Fall 2023 Abstracts
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Anthropology & Sociology
Tracing Lineages of Plantation Laborers to Current Residents: A South Louisiana Environmental Justice Perspective
Brynn Comeaux
Undergraduate Student, Oral
Mentor: Ryan Gray
Wednesday, November 15 at 3:15 - 3:30 PM
LIB 407
This research project seeks to explore the historical lineage of the current residents of Ironton, Louisiana, some of whom trace their ancestry back to the Saint Rosalie Plantation. Building on research from the Midlo Center, by examining the historical context and the transition from slavery to freedom, this study will shed light on how ancestral ties are related to environmental justice issues in South Louisiana. Through a combination of genealogy, oral history, and environmental assessments, the project will investigate how past injustices continue to impact the community's environmental conditions today. This research project will contribute to a better understanding of how historical injustices are connected to present-day environmental challenges, and how policies can be improved to rectify these disparities, ensuring that all residents have access to a healthy and equitable environment.
Lost Cemeteries
Katherine Heller
Undergraduate Student, Oral
Mentor: Ryan Gray
Wednesday, November 15 at 3:30 - 3:45 PM
LIB 407
While the above ground cemeteries of New Orleans are of worldwide fame and renown, there are a myriad of below ground cemeteries that have been lost to urban development. Despite being a significant cultural resource with unique protections under Louisiana law, much research is yet to be done to locate and identify these forgotten cemeteries. Through various case studies, I hope to answer who was buried at these cemeteries, how they became lost, and potential memorial efforts in the present day. While each cemetery is unique, together they shed new light on what we know of marginalized communities of the past. With the help of historical records, people who were forgotten in life, may be finally remembered in death, hundreds of years after burial. In a city where cemeteries are intimately tied with culture and history, we can start conversation on how to memorialize those forgotten.
"It’s Our Policy”: How Transgender Individuals Navigate the Health System in Southern Louisiana
Shelby Oliver
Graduate Student, Oral
Mentor: D'Lane Compton
Wednesday, November 15 at 3:45 - 4:00 PM
LIB 407
Policy is a term that gets thrown around quite a bit, especially within the realm of healthcare. Within the last few years there have been many attempts to regulate specific groups of people and their access to healthcare. One of the most notable of these groups is transgender people. This research will seek to better understand how this group navigates healthcare especially as it pertains to policies and regulations which have sought to restrict their access. The Greater New Orleans area will be the epicenter of this research. New Orleans has been identified as a more liberal city in an otherwise majorly conservative state. As WWNO put it in their podcast Listening Post “New Orleans is a ‘blue’ city within a ‘red’ state… (Walsh, 2017).” This distinction is important to make regarding providing an explanation for what is referred to as “New Orleans Exceptionalism.”
Biological Science
Influence of the Additive Manufacturing Process on Bacterial Adhesion
Julianna Berger
Graduate Student, Poster
Mentor: Damon Smith, Wendy Schluchter
Poster #118
Wednesday, November 15 at 1:00 - 2:30 PM
LIB 410
The Covid-19 pandemic exposed the need for rapid manufacturing of medical equipment. Additive manufacturing (3D printing) processes can create geometrically complex objects that can be rapidly customized for patient-specific biomedical devices such as prosthetics, orthotics, and splints as well as a variety of hospital supplies and equipment. For these applications, it is important that the materials are not prone to spreading infection. Because of this, it is crucial to learn more about how bacteria adhere to these surfaces. In this study we examine how the manufacturing process influences the topography of a surface and how this influences bacterial adhesion. We have measured the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus on printed polylactic acid test specimens. The test specimens were made using fused filament fabrication 3D printing. Here we show that changes in infill pattern and layer height influence bacterial growth. We also show that these effects are different between these two organisms, suggesting that some bacteria may adhere to these patterned surfaces better than others due to differences in their cell envelope components. This information can be used to manufacture objects with surfaces that inhibit microbial adhesion and growth.
Is Exposure to Second-Hand Smoke Associated with Gestational Age at Birth in a Michigan Prospective Pregnancy Cohort?
Ami Brooks
Undergraduate Student, Poster
Mentor: N/A
Collaborators: Jean Kerver
Poster #105
Tuesday, November 14 at 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
LIB 410
None Provided
Trace Heavy Metal Analysis in Juvenile Red Snapper in the Norther Gulf of Mexico
Dakota Brunetti
Undergraduate Student, Oral
Mentor: Kelly Boyle, Erin Cox, Phoebe Zito
Tuesday, November 14 at 2:45 - 3:00 PM
LIB 407
None Provided
Measuring cost of transport in Gulf killifish
Trang Dang Nguyen
Undergraduate Student, Poster
Mentor: N/A
Collaborators: Bernard Rees
Poster #113
Tuesday, November 14 at 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
LIB 410
Animals expend energy to perform various activities, including locomoting in their environments. This energy can be estimated by the amount of oxygen consumed per unit distance traveled, known as the cost of transport (COT). In this study, I measured the COT of the Gulf killifish, Fundulus grandis, a widespread and ecologically important estuarine fish. COT was determined as the rate of oxygen consumption at increasing water speeds using intermittent-flow respirometry with a Blazka-type swim tunnel. The experiment included 20 fish, which were measured over the course of two years (2022 and 2023). COT plotted as a function of speed resulted in J-shaped curves, implying that most individuals achieved their minimum COT (COTmin) at intermediate speeds. Moreover, COTmin was shown to be positively related to body mass. Mass-adjusted COTmin was not different between male and female fish, but was lower in 2022 compared to 2023 (p < 0.05). Interestingly, fish measured in 2022 had previously been used in swim tunnel experiments, whereas only half of the 2023 fish had experienced the swim tunnel prior to measuring COT. When fish were grouped according to whether they had swim tunnel experience, COTmin was significantly lower in experienced individuals for both years combined (p = 0.0023), as well as for the 2023 fish only (p = 0.027). These results suggest that COTmin in the Gulf killifish might respond to training, where trained individuals are able to achieve lower COT to swim a given distance.
Are Chemicals or Plants Better at Controlling Nitrate and Promoting Fish Growth
Renata Dykstra
Undergraduate Student, Poster
Mentor: Bernard Rees
Collaborators: Bernard Rees
Poster #109
Tuesday, November 14 at 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
LIB 410
The culture of aquatic organisms in laboratory or aquaculture settings requires careful control of the chemical composition of the water. Excretion of nitrogenous wastes by fish may elevate ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate levels in the water. Frequently, culture systems that maintain low ammonia and nitrite levels are associated with the accumulation of nitrate. Although nitrate is the least toxic of these three nitrogen-containing compounds, its levels must also be controlled, typically through partial water changes. This study aimed to investigate the influence of different approaches to control nitrate levels: chemical filtration versus live plants, on the growth of Fundulus grandis, a common species in aquatic ecosystems. Four 10-gallon tanks (A-D) were experimental units. Tanks A and D were fitted with one carbon filter and one Seachem Purigen Organic Filter to maintain low nitrate levels. Tanks B and C were equipped with two carbon filtration systems and hosted live aquatic plants. Water chemistry (pH, salinity, nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia) was monitored weekly, and fish masses were determined every two weeks. Fish were fed TetraMin flake food three times per week, with an amount of food equal to 2% of the fish mass in each tank, adjusted every two weeks to reflect changes in the total mass of fish per tank. If nitrate levels exceeded approximately 40 mg/L, 50% of the water was replaced to mitigate nitrate accumulation. Fundulus grandis showed small changes in mass over the course of the experiment, with no consistent patterns observed between the experimental groups. The results suggest similarity in the effectiveness of chemical filtration and the presence of live plants in regulating nitrate levels and supporting Fundulus Grandis growth.
Investigation of predation on gopher tortoise nests in Louisiana
David Freixas
Undergraduate Student, Poster
Mentor: Rachel Clostio
Poster #123
Tuesday, November 14 at 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
LIB 410
Gopher tortoises share their burrows with more than 350 other species and are therefore referred to as a keystone species. They are classified as a threatened species in Louisiana. The Gopher tortoises’ population is slowly declining due to loss of habit. We investigated predation on gopher tortoise nests. To observe which predators are investigating the nests, trail Cameras were set up at 5 different burrows. The data that was pulled from the photos were the gopher tortoise’s actions, any mating attempts, the different animals that use the burrows for shelter, and the different predators that search the burrows. The data showed there were few predators around the burrows. There were a few mating attempts, but it is unknown if they were successful attempts. The Tortoises were very inactive during most of the days in the summer. There were a few armadillos around the burrows multiply times. The armadillos are known predators to Gopher eggs. The data in this investigation can be expanded by revisiting the burrows to see if there were offspring produced, if there are destroyed eggshells from armadillos, or if the tortoises on public land are surviving better than those on privately owned land.
Purple Martin Housing
Karenisha Jackson
Undergraduate Student, Poster
Mentor: Rachel Clostio
Poster #101
Tuesday, November 14 at 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
LIB 410
In our research our primary goal is to see which bird house is preferred the most by Purple Martin birds. Purple Martins are a part of the swallow bird family and are dependent on humans for housing and survival. Our objective is to see which bird house for the Purple Martins would be more effective. Here on campus, we’ve installed different designs of bird houses each placed in a different direction. Using temperature and humidity loggers, we recorded the conditions of each housing type. We found that there was not a significant difference in the housing types. This data could be beneficial in the future for bird house landlords in finding the best options for their birds.
Malaria in Pregnancy
Adriana Norwood (high school student) with Ja'Kyi Brown Dandre Green
Undergraduate Student, Poster
Mentor: Andre Varnado, Sr.
Collaborators: Ja'Kyi Brown Dandre Green
Poster #131
Tuesday, November 14 at 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
LIB 410
Malaria is a preventable cause of maternal and infant morbidity and death that one hundred twenty-five million pregnant women at risk of contracting. Pregnant women are interestingly more vulnerable to malaria infections, and having malaria during pregnancy puts the fetus at risk. Malaria in pregnancy is often associated with causes like stillbirth, low birth weight and maternal and fetal death. Within this project we spell out all aspects associating with malaria.
The role of jumping genes in the evolution of insecticide resistance in Drosophila flies
An Vu with Jacy Haynes Benjamin Nagin Samer Richard Lane Joel Atallah
Undergraduate Student, Poster
Mentor: Joel Atallah
Collaborators: Jacy Haynes Benjamin Nagin Samer Richard Lane Joel Atallah
Poster #127
Tuesday, November 14 at 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
LIB 410
Invasive species pose a significant threat to agriculture, often requiring the use of pesticides for their control. However, in recent years, the overuse of pesticides has led to the development of resistance in pest populations, compromising their efficacy. This study focuses on Drosophila suzukii, a devastating pest that has recently spread from its native regions in Asia to become a global agricultural menace, causing billions of dollars in damage. We are interested in understanding the evolutionary mechanisms behind this pest's resilience, with a particular focus on the role of transposable elements (TEs) or "jumping genes." Previous research has shown that TEs play a role in mobilizing transcription factor binding site motifs to the enhancer regions of resistance-related genes. We compared eight known pesticide resistance genes in D. suzukii and the related pest D. subpulchrella to a non-pest species, D. biarmipes. We found far more helitron TEs, containing numerous binding sites of transcription factors, in the genomic regions of insecticide resistance genes in the pest species than in D. biarmipes. This research establishes a foundation for future projects that will use fly transcriptomes to determine if TE-mobilized transcription factor binding sites are associated with increased expression of insecticide resistance genes.
