Student Learning Conference
April 22, 2013
Session One
Reflectance Spectroscopy: The Skin Deep Truth about Melanin and Ethnicity Factors
Room One
Jillian Dlugos, Glenelg
Have you ever wondered what actually makes your skin tan or how your skin differs from other ethnic skin types? Diffuse reflectance
spectroscopy can point out the chemical differences in skin types and help researchers discover more about how sun exposure can lead to
skin cancer, one of the most common and deadly types of cancer. In addition, it can lead to additional melanoma and skin cancer studies.
Although the dangers of ultraviolet light are well known, people still expose themselves to damaging rays and put themselves at risk. This
presentation will examine several methods used to analyze different skin types and conditions, and share how to better protect the body from
harmful ultraviolet rays.
Business Operations Within Non-Profit Organizations
Room Two
Elisha Miller, Wilde Lake
Due to the dismal economy, a surplus of students, high school and undergraduate, are unable to find employment. Without these
opportunities, students are unable to obtain the experience desired by most organizations. The solution --- internships with non-profits! Many
of the issues facing non-profit organizations today, such as unqualified volunteers, funding deficits, and archaic operations, can be solved
using interns and the fresh ideas they can contribute to the company. This session will explain the business behind non-profits and how
students can capitalize on non-profit experience opportunities within Howard County.
Les Lumières de la Suisse et la France: The Enlightenment of Switzerland and France
Room Three
Kavita Shroff, River Hill
Bonjour, je m’appelle Kavita Shroff, et aujourd’hui je vais parler de Les Lumières de la Suisse et la France, or the Enlightenment of
Switzerland and France, as illustrated through the letters and journals of Catherine de Sévery. In 1750, nine-year-old Catherine de Sévery
wrote her first diary entry, never anticipating the significance of her actions. Preserved for over 250 years, her diaries provide modern
researchers insight into the life of a Swiss noble woman and her place in society. Additionally, they illustrate how new Enlightenment ideas
spread through Europe and influenced the lives of all citizens. This presentation will reveal how the new ideas of the Enlightenment
improved women’s status in society and demonstrate the life-altering influence of literature.
Contact Blindness: Are you Setting Yourself up for an Eye Infection?
Room Four
Taariq Mohammed, River Hill
One of the most common and destructive eye conditions among teenagers is contact lens infection. Approximately one out of 100 people will
develop an eye infection in his/her lifetime. Due to ease of use, reasonable cost, and disposability, contact lens usage has dramatically
increased over the past 20 years. Because they afford a more natural look than glasses, contacts have become the main choice in vision
correction for teenagers. Unfortunately, these younger patients are being given a responsibility that many are incapable of handling.
Cleanliness is the most simple and effective way to prevent eye infection; however, not all patients follow proper care instructions. This
presentation outlines steps in preventative care to reduce the incidence of contact lens infection in teenagers.
Catching Zzzs
Room Five
Niharika Kalla, Mount Hebron
How would you like to get a great score on the SAT by hitting the snooze button? A school in Edina, Minnesota improved its students’
average SAT scores three hundred points by pushing its school start times back thirty minutes, allowing students to sleep more. Sleep is one
of the most undervalued processes of the day. A sharper mind, superior athletic performance, and increased growth are just a few of the
benefits awarded to teens who are getting a good night’s sleep. Through this enlightening presentation, you will learn the importance of
sleep, and how you may be able to improve your daily routine just by getting a few extra Zzzs.
Insecurities in Music Streaming: Digital Rights Management
Room Six
Franz Payer, Centennial
The multi-billion dollar music industry has been transitioning from physical to digital distribution. As a result, several music-streaming
services have emerged. However, in the rush to develop these new distribution platforms, product security has been overlooked. In this
session, participants will learn about the fundamental concepts of music streaming, discover the flaws in various music-streaming services,
and explore how to download music directly from several music-streaming providers. Little technical knowledge is needed to understand the
concepts in this presentation, but more technical aspects are included for those more knowledgeable in the field.
