Articles tagged with Undergraduate Students
The Science Communication Lab has received a 3-year NSF grant to create new films and virtual workshops about novel breakthroughs and techniques in science. The lab aims to expand its work across filmmaking and education to reach broad and diverse audiences, emphasizing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
A new study by UBC Okanagan researchers found that including a kindness assignment in an undergraduate course increased students' self-reported kindness scores and peer connectedness. The research highlights the importance of kindness initiatives in post-secondary education.
A Colorado State University team has received a $3.2 million grant to develop ways to grow algae crops faster and improve their potential as a source of biofuels and other products.
A recent study published by Swansea University found that venomous fish and insects diversified faster than their non-venomous counterparts. This is attributed to the use of venom as a means of repelling predators or catching prey, leading to increased opportunities for species to exploit their environment.
Researchers at VCU found a clear preference for immediate revenge in six experiments with over 1,500 participants. Participants who ruminated on past provocations or had antagonistic traits showed a shift towards delayed-but-greater revenge.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a new method to synthesize halichondrin B, a natural compound with potent antitumor properties. The 'reverse approach' simplifies the process by bonding carbon-oxygen connections first and has reduced the number of steps required to make the molecule from 25 to just 5.
Researchers analyzed oxygen isotopes from Texas caves to understand trends in past thunderstorms and their durations. They found that shifts in storm regimes coincide with global abrupt climate shifts during the last glacial period. This study helps predict future mid-latitude thunderstorm patterns.
Research from Rice University and the University of Windsor found that leaders who encourage on-job learning and listen to employees are more effective in building resilient teams. Teams that learn from mistakes and receive verbal rewards for a learning mindset tend to be more resilient.
SMU-X, a university-wide pedagogical experiential learning programme, is being rigorously evaluated to assess its impact on graduates. The study will investigate whether SMU-X effectively cultivates a learning mindset, sharpens workforce skills, and facilitates career-related advancements for SMU graduates.
UW researchers studied how to make online arguments more productive and centered around relationship-building. They found that people want to have difficult conversations online, but often avoid them due to lack of nuance or space for discussion. The team developed 12 potential technological design interventions, including democratizin...
A team of undergraduate students from the University of Exeter's Natural Sciences department has published their second-year research in a top academic journal. They applied novel image analysis techniques to study the Belousov-Zhabotinsky chemical reaction, extracting features such as wave velocity and making unprecedented progress.
Researchers explore how Latino male college students understand and perform leadership based on their familial and cultural values. The study finds that 'familismo leadership' is a recognized form of leadership among Latino men, linked to masculinity as strength, provider role, and direct action.
A Swansea University research project aims to assess the evidence on shielding vulnerable people from COVID-19. The study will examine how shielding affected deaths, hospital admissions, and quality-of-life in Wales.
The model evaluates synergy between properties going up for auction, allowing governments to decide if bundling or separate auctions are more beneficial. Bundling guarantees synergy realization, but reduces flexibility in allocating items to bidders.
A new study from Rice University finds that governments with strong female representation are more likely to deliver on campaign promises. The research also suggests that women in leadership roles are even more effective at keeping these promises.
A team of undergraduate students from Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology developed a laser-based technique to measure protein-containing vessels released by cells. The technique, known as dynamic light scattering (DLS), is reliable, convenient, and inexpensive, making it an efficient tool for studying exosomes.
A four-university collaboration is surveying over 800 undergraduate students on mental and emotional health, academic success, and risk factors for dropping out. The study aims to identify key factors influencing student well-being and inform strategies to enhance university support.
Researchers have created an algorithm called SCEPTTr that predicts the stability of collagen triple helices, a critical structure in skin, bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The program expands on previous work to understand natural amino acids and provides detailed melting temperatures for each possible combination of sequences.
The study found a 21% decline in submissions among incoming first-year undergraduates and a 7% decline among those with some prior experience. Neighborhoods with higher percentages of Black and Hispanic residents saw significant declines in applications, while areas with lower proportions of these groups experienced increases.
The MOANA Project aims to create a dual-function wireless headset that can read and write brain activity, restoring lost sensory function. The team successfully demonstrated the technology using light and magnetic fields in a proof-of-principle research.