Chemistry
Utilizing Sponges as Bioindicators: Assessing Water Quality in Louisiana Using Freshwater, Sediment, and Sponge Samples
Fahime Abbasinohoji
Graduate Student, Poster
Mentor: Phoebe Anne Zito
Poster #102
Wednesday, November 15 at 1:00 - 2:30 PM
LIB 410
Freshwater sponges play a pivotal role in global freshwater ecosystems by effectively filtering water, regulating fecal pollutants, and sustaining aquatic life. It is noteworthy that, despite their importance, only 2 % of sponge species inhabit freshwater environments, with the majority being found in marine ecosystems. In the state of Louisiana, there is a scarcity of comprehensive data pertaining to freshwater sponge species, which creates substantial gaps in our comprehension of their ecological contributions. This project is guided by four primary objectives within the BTNEP and greater New Orleans region: i) Build database of water chemistry data and heavy metal concentrations in water, sediment, and sponge tissue and gemmules ii) Provide estimates of bioavailability of Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Ni and Zn using the biotic ligand model and iii) evaluate the efficacy of freshwater sponge tissues and gemmules for assessing bioavailability of heavy metals.
Heavy metals in lake water, after and before heavy rain
Hanieh Aghaieranjbar
Graduate Student, Poster
Mentor: N/A
Poster #114
Wednesday, November 15 at 1:00 - 2:30 PM
LIB 410
Heavy metals, including lead, vanadium, chromium, and arsenic, pose significant threats to both the environment and human health. They enter ecosystems through industrial, mining, and natural sources, contaminating water and soil. Our study in New Orleans revealed a substantial increase in heavy metal concentrations in water samples following heavy rainfall. These metals, harmful to aquatic life and humans, leach into groundwater and surface water during rain, leading to elevated pollution levels. Samples for before and after heavy rain were collected from six sites in New Orleans which start in Mid City and terminates in lake Pontchartrain. ICP-QQQ analysis was used to analyze heavy metal content. It is an advanced analytical technique used in the field of chemistry and environmental science. It combines the capabilities of inductively coupled plasma (ICP) with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry, allowing for highly sensitive and selective analysis of elements and isotopes in various samples. ICP clearly demonstrates a discernible trend indicating an elevation in the concentrations of heavy metals present in water samples following rainfall events, as an example, there was a 66-fold increase in the Lead concentration on March 18th, after the rain on March 16th and there was a 4-fold increase in the concentration of Vanadium in the same dates. The evident rise in heavy metal concentrations in water samples following rainfall, as revealed by the ICP, underscores the critical need for continuous monitoring of these elements.
Probing Fish Otoliths: Unveiling Heavy Metals through Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry
Jenan Ghannam
Undergraduate Student, Poster
Mentor: Phoebe Zito
Poster #137
Tuesday, November 14 at 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
LIB 410
Otoliths are calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) structures located in the inner ear of fish (Figure 1). Fish rely on their sensory organs to maintain balance, gravitational orientation, and navigate their surroundings. These structures also facilitate fish movement in aquatic environments through the ability to detect motion. The Red Snapper, a popular species for recreational fishing, thrives on artificial reefs in the northern Gulf of Mexico. The dietary and habitat preferences of the Red Snapper undergo changes as it matures. The species begins by consuming invertebrates and small fish, and gradually shifts its feeding habits from shallow to deep reefs. Given their migratory behavior and position in the aquatic food chain, Red Snappers can serve as valuable passive samplers of heavy metal contamination. Anthropogenic sources contribute to the presence of heavy metals in coastal waters, posing substantial risks to both the marine environment and its resident organisms. Elevated levels of heavy metals can cause significant adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems and human health. The primary objectives of this study are to identify and analyze the presence and composition of heavy metals in the sagitta otolith of Red Snappers from various locations. This study seeks to determine the optimal technique for preparing Red Snapper otoliths in order to accurately measure concentrations of heavy metals. To achieve this, cutting-edge laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) is employed due to its accuracy in quantifying trace elements, including heavy metals.
Ames Test, genotoxicity of oil photoproducts
Juan Gomez
Undergraduate Student, Poster
Mentor: Matthew Tarr, Mohamed Abdelaty
Collaborators: Mohamed Ramadan, Abdelaty Elsheref
Poster #143
Tuesday, November 14 at 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
LIB 410
It is well recognized that oil spilled into aquatic environments may be extremely harmful, and this effect is exacerbated by exposure to sunlight. However, no assessment has been done on the genotoxicity of oil photoproducts. Three oils' photoproducts were evaluated for their potential genotoxicity using the Ames test. The oils were set over water and exposed to simulated sunlight at a level comparable to what is seen in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. The irradiation was conducted for times ranging from 6 hours to 48 hours, and a corresponding dark control was prepared for each time. The aqueous phase was collected and filtered. TA98 and TA100 strains of S. Typhimurium were used to detect frameshift and base-pair substitution mutations, respectively. After two days of incubation, the samples were removed and the number of colonies on each plate was counted. Mutagenicity increased with prolonged irradiation, resulting in more photoproducts. Both mutations were observed. Maya crude oil's photoproducts induced the most significant frameshift mutation in S. Typhimurium, while NIST residual fuel oil's photoproducts showed the highest base pair mutation in S. Typhimurium. Alaskan crude oil showed no detectable mutagenic effects within 48 hours of irradiation, potentially due to acute toxicity masking genotoxicity. So, photo irradiated oil in water generates genotoxic photoproducts, which vary by oil type. These photoproducts pose significant ecological threats, which remain poorly understood. These results demonstrate that sunlight exposure of oil spilled in aquatic systems can create photoproducts that have genotoxic activity, and such processes vary by oil.
Multi-Drug Residue Analysis in Milk products and tissues by LC-MS/MS
Yuri Kurerov
Graduate Student, Poster
Mentor: David Podgorski, Sarah King
Collaborators: Sarah King, David Podgorski, John Reuter
Poster #126
Wednesday, November 15 at 1:00 - 2:30 PM
LIB 410
Veterinary drugs are integral in agriculture to combat bacterial, parasitic, and fungal infections. In some cases, these drugs are misused by administering excessive dosages. Excessive use of veterinary drugs in food producing animals can result in the decomposition of drug residue in tissues and organs. Additionally, drug residues can be in animal derived products such as milk and eggs. Residues found in animal products can be either the administered drug or a metabolite of the drug. Consumption of these residues can pose a threat due to allergic reactions, carcinogenicity, and antimicrobial resistance. To mitigate consumption of drug residues, regulatory bodies such as the EU, US FDA and Codex have instituted maximum residue limits (MRL) in tissues, organs and other animal derived products. To effectively uphold these guidelines, an accurate and robust method is need for a variety of food products. Veterinary drugs encompass an array of drug classes with variable chemistries. Methodologies utilized to monitor drug residues typically focus on one or two classes of drugs. Published methods that analyze multi drug classes are commonly employed for screening and not for quantification. Two quantitative methods were developed and validated for analysis of eight classes of veterinary drugs in milk products and animal tissues. The methods were based on AOAC 2020.04 with modifications.
Characterization of 6PPD-Quinone in South Eastern Louisiana Urban Watersheds
Chadiska Pascal
Graduate Student, Poster
Mentor: N/A
Poster #108
Wednesday, November 15 at 1:00 - 2:30 PM
LIB 410
The compounds N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N’-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD) and its oxidative derivative, 6PPD-Quinone, have gained significant attention recently. While much of the previous research has focused on their identification in the Northwestern United States Pacific region and globally, there is a noticeable gap in the literature concerning the Southern United States. This research seeks to bridge this gap by providing valuable insights into seasonal and regional variations in the presence of these contaminants in the Southern United States. The study utilizes the capabilities of liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in conjunction with an extraction method to ensure robust recovery of analytes. This methodology has been effectively applied to a diverse range of water samples collected from various canals within the city of New Orleans. The findings aim to contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the extent of these contaminants in the Southern United States, filling a critical void in the current body of research.
Synthesis of rilmenidine analogues as potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of breast cancer
Danielle Poussard
Undergraduate Student, Poster
Mentor: Mark Trudell
Poster #133
Tuesday, November 14 at 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
LIB 410
The amino-oxazoline rilmenidine has been shown to activate the expression of Nischarin which in turn can reduce breast cancer cell proliferation. Structural modification of rilmenidine is envisaged to lead to more potent activation of Nischarin expression and ultimately to greater efficacy in breast cancer cells. To this end the synthesis of a broad series of rilmenidine analogues has been initiated to establish the structure activity relationships of this molecule relative to Nischarin activation. To achieve the preparation of the initial target compounds, new chemistry has been explored for the efficient synthesis of the N-(2- chloroethyl)urea precursors to the target amino-oxazoline analogues.
Civil & Environmental Engineering
Assessing Hydrologic Effectiveness of Proposed LID in the Gatto Park Sub Watershed Site
Helen Fulgenzi
Undergraduate Student, Poster
Mentor: Gianna Cothren
Poster #107
Tuesday, November 14 at 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
LIB 410
None Provided
Gentilly Green Street LIDs
Kayla Goins with Teresa De Los Angeles Lewis
Undergraduate Student, Poster
Mentor: Gianna Cothren
Poster #121
Tuesday, November 14 at 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
LIB 410
The city of New Orleans has been awarded a grant by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Using this grant, KTV Consultants have been contracted to implement green infrastructure for the south side of the Green Street Project located in the Gentilly Resilience District area of New Orleans Louisiana. The watershed is defined by an outlet located at the intersection of Filmore Ave. and Wildair Dr. Due to climate change and urban industrialization, this area is one of many that has experienced an increased number of flash flooding from high intensity short duration rainfall events.
Assessing Hydrologic Effectiveness of Proposed LID in the Gatto Park Sub Watershed Site
Parker Poche
Undergraduate Student, Poster
Mentor: Gianna Cothren
Collaborators: Bradley D'Aquin Karena Grigenas
Poster #115
Tuesday, November 14 at 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
LIB 410
None Provided
Assessing Hydrologic Effectiveness of Proposed LID in the Gatto Park Sub Watershed Site
Anupa Silwal
Graduate Student, Poster
Mentor: Gianna Cothren
Poster #110
Wednesday, November 15 at 1:00 - 2:30 PM
LIB 410
This project aims to evaluate the hydrologic effectiveness of Least Impact Development (LID) in the Gatto Park Sub Watershed Site using the PCSWMM model. The comparison between the results obtained using PCSWMM model and the SCS triangular hydrograph method is conducted. The study is also extended to two-, five- and ten- year rainfall to understand the impact of LID in these rainfall. The LID controls in the PCSWMM was introduced using sub-catchments. The results shows that assigning the LID controls decreased the peak flow and peak volume of the rainfall. However, as the rainfall volume increased, the effectiveness of the LID decreased.
