Dialogues on Dialogues

Netta Sandler, Verrazzano Class of 2024, completed major in History and minor in Art History

According to the geological principle of uniformitarianism, the past is the key to the future. The study of history is a great reflection of this concept and one that I strive in achieving in my research. The goal of my capstone project, “Dialogues of Zionism and Its Oppositions as
Discussed in the Menorah Journal,” was to reveal past arguments and how similar they are to current-day discussions on Zionism. With the guidance of my mentor, Professor John Dixon, I compiled articles submitted to the Journal that either supported or opposed the creation of a Jewish state and broke down their arguments to relate their modern-day relevance. The Menorah Journal formed as an extension of the Menorah Society, a club started by Jewish students at Harvard University. The Menorah Society later expanded in a network of
clubs in college campuses across the United States and eventually formed the Menorah
Journal, a public space for discussion regarding Jewish life in the modern world. I focused on
the years 1915-1926, as this was when mass Jewish immigration was severely limited and
therefore led to Jewish people to question whether the United States was the best place for
Jews to live. Eventually, this led to talks about creating a separate Jewish state based on all
sorts of factors such as culture, politics, nationalism, and spirituality.
Since there were so many facets of Zionism that I did not expect until I delved into my
research, I struggled to properly simplify the arguments in a way that would make readers who
are not familiar with the topic have an easier time understanding my work. Not only this, but I
was also worried that I would not be able to do this project justice. Zionism has been a heavy
topic for centuries, and has only been gaining traction as current events emerge. Initially, my
goal was to help others see how similar past discussions of Zionism were, but I ended up
learning that they are nearly identical in framework and ideology. Because of this, I worked
really hard to include as many sides of these arguments as well as research from other scholars
to have a well-rounded essay.
I am glad I had the opportunity to work on this project. As someone who hopes to
continue their academic pursuits, this was a great learning opportunity to see what being a
historian entails. Through the progression of my research, more and more questions that I did
not anticipate having began to surface. This led me to expanding my research to include
answers to those questions. Working on a project like this one taught me to be more
open-minded and curious when writing historic essays because it results in a more detailed and
satisfactory paper.

Infant’s Emotions during the Mobile Conjugate Reinforcement

Yulin Yu, Verrazzano Class of 2024, completed major in Psychology with minors in Disabilities Studies and Sociology/Anthropology

During the Fall 2022 semester, I joined the Child Development Lab. I was interested in studying the development of infants, especially infants in Tajikistan because these infants are cradled in a gahvora. The gahvora is a cradle that restricts the infants' posture and movement for extended periods of time. I was interested in studying how this practice could affect Tajik infants, because restriction in the gahvora may reduce their emotional reactivity.

Before I could even start analyzing, I needed to learn how to code videos using Datavyu. With the help of the graduate students in the lab, I learned how to code and started to begin coding videos in the spring semester. During that semester, I developed a coding manual with information regarding how to code positive, neutral, and negative vocalizations. I was able to code the infant’s emotional reactivity while they conducted the conjugate reinforcement task where infants have one of their legs tethered to an overhead mobile. When the infant kicked, the mobile would move making the infant want to kick more to get reinforcement.

The two specific areas I wanted to focus on were on the baseline and extinction trial where kicking did not give them reinforcement. I expected that Tajik infants would show more vocalizations during the last trial because they were frustrated that the mobile was no longer reinforcing their behavior. 

A Recession Renaissance

Brayan Diaz, Verrazzano Class of 2024, completed major in Business Finance

The purpose of my research paper was to explore the behaviors of different investment instruments during a recession, the months leading towards a recession, and the months after a recession to identify when and what would be best to potentially invest in during these times.

Some of the instruments of my focus were stocks, bonds, and CDs. My project explored what exactly a recession is, taking a deeper dive into what these instruments are, and most importantly it briefly explored what has happened in recent history to investments in these instruments that were made during, before or after a recession.  The goal was ultimately to uncover whether the investments went up or down in value significantly.

My thinking in choosing a capstone project was to choose something that would benefit me in some way. I also thought how when most people think of recession, all these negative thoughts come into their heads. In my case, there was a sense of regret in myself from the previous recession (during Covid-19) that I hadn’t taken the massive opportunity to invest my money in the stock market when prices were low and seeing how certain stocks have had massive returns in the years after.

I wanted to write a paper that could perhaps change the way younger people like me view a recession. I had already known at the time I began my capstone that I would be doing an internship at a bank named HSBC for the summer. I wanted to choose a topic that I could build more knowledge on throughout the internship. After completing my capstone, along with my internship experience, I am more aware of different things out in the market to invest in when I have the chance.

With the current events going on in the Middle East and Ukraine, speculation about a recession is heating up again. I hope my paper can act as an eye opener and as a source of knowledge to take advantage of different capital markets when the next recession hits the country.

The NYPD

Angye Galan, Verrazzano Class of 2023, completed major in Sociology/Anthropology with minors in Business Management and Italian

This capstone aims to dissect the NYPD and educate people about the current reality of the institution. It is argued that the department is in dire need of police officers, due to members of the service retiring and/or leaving the force. The research focuses on understanding the NYPD as an organization by drawing on the theoretical constructs of Organizational Behavior such as Gareth Morgan’s “Images of Organizations.” Factors studied include the quality of the workplace, high demands, problems due to low staff, and quality of life. As a cadet at the NYPD and working with different ranks from police officers to inspectors, I’ve observed members of the service's daily working environment and analyzed the organization's functions. I studied how the NYPD has developed over the years, its current struggles, and what will be necessary for its sustainable survival to keep New York City safe.