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No Exceptions: Including Women’s Rights in United States Asylum Policy
Room Seven
Alexandra Kelley, Reservoir
Imagine that you are trapped in a violent country, facing horrifying atrocities. You hope to escape, and yet you are unable to find refuge in
another country. This is the struggle of women facing gender-based persecution, a group that makes up 80% of refugees worldwide. In
immigration law, asylum policy aids people fleeing persecution and allows them to enter the United States. The United States’ asylum policy
has yet to identify gender-based persecution as a qualifier for admittance, leaving thousands of women in danger. This session will explore
the controversies surrounding female protection in United States immigration policies and the number of women suffering due to this
exclusion.
Self-Harm: How to Find the Hope to Heal
Room Eight
Ashleigh Frazier, Oakland Mills
Self- harm is a growing and dangerous problem. There are endless reasons why people hurt themselves, yet the stigma of admission leaves it
a scarcely discussed topic. Approximately three million Americans self-injure each year. As many as two million Americans purposefully
cut or burn themselves as a means of coping with stress, depression, or loss. Come to this presentation and learn about this social problem, as
well as discuss the warning signs and possible resources available to help someone in need.
America: The Country Where You Can Vote on Your Neighbor’s Rights
Room Nine
Holly Stokes, Howard
For the past hundred years, the United States has been implementing a government policy that is unconstitutional, having the power of the
majority control the rights of minorities. Through the use of the referendum, states have allowed direct democracy, individual voters
determining civil rights issues – a right formerly reserved for the legislature and courts. Due to the nature of the referendum, checks and
balances do not limit the decisions made by the popular vote. This lack of regulation and unchecked direct democracy is unconstitutional.
This presentation includes an interactive simulation to guide students to understand how a referendum on civil rights jeopardizes the
inalienable rights of minorities.
Prophecy: The Future Foretold
Room Ten
Ruth Teferi, Hammond
1984, Y2K, and the end of the Mayan calendar have been dates that evoked fear in some but ended up never being fulfilled. Should we rule
out all prophecy as false, or are there prophecies that have actually been proven accurate? Although questionable to some, evidence shows
that there are prophecies in the Bible that predicted the Holocaust, the return of the Jews to Israel, the independence of the United States, and
even the uprisings in Libya and Egypt. This presentation will guide viewers through the prophecies in the Bible that have already occurred
and provide an analysis of the similarities in the Bible and Qur’an concerning “end of time” figures.
APpLe Seeds of Knowledge
Auditorium
Hugo Caldwell, Leon Chambers, Ralph Erickson, Jacob Greenberg, Jeremy Tsao, Long Reach
Are you interested in contributing to the advancement of improved solutions and designs? Then perhaps the Johns Hopkins University
Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), a center for engineering and research, would be of interest to you. Delve into space weather calculations
to prevent future damages to satellites. Analyze recent developments in the field of robotics and help develop more efficient and natural
methods of controlling a robot. Explore an innovative and resourceful way to test satellite hardware using the programming capabilities of a
simple microcontroller. Investigate light interactions and efficiency through LED testing. Compute a large-scale simulation for the water
entry and underwater movement of a rocket. This presentation will explore how five interns have taken advantage of opportunities at APL.
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Session Two
Dancing Out Your Dreams
Room One
Kelly Dornan, Glenelg
Almost every little girl dreams of being a ballerina, but those dreams still live in the dancers in the Professional Training Program at the
Washington School of Ballet. This program offers rigorous ballet training for high school students who hope to pursue a career in ballet. The
students also have the opportunity to perform with a professional company, The Washington Ballet, and develop a feel for the life of a
ballerina. In this session, students will learn about the daily training of pre-professional dancers, as well as the beauty of using body
movements to create a work of art.