Researchers at Rice University have successfully created metastable metallic nanoparticles from dichalcogenides, which can be used in electronics and optics. The process involves applying a high electrical charge to rapidly raise the material's temperature, producing a new class of highly valued materials.
A new study reveals that only 10% of remaining tropical forest cover remains fire-resistant, while the rest has been fragmented or degraded. Tropical forests play a crucial role in preventing catastrophic fires, emphasizing the need for preservation and regeneration.
A new study finds that the 'pink tax' imposes direct penalties on women consumers due to gender-biased import tariffs. However, countries with higher female representation in politics have lower tax penalties, indicating a positive correlation between representation and policy change.
A study by University of Kent researchers found that individuals who feel a system or authority is unresponsive to their demands are more likely to support hacker activity. This support can be seen as a means to express anger and frustration towards the organization, even if it involves disruptive actions.
The Nanotechnology Enabled Water Treatment Center (NEWT) at Rice University has been renewed for five years with a $16.5 million NSF award. The center will focus on developing multifunctional nanomaterials and low-energy desalination technologies to address global water needs.
A Dartmouth study reveals that sexist attitudes have a greater influence on how voters view politicians accused of sexual misconduct than partisanship. The study found that favorability and electoral support decreased after respondents read about allegations of sexual assault or sexist jokes, with stronger reactions to the former.
Undergraduate students perceive e-cigarette secondhand emissions as harmful when labeled 'chemicals' or 'aerosols', but not 'vapor'. The study recommends accurately labeling e-cigarette emissions to build support for tobacco-free campus policies.
Rice University researchers are developing an open-source platform to turbo-charge the research process of inventing novel machine-learning based techniques for intelligent wireless network management and optimization. The 3DML platform will provide agile and flexible tools to manage and protect complex wireless networks.
New research at University of Nebraska-Lincoln suggests that faculty networks are insufficient to disseminate evidence-based instructional practices. Most innovation sharing occurs within a smaller group of frequent users, rather than across departments.
In the African Serengeti, lion presence leads to mixed-species grazing groups, where species congregate to minimize predation risk. These groups are more likely to form in areas with high predator stress, such as woodland habitats and near rocky outcroppings.
Ghasempour's research enables real-time, high-speed connections that can be used in various applications, such as emergency response systems and smartwatch technology. Her innovations have the potential to create a next-generation Internet of Things by connecting thousands of devices with faster streams of data.
The survey found that online tools can improve services in autism care by reducing delays, improving outcomes, and enabling families to access professionals remotely. The two approaches, Real-Time and Store-and-Forward methods, have good diagnostic accuracy and enable natural behaviors in the home setting to be observed.
A new study found that even when women outnumber men in science courses, they may still be experiencing gender biases from their peers. Women outperformed men in terms of GPA and statistically higher course grades, yet were less likely to seek help or perceive their male classmates as knowledgeable.
Researchers at Rice University discovered that excitons can spontaneously form in ground-state bilayers of specific 2D compounds, exhibiting superfluid-like behavior. This phenomenon holds promise for innovative electronic and quantum computing applications.
A study analyzing grade data for over 25,000 students found that minority students who score above C- are 'hyperpersistent' in STEM classes. The researchers suggest improving student performance could disproportionately increase the retention rate of underrepresented students in STEM majors.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati are developing a reusable face mask that can kill viruses caught on its surface using heat. The design features a thin, breathable film made from engineered carbon nanomaterials as a heatable filter retrofitted onto commercial masks.
A new study by UC Santa Cruz reveals that field courses help build self-confidence among students, particularly those from underrepresented groups. The research shows that students who participate in field courses are more likely to graduate, have higher GPAs, and stay in the ecology and evolutionary biology major.
Early studies indicate COVID-19 genetic material can be detected in stool samples, but it's unclear if infectious virus is present. Further research is needed to determine the risk of transmission through feces.
An undergraduate course curriculum combined music, filmmaking, and reflective writing to help students connect with people living with dementia. More than half of the students continued engaging with participants after the course, highlighting the potential of arts and music courses in shaping perceptions about dementia.
Rice University researchers have won a National Science Foundation RAPID grant to upgrade their wastewater-treatment technology. They aim to develop a system that can selectively adsorb viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, and disable them using photocatalytic disinfection.
