to pre and post-teaching classes at the zoo with live animals, and or the use of live animals in my own classroom when I begin teaching as a New York State certified educator, I could expand and enrich my preexisting paper by personally applying my findings and theories in the classes I teach. The point in my paper is that increased exposure to applied sciences and the natural world, whether it is in or out of a placed-based educational facility like a zoo, would be just as academically beneficial. Therefore, if I collected data that displayed heightened interest and academic success in science, it would add value to my research findings.

Aside from the completion of the paper itself, partaking in the undergraduate research conference was an amazing feeling. I loved learning about other student’s studies and being surrounded by such talented individuals. It was truly an eye-opening, astounding day where I got to share my research with other students and conference attenders, as well as see their hard work.  It was at the conference where I learned the existence of faculty research that I would have been interested in too. So my only regret is not taking part in other ecology related research in addition to my own independent research study at the zoo. 

The capstone experience is not a fast or simple one, but it is without doubt an experience where you grow and develop essential reading, writing, and technical research skills that you may not find from any other class. To me, participating at the research conference and being able to take pride in my own work was a key undergraduate studies milestone. I implore you to research topics that you find interesting if you have the time, and openly accept the challenge of investigating deeper into our world’s infinite secrets.

Socio-Economic Status and High Risk Infancy

Joan Mbamaonyeukwu, Class of 2018, Majored in Biology with a Minor in Psychology
 
My name is Joan Mbamaonyeukwu, an aspiring Medical Doctor and a Public Health Advocate. In 2018, I came up with my research topic and I was able to work on the project at the NYS Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities (IBR) under the supervision of my faculty mentor Dr. Comfort Asanbe, and my laboratory mentor Dr. Elizabeth Lennon.

Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. once said, “A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.” As a science student, I have had that burning desire to learn new things and to enhance my intellectual thinking. Being a doctor requires an abundance of qualities, such as understanding, patience, commitment, intellectual thinking, multitasking and much more.

My experience working on my Capstone Project at IBR enabled me to continue to develop great qualities making me a better student, and improved many of my skills. My research was in understanding the relationship between socio-demographic indicators and delayed social communication skills on high-medical-risk infants. Upon my research, I learned that living in low SES (socio-economic status) neighborhoods like the North Shore in Staten Island increases the likelihood of high-medical-risk infants having delays in social communication skills.

Thinking as an aspiring public health advocate, I envision the result of the project changing the medical lives on individuals in our community. It is imperative for our community to increase access to maternal healthcare and improve the quality of life for children from low SES families. Referrals for early intervention services for pre-term infants who are living in neighborhoods with increased socio-demographic risk factors should be put under great consideration.

A Lesson In Heeding A Professor's Advice

Michael DeNicola, Class of 2019, Completed Major in Psychology 

When I first began my project in June 2018, my topic was “How Does Music Affect Anxiety?” My original methodology was set-up by collecting and organizing data from fifty student participants. I completed everything but the results section by December 2018. With a due date not for another four months, I was sure to have more than enough time, right? Wrong. After multiple exasperating exchanges with the Institutional Review Board, I found myself staring at a due date that was just three weeks ahead of me, and I had gained no traction on my research paper.

My faculty mentor had heavily advised against going through with this research, and his reasons soon became my reality. He told me that collecting data is no easy task, analyzing can be even more difficult, and working with the IRB can be agonizing. He was right. It was disappointing, but I had to come to the realization that I just wasn't going to be able to complete this study that meant a lot to me because of its topic. 

Due to my struggles with anxiety and my remedy, music, this topic was personal and very important to me. It was difficult to come to that decision, but in order to graduate, I had to face the fact that I may not walk across that stage if I didn’t sacrifice and change my topic, just as my mentor had advised. It was time to count my losses and I did just that.

 I immediately began working on a project now titled, “Streaming Services: Their Effects on Music Artists.” This topic interested me nearly as much as the original one. I worked many hours in a short period of time and learned an extraordinary amount of information that affects me and many other artists. 

When I completed my research, I thanked my mentor for his patience and flexibility. He helped me research, write, and edit, and deserved to know the momentous role that he played in my project's completion. After I handed in my paper with little time to spare, I thought about my process. I thought about how my mentor had been right all along. I thought about how my stubbornness almost led me to not graduate with my class, and how upsetting it would be to my mentor, my advisors, my family, and myself.  

I learned something from this whole experience. I gained knowledge on how to complete research. I learned more about the art of writing, and the editing process of a paper. The most important lesson I learned though, was to listen to those who have walked in my shoes. My faculty mentor has not only advised numerous research papers before, he has also completed countless research studies himself. He knew what was best for me, and I let that information travel through one ear and out the other about as fast as sound can travel. I walked out of his office with no regard to what he said. I was going to complete my study the way I wanted to, and it almost cost me my graduation cap. Next time, I'll be sure to listen more carefully and with an open-mind to advice because contrary to my own beliefs, I don't know everything. 