Old Cells, New Beginnings: The Utilization of Adipose Stem Cell Technology in Veterinary Medicine
Room Two
Vivian Yang, Wilde Lake
Companion animals with degenerative bone diseases suffer because of the lack of available treatments. How can we improve the quality of
life for these animals? Is there a cost efficient and reliable option? The use of adipose stem cell technology is proving to be beneficial in the
management and cure of a variety of health issues, including arthritis and lameness in both large and small animals. Participants in this
session will have an opportunity to learn about what adipose stem cells are, how they are being utilized in both veterinary and human
medicine, and the potential this technology possesses.
Is Google Great? Why is Generation Z not Information Literate, and Why Should We Care?
Room Three
Emily Krause, River Hill
How many times have you used Google in the past week? Middle and high school teachers claim that 94% of their students equate research
with Google. Is there anything wrong with students relying on Google and the Internet? Although the Internet continually updates
information, it can be hard to trust the legitimacy of everything that is published. Learn why today's generation is not savvy about
information literacy and what high school educators, media specialists, and university librarians must do to teach students to be effective
researchers.
Computed Idioms: The Gateway to the Human Understanding of Language
Room Four
Veniamin Gushchin, Marriotts Ridge
Metaphors and idioms are advanced and prevalent language structures that pose difficulties when non-native speakers attempt translations.
Using translation technology can cause inaccuracies due to literal interpretations. However, a natural language processing algorithm can
match a metaphor to its meaning, based on the primary metaphors it contains. Such an algorithm can not only make machine translations
more accurate, but also can model the way in which the human mind processes metaphors, giving further insight into this phenomenon. This
session will explore this possible advancement and uncover the inner workings of the human mind.
Neuritin: The Power Behind Cancer’s Reign of Terror
Room Five
Ziyi Pan, Mount Hebron
Theoretically, no one should have cancer. The human immune system contains billions of disease-fighting lymphocytes that ought to
eliminate cancer cells and prevent them from spreading. However, this is clearly not the case because alarmingly large numbers of people
still develop cancers. Why, then, does the immune system simply take a back seat as cancers grow and thrive? The reason for this may be a
protein called Neuritin, which is expressed at unusually high quantities on cancer cells, as well as immune system components that are
responsible for suppressing powerful responses that could potentially kill cancer cells if allowed to take place. Learn the key role that
Neuritin plays in cancer viability and the potential it has in the development of cancer treatments.
(Tap, Tap) Hey! Why Didn’t You Use a TAP Block?!
Room Six
Susan Nickell, Centennial
The field of anesthesiology constantly encourages innovation to increase efficiency and better pain management. Peripheral nerve blockades
allow patients to remain awake with intake airways but still achieve analgesia, the inability to feel pain. Of the many different kinds of
blocks, the transverses abdominis plane (TAP) block, whether performed perioperatively or postoperatively, has shown promise of better
pain management for surgeries on or within the abdominal wall than spinal epidurals. However, anesthesiologists are reluctant to use them
often because it is a fairly new procedure. Come see how these blocks are performed, how they target the nerve, and how patients can benefit
from them.
Vaccination In Our Nation: Protecting the Public Health from the Human Papillomavirus
Room Seven
Amanda Tun, Reservoir
How can we ensure that the public health is protected against potentially deadly viruses? How do scientists develop and test new
vaccinations? The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a potentially fatal virus that can cause a multitude of cancers and malignancies. There are
over 100 types of HPV known today. Because fifty percent of sexually active men and women will come in contact with HPV at one point in
their lives, it is imperative that the public is aware of this virus and the current policies regulating the vaccine. This presentation will discuss
the intern’s experience at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, MD, where the vaccine is being tested, and will share the actions
necessary to decrease the number of future HPV cases.
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Save the Drama for Your Classroom: How Theatre Benefits Education
Room Eight
Mareya Norris, Long Reach
Tick…tick…tick…BRINGGG! The bell finally rings; another class down. School is done for the day, and after-school activities begin. How
can the excitement of afterschool activities be transferred into the classroom? Teachers are always searching for more creative teaching
methods, so why not include drama? English Second Language Learners (ESL), shy students, and kinesthetic learners are all hindered by
traditional teaching styles but thrive in classrooms that incorporate drama teaching methods. This presentation will show how teaching using
drama permits students of all learning styles to flourish.
