Every year, young Boston College scholars showcase their work — funded by Advanced Study Grants from the University — at the Undergraduate Research Symposium. Five of this year’s participants discussed with Chronicle how they got the idea for their projects, and what they got out of their research experience.
NAME: Anne Spencer ’12
HOMETOWN: Frederick, Md.
MAJORS: Sociology and psychology
PROJECT TITLE: “The Homeless Experience: The Role of Social Relationships in Pulling Women Out of Poverty”
PROJECT ADVISORS: Visiting Asst. Prof. Deborah Piatelli (Sociology) and graduate student Autumn Green
INSPIRATION FOR PROJECT: I was initially interested in the homeless population through my work with 4Boston Volunteers on campus freshman year. I spent four hours Friday afternoons playing cards, dominoes and chatting with homeless men at Pine Street Inn before serving them dinner. Sophomore year when I moved to St. Francis House, my interest only grew. In addition to my service, I was taking a class called Poverty in America with Autumn Green. She is an amazing woman and really opened my eyes to the great amount of poverty in America and the adverse effects of poverty on every aspect of one’s life. For my final term paper, I did a research project on poverty and depression, looking at the shocking connection between the two and how little is being done formally to address the issue. My Advanced Study Grant proposal sort of naturally grew out of that project as I decided to look at social networks of homeless women, and depression and isolation became huge themes within my research.
MOST INTERESTING THING SHE LEARNED: I learned that I love listening to people tell their stories. That was actually the part of my project that I most dreaded, actually conducting the interviews, but I have truly come to understand and love that every human being is a source of beautiful and infinite knowledge. If we took the time to slow down and not just listen to, but understand each person’s story, I have no doubt that the amount of compassion and love on this earth would be more than we could possibly handle.
NAME: Isiuwa Mabatah ’11
HOMETOWN: Houston
MAJOR: History
PROJECT TITLE: HIV/AIDS and Sexual Violence: Lessons from South Africa
PROJECT ADVISOR: Connell School of Nursing Associate Professor Rosanna DeMarco
INSPIRATION FOR THE PROJECT: I had learned about the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) while taking the Sociology of HIV/AIDS course taught by [sociology doctoral student] Shelley White. When another internship possibility fell through, I decided to return to South Africa and work with the vigilant members of the TAC in the township of Khayelitsha, the second largest township in South Africa and the most HIV/AIDS affected township in the Western Cape. I had expected to spend my six weeks in front of a computer assuming my clerical duties, however my experience with TAC surpassed my expectations.
MOST INTERESTING THING SHE LEARNED: I was able to attend a Women’s Summit where approximately 50 HIV-positive female TAC members gathered for three days to discuss the main problems, such as gender based violence, rape and HIV, that were greatly affecting South Africans, as well as African women today. The most important lesson I learned from being around the women at the conference is that African women are incredibly resilient people. African women manage to survive even when the odds are overwhelming against them. They offered their stories of rape and poverty as life lessons that should be told and learned from. They welcomed all outsiders who wanted to join them in their struggles for equality and they were prepared to fight those who were against them. This quality of resilience is an attribute that will always stay with me when I think back to my experiences at the TAC and the wonderful women and men I was lucky enough to have worked with.
NAME: Michael Manasia ’11
HOMETOWN: Rockville Centre, NY
MAJOR: Nursing
PROJECT TITLE: “Effects of Caffeine and Nighttime Technology Use on Sleep Quality in College Students”
PROJECT ADVISOR: Asst. Prof. Lichuan Ye (CSON)
INSPIRATION FOR PROJECT: We know that sleep is very important to our mental and physical health, but it’s an often overlooked part of our busy lives as college students. I wanted to see if routine activities such as technology use and caffeine consumption actually influenced BC students’ ability to perform academically.
MOST INTERESTING THING HE LEARNED: We determined by using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), which is a validated tool, that 75 percent of BC students are considered poor sleepers. This interferes with our ability to stay awake in class and hampers our ability to function overall throughout the day. We need to use technology wisely especially after 9 p.m., and monitor our caffeine consumption in the late afternoon.
NAME: Michael Slovak ’12
HOMETOWN: Chicago
MAJORS: Communication and theology
PROJECT TITLE: “Intensive Theological Immersion in Rome for
Intellectual and Spiritual Development”
PROJECT ADVISOR: Assoc. Prof. David Vanderhooft (Theology)
INSPIRATION FOR PROJECT: I was inspired to undertake this particular project for two main reasons. First, my experience as a Protestant-raised student studying theology at a Catholic university has raised many questions regarding the similarities and differences within the various denominations of Christianity. I wanted to pursue these questions for both personal and academic reasons, and my Advanced Study Grant provided an opportunity to do just that. Second,
while studying in Rome I participated in discussions with representatives from the Anglican and Catholic churches concerning the ecumenical work currently in progress between the two. These discussions were a major influence that shaped the focus of my research.
MOST INTERESTING THING HE LEARNED: The answers that one knows or believes in may be quite different from the answers held with equally strong conviction in the past. In order to make an informed decision about the validity of a given statement or belief, one must first understand the development of that belief throughout history and recognize the forces that may have altered or manipulated the original version.
NAME: Siobhan Tellez ’13
HOMETOWN: Dayton, Ohio
MAJOR: Nursing (minor in Hispanic Studies)
PROJECT TITLE: “A Study of Global
Health: Clinical Work in Chorerras, Panama”
PROJECT ADVISOR: Connell School of Nursing Associate Dean Catherine Read
INSPIRATION FOR PROJECT: I am devoted to global health care reform and it is important to me that before I enter the professional world, I have a strong understanding of international health care systems. This particular project centered on volunteering in community health clinics in Panama. Not only do I have a personal (family) connection to the country, but the program that focuses on community/public health and health education is exactly the model of the areas of health care that I hope to make a difference (I want to improve international public health and increase health education globally).
MOST INTERESTING THING SHE LEARNED: While it is crucial for people to volunteer their time, health disparities will prevail until someone changes the system in which these countries operate. The project cemented how important it is to educate people about proper hygiene and health management — disease prevention especially — and also how important it is to change health care systems to provide this education and subsequent services.