The University of Huddersfield's two-year project, ICE+, will see over 750 students from across seven schools work in inter-disciplinary teams to develop enterprise and innovation skills. The project aims to promote the benefits of employing graduate talent and boost local employment opportunities for former students.
New research from Rice University found that Barack Obama's 2008 presidential election improved the mental health of black men, with an average decrease in poor mental health days from four to three. However, this benefit did not extend to black women, who reported a slight increase in mental health problems following the election.
Researchers found that the alignment of nanotubes in 2D films corresponds to parallel, submicroscopic grooves on the paper. The grooves likely form during the factory production process, and removing them allows for control over alignment direction.
Active learning techniques have been shown to significantly narrow the achievement gap between overrepresented and underrepresented students in STEM fields. In a recent study, instructors incorporated more active learning methods into undergraduate STEM courses, resulting in exam scores narrowing by 33-42% and course passing rates impr...
A Rice University study found that public school students have healthier core strength than home-schooled children due to daily use of heavy backpacks. The research also revealed a disparity in push-up performance between the two groups, with public school students meeting requirements and home-schoolers narrowly missing them.
Researchers found that people living near former Nazi concentration camps are more xenophobic, intolerant of Jews, Muslims, and immigrants, and support extreme right-wing parties. This suggests that historical legacies continue to impact contemporary attitudes towards marginalized groups.
Researchers studied concussions experienced by undergraduate students over three academic years, finding a significant number of non-sports related concussions. The study suggests an increasing trend in non-sports related concussions among college undergrads, warranting further attention.
A three-year study found concussions are twice as prevalent as previously believed and occur significantly more often off the playing field. The research also showed that females are more susceptible to concussions and that incidence is higher among non-sport-related activities, such as falls and motor vehicle accidents.
A recent study by San Francisco State University professors found that students' tolerance for cheating in the classroom is linked to their openness to unethical behavior on the job. Group-oriented students, or collectivists, were more likely to be tolerant of cheating due to their desire to maintain group cohesion.
The US Army Research Laboratory's Robotics Collaborative Technology Alliance brings together industry-academia researchers to solve military problems with scientific solutions. Students from undergraduate to doctoral levels contribute to the alliance by working on real Army problems in university laboratories.
The Plants-3D program will provide academic and entrepreneurial training to 50 students, equipping them with cutting-edge technologies to increase crop yields and nutritional value. The synthetic biology approach will enable plants to tolerate increased stress levels, reducing the need for fertilizer.
A recent ASU study reveals that a positive lab environment and enjoyable everyday tasks are key factors in maintaining undergraduate researchers. The study surveyed over 750 life sciences undergraduates and found that 50% of participants considered leaving their research experience due to inadequate support.
Rice University, Texas Southern University, and the University of Houston have won a $2.66 million NSF grant to enhance training and resources for underrepresented minorities in engineering and science disciplines. The project aims to create a more diverse workforce and address systemic barriers that impede their success.
Researchers at Rice University have created a method to modify hexagonal-boron nitride (h-BN) by attaching carbon chains, making it easier to bond with polymers and other materials. This modification also makes the material more dispersible in organic solvents.
A new study from SMU finds that public university students in Texas graduate with high debt-to-income ratios, averaging 74% of their first-year wages. Historically underserved students, including black and Latinx students, are predicted to borrow more than their white peers.
A new study suggests that periodic closures of fishing grounds can promote fish stock recovery while still providing enough to eat. The researchers found that well-managed fisheries with pulse harvests achieved better outcomes than those with permanent no-take MPAs.
A new study from Rice University psychologist Danielle King found that how leaders respond to employee suggestions can impact whether or not the employee opens up in the future. Employees who receive sensitive explanations for rejected ideas are more likely to offer suggestions again in the future.
A study by Rice University researchers found that people selling items on online resale websites tend to favor buyers from wealthier areas. The findings suggest that geographic location plays a significant role in shaping interactions and outcomes in mundane settings, revealing the far-reaching effects of segregation.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a cheap and clean method to handle carbon nanotubes, improving lab safety. The protocol involves proper attire, containment systems, and efficient transfer procedures, making it possible for labs to safely work with these materials on a large scale.
Researchers at Rice University have created a material that generates electricity from movement, enabling the creation of wearable devices powered by human activity. The triboelectric effect is used to harness energy from contact and separation between materials, producing enough power to charge small capacitors.