Research Days Posters 2025

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Environmental Injustice and New York City Waste Management

Altai Abrams

How does environmental injustice play out in New York City Waste Management? It can be expected that areas that face poverty and environmental injustice will have the most Waste Management facilities. Lower-income communities struggle with health and quality of life, partly because of environmental injustice. Maps of redlined areas, impoverished areas, and where waste management facilities are located will be utilized, and the areas with the most waste management facilities will be highlighted. Statistics will be provided to help demonstrate why environmental injustice matters. Analysis of the effect waste management systems have on lower-income communities will also be presented.
Impact of Communication Disability on Student Engagement

Emmanuel Kwaku Addo

Student engagement supports learning, development, and persistence, but students with communication disabilities may struggle due to inadequate accommodations. Their engagement strategies remain under-researched. This study aims to understand whether the engagement strategies employed by students with communication disabilities (CD) vary from those in the general population (GP) in navigating the college campus environment. Data from the 2021 National Survey of Student Engagement Administration, which included students with CD (n = 367) and GP (n = 125,955), were analyzed to examine differences across four constructs of Student Engagement. Significant differences with small effect sizes were found in Student-Faculty Interaction, Quality of Interaction, and Collaborative Learning. No significant difference was found in Discussions with Diverse Others. There is a need for targeted support to enhance the college experience of students with CD.
The Link Between Diet Quality, Emotional Intelligence, and Pathological Eating Behaviors: Insights Across Young and Mature Adults

Sarah Al-Aubaidy, Marissa Pagnutti, and Lina Begdache

This study explores links between emotional intelligence (EI), diet quality, and pathological eating behaviors (PEB), across age groups. A total of 1,209 young adults (18-29) and 172 mature adults (30+), completed an anonymous survey comprising demographics, Trait EI, Eating, and Food-Mood Questionnaires. Data was analyzed using Principal Component Analysis and Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient. Results showed both age groups had negative correlations between a desire for an empty stomach, breakfast intake (p<0.01), and high-glycemic food intake (p<0.01). The desire to have an empty stomach was negatively associated with fruits (p<0.01) for mature adults, yet had no significant correlation with young adults. However, emotional control and self-belief negatively correlated with difficulty concentrating due to food and shape/weight concerns (p<0.01) for both groups. Both groups also demonstrated greater PEB with poor diet quality and emotional distress, highlighting EI as a significant factor.
Beyond Victimhood: Sentimentalism in Contemporary Immigrations Novels

Faiqa Ali

Immigrants have gone from being underrepresented to misrepresented within literature, with many contemporary US novels perpetuating narratives that either victimize or vilify immigrants. Taking inspiration from James Baldwin’s critique of “the wet eyes of the sentimentalist” author, this research turns to the contemporary immigration novels American Dirt and Esperanza Rising to assess the ways in which immigrant stories are depicted and to analyze the ways that this reductive representation can result in many harmful, real world, implications. Counterintuitively, one of the largest consequences of such sentimental literature is a lack of empathy for American immigrants. Painting immigrants in a manner that reduces them to their struggle and strips them of their human complexity significantly hinders an audience’s ability to relate to and empathize with their circumstances. Such narratives may result in temporary pity and the reinforcement of harmful, inferiorizing stereotypes rather than invoking sincere, productive empathy.
Nature's Defense against Hurricanes

Kiara M. Alvarez

Before urban industrialism led to the widespread drainage and destruction of wetlands, many early cultures recognized their value in sustaining ecological balance rather than viewing them as “wastelands.” Wetlands provide natural flood control, absorb storm surges, and support biodiversity. Florida, the state with the most wetlands in the contiguous United States, contains approximately 11 million acres, with the Everglades—the largest tropical wetland in North America—located in the central region of the state. These wetlands play a crucial role in mitigating the impact of hurricanes and tropical storms by absorbing excess water and reducing flooding. This project examines how the presence of wetlands within a state contributes to controlling natural disasters. The focus of this research is on Florida as it is the most affected state during hurricane season due to its unique geography, which exposes both its Atlantic and Gulf coasts to powerful storms.
The Effect of Diet and Exercise on Mood and Self Motivation

Megan Amante, Alex de Vries, Cassidy Howe, Thomas Marto, Christian Pena, and Aliya Terrana

