Story by Christian Knoll
The annual Celebrate Undergraduate Research and Creativity (CURC), showcase allows undergraduate students from a range of University colleges and their corresponding majors to highlight their achievements in research and creativity with the support of faculty mentors. This year, the College of Health and Human Sciences had students from interior design, nutrition and food science, human development and family studies, social work and health and exercise science submit their research and creative projects.
Health and exercise science student Nicole Segaline was featured for her project comparing how much energy is expended sitting in a desk chair vs. on an exercise ball or standing at a desk. Read more about Segaline’s results.
Award-winning research and creativity
Out of the 17 CHHS students who showed their work, six won awards.
Social work student Sarah Bibbey was recognized with a University-wide cash award in the Social Justice and Diversity category.
Leadership Experiences of Disability Rights Advocates in Ghana (Social Justice & Diversity: Second Place)
Sarah Bibbey, Social Work
Faculty Adviser/Mentor: Zach Mercurio
The disability rights movement in Ghana is active in advocating for rights, promoting services and increasing access for people with disabilities. This study explored the leadership experiences and perceptions of Ghanaians who are active in the movement.
Soy Consumption and its Effect on Male Fertility (Research: College Highest Honors)
Autumn Dach, Maggie Jaeger and Stine Austgulen, Nutrition and Food Science
Faculty Adviser/Mentor: Colleen Burke, Nicole Litwin
In this study, student researchers found that consumption of soy or soy-based products can negatively influence the production of male reproductive cells. The information uncovered by this study can be applied to real-world scenarios, especially toward men who are vegetarian, vegan or attempting to procreate.
Validation of Smartphone-Based Assessment of Sit-To-Stand Power (Research: College High Honors)
Diego Andraca, William Beideman and Pashi Singh, Health and Exercise Science
Faculty Adviser/Mentor: Brian Tracy
The technology typically used to measure sit-to-stand power, the amount of effort one needs to move from a sitting position to a standing position, is expensive and inaccessible to most. To combat this, student researchers tested to see if readily accessible smartphone technology can be used to achieve the same goal. The study found that iPod/iPhone technology is advanced enough to measure sit-to-stand power in both male and female participants.
Photos from the CURC
Hospitality and Office Design (Research: College Honors)
Kimberly Bartlett, Interior Design
Faculty Adviser/Mentor: Katharine Leigh
A Preliminary Analysis of Preschool Aged Children’s Regulation, Emotion Understanding, and Mindfulness (Research: College Honors)
Morgan Dwyer and Mallory Kisner, Human Development Family Studies
Faculty Adviser/Mentor: Aimee Burnett, Karen Barrett
This study suggests that young children experience benefits in identification and appropriate expression of feelings through engagement in positive emotion-focused curricula. The study focuses on helping preschool aged children to better understand their emotions and the emotions of others.
Influence of Liposomal Vitamin C Ingestion on Heart Rate Variability Response to a High-Calorie Meal (Research: College Honors)
Moriah Hanson, Health and Exercise Science
Faculty Adviser/Mentor: Christopher Bell, Nate Grimm
In order to better understand the effects of nutrient transportation throughout the human body, a student researcher sought to understand how ingestion of vitamin C prior to eating a high-calorie meal effects the heart rates among individuals.
Congratulations to CHHS students CURC award winners, as well as all other student presenters and mentors. The projects show the diverse collection of creativity present among the wide range of disciplines in the College of Health and Human Sciences.