This Student Rocks!

Sean Thatcher, Class of 2017, majored in Biology and minored in Geology

I wanted to understand the fascinating dynamics between the biological and physical environments. In the fall 2015 semester I took the course Geologic Hazards and Natural Disasters to understand how the geology, geography, and land use practices could effect the severity of natural disasters found in regions worldwide. In this course and the associated lab, emphasis was placed on understanding the natural disasters prone to effect Staten Island, such as slope failure, hurricanes, storm surges, stream processes, flooding, and climate change. 

Typically students utilize the Arthur Kills & Narrows Quadrangles, topographic maps showing land use, elevation, street names, buildings, etc., with knowledge from the the lecture to create a hazards assessment for Staten Island. Because of my quadriplegia from  a swimming accident, drawing on paper maps can be cumbersome at best. To compensate for my physical limitations and complete the same projects as the other students in my class, I created the same hazard assessment maps using Google Earth Pro.

Google Earth was released to the public in 2005 and allowed people to use satellite imagery to view their homes, businesses, or various other locations. An advanced version of this program, Google Earth Pro, was also released at a cost of $400, with advanced tools allowing for digital map overlays, creating paths, adding various polygons, and even the ability to create animations. This allows the user to connect geospatial data to various locations, have measurements such as area and distance, and key geodetic information without using more complicated programs, like ArcGIS, that would confuse novice users without additional instruction.

This year Google Earth Pro was released free of charge to download to your personal PC, allowing everyone the opportunity to gain experience with this basic geographical imaging system (GIS). To begin developing the desired maps for this course I connected the Earth Point Topographic Map, free of charge from the United States Geological Survey, which provided me access to topographic maps across the United States. By using the zoom and toggle features I could easily observe the topography from the map super imposed on the elevation data provided in the program. This process made it very intuitive to understand how the surface geology, when a map of Staten Island surface geology was added as an image overlay, could effect the the topography of the area based on its susceptibility of the formations to withstand erosion. For example, the Staten Island serpentinite, a geologic formation composed of metamorphic rock from the Ordovician, is highly resistant to erosion, causing this formation to be associated with the highest elevation points on Staten Island, specifically Todt Hill.

Because of the high elevations and steep slopes associated with serpentinite on Todt Hill, this is highly susceptible to slope failure if the area is experiencing large precipitation amounts or alterations in slope steepness due to human construction. By using the topographic map and tracing the areas where the contour lines are close together using the polygon tool, it is possible to create a visual representation of the areas most prone to slope failure. To examine this further, by adding a "path" and using the "show elevation profile" option, it is possible to create an image of the topography to clearly identify specific locations at risk if an event of slope failure were to occur.

Of most interest to me was the in-depth look of coastal hazards on Staten Island from erosion, sea level rise, and storm surges. On the topographic map we identified areas where groins, hard structures built from the sandy portion of a beach into the water to trap sand and prevent beach erosion were in 1981. By comparing this information with present day satellite imagery from Google Earth Pro, it clearly shows areas actively being eroded today by littoral drift, erosion from wave activities in high energy beach environments, and human activities. As these sandy beach areas recede from erosional forces, the human communities behind them become more threatened due to ocean inundation from sea level rise and storm surges associated from extreme weather events. 

It is also possible that these areas are receding because of rising sea levels, which are expected to increase by approximately 1.0 m this century. By tracing the 10' and 20' contour lines around Staten Island, it is easy to visualize the threats our community faces in the wake of climate change if sea levels rise by this projected amount and are coupled with storm surges. When observing the generated maps and comparing them to the redesigned flood zone maps on Staten Island, it is interesting to observe how closely related they are, especially the 20' map. Because of the threats, our community, and communities worldwide, face from the dangers of rising sea levels. My own research interests have developed in understanding coastal ecosystems and the key role they will play in protecting human communities by providing natural defenses from flooding.

By utilizing GIS programs, like Google Earth Pro (and ArcGIS for those with more experience), students can grasp an in-depth understanding on how local geology can effect the topography and natural hazards that their communities face. By using spacial data, students can think more analytically and quantitatively of the world around them to better create plans for urban development, ecological restoration, and grasp a deeper understanding of the threats facing our communities from climate change. By utilizing Google Earth Pro I have decided to pursue a deeper understanding of GIS programs, and learn to develop models to better enhance our understanding of physical and ecological dynamics.