Independent Study

Biology I.S. research contributes to scientific understanding of melanism in Abert’s squirrels

A little black squirrel with tufted ears caught the attention of Lake Barrett ’23, not because of the tufted ears, but because the squirrel […]

Digital history I.S. adds Indigenous voices to local history records

History has been a part of life for Glenna Van Dyke ’23 since being born into an Irish-American family in Pittsburgh. She took up […]

Wrong-way Icelandic puffins lead student researcher to follow the right path

When you love animals as a child, people often say “You should be a veterinarian when you grow up.” Megan Tuennerman ’22 heard this […]

Disciplined, creative thinker spotlights opportunity—not obstacles—in Black entrepreneurship

Living and breathing the game of basketball on a top-10 high school team gave Khaylen Mahdi ’22 the dream of playing at the Division […]

Siri-ously biased: Computer science major examines language models showing negativity toward LGBTQ+ terms

While studying at his Vietnamese high school, Bang Nguyen ’22 wanted to pursue a liberal arts education in the U.S. that empowered him to […]

Future clinical counselor gathers trauma research data from internship counseling clients

Karabella Hernandez ’22 knew she wanted to study psychology and become a counselor. She knew ��Vlog��ý was the place for her […]

Uniting Different Worlds Through Dance and Independent Study

Every August, students come to ��Vlog��ý from various locations – down the street, out of state, or even overseas – to […]

Connection revealed between epic poetry and toppling of confederate monuments

In his research on classical history and literature, Dante King finds relating the work to modern-day circumstances to be one of the most exciting […]

Jonas Short '21 with Pam Frese, professor of anthropology, and Tracy Cosgriff, assistant professor of art and art history, middle eastern, and North African studies

Perceiving artifacts from multiple lenses enhances meaning

For students with multiple majors like Jonas Short, Independent Study can act as an opportunity to combine multiple interests in a project they’re truly […]

Interviews reveal Latinx perception of BLM movement

When Natalia Parra ’21 decided to be a part of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests in Atlanta after the death of George Floyd […]

Intersecting interests in biology and religious studies inspire examination of how consumption affects success

Combining biology and religious studies, two fields that would seem to be at odds with each other, into one Independent Study project as a […]

Analyzing the Other Race Effect through I.S. research

Maresa Taté spent her senior year studying the Other Race Effect, which is the tendency for people to more accurately recognize faces within their race, rather than outside of their race. Taté focused her research on how external features and hair alterations affect this perception. Taté was able to develop a plan with her faculty mentor that met her needs specifically.

I.S. explores the impact of queer identity on Central American family life

For his Independent Study, Cesar Lopez sought to answer the question of how queer Central Americans go about reimagining new familial units and negotiate meaning in new relationships when they are confronted with the need to reconstruct a family. The sociology major interviewed several people who identify as queer and/or Central American to learn more about how they experience family life in the U.S. and how they actively engage in family construction or homebuilding for themselves.

I.S. analyzes youth suicide prevention techniques in New Zealand

Using topics close to her heart to drive research, Olivia Proe’s Independent Study focused on government suicide prevention initiatives aimed at youth in New Zealand. New Zealand has one of the highest youth suicide rates in the world, despite being ranked one of the happiest countries, so Proe set out to discover why that is and if the government does anything to address the issue.

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