Hydrologic Effectiveness of Proposed LID in the Gatto Park Sub Watershed Site
Gavin Trinh
Undergraduate Student, Poster
Mentor: Gianna Cothren
Poster #132
Tuesday, November 14 at 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
LIB 410
Teams of Civil Engineering students have been selected to Design and construct the preliminary stormwater management analysis of Gatto playground. Gatto playground is a park within the south section of the St. Anthony Green Streets project that includes Warrington Drive, Wildnair Drive, and Filmore Avenue. Each team’s objective is to find a way to address the flooding issue by introducing green infrastructure such as bioretention cells, permeable pavements, green roofs, rain barrels, and vegetative swales along the streets of Gatto playground.
Water Quality Testing in City Park
Maria Umanzor
Undergraduate Student, Poster
Mentor: Gianna Cothren
Poster #103
Tuesday, November 14 at 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
LIB 410
Water quality in City Park. The purpose of this research is to investigate the water quality in City park. In order to do so, I collect ten different samples from ten different point around the park. After that, I run a couple tests such BOD, COD, etc. I collect the data and save it in the ArcGIS maps in this specific project. This is a project going on for a couple years so through the years we can noticed the changes and investigate the causes of pollution.
Computer Science
Enhancing IoT Security: Anomaly Detection using Deep Support Vector Data Description and Contractive Autoencoder
Sharmin Aktar
Graduate Student, Poster
Mentor: Abdullah Yasin Nur
Poster #124
Wednesday, November 15 at 1:00 - 2:30 PM
LIB 410
Securing Internet of Things (IoT) devices against threats is crucial due to their significant impact on cyber-physical systems. Traditional intrusion detection systems often fall short in protecting the vast and diverse array of IoT devices. One key limitation is their lack of an anomaly detection objective, which is essential for identifying sophisticated threats that do not match known patterns. To address this critical gap, we have introduced a unique approach that utilizes an objective-based anomaly detection model. Our model, integrating a Deep Support Vector Data Description (DSVDD) with a Contractive Autoencoder (CAE), named DSVDD-CAE, enhances the relevance of latent representations for anomaly detection and thereby improves accuracy. This innovative combination has significantly outperformed popular anomaly detection algorithms like KMeans, OCSVM, and Isolation Forest. On the ToN-IoT dataset, our method achieved a precision of 98.77%, a recall of 99.74%, an F1-score of 99.25%, and an accuracy of 99.57%. Similarly, on the IoTID20 dataset, it reached a precision of 98.25%, a recall of 99.80%, an F1-score of 99.01%, and an accuracy of 99.64%. These results demonstrate that our model excels in accurately detecting both known and novel IoT attacks, thereby significantly advancing the field of IoT security and providing a more resilient cyber-physical ecosystem.
Role-Playing Games for Everyone: Visualizing AI-Generated Worlds to Empower Storytellers
Lenaoria Guerin
Undergraduate Student, Oral
Mentor: Ben Samuel
Tuesday, November 14 at 2:15 - 2:30 PM
LIB 407
Visualizing information about characters in procedurally generated worlds can be challenging and time-consuming due to the vast range of creative possibilities enabled by tools like The Kismet Engine. This Engine allows author(s) to create social simulations, yielding myriad uniquely crafted worlds using their imagination, procedural generation, and artificial intelligence. The output of this social simulation is large vast amounts of data representing, the generated characters and their simulated relationships, locations for them to visit, a history of their simulated actions, and more besides. Though this data is rich and has multiple use cases, could be used for many purposes, such as informing a tabletop roleplaying campaign, the large amount of data alone is not user-friendly to role players or game masters. Without visualization techniques, players would have to scroll through thousands of lines of data to find a fact about a character or details on an event that occurred. This delay can impact player experience in a role-playing setting as events within the world and the game occur In real-time and leaves unique opportunities for emergent play created by the Kismet Engine unexplored. This presentation showcases a work-in-progress interface designed to surface the most salient information from a social simulation to facilitate data discovery in real-time scenarios, such as during a role-playing session. Visual cues are more memorable than words, and therefore this interface incorporates visual representations to enhance user experience. Notably, text to Image Generative AI models offer a solution by incorporating visual representations that align with authors' and players' imaginations of these worlds while also being able to scale with large procedurally generated content dynamically. This presentation offers the WizActor Interface prototype as a solution that allows users to visualize social relationships and narratives of a large, complex world full of history. This presentation showcases the WizActor Interface, a work-in-progress interface designed to visualize and surface the most salient information from a social simulation to facilitate data discovery in real-time scenarios, such as during a role-playing session.
Beyond the Logs: Revealing Database Actions with MemTraceDB's Memory Analysis
Mahfuzul Nissan
Graduate Student, Poster
Mentor: James Wagner
Collaborators: James Wagner
Poster #116
Wednesday, November 15 at 1:00 - 2:30 PM
LIB 410
Memory analysis is a vital technique for forensic investigators, allowing a detailed inspection into the intricacies of process operations, data movement, and interactions within a computer’s volatile memory. This becomes especially important when detecting harmful actions meant to circumvent typical security barriers like firewalls, antivirus programs, and systems that alert to unauthorized entries. A significant number of cyber attacks often originate from less experienced individuals, known as “script kiddies”, who utilize readily available tools. Nonetheless, these individuals can still employ sophisticated methods like altering log entries, using concealed software, and deploying rootkits. These methods effectively mask their activities, allowing them to bypass security protocols by altering or erasing their digital footprints in standard logs. These approaches let them operate under the radar, accessing or manipulating data without immediate detection, highlighting the sophisticated nature of threats capable of bypass conventional security measures. However, even when such malicious activities are camouflaged or obliterated from conventional records, direct memory inspection can unveil the hidden traces of these malicious actions. Our research delves deep into the operations of database systems, recognizing them as repositories of critical data that can be prime targets for cyber threats. Every interaction with these systems, whether benign or malicious, leaves subtle footprints in memory. By meticulously examining these footprints, we reconstruct a sequence of events, offering insights into any concealed or deleted records from typical logs. To facilitate this, we introduce MemTraceDB: a specialized tool tailored for three widely-used databases, namely MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite. When provided with a snapshot of the system’s active processes, MemTraceDB carefully extracts intricate details of prior database operations, ranging from queries to connection attempts. The locations in memory where these details are stored can vary significantly, adding complexity to the retrieval process. Through MemTraceDB, we aspire to equip forensic experts with a potent tool, enhancing their toolkit to detect, decipher, and counteract potential security threats.
Motion Planning for Autonomous Aerial Vechile
Simant Singh
Undergraduate Student, Oral
Mentor: Abdullah Al Redwan Newaz
Tuesday, November 14 at 2:00 - 2:15 PM
LIB 407
Navigating Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) through dynamic environments presents a multitude of challenges in state estimation and motion planning. This presentation addresses these intricacies by exploring key concepts and algorithms. It delves into the fusion of computer vision and state estimation, utilizing Kalman and Particle Filters, AprilTags for pose determination, and trajectory generation with LQG and PID controllers. These elements collectively tackle the complexities of UAV localization, obstacle avoidance, and precise motion control, offering broader insights into the realm of Robotics and Computer Vision.
None Provided
Jennifer Spicer with Kailey Bergeron, Jumana Suleima
Undergraduate Student, Oral
Mentor: Ben Samuel
Tuesday, November 14 at 1:15 - 1:30 PM
LIB 407
ScholarUp is a dynamic and versatile study and productivity app designed to empower students on their educational journey. Developed through a series of well-informed milestones and with a keen understanding of students' diverse needs, ScholarUp offers a suite of features tailored to enhance organization, time management, and academic success. Our user-centered design prioritizes simplicity and usability, ensuring that ScholarUp is accessible and beneficial to a wide range of students. The color scheme—comprising of green, white, and brown—provides a calming and motivating environment that encourages students to stay focused and engaged. ScholarUp's homepage serves as the central command center, offering a weekly task view that allows students to plan, prioritize, and execute assignments efficiently. With a glance, students can track their tasks and deadlines, reducing last-minute cramming and stress. The flashcards feature empowers students to create, study, and self-assess flashcard sets. Whether it's revising essential concepts or preparing for exams, ScholarUp's flashcards promote active learning and knowledge retention. Efficient time management is at the core of academic success. ScholarUp's study timer aids students in managing their study sessions effectively, with separate timers for focused work and well-deserved breaks. The tasks feature streamlines organization, allowing students to create task lists, categorize assignments, and set due dates. Prioritization becomes second nature, and tracking progress is a breeze. Future enhancements to ScholarUp will consider insights from interviews, including features for stress management, mindfulness, friendly competition, study buddies, and gamification. These additions will make ScholarUp an even more versatile and appealing platform, catering to a broader range of students and their unique preferences.
Earth & Environmental Sciences
None Provided
Bret Bates
Undergraduate Student, Oral
Mentor: Liz Sigler, John Bishop, Dinah Maygarden
Tuesday, November 14 at 1:00 - 1:15 PM
LIB 407
In 2021, UNO received grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to create an urban bird habitat on campus and support educational programming connected to environmental conservation. The grant funded habitat restoration, the creation of a birding trail on campus, and educational experiences for UNO TRiO Upward Bound students. My presentation will encompass a description of Birding of UNO, my involvement with the university's coastal lab in New Orleans east's very own well known and well-liked CERF, my volunteering commitments, as well as a brief call to innovation, discovery, and curiosity. It is with a hope that my Alma Mater, my nourishing mother, will continue in its path (quite literally) of creating refugia on the campus of the University of New Orleans. I hope is to see a much more resilient, native, and wilder landscapes on campus. To appeal to the innovative nature and goals of the campus is my hope to outline a few ways this experienced has enriched me as a member of the student body here at UNO (as well as some historical events that brought us here). I will present not only my research, my work, but also my love made visible. Anxiously awaiting carbonated joy and creative ways to stimulate culture in the age of ecological enlightenment, I strongly believe through research and efforts offered to students both as undergraduates and as graduates, that the community and the University may begin to re-member its vital role in its very local natural heritage and community.
Student Interest in Sustainability at UNO
Emma Bourgeois
Undergraduate Student, Poster
Mentor: N/A
Poster #141
Tuesday, November 14 at 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
LIB 410
My research looks into UNO student's interest in a greener campus. Polls ask students from every department on campus about their opinions on sustainable efforts and if they would like to see them implemented on campus. The polls will seek information from students on what they think is effective and whether they would participate in these sustainability efforts. I am looking to see if students care about the state of their campus and creating a greener community. The results will hopefully fuel more sustainability projects around campus that students seem to be interested in. The polls will discuss glass recycling, litter pick-up events, reduced plastic, recycling, and composting.
Fish Assemblage Recovery in a Degraded Urban Estuary
Alia Jones
Graduate Student, Poster
Mentor: Martin O’Connell
Poster #130
Wednesday, November 15 at 1:00 - 2:30 PM
LIB 410
Bayou St. John supports a variety of fishes that are considered ecologically important to the Lake Pontchartrain Basin. Recent restoration efforts and changes in connectivity within Bayou St. John are hypothesized to significantly impact recovery rates of ecologically important species. Three focus species were chosen for a simple statistical analysis of change; Anchoa mitchilli (Bay Anchovy), Menidia beryllina (Inland Silverside), and Brevoortia patronus (Gulf Menhaden). Data collected from multiple locations along Bayou St. John from January-June of 2023 were compared with historical data to determine recovery rates. The recovery of populations of ecologically important species can be used as an indicator of general ecosystem recovery and allows us to gain a stronger understanding of the impacts of restoration and increased connectivity in a degraded urban estuary.