Eating tyrosine-rich food may promote motivation and mental well-being. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a tyrosine-rich diet in promoting aerobic, strength training, or both forms of exercise and its impact on positive mood among participants. An anonymous online survey was administered through social media. This included basic demographic questions along with questions about diet, exercise, and self-motivation. The data for this study were analyzed using Pearson’s Correlation Analysis in SPSS version 28. The results showed that a negative correlation exists between eating nuts as well as exercising and feeling hopeless (p < 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between the length of time exercising per session and the ability to set goals for oneself and keep track of progress (p < 0.01). There is a positive correlation between eating a tyrosine-rich diet and exercising with motivation.
Lithium Mining and Resistance: Extractivism, Environmental Justice, and Indigenous Struggles

Alyssa Annonson

The Lithium Triangle, encompassing parts of Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile, holds more than half the world’s lithium reserves, making it a focal point for global green energy transitions. However, lithium extraction in this region has sparked significant environmental, social, and political tensions. This paper examines the socio-ecological impacts of lithium mining, including water depletion, ecosystem disruption, and the effects on Indigenous communities. Additionally, it explores local resistance movements against extractivism such as the Rio Blanco movement involving demands for community participation in decision-making. By analyzing case studies of Indigenous resistance and policy frameworks, this research highlights the tensions between economic development, environmental sustainability, and Indigenous sovereignty. The findings suggest that while lithium mining is crucial for renewable energy transitions, a just and sustainable approach must include local indigenous involvement and stronger regulatory frameworks to mitigate socio-ecological conflicts in the Lithium Triangle.
Auditory Function in Scleroderma: A Scoping Review

Alessandra Antonacci

Scleroderma (systemic sclerosis or SSc) is an auto-immune disease affects the arteries, micro-vessels, connective tissue in multiple organs including hearing and speech systems. It is often associated and co-occurs with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). While the impact of scleroderma on voice is relatively well studied, the impact of scleroderma on hearing loss is less explored, hence the need for this study. This scoping review investigates the association between scleroderma and hearing loss. Comprehensive database searches were conducted, MeSH terms were used, and the inclusion criteria encompassed peer-reviewed studies assessing auditory function in scleroderma. Data were compiled and analyzed to identify trends in prevalence, type, and severity of hearing loss. Preliminary findings suggest a potential link between systemic autoimmune processes and auditory dysfunction. These results are compiled and presented. The findings from this study have clinical applications in the areas of early identification and rehabilitation.
The Foreboding Decline of the Judiciary in Hungary and Turkey

Luke Bache

Across the globe, autocratic governments are surging, characterized by gradual democratic decline and the overhaul of democratic institutions. To understand this “new” authoritarianism on a deeper level, this paper examines the variations of institutional backsliding, specifically in the judicial branches of democratic governments. Through researching common trends in the undermining of the judiciary branch, this paper strives to determine how the varying nature of “judicial decay” can result in a substantial difference between evolving autocracies. With the ultimate goal of examining whether the pace and method of judicial decay influences the success of the authoritarian government that emerges, this paper compares Hungary’s immediate and effective “legal” judicial democratic backsliding with Turkey’s slower and more erratic judicial decay, especially after the 2017 coup attempt. The research in this paper establishes that the swift sidelining of the judiciary is more effective for a rising autocratic regime than slower dismantling.
Workfare and Women: Work Requirements and Sexism from the New Poor Law to Clinton-Era Reform

Lauren Barrett

Welfare has been distributed in the English-speaking world since the Elizabethan era, but the prospect of cash relief without work has often proved controversial. In response, so-called workfare, or welfare with work requirements, has repeatedly been implemented, yet often forces poor people to take on jobs with terrible working conditions and little opportunity for advancement. By comparing Britain’s switch from outdoor relief to workhouses in 1834 and the transition to conditional aid during the 1996 U.S. welfare reforms, this project examines the impact of work requirements on women. Drawing on parliamentary reports, government documents, newspaper articles, and discussions by historians and economists, this paper delves into the ideology of those who created the legislation and the perspectives of those who were affected by it. In both reforms, sexism and neo-Malthusian concerns of poor women reproducing led legislators to impose work conditions for welfare, as an attempt to increase self-sufficiency.
Class Actions and Environmental Justice: Are Lawsuits Driving Real Change?

