CINSAM Synergies
Spring 2021
Congratulations to the first two CINSAM Award winners!
This Summer on Campus...
We welcome 48 UR-STEM students to campus for an introduction to STEM research. They will be joined by several more students working on CINSAM Research Grants. If you would like your summer research students to participate in any UR-STEM activities, please email Ashley Vaughn.
We also congratulate 33 students for earning CINSAM Summer Scholarships to take face-to-face and online summer classes. Thanks to their advisors for assisting them in the application process.
Sign your kids up for Ashland Summer Camps & Academies
Visit our webpage for more information!
2021 Summer Programs:
The Art of Nature Exploration | June 14-18 | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Grades 7-9; In-Person
Secrets of the Sky | June 21-25 | 1 to 4 p.m.
Grades 6-8; Virtual
Mission to the Moon (Elementary) | July 12-16 | 1 to 4 p.m.
Grades 3-5; In-Person
Mission to the Moon (Middle School) | July 19-23 | 1 to 4 p.m.
Grades 6-8; In-Person
BRAIN (Best Research Academy in Neuroscience) | June 14-18 | 1 to 4 p.m.
Grades 10-12; In-Person
Beginners Cybersecurity | July 13-15 | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Grades 9-12; Virtual
Spring 2021 Event Recaps
The Science & Engineering Fair of Northern Kentucky (SEFNK)
FIRST LEGO League (FLL)
The Kentucky FIRST LEGO League Championship Tournament was a remote multi-day event this year in order to celebrate all the participating teams while following COVID restrictions and guidelines. Twenty teams from across the state competed and showcased their efforts related the this year’s GAME CHANGERS themes of PLAYMAKERS and RePLAY where teams stepped into the world of sports and were invited to identify how we can revolutionize the way we play and move to make ourselves physically and mentally strong. Teams sent in videos of their robot runs, met online with judges and referees, interacted with other teams in online meeting rooms, and then were invited to a public webinar for the awards ceremony. We are grateful for Duke Energy and NASA-Kentucky who joined NKU-CINSAM in providing significant financial support for this year’s program.
CINSAM Spotlights
Damon Kennedy
Damon Kennedy is a Computer Information Technology major with a minor in Business Analytics. Throughout his time at NKU he has been highly involved with various STEM activities on campus including volunteering in the STEM Ready course and STEM Scholarships Open Houses as well as serving as a STEM Peer Mentor. In addition to these, Damon is also a College of Informatics Ambassador, member of Campus Outreach, and SOAR Scholar. At this point in his college career, he is working through many networking classes while continuing to “enjoy connecting with current and prospective students through numerous STEM outreach events.” After graduation he plans to find employment in Northern Kentucky working with network infrastructure.
Dan Ginn
Dan Ginn serves in NKU’s College of Informatics as an Academic Advisor which involves providing academic/success planning and support from orientation to graduation to students with majors in the Communication, Computer Science, and Business Informatics departments. What Dan enjoys most about working alongside STEM initiatives at NKU is the vast amount of care and innovation that goes into the programs to provide meaningful experiential learning opportunities for our Norse (and future Norse!). Dan says, "One notable example of this is the work CINSAM does through summer camps and academies, which expose and immerse 2nd through 12th grade students to STEM. I have been fortunate to have opportunities to support our Computer Science department faculty in developing and leading these academies in past summer terms."
Ellen Hokkanen
As CINSAM’s first Director of Recruitment and Retention, Ellen Hokkanen has worked tirelessly to define the role. During her 5 years with CINSAM, she has helped to institutionalize successful retention programs initially funded by grants. Her innovation to identify and solve problems students are facing has allowed her to improve upon these programs, as well as develop new ones. One of her most successful initiatives has been converting the existing STEM Ambassadors program into the new STEM Peer Mentors program, providing an opportunity for freshman STEM students to engage with experienced STEM students in their freshman seminar course. In addition to her numerous retention efforts, Ellen has also become deeply involved in STEM recruitment by attending STEM fairs and events in our local community and across the tri-state region. Ellen’s motivation is, and always has been, providing the best possible experience for students. “Every decision I make and every solution I bring forward is student centered. I am motivated [to do] what is needed for our students. I am fortunate enough to work with people within CINSAM, our STEM Departments, and across NKU who collaborate to achieve great things for our students.”
Collaboration with the Cincinnati Museum Center
Check out CMC’s new digital learning experiences at https://www.cincymuseum.org/educators/outreach/.
2020 CINSAM Research Grant Updates
Nilesh Dixit & Mahdi Yazdanpour
Low-lying agricultural land along the western segment of the Ohio River has been subject to frequent, intense flooding from local streams. These flooded and waterlogged farmlands have suffered severe economic losses. Rapid flood mapping and monitoring of their progress is crucial for crop health assessment, crop insurance and agriculture policy making. This study assessed the influence of soil moisture content and surface topography on rapid flood runoff along the Ohio River through the integration of satellite imagery and soil properties.
Daniel McGee
Semiotic theory seeks to harness multiple representations and guide students toward understanding the commonalities shared by all of them. The researchers planned to explore how students used experimental materials that draw on semiotic theory to make sense of precalculus topics. In response to the pandemic, the initial project shifted in midstream to a study of the impact of the change to online learning on student engagement and content knowledge. This study showed that the shift appeared to negatively impact both student engagement and student content knowledge. Further study plans were paused due to the pandemic.
Michael Waters
Project Title: Prediction and Classification of Harmful Algal Blooms Using Machine Learning Techniques.
Harmful cyanobacteria have bloomed in recent years in the Ohio River. This project sought to make use of fixed camera monitoring systems to provide a probability of harmful algal bloom and regression estimate for the amount of harmful pigment-producing algae. Student researchers investigated the effects of "noise" in classifying an image of algae on surface water and used several different noise reduction algorithms to gauge the effect of the classifying algorithm.
Molly Hopper (Chemistry & Biochemistry)
The Hopper lab seeks to identify the metabolites, small molecules that support life, that are important to the survival of plants while they are under a stressed condition such as extreme drought or an early frost. Before we can measure the metabolites however, we need to grow the plants under very controlled conditions, which we are able to monitor using lab-built sensors tailored specifically to our needs. We use techniques such as gas chromatography - mass spectrometry to identify the metabolites based on their mass, and can use their identity to hypothesize about the cellular pathways important to surviving specific conditions when compared to control plants.
Denice Robertson & Kristy Hopfensperger (Biological Sciences)
Pollinator habitat is critical to the survival of pollinators and in turn birds and numerous other organisms. The goal of our research was to better understand what mix of seeds provides the best pollinator habitat, meaning a habitat with abundant food throughout the growing season as well as host plants for pollinator reproduction. To achieve this goal we tested different seed mixes in large experimental plots and using drone photography to monitor the success at several sites in the Cincinnati region.
Lili Ma, Kc Russell, & Amber Onorato (Chemistry & Biochemistry)
Project Title: UROCC: Undergraduate Research in Undergraduate Chemistry Course
This project took a SOTL approach to a new curriculum for sophomore Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (CHE 311L) using Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CURE) approach. A real word, original research problem is utilized.
“The student-empowering curriculum of CURE not only allowed adequate time to practice and master tangible skills, but allowed a student led project that demonstrated real research strategies and applications of the skills learned. I would recommend CURE to anyone that enjoys research, and strongly recommend it to anyone who believes that they don't.” – student in CHE 311L