Weathering and Radiational Impacts on Mardi Gras Beads
Emily Mailhos
Undergraduate Student, Oral
Mentor: Madeline Foster-Martinez
Collaborators: Phoebe Zito
Tuesday, November 14 at 1:45 - 2:00 PM
LIB 407
Mardi Gras in New Orleans is the celebration of the year, beautifully decorated floats throw the signature purple, green and gold beads to the crowd below. Once caught, the bead that was once so sought after ends up discarded. Studies have shown that Mardi Gras beads contain harmful heavy metals and that soils around fence posts with beads had elevated concentrations. This problem prompted questions of what beads contain and how they break down in the environment. To answer these questions, we weathered beads in a controlled environment and studied the changes in heavy metal leaching. Each bead in the three primary colors was radiated in a solar simulator for 24 hours (equivalent to 4 days of natural sunlight in the Gulf of Mexico). The beads visibly changed, showing discoloration. The remaining paint on the bead was digested and run through an ICP, which applies a spectroscopy technique to measure elements. Results showed that weathered beads had a greater concentration of heavy metals than un-weathered. The greatest concentrations were copper and lead, and there were smaller concentrations of chromium, arsenic, and cadmium. Purple had lower concentrations compared to green and gold. This method is still developing, and future experiments will incorporate lessons learned here. This experiment was only a small look into a bigger problem. Actions must be taken soon, as the long-term effects of using cheap, chemically coated plastic beads are starting to arise. Mardi Gras needs to take a turn towards being more conscious about what is being thrown.
Neptune Pass: examination of human systems on the development of a natural crevasse
Matt Rozzo
Undergraduate Student, Poster
Mentor: Madeline Foster-Martinez
Poster #145
Tuesday, November 14 at 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
LIB 410
None Provided
Interactions between the native Redspotted Sunfish (Lepomis miniatus) and invasive Rio Grande Cichlid (Herichthys cyanoguttatus) in Bayou Saint John
Barrie Sullivan
Undergraduate Student, Poster
Mentor: Martin O'Connell
Poster #136
Tuesday, November 14 at 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
LIB 410
The Rio Grande Cichlid (Herichthys cyanoguttatus) is an invasive species that has become established in Bayou Saint John. This species competes for nesting habitats of native sunfishes such as Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) and Redspotted Sunfish (Lepomis miniatus). Due to recent regular openings of the flood gates, L. miniatus has become more common in Bayou Saint John. A previous behavioral study of these three species suggested that L. miniatus was more aggressive toward H. cyanoguttatus than L. macrochirus, though the sample size for L. miniatus was low (Lorenz et al., 2011). This replication of the previous study with a larger sample size is being executed with the objective to determine if an increasing population of L. miniatus may help with reducing the population of H. cyanoguttatus in Bayou St. John.
Common themes in spectroscopic oil signatures from three oil spill-affected sites in Minnesota
Eduardo Turcios
Graduate Student, Poster
Mentor: David Podgorski
Poster #122
Wednesday, November 15 at 1:00 - 2:30 PM
LIB 410
Cass Lake, Paynesville, and Bemidji are three Minnesota sites possessing similar hydrology: vast plains, wetlands, and aquifers encompass human settlements and pristine ecosystems for miles. They are also the subject of crude oil pipelines. All three locations suffered pipeline ruptures within the last 40 years, seeing hundreds of thousands of gallons of oil spilled into the environment. While most was recovered, some oil seeped into soil and aquifers, creating plumes of contamination. Oil compounds disintegrate through photochemical and microbial degradation to become more polar, persistent, and potentially toxic, dissolving into groundwater as petroleum-derived dissolved organic matter (DOMHC). Studying the modification, transport, and distribution of DOMHC helps us understand how environments respond to and recover from spills, ensuring conservation of oil spill-affected ecosystems—including those in towns and cities. Modern analytical techniques allow research into DOMHC along a contamination plume. Spectroscopic methods (UV-Vis absorption and fluorescence) and statistical tests (Parallel Factor Analysis or PARAFAC) can provide evidence of DOMHC structural modification in groundwater. Liquid chromatography can quantify condensed aromatic (ConAC) fractions of DOMHC through the benzenepolycarboxylic acid (BPCA) method, in which ConAC molecules are oxidized into molecular markers which help gauge DOMHC sources. Objectives are to 1) consolidate groundwater spectroscopy data from three Minnesota sites into one PARAFAC model to uncover DOMHC modification manifesting in all three settings; 2) understand spatial contributions of the model’s components using well location data to elucidate DOMHC transport; and 3) use the BPCA method to determine ConAC distributions and illuminate sources and fates of DOMHC.
History & Philosophy
Provision Gardens as a Space of Resistance
Gil Gresham
Undergraduate Student, Poster
Mentor: Mary Mitchell
Poster #111
Tuesday, November 14 at 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
LIB 410
The institution of slavery in the United States subjected millions of African Americans to dehumanizing conditions, including inadequate and often meager food rations. This poster explores the pivotal role of provision gardens in the lives of enslaved individuals, shedding light on their significance as sources of sustenance, autonomy, and resistance. Provision gardens, small plots of land cultivated by enslaved people, played a crucial role in supplementing their meager diets with fresh vegetables and fruits. These gardens were a means to improve health and well-being, providing essential nutrients that were often lacking in meager rations. Beyond addressing nutritional needs, these gardens represented a form of autonomy and self-sufficiency for the enslaved. By growing their own food, they reduced dependence on their enslavers for sustenance and gained a sense of pride in their ability to provide for themselves and their families. Some even used their gardens as a means to trade or sell produce, enabling them to earn extra income and, in some cases, purchase their freedom. Furthermore, provision gardens served as a subtle yet potent form of daily resistance. Enslaved individuals could assert a degree of ownership and control over these small parcels of land, providing a semblance of normalcy and control in the midst of a dehumanizing system. This poster underscores the multifaceted importance of provision gardens in the lives of enslaved people. They were not only sources of sustenance but also symbols of resilience, empowerment, and resistance in the face of one of the darkest chapters in American history.
The Last Slave Ship in New Amsterdam: An Examination of the Seventeenth Century Dutch Slave Trade with North America
Dr. Andrea Mosterman
Faculty, Oral
Mentor: N/A
Tuesday, November 14 at 10:15 - 10:30 AM
LIB 407
In August of 1664, the Dutch slaver Gideon arrived in New Amsterdam—now New York City—with 290 enslaved men and women on board. Nine months earlier, the Dutch West India Company (WIC) had contracted its captain Symon Cornelissen Gilde to bring these enslaved Africans to the Dutch colony. But Gilde arrived in New Amsterdam at a fateful time: four English warships arrived in the harbor within weeks of Gideon’s arrival, which would result in the English takeover of the region they renamed New York. The Gideon’s voyage was remarkable not just because it arrived in the region at this crucial moment in New York history. Its arrival signaled a substantial shift in the North American colonies toward racial slavery, which relied on expansion of the transatlantic slave trade. In recent years, 1619 has received a lot of attention as a foundational moment for slavery in what is now the United States, but close examination of what happened the decades following 1619 is equally important to understanding slavery in North America. During this formative period, colonies and colonists began to rely more significantly on the labor of enslaved Black men, women, and children. The Dutch played a crucial role in expanding the seventeenth-century transatlantic slave trade that facilitated this increased reliance on enslaved African labor. In my presentation, I will discuss ongoing research of the Gideon’s voyage and the seventeenth-century Dutch slave trade into North America during this period.
Interdisciplinary Studies
Water Flow Sensors
Chase Stevens
Undergraduate Student, Poster
Mentor: Gianna Cothren
Poster #144
Tuesday, November 14 at 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
LIB 410
I helped to develop a cost-effective flow sensor for the manholes on campus.
Literature & Language
Juncture: New and Resurrected Poems
Prof. John Gery
Faculty, Oral
Mentor: N/A
Tuesday, November 14 at 10:00 - 10:15 AM
LIB 407
I will be reading selections from a new volume, tentatively entitled Juncture, a collection of poetry in progress which includes poems I have written during the last four years as well as earlier poems not found in my published books. As I hope to demonstrate, these “new and resurrected poems” seek “junctures,” that is, images and themes that intersect across time, place, and sensibility, delving into: (1) intimate relationships (familial, romantic, social), (2) abstract or philosophic terms explored figuratively, (3) cultural and literary history, (4) the paradoxes of contemporary ideology, and (5) natural phenomena. Formally, my work consists of brief, lyric poems in syllabics that employ varied rhythms and syncopated rhymes, longer poems in regular measure or open rhythms, dramatic monologues, poems rooted in language play, and elegiac tributes. Some poems draw from my travels, as well as from my writing during the confinement of the pandemic of 2020-22 and while sequestered during Hurricane Ida. Others are without occasion or particular history. I hope by gathering these poems, I will disclose intricate junctures among them. While I always want my poems to strive for aesthetic balance, beauty, and closure, they often raise as many questions as they resolve.
Lizards: After a Phobia
Julie Elise Landry
Staff, Performing Arts, Dramatic
Mentor: N/A
Wednesday, November 15 at 11:45 AM - 12:00 PM
LIB 407
Reading selections from her in-progress chapbook, poet Julie Elise Landry will examine the intergenerational lizard phobia that regulated the first twenty-six years of her life in Louisiana and the cognitive behavioral therapy that radically transformed her experience of the world by helping her overcome her fear. With lyricism and honesty, Julie tracks a path through trauma and anxiety to well-being and acceptance while exploring the character and biology of the lizards that once terrified her. Julie is a full-time UNO staff member in the Office of Research and a graduate student in the Creative Writing Workshop MFA program.
Management & Marketing
Happy Hour Makes People Happy
Beau Baker with Alex Ortega, Ashton Loria, Baylee Herr, Erin Stringfellow, and Hannah Cartozzo
Undergraduate Student, Poster
Mentor: Kyeong Sam Min
Poster #139
Tuesday, November 14 at 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
LIB 410
Our purpose of this research is to analyze the effectiveness of introducing a happy hour at Sofia, a high-volume Italian restaurant in the heart of New Orleans Warehouse district. We aim to understand how different types of happy hour may affect customer traffic, sales/revenue, and overall business growth. We would like to examine questions including: Is happy hour worth it? What is the most effective happy hour promotion? Does introducing small bites during happy hour have a positive or negative effect on business overall? Through this research, we would like to give valuable insight on happy hour effectiveness, enhance customer experience, and boost Sofia’s overall success in the restaurant industry.