Culture Shock: The Transformative Power of an Exchange Program in a Developing Nation
Room Nine
Claire Reardon, Howard
What could an affluent community like Howard County gain from having a Sister City relationship with a town in Haiti? Columbia,
Maryland has two long-standing Sister Cities in Europe, but as the county grows more diverse, there is a growing interest in forming bonds
with non-European countries. Despite the rampant poverty in Haiti, its second-largest city, Cap-Haitien, is a candidate to become Columbia’s
next Sister City. The rich history, culture, and natural beauty of Cap-Haitien provide an eye-opening experience for Howard County residents
given the chance to form a bond with this unique city. This presentation will detail the history of the Sister City program, both internationally
and in Howard County, describe the process of starting a Sister City, and explore the plausibility and value of starting a Sister City in CapHaitien, Haiti.
Dream it, Design it, Do it: The Computer Aided Design(CAD) Revolution
Room Ten
Cole Rosenberg, Hammond
How has Computer Aided Design(CAD) completely revolutionized the way we build? Since the creation of computers and software that can
draw, model, and test anything we want to build, engineering has never been the same. Gone are the rooms full of men, hunched over
drawing boards, sketching for hours on end. What once took a team with expensive machinery a month, can now be done by an individual
with a laptop and a printer in only a couple of days. Learn what the empowerment of CAD has done for engineering and what it can do for
you by attending this presentation.
In and Outside the Courtroom: The Power of Spoken Word in the American Justice System
Auditorium
Sean Kim and Michael Makar, Atholton
At the heart of many criminal cases in the United States is the influence of spoken word; whether found in the cryptic conversations of prison
phone calls or the meticulous phrasing of false witness testimony, the recorded dialogue of criminals facing a trial can be utilized by
attorneys – for better or for worse. Crimes of perjury and obstruction of justice may result in heavy fines and up to five years in prison, while
any evidence gathered from prison phone calls can be used as criminal evidence in a trial. Human speech is a legal element that is often
shrouded in uncertainty, and may even be the deciding factor of a case’s verdict. These two interns will dispel common misconceptions about
perjury and prison phone calls, as well as explore the legal consequences of misleading or false information both in and outside the
courtroom.
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Session Three
Alcohol and Arson: A Dangerous Combination
Room One
Carli Castiglia, Glenelg
What if there were a fire that harmed someone you knew or destroyed your property? If it were intentionally started wouldn’t you want the
criminal to be caught? Fires can be started with accelerants like gasoline, oil, or alcohol. They assist the fire by making it burn either longer
or hotter and can be identified using a specific process. This presentation will explain how this researcher’s work is attempting to develop a
method to be used by investigators and forensic scientists to identify and procure physical evidence to be used to convict arsonists.
The Great American Tragedy: Untold Stories of Howard Counties’ African American Civil War Veterans
Room Two
Daniel Ingham, Wilde Lake
In 1860, one year before the Civil War, 13% of Maryland’s population of nearly 90,000 people, was enslaved. In May of 1863, when
President Lincoln’s War Department instated the Bureau of Colored Troops, African Americans were encouraged to enlist in the military
effort against the Confederacy. African Americans were asked to risk their lives for a government under which they had only known
injustice, but they interpreted this call to arms as a fight for their freedom. In retrospect, what did these brave men fight for? This session will
showcase a largely under-researched chapter of Howard County African American history: the post-war experience of African American
veterans and their families, how the government responded to them, and the personal tragedies they endured beyond their Civil War tour of
duty.
The Media: What is Our Normal vs. Their Normal?
