Project Title: Economic Data Analysis and Online Data Visualization of Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo (2020)

The modern Olympic Games have been around since 1896 and have been a symbol for grand sport
achievement. However, there are socio-economic factors outside of athletic capability that have
great eBects on Olympic Game performance. We look to explore these relationships and present
them through a prototype of a future website.

The proposed project entails merging multiple datasets, including Olympic medal data from the
International Olympic Committee, socio-economic indicators from The World Bank, the Economic
Freedom Index from The Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal, and the Standardized
World Income Inequality Database (SWIID). In order to achieve this, I will implement various data
libraries such as Openpyxl and Pandas. After, we will be able to begin analysis of the data we have
gathered by using platforms such as Visual Studio Code and Stata to run the necessary
computations and write the necessary code for implementation in the prototype.

Project Title: There’s an Imposter at the Castle Door – A Collection of Poetry

There’s an Imposter at the Castle Door is a creative inquiry and a testament to the well-known
experience of not understanding your own identity. This creative inquiry seeks to tell
multiple intertwining stories—contradictions that can somehow simultaneously be true. Some of
these poems have already been written in, or have been inspired by Dr. Richie’s teachings. His
course has taught me the beauty of playing with poetic form and the impact it has on storytelling.
Given the delicacy of this topic, this collection will be created with a fantastical aspect woven
into it, amassing 50 poems in total. This poetry collection is a tribute to the life path I have chosen for myself.

Project Title: From Enlightenment to Wellness – The Transformation of Hatha Yoga and its Neoliberal Spiritualist Appeal in the Global Market

Within the contemporary global wellness market lie numerous commercialized forms of
exercise, mindfulness, and nutrition. Haṭha yoga is one example of a dynamic practice harboring
a nuanced religious and cultural history that has become commodified by the hands of Western
esotericism. Once connected to broader religious goals, the demographic of yoga practitioners
has exhibited a notable shift to those pursuing a lifestyle of wellness aiming to reduce stress and
stay in shape. The Western adoption of transnational yoga represents a complex phenomenon
with significant implications for the colonial subjugation of indigenous and Indic cultures as well
as for juxtaposing facets of whiteness that seek constructive self-critique in combination with
religious exoticism and appropriation. The current Western commodification of yoga as a means
of personal growth disregards the religious and political integrity that yoga holds in more
indigenous and Indic cultures; thereby perpetuating the marketization and mythologization of
yoga. Through an investigation of the conditions warranting the incorporation of postural yoga
into the Western esoteric zeitgeist from its origins as a pan-religious practice, my research will
uncover the reasons Westerners are drawn to forms of neoliberal spiritualism.

Project Title: Carbon Pricing for Renewable Energy in the Southeastern U.S. – Driving the Transition

The southeastern United States (SEUS) confronts a formidable challenge in transitioning from natural gas
to renewable energy sources like wind and solar power to mitigate climate change. Despite existing
subsidies, uncertainty persists regarding the efficacy of incentivizing investment in clean energy. This
project seeks to explore the potential of various carbon pricing policies (such as cap-and-trade, carbon
tax, regulatory standards) to drive investment in wind and solar power compared to natural gas in the
SEUS energy sector.

In the context of existing scholarly work in environmental economics and energy policy, this study
endeavors to investigate how carbon pricing policies influence investment decisions and economic factors
in the SEUS. The methodology entails analyzing the impact of diverse carbon pricing policies on relative
costs and investment trends in wind and solar power versus natural gas. By quantifying the potential
increase in investments in clean energy sources resulting from these policies, the project aims to provide
insights into effective carbon pricing strategies for fostering sustainable energy development in the SEUS.