What marketing factors affected uber eats during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Yasin Darwish with Tiffany Phan Tristanne Dechoux Teagan Symons trsymons@uno.edu Zachary Asaro
Undergraduate Student, Oral
Mentor: Kyeong Sam Min
Wednesday, November 15 at 3:00 - 3:15 pm
LIB 407
The area we chose to study is marketing of a food delivery system during the pandemic, this was important to us because it studies the impact on a company during the time of a disrupted market. UberEATS had to adapt its marketing strategies in response to the global pandemic. This includes advertising, messaging, and promotions to align with changing customer needs and safety concerns. Because the world was in a state of crisis, UberEATS had to evaluate the effectiveness of their messaging and emphasize health and wellness during the pandemic. Even though COVID-19 pandemic was temporary, there will be times in the future where the market is disrupted or unusual and companies will have to adapt their marketing strategy. Specifically, UberEATS drastically improved lives during the pandemic with their no-contact delivery options and their $0 delivery fees. In our study, that we gave to the UNO student body, we tested the effectiveness of UberEATS marketing campaigns during that time. For our first hypothesis we researched, that UberEATS experienced a surge of UberEATS customers during COVID because of marketing campaigns that employ discounts the next time you order. We found in our research that through various ways such as, $5 off order’s, and free delivery for first time users, usage of UberEATS increased among those who we surveyed. The other hypothses we teseted was, By implementing a new marketing strategy for Ubereats called Uber One, customers are more likely to utilize the app when they are unable to leave their home. We also found , from those we surveyed, that those who were forced to stay in were more likely to order food through UberOne in order to get their favorite foods.
Click or Skip? Understanding YouTube Thumbnail Choices
Apollonia Espiritu
Undergraduate Student, Oral
Mentor: Kyeong Sam Min
Wednesday, November 15 at 2:45 - 3:00 pm
LIB 407
The primary goal is to investigate the impact of YouTube thumbnails on viewer engagement. According to previous research, the Elaboration Likelihood method (Koh, Byungwan, (2022), where peripheral cues with informative aspects and peripheral cues include visual aspects. Convolutional Neural Networks (Arthurs, Noah.), Halliday’s SFG theory and Kress and Van Leeuwen’s theory (Riyandi, S. W., 2022) to explain the visual and verbal signs and heuristic cues were also used to identify the factors that could influence the effectiveness of thumbnails. Our objectives are to determine the optimal size range of a person's face and length of text in YouTube thumbnails that maximize viewer engagement and to analyze the relationship between facial size and length of text in thumbnails and viewer click-through behavior. We predict that consumers are more likely to select YouTube thumbnails with bigger faces on screen. Our second hypothesis is that consumers are more likely to select YouTube thumbnails with shorter text on the screen. A 2 x 2 between-subjects design will be conducted in this experiment which will consist of 44 UNO students. By conducting a detailed analysis of different facial sizes, the length of the text, and their influence on consumer behavior, the study aims to identify the optimal size and length that maximizes viewer engagement. The findings will contribute to a deeper understanding of how these elements contribute to the effectiveness of YouTube thumbnails, providing beneficial insights on executing a thumbnail for content creators, marketers, and digital media strategists.
MARKeting the Bookstore
Jo-el Harbison with Jajuan Johnson Marly Mathieu Jonathan Thomas Jaudai Vappie
Undergraduate Student, Poster
Mentor: Kyeong Sam Min
Poster #135
Tuesday, November 14 at 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
LIB 410
“Buy one get one free; receive gift with purchase; offering 20% off when you purchase $100.00 or more; limited time offer available, come inside today”. Not many people are considered strangers to this promotional strategy. Most businesses offering products and/or services have utilized these techniques to achieve the same goal: increase positive customer response. Our marketing research project focuses on how to determine which version of an advertisement promoting a gift with purchase will produce a more positive customer response. It is our assumption that the advertisement offering the gift with the purchase of congruent merchandise will yield a more positive response than an advertisement offering the free gift with the purchase of non-congruent merchandise such as: H1: The advertisement offering a free bookmark when customers spend $50.00 or more on books will be more effective than the ad offering the free bookmark with a $50.00 or more purchase for non-congruent merchandise. H2: The congruency or lack thereof between the type of merchandise and the free bookmark will not influence which version of the advertisement will yield a more positive customer response as long as the monetary value of the gift and merchandise remain unchanged. To test these two hypotheses, we distributed two questionnaires to current University of New Orleans students presenting two variations of the same promotion: receive a free bookmark (valued at $10.00) with the purchase of $50.00 or more at the UNO bookstore for a limited time. One variation promoted the purchase of books (which is directly correlated with the free bookmark), while the other variation promoted the purchase of UNO gear (which has zero correlation with the free bookmark). Despite our prediction, the data collected shows the congruency, or lack thereof, between the type of merchandise purchased and the free bookmark did not have influence over which advertisement would produce a more positive customer response.
The Effectiveness of Coupons
Sydney Sutherland with Olivia Monnerjahn Marcus Dorsey Mason Roberts London Taylor
Undergraduate Student, Poster
Mentor: Kyeong Sam Min
Poster #119
Tuesday, November 14 at 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
LIB 410
This study compares those who actively use Member Bounce Back Coupons with those who do not in order to determine the impact of these coupons on consumer behavior at Athleta Lakeside. One well-known retailer of apparel, Athleta, used the Member Bounce Back Coupon as a component of their loyalty program to encourage customers to make more purchases and to increase customer engagement. Through a mixed-methods approach, incorporating surveys, in-store observations, and transaction data analysis, this research explores the motivations, preferences, and economic implications of coupon usage. Key findings reveal that individuals who actively use Member Bounce Back Coupons exhibit distinct shopping behaviors. They tend to visit Athleta stores more frequently, make larger purchases, and are more likely to explore new product offerings. Consequently, they often enjoy greater overall savings, thus demonstrating the positive impact of these coupons on customer loyalty and spending. On the other hand, people who don't use coupons frequently put convenience first and could be driven by other considerations while making purchases. Comprehending these differences between coupon users and non-users could provide significant information for Athleta and related businesses looking to improve customer retention and optimize their loyalty programs. This study highlights the various functions of Member Bounce Back Coupons and how they affect Athleta shoppers' decisions.
Mathematics
Global KCBC for quantifying colocalization of point patterns based on Ripley’s K functions
Dr. Xueyan Liu
Faculty, Poster
Mentor: N/A
Poster #128
Wednesday, November 15 at 1:00 - 2:30 PM
LIB 410
Bivariate Ripley's K function are traditionally used for quantifying the interaction between binary point patterns. Here, we use K functions over equal-area concentric rings and propose a correlation-based statistic for measuring the co-localization of bivariate point patterns. Extensive simulations are demonstrated, and one real application is on the public swamp data to demonstrate the interaction of two types of trees in a sampled forest patch.
Asymptotically Optimal Adversarial Strategies for the Probability Estimation Framework
Soumyadip Patra
Graduate Student, Oral
Mentor: Peter Bierhorst
Tuesday, November 14 at 2:30 - 2:45 PM
LIB 407
The probability estimation framework involves direct estimation of the probability of occurrences of outcomes conditioned on measurement settings and side information. It is a powerful tool for certifying randomness in quantum nonlocality experiments. In this paper, we present a self-contained proof of the asymptotic optimality of the method. Our approach refines earlier results to allow a better characterisation of optimal adversarial attacks on the protocol. We apply these results to the (2,2,2) Bell scenario, obtaining an analytic characterisation of the optimal adversarial attacks bound by no-signalling principles, while also demonstrating the asymptotic robustness of the PEF method to deviations from expected experimental behaviour. We also study extensions of the analysis to quantum-limited adversaries in the (2,2,2) Bell scenario and no-signalling adversaries in higher (n,m,k) Bell scenarios.
lightning detection
Tianjiu Zhou
Graduate Student, Poster
Mentor: Linxiong Li
Poster #106
Wednesday, November 15 at 1:00 - 2:30 PM
LIB 410
None Provided
Mechanical Engineering
Simulation of Combined Cycle and Supercritical Rankine Cycle Using Liquid and Gaseous Ammonia as Fuel
Aaron Hock
Undergraduate Student, Oral
Mentor: Ting Wang
Wednesday, November 15 at 10:00 - 10:15 AM
LIB 407
Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar are crucial in the development of a carbon emission-free future. However, due to the intermittent nature of renewable energy production, a mechanism is required for storing power produced during off-hours. Using this excessive renewable energy to produce hydrogen via electrolysis has been considered as one of the most promising solutions for this purpose since hydrogen can be used as a carbon-free fuel for power generation. However, there are storage and transportation issues involved with hydrogen. Examples include the cost and energy required to liquefy hydrogen and store it in specialized containers. Additionally, liquefied hydrogen is prone to energy losses in storage due to vaporization as well as the embrittlement of transporting pipelines and containers. Thus, a carrier of hydrogen is highly desirable. Ammonia appears to be an ideal candidate to be this carrier since it lacks those issues seen with hydrogen, contains no carbon, and storage and transportation infrastructure for ammonia is already in place globally. Additionally, ammonia can be used directly in combustion in either liquid or gaseous form. This paper will present simulated models for a combined cycle and a supercritical Rankine cycle which incorporates ammonia as a fuel. The receiving, preparation, and processing of ammonia for use as a fuel in either liquid or gaseous form will be included in the simulations. The results of the plant (including the power output, efficiency, and emissions) are then compared with the results using natural gas and hydrogen.
Electrolysis for Hydrogen Production Using Surplus Renewable Power
Vincent Stevenson
Undergraduate Student, Oral
Mentor: Ting Wang
Wednesday, November 15 at 9:45 - 10:00 AM
LIB 407
None Provided
Other / Non-Academic
Does Weight Affect Speed?
Ronald Arso Jr. (high school stduent) with Joshua Jenkins Derek Johnson
Undergraduate Student, Poster
Mentor: Andre Varnado, Sr.
Collaborators: Joshua Jenkins Derek Johnson
Poster #142
Tuesday, November 14 at 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
LIB 410
In the National Football League, players are assessed on many factors, including height, weight, agility and speed. This project seeks to determine if a player’s weight has any impact on their running speed in the 40 yeard dash. Through use of data found on the National Football League’s website, the 40-yard dash spped was compared for players at differing weights. It was hypothesized that weight would have an impact on speed; as the player’s weight increased, the 40 yard dish time would be greater. As the data shows, the speeds for players that had lower weights and greater heights were faster than their counterparts. This information is useful in determining which players would be better at running specific plays. However, those with greater weights still have a positive impact on the overall team in different positions.
Screen Time and Mental Health
Rayven Chancellor with Kristen Holmes
Undergraduate Student, Poster
Mentor: Andre Varnado, Sr.
Collaborators: Kristen Holmes
Poster #146
Tuesday, November 14 at 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
LIB 410
Students of today spend an extremely high amount of time using technology, whether it be computers, video games or cell phones. Because of this extremely high amount of time, teens usually do not have great coping and interpersonal social skills. The purpose of this project is to determine the relationship between time spent on technology and mental health through social interactions. The researchers believe that if a student does not spend as much time on technology, then their ability to interact with others in a positive manner will increase. Through interviews and surveys, the researchers will determine if there is any relationship between time spent on technology and interpersonal skills. The research showed that there was no relationship between these two factors and that screen time has no bearing on interpersonal skills.
