Undergraduate Research Symposium Lightning Talks

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  Teaching for Black and Brown Lives: The Importance of Ethnic Studies Curriculum in the Education Success of Black and Latinx Students

  Lauren Patterson, Kendra Beach, and Christine Clark Ph.D.

  11-15-2021

  This study identifies school policies and practices that create a gap in support for Ethnic Studies for high school graduation, college graduation, and teacher licensures. The first method was interviewing specific stakeholders through zoom who were in the position for the purpose of the research. The interviewed participants answered questions about the policies related to Ethnic studies, practice school policies, and implications of the ratification of Ethnic study policies in Nevada. The second method was analyzing Nevada state and Department of Education policies relating to teacher education. Interpreting how UNLV teacher licensure programs apply those policies in the preparation curriculum. Results from the methods were initial findings were 75% of the student population in CCSD are students of color, but there are still limited clubs that surround racialized experiences. Although students who participated in racial/ethnic club activities led to more enrollment in elective courses. Ethnic studies are considered along with social studies and “diversity studies”, which need to be differentiated from one another. Ethnic study courses can be a valuable enhancement to build cross-racial solidarity and create opportunities to make sense of school experiences. It is critical to make a foundation for success for Students of Color and Families of color in many schools and communities in CCSD.

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  The Bronze Head of Thracian Ruler Seuthes III

  Andrea Rangelova and Aya Louisa McDonald Ph.D.

  11-15-2021

  In 2004 Bulgarian archeologists, Dr. Kitov and Dr. Dimitrova, discovered a unique Hellenistic era bronze head in a Royal Thracian burial, outside the Golyamata Kosmatka tomb. Research and visual analysis has shown that this head is most likely a portrait of Seuthes III, the ruler of Odrysian Thrace. This identification is indicated by its close resemblance to realistically sculpted profile images of Seuthes III found on Thracian coins. In both cases the heads are characterized by a thick beard and a crooked nose, which create a singular, individual identity. Traditional Greek bronze heads around 4 B.C. are beardless.

  The head is a masterpiece of Hellenistic realism, dated to c. 4th Century BCE. The archaeologists further suggest that the bronze head of Seuthes III played a significant part in spiritual rituals of the Odryssian Thracians. Further objects inside the Golyamata Kosmatka tomb reveal the substantial influence of Hellenistic Greek art: a silver pitcher, a silver vial, a gold wreath with oak leaves, and a bronze helmet engraved in Greek script with the name of Seuthes III. Fragmentary images of the Gorgon Medusa were found on the funeral bed and the gold wreath. We conclude that the bronze head of Seuthes III is unique and has no analog in the Greek World.

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  Compressive Strength for Geopolymer Mortar

  Kers Ung-Watson and Moses Karakouzian Ph.D.

  11-15-2021

  Portland cement is a common building material used globally and has been around for over one hundred years. It is reliable, inexpensive, and its material properties have been thoroughly researched. However, in recent years, the development of new building materials that are more environmentally sustainable has begun to become increasingly important to combat global warming. Research has shown that geopolymers produce less carbon dioxide emission and could possibly be a substitute for portland cement. Thus the scope of this paper is to determine the compressive strength of geopolymer to portland cement using mortar samples. ASTM C 109/C 109M-02 was followed and used as a reference when performing the experiment. Slight variations were made when creating geopolymer mortar samples due to a different chemical structure than that of portland cement. The mortar samples created using portland cement had 18% greater compressive strength than those made of geopolymer. There are multiple types of geopolymers that exist and those may offer similar or greater strength than Portland cement. Though this geopolymer type did not offer the same compressive strength or greater; the results still show that this material has the potential to meet the same strength requirements as Portland-based mortar and concrete.