During my capstone research, I learned so much about the NYPD. As an NYPD cadet I was able to interact and experience the ins and outs of the NYPD, at the precinct level. I was surrounded by all ranks of the department, from police officers to inspectors. During my research, I was able to observe the daily duties of police officers, officers on patrol, specialized units, sergeants, and so on. My first-hand experience has educated me about the NYPD, and all of the hard work they put in every day. During my research, I had the opportunity to work with my mentor, Professor Isabell Rechburg from Business Management. She was able to guide me throughout my research and help make correlations to different theories I studied.

I am extremely grateful for the work and what this internship has provided. In working with New York’s finest I have the opportunity to work with many different mentors that I treasure. I’ve met many people and networked through the precinct. It was always my dream to become a police officer, and this opportunity has opened many doors. It made me realize that even though times are bad, the members of service always strive to give back to the community as first responders. I’ve learned that there many are many opportunities in the NYPD if you work hard.

This internship truly opened my eyes, and now more than ever I want to become a police officer. My career is in the New York Police Department, and thanks to this internship I feel prepared and more educated about the department. I am extremely grateful to be a Police Cadet, and grateful for what this research and experience have taught me. Therefore, I’m happy to say that I will be joining the NYPD’s July 2023 academy class to become a police officer.

Humanities III: Modern Cultures Reflection

Danie Duka, Verrazzano Class of 2023, completed major in SLS (Birth-2)

In the SLS 303 Humanities III: Modern Cultures, we delved into an exploration of the significance of "love" as a symbol of personal liberation and gender equality in the early 20th century China and Japan.

Through this course I engaged with the complex ideas surrounding love and its manifestations in early modern China and Japan. I reflected on topics such as the formation of the self and individual subjectivity, and how women's romantic experiences and gender roles are represented by male authors in response to changing historical, political, and socio-economic circumstances.

This course involved an analysis of a range of media including fiction, film, autobiographies, and documentaries produced in China and Japan during the early 20th century. Through these texts, we explored vital issues such as women's lives, education, and experiences in China and Japan, as well as the portrayal of gender and identity in literature; both through the lens of female writers and male authors. We investigated the patterns, politics, and contexts that inform these narratives, as well as how national movements intersect with the construction of gender identities.

In examining these texts and documentaries, I strengthened my analytical and critical thinking skills, enabling me to better question and engage with an author's intentions. Writing and presenting my thoughts on the readings, I gained insights into how to analyze, support, and relate to the ideas of others on this topic, providing me with an enhanced understanding of modern-day implications.

 

The Effects of COVID-19 on K-12 Education

Nicholas Marino, Verrazzano Class of 2023, completed major in Psychology

While thinking about what to research for my Capstone Project, I knew I wanted to make it about something that was current and relevant. I wanted it to be something that I experienced, connected with, and related to. After I set those standards for myself, the research topic became abundantly clear. Myself, my graduating class, my friends, and family all experienced the pandemic, and all had to adapt to the unfortunate circumstances. However, at that time I was in my second year of college and wasn’t quite aware of the effects that COVID-19 had on students in grades K-12. The change from in-person learning to remote learning changed how education had to be given to students. Taking everything into account; my interest in this topic, and my personal connection to it, it was an awesome experience being able to depict the specific effects of the pandemic on education.

To perfectly capture the long-term effects on education, I had to categorize and separate each role individually. For example, in my research I had sections dividing students, teachers, and faculty. Each role had their own breakdown of the negative effects that COVID-19 had on them, ranging from performance to mental health. Essentially, I learned that the pandemic had only negative long-term effects on these groups. Students experienced an alarming decrease in grades, paired with an increase in mental health issues like depression and anxiety. Teachers experienced a change in their motivation and dedication towards their job, with an increase in mental health issues.

My capstone project allowed to me understand the importance of the education system and what the implications would be if the normal routine is changed. Switching from in-person learning to remote learning has an long lasting impact on society. Students will be expected to carry on to the next grade without being prepared, creating a domino effect that will roll over in their future education. However, with proper attention and providing essential services to students, it is possible to give every student a chance to get back on track with their curriculum. Without a doubt, further research will be needed in the following years to evaluate how students who withstood the pandemic are tackling their future education or careers.

The Impact of Mentoring on Undergraduate Students' Admittance into Medical and PA Schools

 Mina Soliman, Verrazzano Class of 2023, completed major in Psychology and minor in Biology

Mentorship is a crucial aspect of any student's academic journey, and its impact on undergraduate students' admittance into medical and PA schools. Many of the students who wish to attend medical and PA schools have no guidance in their undergraduate years causing many to give up on their dreams and even drop out of college. Dr. Grozdena Yilmaz explained to me that the lack of mentoring students in their undergraduate years can lead to a students’ failure in any career.

During my studies and research, I found that having a mentor can help you launch an early successful college career. I believe that schools should establish a mentoring program for undergraduate students to assist and remove some barriers, which will guarantee a college students' success in professional schools. By offering undergraduate students a mentoring program that benefits them and points them in the proper direction, these issues might be resolved. The mentors can educate their students by working with undergraduate students and make sure the students fulfill all the requirements for admission to the graduate program in healthcare of their choice. They might also be familiar with the employment prospects for various healthcare professions.

This research experience with Dr. Yilmaz helped me understand the impact of mentorship on an undergraduate students' admittance into medical and PA schools. Through this research were able to understand how mentoring provides guidance, support, and encouragement, while also helping students achieve their goals and succeed in their academic and professional pursuits.

Creating a Smart Cane for the Elderly

Jeremy Bodin, Verrazzano Class of 2023, completed major in Electrical Engineering

When coming to the College of Staten Island to study Electrical Engineering my goals were to work hard and acquire enough knowledge in the field to be able to make a difference in people’s lives. In my senior year I spoke with Asher, a fellow Verrazzano student, about research pertaining to the elderly and the issues they go through on a day-to-day basis. It was really eye-opening to learn about the elderly’s struggles with falling and how many of these falls result in injuries and/or worse, and about their struggles with keeping a healthy Beats Per Minute (BPM) and the issues than an elevated BPM can cause.