Urban Bird Habitat and Environmental Education at the University of New Orleans
Elizabeth Sigler
Staff, Oral
Mentor: N/A
Collaborators: John Bishop, Dinah Maygarden, Bret Bates
Wednesday, November 15 at 11:30 -11:45 AM
LIB 407
This project was established to create an urban birding trail at the University of New Orleans (UNO); initiate regular campus bird counts; plant 120 native trees and shrubs along the trail route; and provide hands-on, expert-led environmental educational experiences to UNO TRiO Upward Bound students. These efforts will enhance bird habitat along a key migration corridor running through one of the nation’s most deforested cities; expand community tree canopy; improve public open spaces; avert waste from local waterways and improve awareness of the impacts of litter; and engage the community (especially its underserved youths) in nature appreciation, environmental protection, habitat restoration, and citizen science.
Physics
Computation Comparison of Satellite Data Arrays
Mark Kostjuhin
Undergraduate Student, Oral
Mentor: Kendal Leftwich
Tuesday, November 14 at 3:15 - 3:30 PM
LIB 407
Satellite imagery and data hold immense value to many fields of study, from ecology to urban planning. However, the growing volume of high-detail satellite data emphasizes the importance of efficient data handling. A successful method of compressing many forms of 1D and 2D array data is wavelet decomposition. By taking the transform of the data across a specific wavelet, the data can be separated into a detail and approximation coefficient, the later of which can be used to effectively represent the original data set at minimal accuracy loss. To minimize the accuracy loss further requires an ideal wavelet to be selected for each dataset. While a human can be trained to select near best fit wavelets for various datasets, this approach can be inaccurate and inefficient. A potential solution is found in iterative machine learning software, which can make use of a large data pool and decision tree to select the best fit wavelets for each dataset automatically. Vital to this process is a means of quickly checking the accuracy of the reconstruction, which will be helpful in both the use of the machine learning software, as well as the creation of the dataset used to train the software.
Tetraquarks at the FOCUS Experiment
Avery Landeche
Undergraduate Student, Oral
Mentor: Kendal Leftwich
Collaborators: Ryan Mitchell
Tuesday, November 14 at 1:30 - 1:45 PM
LIB 407
In 2003 tetraquarks were first potentially observed at the Belle Experiment in 2003 in Japan. This presentation details current efforts to observe Zc and Zb tetraquarks in data from the retired FOCUS experiment at Fermilab that took data from 1996-1997. Simulated data is used to predict the efficiency of the FOCUS beam at producing Zc and Zb tetraquarks by predicting particle locations using energy-momentum four vectors and conservation laws. The efficiency of the beam at different energy levels are compared. The interest and importance of data preservation is discussed.
The Effects of Aerodynamic Design on the Distance of Airplane Travel
Andre Varnado Jr. (high school student)
Undergraduate Student, Poster
Mentor: Andre Varnado, Sr.
Poster #129
Tuesday, November 14 at 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
LIB 410
A very important question must be posed for this project: “What is aerodynamics?” Aerodynamics is the way objects move through air. The rules of aerodynamics explain how an airplane is able to fly. Anything that moves through air is affected by aerodynamics, from a rocket blasting off to a kite flying. Since they are surrounded by air, even cars are affected by aerodynamics. Based upon the research and information gathered, the researchers conclude that there will be no correlation between the factors tested.
Planning & Urban Studies
Staying On Track: Implementing Commuter Rail Service in Southeast Louisiana
Eian Bailey
Undergraduate Student, Poster
Mentor: Guang Tian
Poster #134
Tuesday, November 14 at 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
LIB 410
This investigation seeks to explain the history, proposal, and challenges of fully implementing commuter rail service between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Louisiana. For decades, planners have entertained the concept of an intercity passenger rail. Data from earlier research, feasibility studies, online videos, and newspaper articles have been collected to form this literature review. The research is limited by the fact that this complex project has many variables and is an on-going discussion between public, private, and political entities. Major developments have occurred within the few months span of preparing this report; nevertheless, there are important decisions that have yet to be agreed upon. With so many stakeholders left to consider the best way to establish this passenger line, this analysis will serve to paint a clear picture of what has been proposed and what work is left to complete. Investing in reliable public transportation in Southeast Louisiana has the potential to enhance opportunities for residents and transform the regional economy.
Online Community Engagement
Julia Clark
Graduate Student, Oral
Mentor: Monica Ferris
Tuesday, November 14 at 9:15 - 9:30 AM
LIB 407
None Provided
A Study of the Mobility Culture of New Orleans East, as Researcher and Resident: With Insights on Road Use Behaviors of Pedestrians, Bicyclists and Transit Riders and Recommendations
Anika Ofori
Graduate Student, Oral
Mentor: Tara Tolford
Tuesday, November 14 at 9:30 - 9:45 AM
LIB 407
After I became part of the 18% of New Orleans residents who do not own a personal vehicle in March 2023, I was given the opportunity to conduct a thirty-day mobility study for University of New Orleans Transportation Institute as a student researcher living in New Orleans East. I adapted a UCLA mobility study as my methodology model. This study included visual ethnography and the use of travel diaries. I employed a nonparticipant observation ethnological approach and journaled my experiences and thoughts, only recording other riders’ public exclamations. I journaled my experiences as a pedestrian, new bicyclist, and transit rider during the summer from June 2, 2023- July 1, 2023. At the end of my field work, I analyzed my travel diary and photos for themes. As a New Orleans East resident who was transit dependent, the reliability of the only bus that could take me directly to campus was chronically undependable. The lack of a vehicle and the study inspired me to purchase a bicycle. But after the first week of navigating my Little Woods neighborhood, I began to only ride on the levee wall on Hayne Boulevard for exercise. Of the themes I identified, many aspects of safety across all modes of transportation were major concerns. Simple policy changes like increasing the use of Leading Pedestrian Intervals at stoplights can increase the visibility of pedestrians in sidewalks and increase overall safety. My field work changed how I experience walking, biking, being a transit rider and driving in cities.
Receiving Communities
Alexandra Weir
Graduate Student, Poster
Mentor: Marla Nelson, Monica Farris
Poster #104
Wednesday, November 15 at 1:00 - 2:30 PM
LIB 410
Receiving Communities have become an increasingly important topic as South Louisiana experiences mass amounts of land loss and bears the brunt of climate-related adversities. At an alarming rate of 35 miles of land loss annually, this creates tremendous concerns to coastal communities. As the ongoing climate crisis continues to persist its effects are monumental, leaving communities displaced and incomplete, bringing forth the urgent need to plan for climate migration to accommodate both the receiving and relocating populations. This project examines the coastal land loss in Lafourche and Terrebonne Parish’s due to the enhanced vulnerabilities of these communities with a specific emphasis on the long lasting impacts from Hurricane Katrina, and the resettlement of the residents of Isle de Jean Charles. As Louisiana experiences exacerbated climate impacts from intensified hurricanes, rising sea levels, heatwaves, coastal erosion and degradation of natural barriers, receiving communities are more prevalent than ever to accommodate the harsh ramifications. Unfortunately, these realities are not specific to Louisiana and are seen worldwide, bringing forth the need to prepare communities with the appropriate resources to formulate a sustainable and inclusive climate relocation strategy. Implementing a plan of action aimed at mitigating, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from these environmental challenges is pivotal for building an effective policy guidebook and educating at both state and county levels for future receiving communities. Addressing climate-induced migration mandates a comprehensive, ground up, intricate approach, identifying key vulnerabilities and challenges, as well as the appropriate resources to ensure equitable and successful outcomes.
Psychology
Lateralized Social Approaches in C57BL/6J Mice
Olivia Davis
Undergraduate Student, Poster
Mentor: Christopher Harshaw
Poster #117
Tuesday, November 14 at 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
LIB 410
Lateralized social behavior has been observed in a variety of species. However, the literature on one of the most prevalent psychological animal models, Mus Musculus, is lacking. In a retrospective analysis of two sets of data, we set out to investigate the presence of individual and group level turning biases in C57BL/6J mice. In the first data set, participants were given cytokine interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and/or acetaminophen (APAP) early in development to mimic the effects of prenatal inflammation. Those videos were then coded by which direction, either left or right, the target mouse approached the stimulus. The second data was comprised of adult mice that were treated with an oxytocin receptor antagonist (OTR-A) or a β3 adrenergic receptor agonist, where videos were again later coded for a left/right/neither social approach. In both groups we did not find evidence of individual level turning biases, however, in the APAP/IL-1β set we found that the groups treated with both APAP + IL-1β displayed a significant group level leftward bias (p < .005). Within the second data set we also found a significant leftward bias within the OTR-A group. Our findings demonstrate that social lateralization is modifiable by prenatal inflammation /APAP treatment and OTR-antagonism. These findings are in line with the atypical lateralization found in ASDs and call for further investigation.
School of Education
Project SEED: Initial Findings and Implications for Career Programming
Dr. Christopher Belser with Michelle Wade
Faculty, Poster
Mentor: N/A
Poster #112
Wednesday, November 15 at 1:00 - 2:30 PM
LIB 410
Project SEED is a university-based program that provides undergraduate students with a paid experience in leading projects focused on eco-sustainability and eco-wellness. In this session, the presenter will share information about the program structure and experience, as well as research findings about how the program influenced the career plans of the participating students. Finally, the presenter will provide implications for developing similar programming at other universities.
Counseling of sexual and romantic minorities
Elijah Mullins
Undergraduate Student, Poster
Mentor: Michelle Wade
Poster #140
Tuesday, November 14 at 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
LIB 410
Approximately 9.8 million people in the U.S. practice some form of consensual non-monogamy and 1.4 million of those individuals identify as polyamorous. Often these individuals encountered inadequacies in therapeutic support in regard to dealing with stigma, navigating lifestyle challenges and family management. This review’s intention was to determine the cumulative information on polyamory families in academia and its conclusion is that there is a lack thereof. Polyamorous individuals are not provided the same therapeutic resources as their monogamous counterparts. Poly families must partake in extensive privacy management and secrecy to maintain their safety and therapists are not trained or informed enough to properly assist these individuals in balancing such a large mental load. These families often will not even disclose their identities to medical professionals out of fear of stigma. A great number of the studies are conducted through online surveys and discussion boards rather than qualitative conversations with individuals. The polyamorous family dynamic is becoming increasingly more common and the academic world is lacking in research on this percentage of the population.
School of Hotel, Restaurant, & Tourism
How robots impact hotel stayers
Camille Bellow
Undergraduate Student, Oral
Mentor: N/A
Wednesday, November 15 at 2:30 - 2:45 PM
LIB 407
None Provided
School of Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering
Research on the Application of Image Recognition and Drone Photography Technology in Corrosion Detection of Marine Structure
Hui Zhou
Graduate Student, Poster
Mentor: Linxiong Li, Vincent Xiaochuan Yu
Poster #120
Wednesday, November 15 at 1:00 - 2:30 PM
LIB 410
This study is based on existing artificial intelligence and image recognition technology, using drone photography technology to photograph different components of marine structures, and comparing the initial state photos of the structure in the database to detect the corrosion of the structure. The results of the study may improve the efficiency of corrosion detection technology.