Project Title: Monitoring the Uptake of an Antibiotic (Chlortetracycline) in Romaine Lettuce Plant

Antibiotics are often seen as the ultimate solution for fighting bacterial infections however, with new research, they are now being labeled as contaminants not only harmful to the environment but the public health as well. Although it is difficult to deny the assistance that the existence of antibiotics has in pharmaceuticals shown through their use in human and veterinary medicine, and even in their usage for agriculture, this has led to their presence being prevalent in the environment. Antibiotics have several methods in the way they present themselves in our ecosystems, whether that be through runoff from agricultural fields, discharge from pharmaceutical manufacturing plants, and improper disposal of unused medications. The harm that antibiotics bring when they are found in all aspects of our environment is the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in our microbial communities. This proposal aims to investigate the uptake of an antibiotic (chlortetracycline) in Romaine lettuce cultivated within a hydroponic system. Chlortetracycline is a common antibiotic used in agriculture, however its presence in edible crops raises concerns regarding human health risks, particularly antibiotic resistance. This study proposes to grow Romain lettuce hydroponically in a controlled environment while introducing chlortetracycline in certain intervals to mimic the levels used in agricultural practices. The uptake of chlortetracycline by the lettuce plants will be monitored using different analytical techniques such as fluorescence spectroscopy and liquid chromatography. The goals are to study how quickly romaine lettuce absorbs chlortetracycline at different concentrations and exposure times. This knowledge is important for assessing health risks and finding ways to limit antibiotic contamination in food production. This study will provide valuable information on how chlortetracycline is taken up by lettuce grown in hydroponic systems, helping to develop strategies to minimize antibiotic residues in harvested crops.

Project Title: We Knew You Were Gay – Podcast

There is no manual for growing up queer. Nobody sits you down to tell you how to navigate your world.
It can feel isolating, frightening, and overwhelming. As I look back on my younger self, I long for a
mentor. Someone to tell me that everything will be alright. As I continue to find my place in the world, I
am realizing the value in my experience. I can be a mentor for young queer people throughout the nation
learning about what it can mean to be a part of the queer community. By interviewing a new person every
week, I have created a library of stories sharing what it is like to be part of the LGBTQ+ community. This
summer, I hope to deepen my understanding of queer history and use it to deepen my understanding of the
interviews. It would be naive to think that the ever evolving world that I am blessed to live in does not
stand on the shoulders of the queer people that fought for it. I seek to continue building my interviewing
skills, delving deeper into the lives of queer people across the country. Thus far, my interviewee pool has
primarily been students from Pace, and while there is immense value in that, I aim to cast a wider net. I
plan to release five new episodes throughout the course of the summer, diversifying my interviewees.
Interviewing five different people on their coming out experiences in different walks of life. I would like
to interview Thomas Keith and Michael Goldfried, two adjunct faculty members from Pace University
who can bring light to living in New York City throughout the gay rights liberation movement. Matthew
Orr, a Human Development and Family Studies major at Colorado State University, can delve into the
role identity plays in family. Natalia Enriquez, a queer theater artist from California, can comment on how
her sexuality influences her art. Maggie Brockman, a Texas native, can share how growing up in a
conservative state affected her coming out journey. Through the Undergraduate Student Research
Initiative I will be able to delve deeper into the lives of those around us experiencing the world through
rainbow tinted glasses.

Project Title: Unscripted Scripture – Interfaith and Intrafaith Dialogue in Local Communities after October 7

In a world where constant world humanitarian issues are at our fingertips with constant
exposure to events such as the Israel & Palestine conflict or the bullying of transgender child
Nex Benedict that resulted in suicide, groups across social boundaries are coming together.
The proposed study aims to explore dialogue and themes in shared religious contexts and
interactions outside of one’s personal beliefs in order to begin observation of themes amongst
patterns of interactions and speech. While religious studies in their relation to activism is a
small but growing field, there is still much established work to build upon.The work of Katrina
Thompson with “Muslims on the Margins” studies the re-exploration of religious texts’ meanings
and adaptation to include the queer community in Islam practices. With my own personal
interests in gender studies specifically in the non-profit realm, controversies such as the abused
altar boys in the Catholic church give me the ability to connect this interest into this research.
Specifically this study seeks to interview a diverse mix of individuals who work closely with
religious interactions with interviews of those working at non-profits or organizations close to the
cause of social justice causes across religions, with three interviews of those involved at each
organization.