The research led Asher and I to create the “Smart Cane”. We were inspired to create a cane with multiple technological enhancements that would mitigate the issues that we had learned about. The plan for the project was to create three different subsystems that could help the elderly in their day-to-day lives. The first subsystem was denoted as the Distance Monitoring Subsystem, which can observe upcoming obstacles using an Ultrasonic sensor and alert the user of the cane using vibration motors and a buzzer that work at different frequencies depending on the distance measured. The second subsystem was the Beats Per Minute monitoring subsystem which can measure the user’s Beats Per Minute (BPM). If the measured value is greater than 100 BPM it sends a message to an application that a caretaker or relative can monitor. The third subsystem was denoted as the LED Flashlight subsystem, which utilized a push button on the handle of the cane to turn on and off LEDs contained at the ground level of the cane to assist the user in the dark.

There are many things Asher and I talked about doing with the “Smart Cane” that weren’t achievable due to time constraints and with having a very limited budget. If the project were to be continued, we would have added a speaker to subsystem 1 that outputs the distance of the objects detected by the Ultrasonic sensor through verbal direction. Our original plan was to utilize 3D printing to create the model for the cane; however, we ultimately opted to use a Swiffer as it offered us the ability to store the circuitry at the bottom of the “Smart Cane”. There are other issues that the elderly face that we could have looked into developing subsystems for.

The development of the “Smart Cane” not only provided me with information I was unaware of in relation to the elderly, but also with knowledge pertaining to the field I studied for four years. The capstone project helped me learn how to code using Arduino IDE. It also helped me learn about components such as the Ultrasonic sensor, HC-05 Bluetooth module, and Pulse sensor, all which have fascinating inner workings and could be components I work with as I continue my journey deeper into the field of Engineering.

Development of the Maglev Focus Fan

Jubal Noel, Verrazzano Class of 2023, completed major in Electrical Engineering BS

The development of the Maglev Focus Fan as a capstone project presented a challenging yet exhilarating experience that stretched my abilities to their limits. My partner, Jediah Noel, and I both share a deep fascination for magnetic levitation technology, and we aimed to revolutionize the conventional household fan by incorporating it into a futuristic design. This project served as an opportunity to apply all the engineering skills I had acquired throughout my academic journey, and it further enabled me to refine my critical thinking capabilities as I navigated through various obstacles.

Throughout the duration of this project, a significant portion of my time was devoted to researching and collating information. Given the limited availability of resources pertaining to our unique project, the process of sourcing relevant data was very challenging. Throughout these obstacles, I was able to acquire a host of practical skills, including the ability to effectively look through technical data sheets, select appropriate integrated circuitry, and synthesize key principles of physics in the realization of a novel design. Though several of my initial ideas regarding magnetic levitation were met with failure, it was ultimately my tenacity and persistence in pursuit of our objectives that drove me forward.

Despite encountering numerous obstacles along the way, I was able to persevere and surmount each challenge. Although we were not able to fully realize every envisioned feature for our fan design, a significant proportion of our original concepts were successfully integrated. Our Maglev Focus Fan leverages cutting-edge magnetic propulsion technology and incorporates several automated features that have the potential to revolutionize conventional household fan design. I am confident that the innovative concepts embodied in this project has the potential to shape the future of the industry in significant ways.

The capstone project proved to be a valuable learning experience that has equipped me for my future professional pursuits. I acquired a lot of skills that are essential to my career. Throughout the project's duration, I was challenged in various ways, but the rewards of overcoming each hurdle facilitated my personal and professional development. Overall, the experience was both challenging and rewarding, and I emerged from it with a newfound sense of confidence in my abilities to make a positive impact in my chosen field.

Gaining Confidence to Present Through Research

Jediah Noel, Verrazzano class of 2023, completed major in Electrical Engineering

When I first started college, I dreaded the thought of having to complete a capstone and present it at a conference. I never thought of myself as a good speaker, and I couldn’t envision myself accomplishing the task at that time. I ended up putting it at the back of my mind and eventually forgot about it until my senior year. However, upon completing the project (Solving Excessive Power Consumption in Fans) and seeing the amount of effort I put into it and the support from my peers and mentors, I was actually excited to present it at the conference. I loved the friendly environment and the opportunity to share and explain my research to the college community.

I’m grateful for the extensions given to my partner and me for submitting our capstone and poster. With the extra time given, I was able relieve stress and really make the poster and capstone the best they could be.

I’m thankful for both Professor Jessica Jiang and Professor Dwight Richards. Professor Dwight really helped give us direction with the research in our first semester. Professor Jessica Jiang helped in our second semester with the creation of our poster, and the finalizing of our project. Working with them both was a blessing and I'm happy they were my mentors.

I’m glad Dr. Neo Antoniades allowed my brother to be my partner. Normally, brothers aren’t typically allowed to work on the same project. However, since he knew us both from a previous semester and how well we worked together, he approved. Working together with my brother allowed us to learn from each other's research and test components together. We didn’t have to worry about having to meet up as we lived in the same household.

Overall, I’m just thrilled with our results, experience at the conference, and support from Verrazzano. I’m very proud of our efforts and accomplishment. Thank you Verrazzano and the College of Staten Island.

Researching the Prevalence of Microplastics in Marine Environments

Alexander Pascone, Verrazzano Class of 2023, completed major in Biology with minors in Chemistry and Biochemistry

From the start of college, I had no idea what I would write about for my capstone, which caused me to dread the experience. This all changed when I met Dr. William G. Wallace, my lab professor for a summer ecology course. He proposed the idea of me helping a master’s student that he was mentoring in the marine biology lab. I took him up on his offer and began to volunteer in the lab assisting with the process of separating small worms from samples of mud. It sounds incredibly boring, but honestly it was great.

