Student Independent Research Symposium 2022

Welcome to the Virtual Symposium!

Students at three BCPS high schools were selected to participate in the Independent Research Seminar elective course this year, based on their commitment to following an advanced research process to conduct in-depth year long research. During this unprecedented school year, student researchers have worked collaboratively and independently, with learning facilitated by their library media specialists, faculty advisors, and expert mentors. Using the process and resources in our Research Framework, students were guided to explore an issue or problem, generate a research question, conduct a literature review, write a research proposal, and create a presentation of their conclusions for an audience. Research topics address a variety of subjects and are based on the students' own areas of interest. Given current gathering restrictions, students have recorded their presentations to share with the BCPS community and beyond in this Virtual Symposium format.

BCPS high school administrators, counselors, and library media specialists interested in offering the Independent Research Seminar to students will find course implementation resources here.

Abstracts & Presentations

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Catonsville High School
Angenine Goode, Library Media Specialist
Peyton Davis
Keely Horch
Grace Hill
Taylor Holmes
Meggie Moran

Parkville High School
Melyssa Kenney, Library Media Specialist
Ariel Harvey
Madeline Ittenbach
Frank Osuagwu
Dion Russell
Meredith Vargas-Tecum

Western School of Technology
Tracey Osborne, Library Media Specialist
Motunrayo Obehi Okubanjo
Em Schumacher

Teacher Testimonials
Acknowledgements

Peyton Davis

Senior, Catonsville High School

Comments

How Did the Political Ambition of Women Interact with their Domestic Expectations During and After the American Revolution?

Abstract

The American Revolution is a time period marked by significant political mobilization for women. As men fought for democracy and civil liberties, women found ways to define themselves outside of the home. Through education, literature, and even resisting marriage, females strove to insert their voices into the sphere of progressive thought. However, as is true in many cases of historical change, for every one step forward, there were three steps back. The concept of Republican Motherhood allowed for women to dip their toes outside of the home, becoming educated and politically literate. Yet, female voices couldn’t dominate spaces by themselves; instead, they were intended to be positive, maternal influences on their sons and husbands. While the women of the American Revolution paved the way for voting rights and women’s involvement in politics, the patterns that were set in this time period have created persisting expectations for the modern day. Republican Motherhood is a term rarely used in a modern-day context; its relevance is understated yet crucial in comprehending current gender relations. Gender inequality looks different now than it did a century ago; although women aren’t prohibited from voting or running for office, the effects of suffrage history cannot be dismissed. In fact, it is only once this history is examined that our society will be able to recognize its subconscious beliefs regarding women in power, and particularly, women in politics.

Keely Horch

Junior, Catonsville High School

Comments

SCI: An Ailment to be Cured

Abstract

Scientific innovations have come a long way in the past few decades, especially in the medical field, but the outlook on spinal cord injuries has been stagnant for a century. A spinal cord injury can alter your life in unbelievable ways, so everyone should care about life after paralysis and finding a cure for SCI. There are currently hundreds of clinical trials going on, focusing on treating and potentially curing this disease with neural implants. Starting in the late 90s, neural implants have improved from using obtrusive wires, to wireless implants and even noninvasive devices that don’t need to be implanted in the brain. With these advancements there are still negatives like animal testing, risk for infection, and the fact that FDA approval for public use is still long ways away. While examining the progress that has occurred in neuro-physics and bioengineering, the report emphasizes why these developments in SCI research are important not just to the disabled community but to everyone.

Grace Hill

Senior, Catonsville High School

Comments

Adaptive Music Composition in Video Games and its Impact on the Playing Experience

Abstract

Video game scoring is an art form with the unique challenge of creating music that is engaging even after hours of gameplay and reflective of an ever-changing game state. Adaptive music, a technique that allows music to change depending on various game conditions and player decisions, creates a solution to these problems. There are many ways to integrate adaptivity into a score, and the musical tools and structure used in it can alter the game’s impact. My research analyzes select musical moments from various games—Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Celeste, Untitled Goose Game, and others—to see the impact of their unique adaptivity. Examining these scores’ composition reveals the way adaptive musical cues are used to inform players of what they should do, establish moods, and put the player at the center of their gaming experience.

Taylor Holmes

Senior, Catonsville High School

Comments

Zip Code Curses: How Climate Change and Environmental Degradation Affect BIPOC Communities

Abstract

Due to racial inequities within the framework of America, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities are subject to various sub-standards within society regarding job and educational opportunities, healthcare, and housing. Moreover, BIPOC communities over time have resided in areas that carry a higher burden of land, air, and water pollution. Scientifically these areas, referred to as “Sacrifice Zones”, are exposing their residents to numerous health complications due to higher levels of pollution. Climate Change, a rising problem within the global community, is caused by extreme increases in fossil fuel use and is expedited through increases in pollution. This Global Warming not only causes record high temperatures, but extreme weather, high sea water levels, and a great imbalance in life on Earth. Unfortunately, the effects of Climate Change and environmental degradation overall impacts BIPOC groups more than others due to the effects of systematic oppression.

Meggie Moran

Senior, Catonsville High School

Comments

"We Are Not Criminals; We Are Children": A Study of Stigma Surrounding the Mentally Ill

Abstract

While we, as a society, are slowly becoming more accepting towards those with mental illnesses, there are still many barriers we need to overcome in order to fully and equally integrate those with mental illnesses into our society. Ranging from mental to physical and anywhere in between, these obstacles ultimately prevent our society from progressing forward because if not everyone is given an equal opportunity, no one is equal. My research dives deep into the history of mental health and how society has and will impact those living with a Serious Mental Illness (SMI). What is a SMI? Does residential treatment actually work? And why is there such a stigma surrounding those with a SMI?

Ariel Harvey

Junior, Parkville High School

Comments

Education on a Budget

Abstract

There is an evident inequality in the opportunities provided to students in the United States. The larger inequality is between students that attend private schools vs. students that attend public schools. This is because of the lack of resources including staff, materials, and opportunities for students. Resources that result from funding that public schools do not have much of and this can affect student achievement. The strategy of this proposal is to build a tutoring center with the proper materials where students come to study, receive the hands-on help in the study of their choice, and equal opportunities no matter their race or district that they cannot receive at their school. They will receive help from tutors that are either volunteers or college interns that attend schools nearby. Data will be collected monthly in questionnaire form that children will answer and will then be analyzed by a three-person panel. The timeline for this proposal is two- and a half years and costs 1.6 million. Once the research is completed the data will be analyzed and a conclusion can be drawn on how a school environment can affect student achievement.

Madeline Ittenbach

Senior, Parkville High School

Comments

Effects of Habits, Morality, and Non-changeable Features on the Brain

Abstract

Throughout our time spent on this project, this research would be beneficial to begin a more in depth route. This will unearth lots of questioned actions, allowing for discovery as well as an action plan to the community, by providing a better understanding of the decisions that impact brain growth. We have established the milestones it will take to get to our conclusion of understanding the human brain’s outcomes when incorporating morality, habits, decision making, and development. This project we will utilize imaging after the month the participant will undergo questionnaires and to prepare a time log.