Report on Academic Showcase

Neana Gupta 1
Dustin Picard 2
Ian Whitaker 3

Neana Gupta 1
Email address: ngupta@umd.edu
Affiliation Neuro-cognitive Development Lab
Title of Project: The relation between Executive Function and Memory in Children

Description of Project: The goal of the study was to examine if executive function s were related to recollection in preschool children. The study took a total of 8 children between the years of 4 and 5 and let the parents complete a questionnaire going through the different domains of the child’s executive functioning. The children were then tested individually for this relationship. Through their study a marginal correlation was found between executive functioning and recollection.

What were the main benefits you received from doing the project?: Some of the main benefits that Neana received from the experiment were learning a lot about statistical analysis and how to conduct her own research. Another thing that she learned was about the topic in general and the details of executive functioning and its role with memory recollection.

What were the main pitfalls or obstacles during the development and/or undertaking of the project?: Some of the main pitfalls Neana came across during the experiment was with the issue of participation and getting enough children to come in to participate with the experiment. Another issue that she found was the questionnaire and bias with parents responses.

Dustin Picard 2
Email address: dpicard@umd.edu
Affiliation (College Park Scholars - Science and Global Chang, Environmental Science and Policy Major)
Title of Project: Uncovering Our Roots: Irish Settlement Archeology

Description of Project: Dustin worked as an intern with the archeology lab here on Campus in Woods Hall. In 2009, a group of professors and students from the University of Maryland’s archeology department began excavation of an Irish Settlement in Baltimore County. The team, led by Dr. Brighton, wanted to “locate, collect, and interpret the historical, ethnographic, and material context of the Irish of Baltimore County.” In this internship Dustin helped with cataloguing, labeling, and preserving the items that came from the Field Study underway in Texas. The pieces dated anywhere from 19th century to around the 1980’s and Dustin was responsible for finding this out and processing this.

What were the main benefits you received from doing the project?: Some of the main benefits Dustin received were learning about the field of archeology and gaining a newfound respect for those that do this work.

What were the main pitfalls or obstacles during the development and/or undertaking of the project?: Some of the main pitfalls Dustin came across was learning the techniques of cataloguing and preserving and feeling comfortable with this.

Ian Whitaker 3
Email address: Ian.g.whitaker@gmail.com
Affiliation (College Park Scholars, Science and Global Change)
Title of Project: Nurse Aid and E.R. Tech. Internship

Description of Project: Ian worked as an ER Technician on the non critical side of the emergency room and was expected to perform basic duties such as taking vitals, obtaining urine samples, bandaging small cuts, performing EKG’s, and fitting crutches.

What were the main benefits you received from doing the project?: Ian gained much from this experience. He was able to learn new skills such as taking an EKG, taking vitals, and using basic medical devices. In addition he developed his people skills working with a diverse group of patients.

What were the main pitfalls or obstacles during the development and/or undertaking of the project?: Some of the pitfalls he experienced was the shear stress of the situation and being able to cope in this high stress environment that the ER provides. Another issue that Ian came across was dealing with patients that did not want to be at the hospital and provide the proper customer service to deal with this.

Last modified: 9 May 2011