I became familiar with the everyday processes of a biology lab, and was introduced to research regarding the impact of microplastics on marine organisms that was being conducted by Christine Bruno, a PhD. student who was being mentored by Dr. Wallace.

After the summer semester ended, I set up a meeting between Christine, Dr. Wallace, and me. At this meeting we deliberated and came up with the idea of measuring the impact of microplastics on the settling velocity of fecal strands from marine grass shrimp. During this process I researched the prevalence of microplastics in marine environments and was absolutely floored to find out that 33 billion pounds of plastic enter the ocean annually.

When I began preliminary research, I continued to familiarize myself with the operations of a biology lab and took a lab safety course and finally began conducting research. I looked forward to gathering data every day to uncover the results of the spread of microplastics.

During this entire process I realized how enjoyable research can be and I am forever grateful for the opportunity that Dr. William Wallace, Christine Bruno, Brittany Stanton, and of course, the Verrazzano Honors Program provided.

AI and Machine Learning with Robotics

 Avi Szczupakiewicz, Class of 2023, completed major in Engineering Science

The journey began with brainstorming for everyday problems and common issues. After reaching out to a former teacher and mentor, I was given the answer which was about people in their school putting recyclables in the wrong bins. I decided that Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning with Robotics was the answer.

Through my research, I found a program that allowed me to capture videos of the items I wanted to be trained and recognized. Unfortunately, the program lost support, and I couldn't export the file, so I had to scrap that idea. I then found a Google Colab file that allowed me to create an Object Detection Model, but it was a slow and tedious process that had to be done manually.

After hours of manually training the model, I had the files I needed. I then reused many parts the school already had, including a Raspberry Pi 3, rails, and a motor, which helped me save money. However, I had to purchase a few bins, a second motor, and a stepper driver, and I already owned the rest of the necessary parts like wires and plugs.

I believe that future adaptations of this project could benefit from a Raspberry Pi 4 as AI is computationally demanding. At the current state of the project, I have the proof of concept working on a small scale and in the future it could be adapted to full sized bins and in every school and office.

Overall, I learned that senior projects are an essential milestone in the academic life of students, culminating all the knowledge and skills they have acquired throughout their academic journey. Through the development of the Smart Recycle project, I gained knowledge of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and hardware components including cameras, sensors, motors, and microcontrollers, as well as the development of custom software to control and coordinate these components.

I am confident that the Smart Recycle project has the potential to improve the efficiency and accuracy of recycling, reducing contamination and promoting sustainability, and I am proud of the work I have accomplished throughout its development.

Researching Pre-Eclampsia and Its Effects on Non-Hispanic Black Women (NHBW)

Michelle Avila, Verrazzano Class of 2023, completed major in Nursing

When I first began thinking about doing my capstone project, I was not sure what route to take. As a nursing major and someone who was interested in different types of nursing, I wanted to research almost every new thing I learned.

It wasn't until after my maternity rotation that I fell in love with maternity care and was very interested in investigating this specific area. I had a patient who was diagnosed with a pregnancy issue known as pre-eclampsia, and I was curious to learn more about it. During lectures when this topic came up I not only learned the pathophysiology but I learned that non-Hispanic Black women (NHBW) are more prone to this issue.

After I completed this class I knew I wanted to investigate this topic further. During the next semester, I took a women's health class, which dived into the many health disparities and inequities women face, specifically non-Hispanic Black women. I learned about the social determinants of health that affect these women, which in turn leads to a decrease in their quality of life.

After taking this class and getting to know my professor (who became my mentor), I knew that I wanted to find a correlation between pre-eclampsia in NHBW and the effects that the social determinants of health have on them.

As a nurse, a want to ensure that I am always providing the best quality care possible and am following current standards and evidence-based practice. I wanted to shed light on this issue because it is so crucial for nurses to be aware of the many health disparities NHBW face and how we can provide effective care and refer them to available resources.

If I were to further this research, I would love to be able to bring this awareness to institutions for nurses to utilize. Implementing new education for nurses to be aware of the social determinants of health impacts on women would aid with improving disparities and the high morbidity and mortality rates women face.

This capstone allowed me to branch out of my comfort zone and dive deep into the literature. It taught me that as a nurse I have a huge role to play in access to healthcare and that I can be a valuable resource for many women in need.

 

The Impact of Play-based Teacher Education Courses on Pre-service ECE Teachers

Sydney Saulino, Verrazzano Class of 2023, completed major in SLS (Birth-2) 

Through developing and completing my research project, I learned about the academic research process and gained a deeper understanding of my topic, which is the Play-Based Approach (PBA) in the field of Early Childhood Education (ECE).

PBA is the learning and teaching that takes place through play. As stated by educational thinker John Dewey, “Give the pupils something to do, not something to learn; and the doing is of such a nature as to demand thinking; learning naturally results.” This quote applies directly to my research, as I acquired practical experience in the ECE field which in turn, deepened my understanding of play in ECE. I engaged in play-based activities, which were facilitated by my professors, to learn the involved steps.

I investigated how pre-service ECE teachers' understanding of PBA was impacted by their participation in a play-based teacher education course. I also learned how to evaluate data, formulate justified opinions about the data, analyze academic articles, and combine this information to write an academic research paper.

The skills I developed from the research process (e.g., time management, research, data collection, and writing concisely) will be extremely beneficial in my personal and professional life. Writing my research paper and analyzing the data was a complex process, but it helped me grow as a writer, student, researcher, and future ECE teacher.

After completing this project, I plan to publish my research and continue researching. I envision that the project could be developed further by analyzing how PBA affects student learning in comparison to other teaching methods in ECE settings. After taking the play-based teacher education course and learning the advantages of PBA, I was inspired to incorporate this pedagogical approach into my future classroom to meet the learning needs of my students.

