Research
iROC rocks on at MSMC
Photos by Lee Ferris, Matt Frey, and Emily Gursky
The college celebrated another successful semester of Investigating Research on Campus (iROC) events, featuring original insights from Mount faculty and students.
Michael McGuire, assistant professor of History and Political Science, kicked off the semester with his research on the wartime humanitarian work of Edith Wharton. One of Wharton’s most notable contributions, he said, was the refugee-focused charity organization American Hostels for French Refugees. This organization provided shelter, employment, education, and daycare services for French and Belgian men, women, and children who were fleeing the war in Germany.
Wharton also used her writing skills to help fund her support of refugees, publishing books that raised awareness for the hardships of war. This work notably earned Wharton the French Legion of Honor, making her the first American woman to earn this recognition.
Joshua Patterson, assistant professor of Education, was next up with, “Repurposing Video Games as Discussion Tools.” He outlined a pedagogical approach that can harness content knowledge, discursive prowess, and video game aptitude.
Using off the shelf video games, Patterson created a pilot program with a group of high school students that integrated teacher-led gameplay as a way to enrich the Social Studies curriculum for teens. This teacher-led model alleviates the need for participants to have access to their own gaming equipment and allows the instructor to showcase relevant sections of a game. The games served as vibrant visual aids of relevant time periods and locations, he explained. Among other benefits, the combination of face-to-face and digital discourse worked to improve pupils’ interpersonal skills and media literacy.
At the end of the semester, dozens of Mount scholars showcased their research at the joint iROC and Honors Research symposium. Students from a variety of majors presented course-related, honors, or independent research projects in poster form for the campus community to enjoy.
CDI talk tackle race, religion, and climate change
Photos by Lee Ferris and Emily Gursky
The Catholic and Dominican Institute (CDI) presented a series of talks during the Spring 2023 semester that examined social issues through the lens of religion and spirituality.
Sarah Silkey, professor of history and social economic justice at Lycoming College of Pennsylvania, shared her research on the life of American civil rights advocate and investigative journalist Ida B. Wells.
Wells used early techniques of investigative journalism, mobilizing an international effort to raise awareness of the horrors of mob violence targeting Black Americans in the 1890s. This helped her to gain support for an anti-lynching campaign across the globe. The life and career of Wells, Silkey explained, is an example of how just one person can catalyze major societal changes. The event was cosponsored by CDI, the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and the Division of Arts and Letters.
Also during the spring semester, Celia Cussen, a professor of Latin American history at the University of Chile in Santiago, discussed the life of Saint Martín of Porres. Martín (1579-1639) was unable to become a priest or a lay brother due to his African heritage. Instead, he joined the Dominican convent in Lima, Peru, as a servant and professed vows in 1603. He soon gained a reputation as an exceptional healer and man of great compassion, taking care of both his fellow man and a variety of sick and injured animals.
“His story of resilience and kindness resonated with Catholics everywhere during the mid-century campaigns for the rights of marginalized groups in the United States, Ireland, and elsewhere,” said Cussen. She added that this expanding devotion to Martín culminated with his canonization as a saint in 1962.
Rabbi Daniel Swartz, executive director of the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life and spiritual leader at the Temple Hesed of Scranton, gave the final CDI talk of the semester, focusing on his 2021 visit to the Vatican to discuss climate change with faith leaders and scientists from around the world.
He was one of 40 faith leaders to participate in a dialogue led by Pope Francis. The group ultimately wrote an appeal to world leaders urging that they act against threats facing the climate.
During his talk, Rabbi Swartz outlined the main points of the dialogue at the Vatican. He also explained how the teachings of various faiths emphasize the need to take care of the planet.
“In the end, unless we change our laws and our policies, it will not be enough,” Swartz said. “We need to change the way our society acts and what values it has by getting the right people elected who will take action on this.”
IT major presents research at CSTEP conference
IT major Allison Espana presented her academic research at the 29th Annual CSTEP (Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program) Statewide Student Conference in Lake George, N.Y.
IT major Allison Espana presented her academic research at the 29th Annual CSTEP (Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program) Statewide Student Conference in Lake George, N.Y.
Along with Grace Vazquez, coordinator of the Mount’s CSTEP, Espana attended a three-day conference where she presented the research she has been conducting the last two summers at the Mount’s Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) with Micah Modell, assistant professor of Information Technology.
Under Modell’s tutelage, Espana researched how to implement localization and develop collaboration evaluation criteria for the learning management system “Colab,” to broaden accessibility and usability in different languages. Colab is a website that integrates collaboration into education, helping students and teachers understand the issues students are having in terms of teamwork with other students.
Summer studies are a SURE thing
Photos by Lee Ferris and Dean DiMarzo
Following weeks of summer research, nearly two dozen student scholars presented their own diverse research projects at the culmination of this year’s Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE).
Coordinated by James Moran, associate Biology professor at the Mount, SURE is an opportunity for students to work alongside Mount professors as they explore a research topic of their choosing.
SURE students presented their research to the Mount campus over the course of two sessions, one in June and one in July. These presentations featured research projects in areas such as Education, Information Technology, Math, and Natural Sciences.
Emily Gursky ’23 contributed to this article.