Room Three
Sarah Pomerantz, Oakland Mills
Media mayhem surrounds us. According to a recent study on body image by All Parliamentary Group, girls as young as age five are now
worrying about their weight and appearance. The media publishes unrealistic body images through magazine advertisements, commercials,
and various age related programming. A second study stated that 33% of women surveyed would surrender a year of their life to achieve
ideal body weight and shape. As a result, anorexia and bulimia are becoming more prevalent. Come to this presentation and learn what can
be done to change the culture of our media and of our girls.
“Seeing” Transfection with Multiphoton Microscopy: A Progressive Method for Showing Successful Gene Delivery In Vivo
Room Four
Christine Shen, Marriotts Ridge
Researchers have touted gene therapy as a promising treatment for formerly difficult-to-treat diseases, such as cancer, cystic fibrosis, and
sickle cell disease. Is it possible to demonstrate and improve rates of gene delivery in order to use gene therapy for wound healing in the
clinical setting? Previous research has used indirect methods to show gene delivery. Multiphoton microscopy has the potential to provide
direct, visual, and non-invasive confirmation of the successful transfection of plasmids. From this discussion, students will understand gene
therapy, current limitations, possible solutions for these issues, and gene therapy’s connection to wound healing.
Keep the Beat and Move Their Feet: Providing New Opportunities to Post- Pediatric Heart Transplant Patients through Cardiac
Rehabilitation
Room Five
Kylie Zuiderhof, Mount Hebron
Imagine never being able to play on a playground or even leave the hospital bed due to fear of suffering a massive heart attack; for many
children this is a reality due to early heart failure. Through pediatric heart transplants we are able to extend patients’ lives, and with the
development of Cardiac Rehab, which works to better the health of the patient’s mind and body through unique exercises and therapy, they
have a chance of an active lifestyle. In this seminar learn the benefits of implementing Cardiac Rehab programs in children’s hospitals around
the country.
The Plastic Brain: Discussing the Physiology of Learning in Healthy and Damaged Brains
Room Six
Helen Kramer, Centennial
From the chimpanzee learning to grasp a tiny object in its hand to the pianist rehearsing a complex concerto, the flexibility of the animal
mind is astounding. Neuroplasticity theory, so named to convey the malleability of plastics, theorizes that this learning is possible because the
brain, even the mature or damaged brain, can change at the physiological level in response to experience. Join this presenter to explore how
the brain changes physiologically as it learns. Discover how neuroplasticity applies to your learning and how it can be harnessed to improve
recovery from brain injuries.
Back to the Future: Intelligent Transportation Systems
Room Seven
Manas Mishra, Howard
When was the last time you were stuck in traffic? When was the last time you barely avoided an accident? Intelligent Transportation
Systems address issues of efficiency and safety on the road. This presentation will explore the way innovations in technology now enable
cars, cameras, and traffic lights to communicate in order to increase the flow of traffic and decrease the frequency of parking lot collisions.
Additionally, this session will address how increased accuracy in the programming of traffic cameras will eliminate false incrimination for
speeding. Finally, the presenter will discuss the privacy implications of intelligent transportation systems.
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A House Divided: Legislative Problem-Solving
Room Eight
Brian Samples, Long Reach
According to Matthew B. Platt, “from 1947 to 1998 only 4.7% of the bills introduced in Congress became law.” Do you think that you can do
better? Our country’s increasingly polarized political environment is causing state representatives to experience difficulties in passing policy
reforms. This presentation will provide the audience with the opportunity to examine the rigors of the legislative process. After reviewing
current examples of legislation in the course of being amended, the audience will understand the complexity of how policy is formed, adapted
and implemented through the legislative process.
Wounds of War: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Room Nine
Vidisha Patwardhan, Atholton High School
Statistics show that 20% of veterans who have been deployed in the past six years suffer from PTSD; that’s over 300,000 people. Veterans
are not the only targets of this debilitating disorder; every citizen exposed to traumas such as rape, abuse, and natural disasters can be
affected. PTSD plagues its victims with symptoms such as severe anxiety, sleeping problems, and depression, all of which can lead to
suicide. Research indicates that through the combined use of therapeutic treatments and pharmaceutical medications such as anti-depressants,
relief and potential for a normal life is possible. This presentation will provide an insightful look into the life of PTSD patients and current
research about effective treatment options.