The Art of Mathematics Education

Kristiana Nicotra, Verrazzano Class of 2023, completed major in Mathematics Education (7-12)

When I first discussed my capstone idea with my advisor, I was thrilled to hear that I could incorporate artwork into my project. It was a welcome opportunity to weave one of my passions into a project which revolved around my college studies over the past four years.

Professor Alanna Gibbons gave me so much guidance over the years as I sought to learn more about what it takes to become a caring and effective math teacher, and I was grateful to have her as a mentor for my capstone. I chose to focus upon several of the pedagogical methods used by educators to counter “math anxiety” in the classroom: differentiation, purposeful planning, and academic equity.

In the process of developing and completing my project I was also working as a student teacher in a middle school on Staten Island. Delving more deeply into the methodologies that mathematics teachers utilize helped me to create a more positive learning environment for my own students as well.

For instance, I found intriguing ways to differentiate lessons for my students, such as highlighting the main points of lengthy word problems for those who may struggle a bit more with the content, while providing higher level questions for students who finish working more quickly to challenge themselves with.

As for purposeful practice, I always try to incorporate group work time so that students can talk through new ideas and work out problems with one another. They may gain a better understanding of the material, but they may also come to think more deeply about it, as well.

I have also been putting mathematics into meaningful contexts for the class as well, whether it be incorporating students into realistic mathematical scenarios within word problems or with popular video game characters. I have been receiving input from my classes about things to include in my lessons, and I am happy to carry out their requests so as to make the lessons more personal to them.

With regard to academic equity, I have made note of the diverse backgrounds of my students and incorporated information about their different cultures into lessons. Indeed, sharing a survey with my students about their backgrounds and interests helped me very much in learning more about them as individuals. Taking into account their situations and any struggles they may be having, I tailor my lessons and interventions so that I may best uphold all students to high expectations and help them to achieve these goals with strong support.

I feel that if I continued this research, my project could indeed be developed further through extended studies of different techniques used in teaching mathematics. For instance, there are a number of theories on the way in which students learn, including behaviorism, cognitive, constructivism, connectivism, and humanism. Delving deeper into these theories would certainly be enlightening for educators and learners alike, as they allow us to better understand and apply the ways that we as people learn best, whether we are helping others learn or learning something new ourselves.

I would also be interested in perhaps extending my research into how art can be used to help teach mathematics, as the two subjects share significant connections than may first meet the eye. Indeed, there are a number of potential routes my project could take if I were to branch out my research on mathematics education.

This project has definitely embodied the culmination of my academic and intellectual experience over my past four years in the Verrazzano Honors Program. It was wonderful getting to contribute my artistic interpretations of my research, as well. Not only did I have the opportunity to reflect on my learning as a mathematics education student, but to do so in a way that also incorporates a bit of myself into the project through my art.

Utilizing the Process of Heuristic Education for Research Project

Meiyuan Lin, Verrazzano Class of 2023, completed majors in Business Finances, Economics, and minor in Chinese

The process of my capstone cultivated ideas of meaningful research, compiling subjects’ significant concepts and theories into one paper. Some of the components came from previous courses which included economics, accounting, finance, and psychology. It was an advantage to be able to build my ideas over a period of time.

Even though it didn’t require specific writing, a topic popped up in my mind when I learned about the capstone requirement. “How to Value Securities and Mitigating Risks” relates to the realm of security investment or financial management.

The research process functioned on heuristic education; giving a mission with clearing goals but not intrusion, which drove me to review and summarize class work, and compose my project in a free frame of restriction. From time to time, I accumulated outlines from research and amalgamated concepts into the classroom. I deep dived into financial statements analysis and studied how to interpret a firm’s management discussions and disclosures to review business conditions. I attended investment practitioner meetings to learn strategies from senior analysts.

I learned many things from my research. Most of all, the project stimulated to me to grasp pivotal concepts from classes and research. I jotted notes with incentives, and I collected terminologies to organize phrases. To elaborate on my capstone project, I read many books and textbooks including the "Interpretation of Financial Statements", which was written by the famous value investor Benjamin Graham, who was the teacher of Warren Buffett, the successful value investor and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway.

This project was helpful for me as it constituted learning skills and clarified theories in classrooms. Although it was a complicated project, the process benefitted me to finish the work over time. Phrase by phrase, paragraph by paragraph, I finally smoothed the discussions to be a condensed security investment research paper, which I believe will be beneficial to learners who are interested in the securities investment area.

What a great process! The heuristic model is a technique not only for learning and teaching, but also for cooperation and management. I will elaborate on the model if there is another opportunity.

Oysters: How Nature-Based Infrastructure May Be the Answer to Staten Island's Eroding Coastline

Nancy McKeown, Verrazzano Class of 2023, completed major in Biology 7-12

Staten Island is often referred to as “the forgotten borough.” However, with historic changes on the horizon, it will soon be known for its innovative approach to nature-based infrastructure. Over the past decade, the topic of climate change and historic environmental events has become prevalent in conversation nationally and internationally. This is especially true for Staten Island residents following Superstorm Sandy in 2012. The immediate devastation to families could be seen through photos of decimated homes and recounts of escaping rising waters during the storm’s surging waters. In recent years, researchers have been able to document the aftereffects to the Staten Island coastline and the increased rate of erosion facing communities residing in the area.

After learning about the Billion Oyster Project in 2015, I was fascinated by their work. Their goal was to restore oyster reefs to the New York Harbor and bring ecological solutions to Staten Island through their project, Living Breakwaters. Combined with my love for science and educating the next generation, their mission of “restoration without education is temporary” stuck with me. This led me to develop my Capstone, “Oysters: How Nature-Based Infrastructure May Be the Answer to Staten Island's Eroding Coastline.” Through my research, I investigated how Staten Island’s urban livability is affected by the eroding coastline and how we can address the importance of student involvement in solving ecological issues within their community.