School of the Arts: Film
How to Mushroom
William Durante
Undergraduate Student, Film
Mentor: Laszlo Fulop
Wednesday, November 15 at 10:30 - 10:45 AM
LIB 407
None Provided
DOPPELGÄNGER
Shannen Leafs
Graduate Student, Film
Mentor: Katie Garagiola
Collaborators: Scott Braud
Wednesday, November 15 at 10:45 - 11:00 AM
LIB 407
Biana, an ordinary girl with aspirations of internet stardom, sees her dreams come true through the rise of AI. However, she begins to sense an unsettling aura that a person who looks identically like her, a mortal crisis approaches. In a grand synthesis, “DOPPELGÄNGER” will be the convergence of sci-fi marvels drawn from "Westworld," "Black Mirror," and "Cyberpunk 2077" visually, with the magnificent BGM of "Death Note" (a Japanese animation) aurally, collaborates to birth a fresh era of artistic expression. Vivid visuals, amplified by high contrast, enhance each scene's impact, while dark, atmospheric lighting heightens emotional intensity in depicted narratives. The juxtaposition of barbies, figures, and stuffed dolls within Biana's room engages the notion of doppelgängers, blurring reality and symbolism within an enigmatic atmosphere. In a convergence of science fiction inspired by "Westworld," "Black Mirror," and "Cyberpunk 2077," Biana, an ordinary girl with aspirations of internet stardom, sees her dreams come true through the rise of AI. However, she begins to sense an unsettling aura as a doppelgänger, identical to her, foreshadows a mortal crisis. This artistic opus presents a vivid world where the boundaries of reality and machinery intertwine. Here, sentient Biana navigates ethereal threads of artificial consciousness, mirroring the experiences of "Westworld" guests who grapple with an uncanny realm. Like "Black Mirror," the audience glimpses reflections of their desires, fears, and the consequences of technological excess. Visually, "DOPPELGÄNGER" captivates with striking high-contrast visuals that amplify each scene's impact. Dark, atmospheric lighting heightens the emotional intensity in narratives. The juxtaposition of barbies, figures, and stuffed dolls within Biana's room blurs the lines between reality and symbolism in an enigmatic atmosphere. Costumes, makeup, and set designs capture the avant-garde and provocative essence of the cyber world. Our story unfolds in a realm where storytelling transcends the boundaries of imagination and technology. It suggests that the transitions between the ordinary and celebrity are seamless, like the threads connecting Biana's original world to the mortal realm and her immortal birth. The soundscape, inspired by "Death Note," breathes life into shadows, while the neon-drenched city, reminiscent of "Cyberpunk 2077," echoes lives both augmented and tragically distorted. This opus results from intertwining minds, where the sinister beauty of the future walks hand in hand with near-future caution.
The Work of Chung-Hoon Chung
Tori Register
Undergraduate Student, Film
Mentor: N/A
Wednesday, November 15 at 11:00 - 11:15 AM
LIB 407
‘The Cinematic Evolution of Chung-Hoon Chung’ is a short video essay analyzing the work of South Korean cinematographer Chung-Hoon Chung, who started in the industry as a child actor before focusing his attention on becoming a cinematographer. He debuted as a feature filmmaker in 1996 and later garnered a reputation when he began working with prominent film director Park Chan-Wook. Since then, Chung has specialized in shooting suspense and thriller films, expertly creating a tense and eerie atmosphere for the audience to immerse themselves in, both in South Korea and across the globe. His execution could be considered near perfection, but it does beg the question - how does he do it and how has he evolved? Throughout the video along with subsequent dialogue and examples, I will be discussing and comparing three of Chung’s films - Oldboy, The Unjust, and Last Night In Soho. With these three, I will be answering how Chung is able to affect the audience through… - His lighting design of a shot depending on what is called for in a scene - The way in which he is able to compose a shot and what lens he chooses in order to create it - The color palette chosen for each individual film and how it goes in tandem with the lighting design and setting. By comparing his work and going into detail about his style, I believe other upcoming filmmakers can learn more about how to shoot a film and adopt a unique style of their own.
School of the Arts: Fine Arts
Suffocation
Cassandra Berni
Undergraduate Student, Visual Arts
Mentor: Jeffrey Rinehart
Wednesday, November 15 at 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Fine Arts Gallery
None Provided
Last Act of Love
Cameron Boni
Undergraduate Student, Visual Arts
Mentor: Daniel Rule
Wednesday, November 15 at 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Fine Arts Gallery
This piece was based off of the scene in Red Riding Hood where the grandma reveals itself to be the wolf in hiding. I wanted to play on the archetypes of each character by giving each a dominant color of blue or red. Her eyes represent her being in denial about this danger and continues to blindly express love to this all-consuming creature.
The Meeting
Cameron Boni
Undergraduate Student, Visual Arts
Mentor: Daniel Rule
Wednesday, November 15 at 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Fine Arts Gallery
This piece depicts two unicorns, one much older than the other, coming face to face within the lush woods.
Untitled
Olivia Brown
Undergraduate Student, Visual Arts
Mentor: Jeffrey Rinehart
Wednesday, November 15 at 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Fine Arts Gallery
Having been given a prompt in class to produce a merged portrait of an individual using two reference photos; I chose to use my young nephew as my subject. His parents take a lot of photos of him throughout the day as a means of sharing his growth with me and my other family members due to the vast distance that separates us. This abundance of reference material, as well as the fact that I find him incredibly adorable, made him a great choice for my work. Having chosen my two photos, I overlapped them and picked key components from each to create the overall composition. The result is an interplay between the two that can come across as both one overall figure or two individual figures that are interwoven together. The drawing is primarily line work, though there are specific areas that have been more fully rendered, giving them a visual weight. My color choice of red and blue was both a conscious and unconscious one. Consciously I knew I wanted bright colors to represent his youthfulness and bring an overall sense of energy to the piece. Unconsciously, I picked red and blue as my two colors, not realizing at the time that they are the primary color choice for optical illusions and this portrait certainly has a bit of an optical illusion within it.
Warning: Art Ahead
Melodie Caire
Undergraduate Student, Visual Arts
Mentor: Kathy Rodriguez
Wednesday, November 15 at 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Fine Arts Gallery
I have always wanted to live up north, by the mountains, surrounded by trees that cover the ground. Down south in Louisiana, there is no such thing as a mountain. We have hills and potholes where 100-year-old tree roots overgrow underneath roads, breaking up the pavement. I enjoy the view of nature. But in southern Louisiana, I see mostly concrete buildings and neon lights. I want to live where I drive on long roads, smothered by nature around me. Instead, I am surrounded by fast food chains and traffic. This is why I created this piece “Warning: Art Ahead” with the use of stippling. Stippling is my favorite form of art. I wanted to remind myself of what I could have but chose not to. love the city I live in, and I would not change it for the world.
Tethered
Brandon Clark
Undergraduate Student, Visual Arts
Mentor: N/A
Wednesday, November 15 at 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Fine Arts Gallery
This gouache painting depicts a worm’s eye view of a campfire underneath a full moon amongst trees. The piece initially started out as an exercise in playing with geometric composition. I drew a circle and a triangle pointing towards it with lines converging on the center of the circle. I then thought of a scene that would fit this composition. The triangle became the fire and the circle became the moon. I find myself using celestial bodies a lot in my personal work. I like imagining the very real scenery of these impossibly far away locations. This painting embodies the moments that I take to do these thought experiments. While I sit and look up at the night sky, the nature around me blends into the space above. I can connect constellations to the roots underneath me. I tether them together with more than gravity; I pull them together with abstract thoughts that make up my entire reality.
Kalospia
Sage Harris
Undergraduate Student, Poster
Mentor: N/A
Poster #138
Tuesday, November 14 at 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
LIB 410
Bitter romance is about a woman who is saddened by her lover who died love her for who she is and leave her in own sorrows. The woman over time forgot what is love and how to love her self and became overwhelmed with her emotions that she can express. Will this sad woman ever love herself ?
A Closer Look
Nicholas Hutson
Undergraduate Student, Visual Arts
Mentor: Ariya Martin
Wednesday, November 15 at 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Fine Arts Gallery
For this body of work, I have employed both infrared and expired film to amplify the presence of our native foliage, which are constantly facing natural forces that challenge their existence. Louisiana is known to be historically hot, but recently it has been affected by drought and saltwater intrusion. While these images may portray the barrenness of the surviving plants, they also serve as a testimony to the resilience of our natural landscape. To highlight this best I often utilize infrared film which is sensitive to light just above the visible spectrum. More specifically it is sensitive to light between 720m-850nm, just above what we can see with the unfiltered eye and just below what is seen in thermal infrared often depicted in military use. This light is most prolifically produced by living foliage that displays green, yellow, orange, and red hues, which happens to be perfect for stressed trees and grasses. The photographs are also printed on various expired fiber-based papers as a reflection on time and footprint. Through these images, I aim to pay homage to this altered state of my homeland and not just illustrate its detriment for visual pleasure. It reminds me to cherish these fleeting observations even if it's just in my contemplating them for a photograph. They conjure the strength we and plants naturally possess and eventually surrender. For me, taking these images is a way to clarify uncertainties about my identity, stability, legacy, and worth.
"Mussel Time"
Kendrik James
Undergraduate Student, Visual Arts
Mentor: Kathy Rodriguez
Wednesday, November 15 at 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Fine Arts Gallery
“Mussel Time” is an oil painting on three individual shaped wooden panels that have been connected together with wood glue to mimic how mussels group together in nature. There are three mussel species represented in this painting. The Inflated HeelSplitter is presented at the bottom of the painting, the Purple Wartyback is shown at the top right, and the Southern Pocketbook is represented on the top left. All three of these mussels can be found in the Pearl River east of New Orleans. The colors I used are inspired by the colors found in each of the mussels' shells. I decided to exaggerate the blues and purples to add more contrast to the browns already present in the shell. The overall shape of the piece is inspired by the organic round edges of the mussels’ shells but I added sharp edges to make the shape more interesting and not as flat. I chose to represent these mussels because they are amazing creatures with an interesting life cycle. I love mussels because of their colors, shape, importance to the ecosystem, and I’m fascinated by their shells and biology. I really wanted to bring some color and life into something that can seem boring and stagnant for most of its life. I think these are beautiful and very interesting creatures and I want my painting to convey how interesting and beautiful they are to me.
Lady sitting in chair
Vlad Jones
Undergraduate Student, Visual Arts
Mentor: Kathy Rodriguez
Wednesday, November 15 at 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Fine Arts Gallery
This piece is meant to serve the same goal as all my artworks. I am trying to find the center of my mind by subconsciously pouring my imagination into my artwork. I am chasing a divine inspiration that I believe can be tapped into. I started with a loose pencil sketch, slowly transforming the different shapes into outlines. The rest was building up layers of color with water color and pencil. I don’t have any inherent meaning in this artwork through the process of making it, the meaning will show itself to me when it chooses to. A lady sits in a chair made of rusting gold, atop an egg. The woman has one arm curving up the the sky while another arm turns into a fish.
Portrait
Hannah LeBeaux
Undergraduate Student, Visual Arts
Mentor: Jeffrey Rinehart
Wednesday, November 15 at 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Fine Arts Gallery
I am doing a portrait drawing of two images of myself using graphite.
