Discovery in Action Showcase spotlights UC College of Arts and Sciences
The University of Cincinnati College of Arts and Sciences has hosted its first Discovery in Action Showcase, bringing together the wide range of disciplines under the A&S umbrella to show the community the hard work and research being done behind the scenes.
Students, faculty, and researchers filled the Tangeman University Center Great Hall with poster presentations and immersive demonstrations displaying the diverse, creative work being done through the College of Arts and Sciences.
Dean James Mack said that the Discovery in Action Showcase exceeded his expectations. “For years, the College of Arts and Sciences was primarily known as the University of Cincinnati’s largest and most service-oriented college,” he said.
“However, the showcase helped to re-establish our true identity. Our faculty, staff, and students are making a global impact daily. While we are large and provide significant service, our true identity lies in the lives we impact and transform through our discovery process.”
Exploring all A&S has to offer
Visitors to UC's Discovery in Action Showcase explore exhibits from academic units throughout the college. Credit/Hannah White
Pietro Strobbia, assistant professor of chemistry, taught attendees about Raman spectroscopy, a complex chemical analysis process that allows researchers to identify materials and colors beneath the surface of historic paintings.
Chemists, geologists, and historians worked together to uncover clues of a painting’s history based on the elements and pigments within the paint itself. "Raman spectroscopy allows us to detect the vibrational fingerprint of materials, going beyond the surface layers of paint to reveal the techniques and materials used by artists of different eras," Strobbia explained.
Students compete with poster presentations
A&S students share their research through a poster competition. Credit/Hannah White
PhD student Christine Ochs-Naderer also studies how physical objects can give us clues about the world around us. Unlike Strobbia’s chemical analyses, Ochs-Naderer analyzes the sociological and psychological narratives that personal possessions can create, specifically studying the Museum of Broken Relationships in Croatia. Her research builds on the museum’s hypothesis that the objects we share and leave behind after a breakup hold great emotional significance.
Her poster featured a collage-like assembly of photos and notes from her research, further demonstrating her commitment to unique storytelling. “The way that I do academic work is really visual,” Ochs-Naderer said. “It lends itself well to a poster showcase, so it's a great format to be able to put my work out there. This is a big celebration of all the areas in Art and Sciences, so I wanted to bring in some insight from the humanities.”
Students Harshman Shira and Shelby Alderman both showcased their individual research on topics relating to maternity and parenthood in Cincinnati.
Shira shared his findings on infant mortality and safe sleep practices among Black birthing people in Cincinnati. His poster celebrated a recent milestone development in Cincinnati public health: for the first time, Cincinnati’s Black infant mortality rate is equal to the national average.
Shira has been researching this topic for over two years at UC, and witnessed firsthand the improvement in Cincinnati’s infant mortality rate after strategic intervention from local organizations and medical professionals. “Our country is in a crisis when it comes to these topics, and that's why I wanted to come out today and finally present my work to an audience,” Shira said.
Browse the Discovery in Action Showcase gallery
Alderman’s research centers on the impact that father involvement during pregnancy has on maternal health and rates of postpartum depression. She analyzed data collected through the Cincinnati Pregnancy and Infant Development Study known as PRIDE to find patterns and trends related to her research, finding that higher rates of father involvement during pregnancy strongly correlate to lower rates of depression among mothers. “I think that epidemiology is a very overlooked field,” Alderman said.
UC’s Curricular Enhancement, Development, Access, and Research (CEDAR) Language Resource Center set up a virtual reality experience for attendees to participate in. The VR experience gave users an idea of how CEDAR incorporates innovative technology in educational environments, virtually transporting students to all over the world. Assistant professor Kara Moranski demonstrated a program that puts students in an authentic Spanish flamenco bar complete using a VR headset. “We're really excited about it, and we're at a point in the development now in our third year that we're ready to share the prototypes with students,” Moranski said.
Winners of the Discovery In Action student poster competition
Undergraduate Research Project:' "A Decade of Progress - Demonstrated Improvements in Safe Sleep Knowledge in Black Birthing People" by Harshman Sihra.
Graduate Research Project: "Silent Struggles: Exploring Barriers To Communication For African International Students in US Schools And The Impact of Familial Expectations," by Ruth Emmanuel and Balkisa Sissy.
People's Choice Award: "Marketing for Nonprofit Organizations: Brand Identity and Storytelling," by Hannah Durham.
Featured image at top: Discovery In Action Showcase display with Dean James Mack. Credit/Hannah White
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