Classroom-based research and the opportunity to defend that research took center stage at this year’s Defens-a-palooza, as senior science students in the Women in STEM Honors (WiSH) and the ¹ú²úÓ´Ó´ Honors programs tackled mainstream topics with science. Subjects presented included the effect of playing soccer on memory improvement and stress recovery, dietary evolution, how the effects of THC compared to the effects of caffeine and acetaminophen, 3D printed molds, and if over-the-counter date rape drug detection kits actually work.
While some of the research results were inconclusive, as to be expected with small research studies, one thing was certain: The work these students are learning to do in the classroom is paving the way for the work they’ll do outside of it. Dr. Yadilette Rivera Colon, ¹ú²úÓ´Ó´’s Undergraduate Science Program Research Coordinator and the organizer of the event spoke about the impact this research can have on the greater community, stating, “It reassures me that some of our world problems will be solved by our ¹ú²úÓ´Ó´ students!”
To learn more about the science programs offered at ¹ú²úÓ´Ó´, please click here.