Undergraduate Research

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Browsing Undergraduate Research by Subject "2021 Sophomore Research Conference"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Enhancing an Autistic Child’s Daily Reality Using Virtual Reality: The Benefits of Incorporating Virtual Reality in Occupational Therapy
    (2021-12-07) Koch, Bram; Richardson, Heather
    Autism spectrum disorder can drastically affect the social skills of people. There are several standard treatment methods used in the clinical setting of occupational therapy. Interestingly, there is potential for occupational therapists to use virtual reality as a treatment method to improve the social skills of patients with autism. Researchers are trying to find the most effective way to help children and adults improve their social skills. Unfortunately, most occupational therapists lack knowledge, resources, and training in order to adopt virtual reality into practice. A new form of therapy requires education and financial investment. This research will provide information related to helping children with autism improve their social skills; current treatments for patients with autism; and examinations of recent studies involving virtual reality. This research may be beneficial to parents of children with autism, individuals working in healthcare, people who are interested in the topic, or interested in entering a field that works with children who have autism, such as teachers, teacher assistants, and counselors.
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    Food Fight: The True Cost of Agriculture in the Amazon Rainforest
    (2021-12-07) Fauver, Blake; Hoover, Heather
    Amazon Rainforest deforestation has been a volatile topic over the past half-century, but it has truly come to light in the last five years. Past governmental administrations in Brazil had numerous laws/regulations in place to prevent detrimental use of the forest edge. This is the most vulnerable are of forest because it is easy for humans to access. As the Bolsonaro administration has risen in Brazil, environmental regulations have fallen by the wayside. Since 2016, political ideology has become increasingly economy-based, and this has threatened the sustainability of the rainforest. Resource-intensive agriculture is supported because it yields the highest profits, which is what is best for Brazil’s economy. To combat this recent spike in deforestation, I will investigate new ways to potentially increase the effectiveness of agricultural processes so that less farmland has to be use and less rainforest is destroyed. I will also research the relationship between building a stable economy and sustainable agriculture. This natural ecosystem struggle stems from the balance of providing for a growing population, sustaining one of the largest biomes on Earth, and satisfying human greed. By understanding the impact of economy on agriculture and vice versa, Brazil can begin to make stable change that benefits both economic and environmental ecosystems.
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    The Interdependency of Detroit and the Automotive Industry
    (2021-10-27) Millington, Miranda; Edmondson, Todd
    Detroit, Michigan and the automotive industry have been intertwined since the automobile was invented. The success or failure of one has defined the success or failure of the other. Their intense reliance on each other became an issue when the industry and overall economy took a downturn in the late 20th century. Detroit and the automotive companies were hit hard as they could not function independently. This research will examine how the companies and city became so interdependent, the impact this had on Detroit’s culture, and the efforts being made to rebuild the two as individual entities. Detroit’s convenient location and foundation in manufacturing made it an obvious choice for companies like General Motors to settle. The influx of jobs brought a large population of African Americans to Detroit shifting the racial relations and demographics. But with the initial success of the industry and city, they seemed unstoppable. In recent years, the city has been forced to strengthen themselves against the volatile automotive industry in order to provide stability to its people. This research shows how these historical, economic, and cultural factors contribute to the past, present and future of Detroit and the automotive industry.
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    Introducing Urban Farming to Johnson City
    (2021-11-05) Pickelheimer, Darin
    There has been a social, political, and economic drive to address the world’s problem with decreasing farmland despite an increasing population. Urban farming was a concept developed out of the need to solve this problem and is being implemented around the world. Johnson City is no exception to this issue with its recent population growth being reported as faster than the state itself. This study aims to determine whether the environmental, social, and economic benefits of implementing urban farming in Johnson City would complement the region. A thorough review of literature from experts and critics of the topic was performed to answer questions regarding the possibility of Urban Farming’s impact on our region’s economy, environment, and social health. Based on this review I found that urban farming to have only positive implications for the social and environmental health of our region. There was also strong support for a positive impact on the economy, however there were a few exceptions regarding the possibility of high startup costs. The results indicate the urban farming would benefit Johnson City’s economy, environment, and social health.