Calm Down
Ella Mayfield
Undergraduate Student, Visual Arts
Mentor: Madeleine Kelly
Wednesday, November 15 at 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Fine Arts Gallery
This self-portrait is a physical representation of my struggles with anxiety. My face is shown in muted gray tones while the surreal features of my work, the heart and the phrases that make up the background, are depicted in deep reds to signify the overwhelming and consuming qualities of anxiety. These differences in color were achieved by using colored pencils, which can be made subtle or vibrant and adhere greatly to layering and creating texture. This drawing is a look into my own mind and experiences, and through the images of the roped heart, frantic thoughts swarming around the figure, and frightened expression, I attempted to create a visual representation of feelings that are difficult to put into words. My heart is shown bound by rope so that the viewer may feel a hint of tightness in their chest, alluding to the physical symptoms of worry and fear, and the hectic nature of the background symbolizes the constant strain of thoughts that filter through one’s head when in an anxious episode. While this piece focusses on my own experiences, I hope that others will find that they are not alone in what they feel. Whether you are a person who consistently struggles with anxiety or not, my hope is that everyone will recognize the emotions behind this piece and realize that they are part of a humanity with shared experiences and struggles that they are not going through alone.
Floating
Ella Mayfield
Undergraduate Student, Visual Arts
Mentor: Madeleine Kelly
Wednesday, November 15 at 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Fine Arts Gallery
This monochromatic piece may appear to be a simple portrait, but to the artist and to those who are willing to pause and feel the emotion behind the work, it means much more. Through the use of blue colored pencils, I have drawn someone very close to me, and I have created a visual representation of what I feel when I am with this person. The subject, Austin, has a calming presence and brings peace to my life no matter what else is going on around me, and I felt that these emotions would be represented most accurately through soothing blue tones. When choosing what image to work from, I wanted Austin’s eyes and expression to show what he always relays to me, which is care and attentiveness. The background, which features loose outlines of flying birds, frames the piece and contributes to an overall light and airy feeling. This drawing is very personal and focusses on my own relationship, but my hope is that all viewers will see this and think about the people in their lives who calm them and bring them peace, just as Austin does for me.
Child's Dress
Ashly Mcloney
Undergraduate Student, Visual Arts
Mentor: Kathy Rodriguez
Wednesday, November 15 at 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Fine Arts Gallery
This piece entitled “Child’s dress” is graphite on paper. As an interdisciplinary studies major, I have concentrated on the intersection between history, anthropology, and fine art. This work represents my historical research into material culture, specifically the role of clothing. The objective of the work is to combine my previous training as an academic painter, with the meanings imbued in human artifacts. I aimed to accomplish this through faithful representation of my young daughter’s clothing. I believe the choice of medium (drawing, rather than photography or painting), by virtue of the time spent, engages with the labor involved in garment making. The piece is unmistakably a drawing, which creates an interpretive and subjective element, which is meant to evoke a feeling of memory and documentation. My final claim is that; there is always something communicated through dress. And always something subjective, even creative in the interpretation of history. This work is inspired by both these premises.
Weathering the storm
Aaron Mince
Undergraduate Student, Visual Arts
Mentor: Anthony Campbell
Wednesday, November 15 at 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Fine Arts Gallery
Symmetrical beauty, destructive chaos, somber moments and silent tension, are explored through intaglio prints made from copper plates. The idea of place to work through thought give way to moments of clarity. The process of creating the plates provides escape-nurturing a sense of thoughtful solitude. I am inspired by Japanese woodblock printing and animation, specifically Under the Wave, Off Kanagwa (big wave) and the landscape paintings of Hayao Miyazaki. My aquatint etchings are constructed environmental landscapes that allow me to lose myself in meditative reflections.
Moonlight shrine
Aaron Mince
Undergraduate Student, Visual Arts
Mentor: Anthony Campbell
Wednesday, November 15 at 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Fine Arts Gallery
Symmetrical beauty, destructive chaos, somber moments and silent tension, are explored through intaglio prints made from copper plates. The idea of place to work through thought give way to moments of clarity. The process of creating the plates provides escape-nurturing a sense of thoughtful solitude. I am inspired by Japanese woodblock printing and animation, specifically Under the Wave, Off Kanagwa (big wave) and the landscape paintings of Hayao Miyazaki. My aquatint etchings are constructed environmental landscapes that allow me to lose myself in meditative reflections.
None Provided
Cailtin Moore
Undergraduate Student, Visual Arts
Mentor: Kathy Rodriguez
Wednesday, November 15 at 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Fine Arts Gallery
Artist statement Torn 31st October 2023 This piece was done on a 30 x 30 canvas in oil. It’s a depiction of three different versions of myself using primarily blue and red to help emphasize conflicting emotions. I decided to keep an accurate depiction of myself in the middle to show how unaware one can be to someone’s true emotions. Through this process I truly enjoyed reflecting on myself and the idea of how different emotions can coexist. No one wants to feel anger, despair, or loneliness but without negative emotions the positive ones wouldn’t exist. Learning how to simply exist without loathing those feelings was important to me through the process of making this piece.
None Provided
Caitlin Moore
Undergraduate Student, Visual Arts
Mentor: Kathy Rodriguez
Wednesday, November 15 at 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Fine Arts Gallery
None Provided
None Provided
Caitlin Moore
Undergraduate Student, Visual Arts
Mentor: Kathy Rodriguez
Wednesday, November 15 at 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Fine Arts Gallery
None Provided
The Jeweler
Andre Pellebon
Undergraduate Student, Visual Arts
Mentor: Daniel Rule
Wednesday, November 15 at 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Fine Arts Gallery
This piece uses the remnants one of my first glass necklace pieces, and turns it into a doorway to transform my broken or unappealing glass jewelry pendants into depictions of caricatures, people, and art.
A. Lebone
Andre Pellebon
Undergraduate Student, Visual Arts
Mentor: Daniel Rule
Wednesday, November 15 at 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Fine Arts Gallery
This painting is not only documentation of my relationship with my brother, not only history of our visual craft, but an homage to the foundation I call family. Meticulously crafted to provide strength and healing to what damage over time. It symbolizes the portfolio of work I've done to hopefully give back to those who have kept me in good council and supported me through my greatest efforts to become an artist of New Orleans.
The Oracle
Andre Pellebon
Undergraduate Student, Visual Arts
Mentor: Daniel Rule
Wednesday, November 15 at 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Fine Arts Gallery
In recent years, my relationship with my family as an artist has been tested through battle of ideology and religion. It's made me question my morality and character as the same of my family. In light of that it has grown to be understanding, the piece of me I call "the Oracle" is a dynamic I painted of when my elders wished for me to create works for them that I could not provide. I had made a slim amount of glass jewelry, and hoarded it to myself. It felt like while I didn't have much to give to begin with those who had asked this favor of me were the very pillars of my foundation.
Illusion
Sebaika Raza
Undergraduate Student, Visual Arts
Mentor: Kathy Rodriguez
Wednesday, November 15 at 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Fine Arts Gallery
Illusion is a small-scale acrylic painting on canvas. Until now, I have been finding inspiration from whatever is aesthetically pleasing to me, and in the majority of those instances, my artworks end up not having a singular meaning or purpose to them. But for this one, I intended to really search for a way to present a composition that could depict a unison between representation and abstraction, without each being a distraction for the other. Representation and abstraction can be considered opposites; hence, their relationship can cause an imbalance in a single painting where one can overshadow the other. Overall, I intended this artwork to spark conversation. I aim for the viewers to discuss the connections they have drawn or bring up aspects of the artwork that resonate with them. When I made this painting, I associated it to my struggles with mental health, so I want to see what interpretations people have from their own lives and experiences. The element of abstraction in this painting can open up infinite meanings for others which differ from those of the artist.
Digital Solitude
Deanna Robbie
Undergraduate Student, Visual Arts
Mentor: N/A
Wednesday, November 15 at 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Fine Arts Gallery
Charcoal-like image featuring a dark silhouetted figure against a smeared background. The textures suggest a rough, unfinished canvas, while the mysterious entity, appearing solid, conjures feelings of isolation and contemplation. The stark shadow along with muted white, highlights the ambiguity of the scene, inviting viewers to unravel its narrative.
Bellflowers
Samaria Stevenson
Undergraduate Student, Visual Arts
Mentor: Jeffrey Rinehart
Wednesday, November 15 at 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Fine Arts Gallery
None Provided
Bellflowers
Samaria Stevenson
Undergraduate Student, Visual Arts
Mentor: Jeffrey Rinehart
Wednesday, November 15 at 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Fine Arts Gallery
The work is charcoal on paper emphasizing a stalk of bellflowers in a fading group of bellflowers. I got lost when making this drawing. I started just drawing the single row and as I went along it just grew into the faded background. I was inspired by looking at works I made in a past semester for a drawing class. One of the assignments was to draw six different but thematically linked charcoal drawings on one piece of paper. At that time, I was really into “cottagecore,” an aesthetic that promotes a lifestyle based on simplicity and nature – such as an emphasis on flowers. I think this subject matter has “soft” content, meaning the images feel peaceful. I was more interested in that type of realm because it links with the medium of charcoal. I like the medium and its flexibility to either be very soft or very hard. When it came to using it, I could get very dark and light and even not be afraid to experiment with the realm in between. One of the six drawings depicted bellflowers, kind of just hanging there. I felt nostalgic by looking at this drawing and wanted to give it more attention. Those feelings inspired this piece. If anything, I wanted to do it. It gave me an excuse to experiment and feel good about making something that I liked then and now; a bit of a full-circle kind of moment.
Yuta Okkotsu V.S Yuji Itadori
Austin Tran
Undergraduate Student, Film
Mentor: N/A
Wednesday, November 15 at 11:15 - 11:30 AM
LIB 407
I will do at least a 2-4 minute animation of my art skills recreating a manga scene with my own animation style. As of right now it would be in black and white, but base color is Ideal.
Yuta Okkotsu vs Itadori Yuji
Austin Tran
Undergraduate Student, Visual Arts
Mentor: N/A
Wednesday, November 15 at 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Fine Arts Gallery
Yuta Okkotsu and Itadori Yuji is going to be roughly a 2-4 minute animation. It is an animated adaptation from the series Jujutsi Kaisen. I wanted to animate this because I am genuinely interested in this. This may not fill the whole time slot but I am glad to be asked question which will probanby take up the time instead.
School of the Arts: Theatre
History of African American Theatre in New Orleans
Kala Hathorn
Undergraduate Student, Film
Mentor: Kalo Gow
Collaborators: Derick Lafrance
Wednesday, November 15 at 10:15 - 10:30 AM
LIB 407
Imagine, New Orleans without creativity. The air stale with complacency and absent of uniqueness. What would NOLA be without the pioneers of black theatre? Those who took on the reigns of artistic impression at a time of racial oppression. The storytellers of the South. Those that voiced a soundtrack to a theatrical movement. A forever tribute to the lives of those who impacted a generation of thespians. This documentary examines the lives of great individuals who impacted New Orleanian culture with their methods and perspectives on the art acting.