Sadie Berg

How effective are class action lawsuits in implementing environmental change? In answering this question through meta-analysis, a focus will be placed on cancer clusters as a general theme. Every year there are several different cases by which plaintiffs attempt to obtain compensation for troubles caused by hazardous chemicals such as asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), to name a few. The formation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the early 1970’s, along with the enforcement of protective litigation, were used to put an end to the use of these dangerous chemicals. All of the data collected along with the history, impact, and result of each lawsuit will be analyzed to determine the overall effectiveness of class action lawsuits in implementing changes in environmental policies and practices. Through research, many different class action lawsuits will be compiled in hopes of revealing a commonality amongst them.
The Rise of American Autocracy: The Effect of Far-Right Policies on America's Democracy

Matthew Betro

Far-right ideologies and authoritarian insurgents rise to power through democratic backsliding. The reelection of Donald Trump has caused concern among many Americans because of his autocratic behavior, which is reflected in the policies he is attempting to implement, such as harsh immigration laws, tariffs, and ending birthright citizenship. This study analyzes how Trump’s behavior and policies reflect autocratic tendencies, discussing the severity of the far-right threat he poses to America. The analysis will occur by establishing a definition of democratic backsliding to compare Trump’s actions to understand how his behavior correlates to other authoritarians in the modern world. The criteria of the assessment of Trump’s administration will be done by measuring the severity of his attacks on governmental branches and agencies, consolidation of power, and limitations of civil liberties. This study contributes to the conversation of endangered democracy, investigating the integrity of American democracy under Trump’s presidency.
Stuck Behind Bars: How the Neglect for the Mental Illness Epidemic in U.S. Correctional Facilities Fuels Recidivism

Alayna Bhatti

Correctional institutions are failing to fulfill their responsibility for creating an environment that minimizes the suffering that mentally ill inmates face due to their condition. Various studies show that current health services in U.S. prisons fall far below the standards of adequate care. The criminalization of mental illness since the 1990s has continued to violate the “cruel and unusual” clause of the Eighth Amendment along with various United Nations General Assembly resolutions. This research will prove that U.S. correctional facilities are not providing inmates with adequate services, preventing rehabilitation and increasing recidivism. Regardless of how severe a crime, incarcerated people are entitled to their human rights outlined by both the U.S. Government and the UN General Assembly. Inmates deserve for the U.S. criminal justice system to protect their rights and serve true justice.
Undercredited Women Contributors: How Men Uphold the Narrative

Allison Bonaventura

The relationship between women and literature has largely been undermined by the narratives of men dominating the field. Binghamton University’s copy of More English Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs exemplifies instances where women contributors have received sexist backlash while being denied proper credit and publicity for their contributions. The project begins with the Guild of Women Binders. The Guild combined leadership by an exploitative man, Frank Karslake, degrading comments toward the young women workers, and lack of credit for their works. Next, the project looks at Mary Landon Baker whose bookplate appears on the front pastedown. The story of her romances dominated the news while her relationship to books took a backseat. Finally, many of the works within More English Fairy Tales come from women sources, but were modified by Jacobs. Ultimately, this project discovers the tangible value of old books in uncovering the hidden histories of women contributors.
Affirming Trans Rights: Oppression and Resiliency in LGBTQ Digital Activism

Samantha Boragine

Social media can build community and empower individuals to speak freely, but does it continue to do so when those in power disagree with the message? The current U.S. administration, led by President Trump, aimed executive orders at transgender people (ex. only recognizing two sexes fixed at birth, defunding programs promoting “gender ideology”, defunding gender-affirming care) in order to delegitimize and demonize their existence. Following this trend, corporately owned social media platforms such as Facebook changed their content moderation policies. Despite this, LGBTQ activists continue to promote and affirm their right to existence, often utilizing open source platforms such as Mastodon. By examining corporate ownership of social media versus Fedivrse or open-source platforms and their effects on Trans and LGBTQ activism in the U.S. over the past year, this paper hopes to understand how social media can be a tool for resilience as well as oppression.
Intelligibility of Hebrew between Hasidim and Israelis in Upstate New York