During the process of completing my Capstone, I investigated how nature-based infrastructure offers benefits ecologically and societally. I discovered the “Room for the River” initiative that began in 2007 in Nijmegen, Netherlands. This project described a city similar to Staten Island where more than half of the population resided in flood-prone areas. Upon understanding how they utilized nature-based infrastructure to assist with restoring the main river’s natural flood plains, I found the initiative offered long-term community benefits.

As a combined portion of my research, I explored how students could become directly involved in solving local ecological issues while also learning about how oysters played a critical role in Staten Island’s history. This led me to delve into the vast history of Sandy Ground, the first free Black community in New York and the oldest continuously inhabited free black community in the country. I was amazed by the deep-rooted history Sandy Ground encompassed including how their local church served as a stop on the Underground Railroad. Their community prided themselves on their involvement in the oyster industry and self-sufficiency ranging from basket weaving for the oystermen to self-taught blacksmiths. After learning the crucial role Sandy Ground played in the socio-ecological landscape of oysters in New York Harbor, I knew students should be given the opportunity to learn about these initiatives in a cross-curricular manner.

If I had the opportunity in the future, I would extend my research to develop Aquaculture classes available to students in urban public schools on Staten Island. Through this class, students would be able to dive deeper into environmental science, water chemistry, and marine biology in the classroom directly related to their community. Additionally, the class would offer students the opportunity to participate in a career and technical education program (CTE) where they could extend their knowledge into work-related fields.

Growing up on Staten Island, I realized several years ago that I never had the opportunity to learn about the history encompassing the borough. This project allowed me to dive deeper into the ecological initiatives on the horizon while also examining the history of Sandy Ground in correlation to the oyster trade. By utilizing the scientific information I’ve obtained from my research, I will continue to encourage students to connect with their community and fall in love with the environment around them.

Inflation and Its Effects on the Economy

Annie Liu, Verrazzano Class of 2023, completed majors in Accounting and Business Finance

For my capstone project I researched inflation, its impact on the economy, and how we could protect ourselves during these periods. As a finance major, inflation was a topic taught in many of my classes, and it was interesting to see how it appeared to have a link to different parts of the economy.

One of the major reasons for choosing this topic would be the current economy, as we are currently going through a phase of inflation. One of the leading factors that led to this inflation was the impact of the pandemic.

The federal government has a monetary policy to lower and control inflation levels, although it may not always be effective. The current policy is to increase the federal funds rate to tighten the movement of money within the economy, which is expected to succeed. I also learned about how the actions of the federal reserve in controlling inflation could have a domino effect on the economy. Increasing the cost of borrowing between banks will lead to more expensive loans for businesses and individuals borrowing from the bank, in addition to affecting the bond market.

Even though we as individuals may not be able to control inflation, there are ways we can protect against it. Through my research, I learned about securities like Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS), and using gold to protect the value of our money. Besides protection, I also learned of some ways that we could utilize inflation to our advantage, such as buying real estate whose value has dropped.

If I were to continue with my research, I would look into ranking the securities from best to worst that could be purchased in times of inflation. This research paper allowed me to understand the objectives that I learned in class from a real-life perspective.

Lessons Learned Working in a Lab

Lily Samborska Verrazzano Class of 2023, completed major in Ecology, Evolutjon & Behavioral Biology and minor in Philosophy

Joining a lab for my capstone was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences during my time at CSI. After taking Cell Biology with Professor LaMassa in 2022, I asked to join her lab to see if I could contribute something valuable enough to use for my capstone.

Working in an environment that is so completely out of your comfort zone forces you to reevaluate whether or not the challenge is worthwhile. Despite reading the recommended journals that were assigned to me in order to learn about the lab’s previous findings and future goals, I still felt uncomfortable with the material as there was so much that was foreign to me. Over time though, I became acquainted with other members of the lab and picked up on their techniques. I also got to see how supportive they were of each other, as they helped keep each other’s cells alive during the week, took turns restocking materials, and showed up to celebrate each other’s birthdays and achievements.

A lot went wrong with my project; I changed it multiple times and had to deal with tedious obstacles. The cell line I was using required special attention, and after accidentally sub-culturing them too low density on one occasion, I had to wait three weeks for them to grow enough to continue my project. I also had to work around a busy schedule, going to the lab on weekends, holidays, or after a ten-hour workday. Although this wasn’t required, I felt it was necessary in order to produce the highest quality of work possible.

Despite any setbacks I faced, I began to love the time spent in the lab by myself, and found myself asking questions to further understand the subject even though it had nothing to do with my own future goals or career.

My favorite part of the experience was learning to use the Leica SP8 confocal microscope. When it was finally time to use the microscope and take images of my results, it felt so rewarding to be physically shown that my efforts paid off. When working with something as delicate and stubborn as cells, it is possible to technically do everything right and still be left with poor results. The number of cells I’ve worked on and taken photos of only to discard because they weren’t good enough, is humbling. Gaining confidence in using the microscope and repeating laboratory techniques helped me take charge of my project.

By pressing forward and being stubborn, I have gained a whole new set of skills that will undoubtedly aid me in laboratory settings in veterinary school, and I possibly may even consider continuing research in graduate school as a result.

This experience has left me with a newfound confidence in my ability to persevere through academic challenges. It challenged my bad habit of procrastinating schoolwork and forced me to be proactive to give myself the best chances of success. Despite it for the most part being an uphill climb, it feels fantastic to be finished and wonder what I could have done better.

I hope that when choosing a lab or mentor, students will take it as a challenge for themselves and use it to become more well-rounded. The experience will also hopefully leave you with deep connections and appreciation for research as well.