Issues Faced by the LGBT Community: How To Feel Safe and Accepted
Room Ten
Jessica Quinter and Chloe Swanson, Hammond
Currently eleven states and Washington D.C. have legalized gay marriage. This topic sparks endless debate, morally and religiously. It also
affects our youth. Both the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender (LGBT) and non-LGBT youth form opinions of themselves and of their
peers based on how LGBT people are portrayed in the media and treated by our government. By attending this presentation, not only will
viewers learn about how media influence can help to create safe spaces for LGBT students in schools, but also participants will examine the
constitutional case for gay marriage.
Lights, Camera, Action! Howard County Film Festival
Auditorium
Colin Sullivan, Centennial, Emily Maginnis, Howard, & Christine Nguyen, River Hill
Discover the business and art behind the Howard County Film Festival. The Festival and the films submitted have received critical acclaim,
and the program is a model used by other school systems. Hear how the Festival has outgrown three locations and quadrupled its budget.
How do the organizers encourage student filmmakers to share their films, and what is the process of creating a film to submit in 2013? A
county-wide organizational committee creates HoCo Film Festival yearly. If you enjoy films or are a filmmaker yourself, join us for this
dynamic and engaging session.
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Session Four
Room One-Clinical Medicine
Similarities & Differences in Heart Attacks of Men & Women
Adeola Togun, Marriots Ridge
Dancing Eyes: Visual Acuity Testing in Nystagmus Patients
Tobi Owoyemi, Howard
Room Two- Engineering/Computer Science/ Business
Maritime Monitoring-Rippling the Surface
Maria Pascale, Wilde Lake
Fair or Foul? The role of the Designated Hitter in Major League Baseball
Jordan Goldberg, River Hill
Room Three – Business
Just One Click: The Dangers of Teen Online Purchasing Behavior
Sarah Fazzari, River Hill
Branding or Brainwashing? The Psychology behind Advertising to Generation Y
Eric Higgins, Reservoir
Room Four – Social Activism
Pride in Development: Aspiration Is Achievement
Philip Adejumo, Howard
The Power of You: Being the Change
Shelby Fredrickson, Long Reach
Room Five – Humanities
Lights, Camera, History! A Study of American Filmmaking during the 20th Century.
Matthew Myslinski, Mount Hebron
Bands, Balladry, and Bitterness: The Evolution of Civil War Music
Emily Galik, Marriotts Ridge
Room Six - Science Research
Something's Fishy: Identifying Biogenic Amines in Seafood
Charlie Moran, Long Reach
Food and Germs: How to Prevent Foodborne Illness Outbreaks
Tim Holzberg, Centennial
Room Seven – Education
Classroom Management: Every Teacher’s Key to Success
Emily Petersen, Atholton
Off the Walls: Using Technology to Teach Physics Interactively
Marcus Fedarko, Long Reach
Room Eight – Social Activism
Refugees and Asylum Seekers: Escaping Political, Social, and Religious Persecution
Ogonna Obiajunwa, Atholton
Food For Tomorrow: Fighting the Invisible War
Jadon Ramsing, Wilde Lake
Room Nine --- Humanities
To Be or Not to Be…a Movie
Ashley Leitner, Glenelg
The Evolution of Modern Drama: Coming to a Theatre Near You!
Olivia D’Amato, Atholton
Room Ten – Behavioral Science/Law
Do the Crime, Do the Time: The Impact of Brain Research on Juvenile Sentencing
Emily Blanchard, Reservoir
Out with the Old and In with the New: Technological Advances in Today’s Courtrooms
Imani
Cabassa, Hammond
Auditorium – Engineering/Computer Science
Security on the Go: Protecting Your Mobile Devices
Julia Thoreson, Centennial
The Pushes of Space: Solar Disturbance Torques on Solar Probe Plus
Lindsey Bishop, Mount Hebron
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