Flora Brill

This project investigates possible one-way or mutual intelligibility between spoken Israeli Hebrew and Hasidic Hebrew, testing intelligibility and biases through a matched-guise study. Volunteers from three groups— Israelis, Chabad Hasidim, non-Chabad Hasidim— listen to recordings in both types of Hebrew and their level of understanding and impressions of the speaker are recorded. There is a history of hostility between these groups in both countries, and some groups of American Hasidim are taught some Israeli Hebrew but most are not. Whether one group can understand the other would not only show how different the accents or dialects are but also how receptive listeners are to the other group and how much experience they have with the dialect, revealing the current state of hostility between groups. Preliminary research suggests that many Hasidim can understand Israeli Hebrew while most Israelis cannot understand Hasidic Hebrew.
Fascism on the Homefront: Remembering the Nazi Youth Camps of 1930s New Jersey

Delaney Burke, Ayal Englander, Saber Hassan, and Jordyn Weintraub

When people think of Nazism in the 1930s, they typically picture Hitler’s rise to power in Germany. However, most are unaware of the Nazi ideology purveyed by the German-American Bund, a pro-fascist group in the United States. Before World War II, the German-American Bund established numerous summer camps for children across the country, hoping to indoctrinate America’s youth into their cause. Scholars have focused on the existence and ideology of the camps, but have failed to identify the impact on surrounding local communities. This podcast focuses on the three camps in New Jersey, exploring how public perceptions of the camps changed while they were in operation, and tracing how surrounding communities forgot or remembered the camps over time. Drawing on original oral histories, as well as historic newspapers, photographs, and government archives, this project explores the lingering effects of Nazism in New Jersey.
Reimagining Resistance: An Evaluation of Coalition Building in Contemporary Authoritarian Contexts

Colin Buscarino

As a wave of democratic backsliding sweeps across the globe and contemporary anthropological and technological trends bolster illiberal regimes, it is evident that new methods for resisting authoritarianism must be standardized. This research aims to contribute to a comprehensive framework for civilian resistance movements, focusing on establishing stable organizational structures from the ground up to enhance the effectiveness of these campaigns. Through an analysis of scholarly literature on contemporary dissent campaigns, such as the Arab Spring uprisings, this exploration will propose strategies for resisting Trumpism within the United States. The findings underscore the importance of building ethnically and socio-economically diverse coalitions while consistently upholding democratic ideals to overthrow authoritarian regimes and achieve long-term democratization. As scholars continue to develop theories of resistance to modern authoritarianism, movements will gain a deeper understanding of the tactics and approaches best suited to combat the alarming global trend of authoritarian encroachment.
The System is a Circle: Juvenile Interrogation Abuse

Jaidy Cabrera

The Reid technique involves forceful manipulative techniques which can result in false confessions, incorrect convictions, and long-term consequences in someone’s life. Juveniles are vulnerable to this technique due to their limited understanding of legal rights, vulnerability to authoritative figures, and difficulty comprehending and processing legal information. This research examines the effects of interrogation abuse in juvenile cases by exploring research that demonstrates how forced confessions affect court decisions and the accused’s long-term outcomes. The widespread use of the Reid Technique is rooted in other systemic failures in juvenile justice, which include a lack of legal representation for minors, a lack of supervision, and insufficient instruction on its effects for interrogators and officers. To ensure that minor rights are protected in the legal system, this project concludes by recommending changes to interrogation practices to protect juveniles and decrease the risk of wrongful convictions, creating a more peaceful and equal juvenile justice system.
Lives on the Line: Disabled Perspective and the Research Deficit on MAID

Jacqueline Carlson

Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) has become a highly debated issue within bioethics, commonly framed in terms of individual autonomy and pain relief. Yet vulnerable groups such as the disabled population are often sideline in this ethical debate. The lack of representation of the disabled community within ethical discussions and narratives raises concerns regarding the risks of normalizing MAID within a society where disabilities are often stigmatized. By examining the work of disability advocate Antia Cameron and related literature, this research seeks to explore the ethical debates on MAID and disability rights, how a lack of disabled voices within the broader ethical discourse on MAID may inadvertently perpetuate harmful stereotypes and enforce particular end of life care. The research underscores the intersection of disability, autonomy, healthcare policy and practice, thus calling attention to experiences of disabled individuals within bioethical conversations about MAID.
Womb to Waste: Climate Change’s Silent Attack on Reproductive Rights