Breast Cancer and Gene Expression Patterns

Lara Anastasia Colombo, Verrazzano Class of 2023, completed major in Biology and minor in Psychology

My deep fascination with medicine stems back to childhood. From a young age, I vividly recall my admiration growing over time for physicians as well as their white coats and stethoscopes draped around their necks.

I entered college as a pre-med student, with a major in general biology and a minor in psychology. I began forming a strong foundation as early as my first semester of college, which allowed me to pursue an area of research that captivated me.

In my sophomore year I was introduced to my mentor, Dr. Nancy Liu-Sulllivan, whose guidance tremendously enhanced my research experience for the next three years. My participation in the CUNY Research Scholars Program facilitated this introduction. After completing the program with two years of research and presenting numerous times at the associated conferences, I was equipped to formulate and delve deeper into my capstone project.

The primary focus of my capstone involved investigating and comparing patient survival with gene expression patterns of HLA Class I gene expression in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Despite all the progress made, cancer remains a challenging disease. Aggressive cancer types, MBC and GBM, continue to pose a challenge to treatment efficacy and overall patient survival. For context, human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) are vital for the immune system to thrive due to the ability to regulate immune responses as well as detect foreign cells or agents that are then transferred to T-cell receptors. Understanding the role of HLAs helps better characterize and understand how these aggressive cancer types evade immune defense. This information is also beneficial in providing potential candidates for therapeutic targets in glioblastoma multiforme and metastatic breast cancer.

In my college career I had a desire to attain leadership positions, particularly one tied to a cause that resonated with me. In my junior year, I was a club council representative of the American Lung Cancer Screening Initiative Club and I was elected president my senior year. As president, it allowed me to further my research pursuits with a similar area of study, another aggressive cancer type. This capstone project gave me the opportunity to tie all that I have learned throughout these past four years into one paper as well as an additional presentation. This area of study is remarkably rewarding since the findings of statistically significant over- or under-expressed HLA Class I genes along with exploring the potential influence cytokines may have on HLA genes could help shed more light on the interaction between immunity and cancer.

Researching the Change from Analog to Digital Editing

John Wilson, Verrazzano Class of 2023, completed major in Cinema Studies and minors in Design & Digital Media and Italian

Through researching for my capstone project, I’ve learned so much more about editing than I already knew. Film editing is a rich subject with a storied history spanning a century, so naturally there was a lot for me to learn about. Additionally, I was glad to learn about new ways to conduct academic research, as it helped me to gather various sources to use in my project.

The volume of academic articles and journals that exist in regards to editing in particular actually surprised me. I knew that there were a number of publications about making movies or the history of film, but I’ve recently learned that there’s actually a number of verified publications about editing in particular. My favorite publication was In the Blink of an Eye by Walter Murch. Being able to have the perspectives of one of the most famous editors in the history of film was highly influential to my project.

Lastly, I loved getting to use Star Wars as a case study, as it’s my favorite movie series. It has such a rich history in regards to editing, so it made for a perfect film to use as a study. I’m really glad to have had the opportunity to research the history and evolution of editing, as editing is one of my favorite parts of the filmmaking process. In all, I think this project has been an amazing learning opportunity for me.

Researching the Benefits of Exercise

Raphael Pollante, Verrazzano Class of 2023, completed major in Psychology and minor in Cinema Production

When I was deciding on a topic for my Verrazzano Honors capstone, I was told to find a topic that I was personally invested in, because I would be immersed with this topic for an entire school year. The only thing I could think of was that I am extremely passionate about exercise, primarily powerlifting.

After competing in my first powerlifting competition I realized how much I loved the sport, and how it made me feel joyful to be part of a community where everyone works to get stronger. Lifting completely changed my view on life because I am doing something to benefit me for the short-term and long-term.

Creating my hypothesis was probably the most difficult thing throughout the capstone process because lifting was too broad of a topic to discuss in terms of mental health. I decided that powerlifting, weightlifting and bodybuilding could be grouped as just exercise.

From there, I decided that resistance exercise and aerobic exercise are two forms of exercise that I see people working on at gyms, or on social media. I incorporated sub-sections of mental health to include how self-esteem, anxiety/depression, and body dysmorphia changes when a person participates in either resistance training, aerobic exercise, or both.

One thing that I learned while writing my capstone was that no matter the age, gender, ethnicity, or body type, we could all participate in any form of exercise, depending on what that person prefers.

Another thing I learned is that exercise can do so much for our mental health by making us feel good about ourselves, and making us more confident in our body. Exercise is inexpensive to do, and there are a wide range of options like powerlifting, calisthenics, running, swimming, etc.

If my project was to be developed further, I would make sure that the researchers had common knowledge between the different forms of exercise and how each exercise could affect the participants differently. I would also make sure that there is a large sample size in the experiment, as well as proper demographics for each participant before joining the experiment. To properly pursue this research, one needs to have baseline measurements throughout the experiment, as well as one year after the experiment.

All-in-all, I enjoyed writing the capstone because I was able to learn and understand reasons why people enjoy exercise, and how well it can benefit us by doing something that we enjoy. It was a tough process to complete, but I was able to do it and learn something new.

Engineering a Cane Assistant Prototype

Asher Abraham, Verrazzano Class of 2023, completed major in Electrical Engineering and minor in Mathematics

The moment I decided to choose electrical engineering as my major, I knew that I wanted to use the skills I would cultivate both in school and in internships to help improve upon the struggles that are faced by the general populace. One such struggle I’ve seen countless times when I’ve visited my grandfather is his difficulty walking around his house as he maneuvers around obstacles such as dog toys, boxes, and furniture. After seeing firsthand these struggles, I knew immediately that when my senior capstone came around, I would plan to make a project that would help my grandfather and the elderly alleviate the struggles they may face colliding with objects, as well as monitor their health.

This project began in the summer of my senior year, during my Embedded Systems class, which is where I completed the first subsystem. The first subsystem comprised an ultrasonic sensor that would measure the distance from the base of a cane which would then alert the user through vibration motors for a tactile response, as well as through different frequencies of buzzing noises to alert the user through audio. This allowed the user to have proper awareness of any objects or structures that they could possibly collide with.

After the summer class ended and I began my senior capstone project, I paired with my good friend Jeremy, and with our collective ideas, we improved upon the summer project by implementing two new subsystems. One of these subsystems would add a pulse sensor to the handle of the cane to record the user’s BPM and alert a pre-determined contact if their BPM had risen to an unsafe level. The second subsystem was the LED lights component, which would allow the user to use the Smart Cane at night by illuminating the path ahead.

We thought of adding this pulse sensor subsystem because elderly individuals are more prone to hypertension and instances of an increased heart rate that is usually caused by everyday stress as per WHO. This subsystem would ensure that at the exact moment that their heart rate becomes elevated, a loved one or caretaker would be aware of that through the use of a Bluetooth module that would communicate through the app, Ardutooth.

Throughout the project’s research, creation, and completion my partner and I overcame many struggles such as bugged code, faulty components, as well as many changes needed to bring this project to fruition. After completing this capstone, I learned firsthand after many ideas being bounced off by my partner and I, that we wouldn’t be solving the issues perfectly with our project because we were limited to a one-year timeline. Throughout the process, I was under the strong conviction that by the end of the project, we would be able to fully solve the issue with a remedy unlike any other to assist the elderly with unplanned collisions and ensure that they are being properly monitored for their well-being. This was of course a fallacy that I had believed because of the project’s research and how we were making strides with bringing the project to reality.

If I were to work on this project in the future with a longer timeline allowed for me, there are many changes I would implement on the project to make it as effective as possible. I would use a WIFI component for the Smart Cane which would be tied to an app on both Apple and Android’s app stores. Unlike the Bluetooth component that I have now, which is only available on the Android app store. Using the WIFI component, it would allow for contacts from anywhere in the world with WIFI or cellular data to be aware of there elderly loved one in medical need. Additionally, I would love to design my own version of the Smart Cane from scratch through the use of a 3D printer to fit every component perfectly as well as ensure that it’s perfectly sealed from the outside environment. This would ensure that rain, sleet, snow, and even dry conditions wouldn’t affect the circuity of the cane. Since our project is a prototype we were not able to design the sealed container due to the timeline of the capstone but this would be very useful when using the Smart Cane outside of a confined building.

This project holds a very special place to me, and if I ever had the opportunity in the future to work on and expand the project I would love to have the first user be my grandfather.

 

            

Studying Verbal Development with Tajik Children

 Nada Haikel, Verrazzano Class of 2023, completed major in Psychology & minor in Biology

 As a psychology student, I have always had an interest in child development. When I first came across the flyer for Dr. Karasik’s research lab, I figured it would be an interesting addition to my curriculum during my final year of undergraduate studies. Not only was it an intriguing culture and development research lab, but it also meant I wouldn’t have to take an extra class to complete my degree.

As I joined the lab and learned about the several ongoing projects Dr. Karasik had been working on, I quickly found myself interested in one regarding Tajik infants interacting with a novel toy in a longitudinal study. Working with several graduate and undergraduate students, we coded and discussed data until we completed the project in a matter of weeks.

Although I spent a majority of the first semester of my final year working on this project, it’s not what I decided to use for my capstone. Using the same data set, we developed more questions including the ones used for my capstone. Rather than looking at the development of Tajik children, we looked at the verbal information given by the mothers of the infants during this particularly challenging task.

When the time came to submit my capstone abstract, I remember panicking and not knowing what to write for a one-page double-spaced abstract on a project I had been working on for nearly two semesters. With a few encouraging words from Cheryl, I pushed through and finally submitted my abstract.

Looking back, it really shouldn’t have been that hard to write. After all, psychology majors don’t write 10-page papers to then get stuck on writing just one page. I am grateful for the experiences that I’ve had doing research with an incredible group of people and the having the best moral support system.

Researching ASD and Childhood Vaccinations

Kayla Le, Verrazzano Class of 2023, completed major in Biology with a minor in Music

Throughout my research experience, I learned an abundance of information that I was not aware of prior to beginning my research. Completing this project allowed me to gain insight on autism and factors relating to the condition, which is connected to my personal life. Clarity can be spread on the subject, as many people do not know of the signs and symptoms that a person may present.

The topic that was discussed in my project was the mechanism behind autism spectrum disorder, known as ASD, as well as the vaccination stigma that is connected with the condition. As I was searching for scientific journals and articles, it did not surprise me that there were numerous pieces of literature to support the neuronal pathway and components that occur in an individual with ASD, as opposed to someone that does not have it.

One of the main reasons why I decided to focus on this topic was because my younger sister has ASD and I already had a general understanding of the concept growing up with her. Many people often fail to recognize or admit that ASD can sometimes not be apparent immediately unless the individual is taken to a medical professional and properly diagnosed. However, I also wanted to provide information on this subject regarding vaccinations since parents are afraid of immunizing their children since they have this belief of childhood immunizations such as MMR, can cause the condition to surface in children under the age of 2. There have been multiple literature reviews that refute the claim that childhood vaccinations have a connection with ASD and that it is a means of genetics.

It is important for people to be educated on this subject in general so that they know what to expect for someone that possesses ASD. Along with being provided all this information, conducting this research has brought me closer to my sister as it brought a sense of appreciation for everything that she had to endure as she was growing up with various doctor’s appointments and medications. Allowing individuals to become aware of ASD will bring more unity in the community and open a door for individuals with other developmental disabilities.