Jenna Caron

Women experience disproportionate impact on the effects of climate change—they’ve proven more likely to die in a climate disaster, rely on the resources that the climate crisis devastates, and to experience gender-based violence. This study examines the reproductive health within gender-based violence, positing that women residing in economically disadvantaged countries, identifying with historically marginalized communities, and/or possessing harmful medical predispositions, experience more severe maternal and fetal health outcomes. By examining data and academic literature through biomedical and biological studies of sexual violence, birth rates, climate-related stressors, and harmful pollutants, this study concludes a strong connection between climate-related weather conditions and a depreciation in women’s reproductive justice. Through this, one can understand the effects of environmental degradation on access to reproductive resources, and gendered struggles in the climate crisis. Climate change can thereafter be understood as a consequential women’s health crisis, inspiring female-centered solutions to climate justice.
Enhancing Teacher Training: Understanding Educators’ Knowledge of Evidence-Based Practices for Emotional and Behavioral Disorders

Leslie Casana and Amanda Salerni

Students with emotional and behavioral disorders face significant challenges in inclusive educational settings, yet research on effective strategies for supporting these students remains limited. Many educators receive inadequate training in managing the unique needs of students with emotional and behavioral disorders, creating barriers to effective classroom management and instruction. This mixed-methods study aims to explore educators' knowledge of evidence-based practices and high leverage practices for students with emotional and behavioral disabilities. Specifically, researchers used survey research to investigate New York educators' understanding of evidence-based practices, the relationship between evidence-based practice knowledge and perceptions of inclusive practices, and whether educator characteristics impact evidence-based practice knowledge. Content analysis was used to examine participant responses, utilizing meaning units, codes, and categories to identify patterns in evidence-based practice knowledge. Frequency counts were used to track the number and types of evidence-based practices recognized by participants. This research aims to provide valuable insights for enhancing teacher preparation and improving inclusive practices for students with emotional and behavioral disorders in general education classrooms.
Micro-Encapsulated Phase Change Materials: Validation of Pressure Apparatus Design

Anthony Chan and Samuel Estroff-Liberti

A method of storing latent heat is using Phase Change Materials (PCM). However, current methods of creating PCMs are not mass-produced due to cost and material constraints. A pressure apparatus was designed to run at 10 atm to incorporate Flow-Focused Coaxial Continuous Casting to create Micro-Encapsulated Phase Change Materials. This poster first, includes simulations in ANSYS Static Structural to demonstrate the safety of the pressure design to ensure it meets the standard stated by ASME. Second, simulations were done in ANSYS Fluent to understand the flow through the nozzle of the pressure apparatus.
The Effect of Sleep Routines on Infant MRI Acquisitions

Katelyn Chen and Sama Nada

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) with infants is typically conducted during natural sleep, which poses challenges in ensuring they fall and stay asleep. Prior research has identified techniques to address this, however this study examines how MRI visit variables like MRI time and infant sleep habits relate to imaging outcomes. The sample included 44 infants aged 6-12 months (M = 7.9, SD = 2.2; 23 females; 10% Hispanic, 5% African American, 17% multiracial) from Binghamton, NY. Infants completed 1-3 MRI visits and were divided into successful or unsuccessful scan groups. Parents completed surveys on infants’ sleep routines before the MRI. Variables analyzed included sleep habits, environmental factors, and scan timing relative to bedtime/naptime. Data analysis will identify patterns between groups associated with successful scans, and use decision tree models to predict acquisition outcome. Findings will provide evidence-based guidelines for optimizing MRI acquisition protocols with infant participants, improving feasibility and data quality.
Not Just Your Average Superhero: The Affordances of Comics Journalism in Human Rights Reporting

Ryan Chen

Though graphic memoirs have become globally popular, many readers are unaware of comics journalism, the combination of news reports and comics illustrations. While this format lacks the claim to objectivity of photojournalism, it allows journalists to explore developing issues and histories with imagery and creativity that other media lack. Comics journalists such as Joe Sacco, Sam Wallman, and Dan Archer use their panels to shine light on important human rights and labor abuses, while also making sure readers have a vivid view of victims’ stories. In these authors’ works, memory emerges as a key site for illustration to help represent overlooked histories and traumas. Moreover, memories can elicit new forms of empathy between reader and interviewee by revealing the shadow of bottled abuses. Finally, this project explores how the disavowal of objectivity can become a resource for comics journalists, allowing them to acknowledge and reflect on their position and biases.