2024 STEM/STEAM and Education

Title
Understanding Rural Development in Ghana. How Voting Determines Development

Synopsis
The concept of rural development and other infrastructures are determined during election times. In Ghana, it’s not uncommon to identify countless uncompleted projects, which were started by a previous administration. Once there is a change in government, those projects, if any, including rural roads are left uncompleted. In Ghana, despite its multiparty political system, it’s safe to argue that it’s a two-party democratic system. Since 1992 there are only two parties that have won the presidential election.

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Title
Harnessing the Role of Social Awareness in Melanoma Detection

Synopsis
Our study’s focus is to identify effective strategies based on existing facts for raising social awareness about melanoma, leveraging existing technologies and mobile applications. By analyzing recent data on melanoma cases, deaths, and their distribution across races, age groups, and ethnicities, we aim to advocate for early detection methods. These detection methods play a pivotal role, prompting us to investigate how advanced technologies can be integrated into personal healthcare to facilitate early detection and treatment.

An integrated approach such as increased awareness of personal health practices, advancements in melanoma diagnosis technologies, and the availability of skilled healthcare professionals could significantly reduce the impact of melanoma on both individuals and communities.

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Computational Science Program²
University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso, Texas

Data Science Department³
Ramapo College of New Jersey
Mahwah, New Jersey

Statistical Unit⁴
Argentinian Supreme Court and Applied Math Unit,
Argentinian National Academy of Sciences
Córdoba, Argentina

Title
Solving Higher Order Differential Equations: Higher Order Integrating Factor

Synopsis
This paper aims to show how we can apply integrating factor to higher order differential equations. We will then show second order integrating factor then third order integrating factor then derivation of using integrating factor on an nth order differential equation. Afterwards, we will go through some examples of the methods, and conclude with an analysis of the methods and discussion of future research.

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Title
Strong Consistency of Kernel Estimators of Cumulative Distribution Functions

Synopsis
We consider the strong convergence of Lp-norms (p ≥ 1) of kernel estimator of cumulative distribution function (CDF). Under some mild conditions, the law of the iterated logarithm (LIL) for Lp-norms of empirical processes is extended to the kernel estimator of the CDF.

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Title
Case Study of Issues Arising in Project-Based Learning on Project Management

Synopsis
The purpose of this study is a case study of the issues that arise in project-based learning on project management.

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Actuarial Science²
Illinois State University
Normal, Illinois

Title
Regime Switching Process in a Multiple Decrements Model

Synopsis
We study the effect of a regime switching process in a multiple decrements model where there are two causes of death:
Cause A: whose force of mortality changes according to a regime-switching process with two states: mild and severe. A force of mortality in the mild state will always be lower than the force of mortality in the severe state.
Cause B: whose force of mortality is not related to a regime-switching process.

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Title
Transforming Computer Science Pedagogy: An Exploration of Self-Recorded Videos (SRV) as a Teaching and Evaluation Tool

Synopsis
This study introduces Self-Recorded Videos (SRV) as a new method to enhance students’ performance in computer science coding assignments. Conducted with 41 students in an online Operating Systems course, the study required students to create SRVs for each assignment. The aim was to deepen student engagement and understanding. Post-semester survey results revealed a strong preference for the SRV method, with most students believing it significantly improved their performance. This suggests that SRVs could be a potent tool for boosting student engagement and performance in computer science courses.

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Title
Did You Hear That? Using Underwater Soundscapes to Evaluate Ocean Health in Aotearoa, New Zealand

Synopsis
To tackle the issue of an increasingly noisy ocean, we developed a novel education tool to increase participation in STEAM. The programme, ‘Sounds of the Sea’ enables our next generation of changemakers to work through three modules (Bronze, Silver, and Gold), that traverse instrument building, scientific theory, and communication. This programme encourages students to combine elements of ecology, physics, technology, and storytelling to connect with the ocean and solve real-world problems.

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Title
Enhancing STEM/STEAM Education Through Spatial Thinking and Digital Tools

Synopsis
Spatial thinking has a long history in cognitive psychological studies. As one of the most heavily researched segments of the human psyche, it pertains to the ability to generate, retain, retrieve, and transform visual images. Stemming from over a century of research, spatial thinking is a fundamental cognitive process that plays a crucial role in many disciplines. This paper seeks to emphasize the role of spatial and digital tools in enhancing learning outcomes.

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Computer Science Department²
University of Portland
Portland, Oregon

Title
Connecting Computer Science and the Liberal Arts: Example Activities and Assignments

Synopsis
The liberal arts emphasize broad knowledge, integrating ideas across multiple disciplines, and communicating alternate ways of thinking. This paper describes assignments and activities from two universities that connect the liberal arts to computer science in upper-division courses. These activities reinforce broad thinking and integrating skills learned across several academic disciplines and knowledge areas. Additionally, these activities and assignments may be adapted to other contexts.

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Title
Case Study of the Way Project Members Complete Tasks Efficiently

Synopsis
The purpose of this study is a case study on the way project members complete tasks efficiently.

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Title
State of Mental Well-Being for Construction Management Students in the United States

Synopsis
Mental well-being is a topic of increased concern since COVID-19. Data shows a large percentage of college students face mental health issues at least once during college. Similarly, a large percentage of workers in the construction profession report issues with mental well-being. This paper will report on a study that investigated the mental well-being of college students majoring in construction management in the United States.

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Engineering Technology²
Savannah State University
Savannah, Georgia

Title
The Mathematical Beauty of The Mulatu and The Fibonacci Numbers (MF) in Pure Mathematics

Synopsis
Fibonacci numbers and Mulatu numbers are built in the same method. The two numbers differ in the first term, while the second term is entirely the same. The next terms are the sum of two successive terms. In this article, the mathematical beauty of Mulatu, Fibonacci, and Lucas (MF) numbers is studied. In this paper, we investigate the mathematical beauty of these two numbers.

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Institute of Mathematical Sciences²
Claremont Graduate University
Claremont, California

Title
Implementation of 1/2-Approximation Path Cover Algorithm and Its Empirical Analysis

Synopsis
In this study, we refine a deterministic algorithm for approximating optimal path covers in graphs, based on Moran et al’s approach into two versions: with and without redundant edge removal. Testing on various graph types, including Erdős-Rényi, showed the first version saves 80% in memory, while the second cuts computation time by 60%, proving their applicability for real-world dense and complex graphs.

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Title
‘Every Woman without a Ring on her third finger is a witch’: Old Master Images of Witches as Inspiration for Otto Dix’s Paintings of Prostitutes

Synopsis
In his paintings, The Salon II of 1921 and Three Wenches of 1926, German New Objectivity (Neue Sachlichkeit) artist Otto Dix (1891-1969) referenced images of witches by Old Master artists such as Hans Baldung Grien, Albrecht Dürer, and Lucas Cranach the Elder. He updated past motifs by these artists in order to address Weimar-era gender conflicts and perceptions that liberated New Women and prostitutes were morally suspect femme fatales who exerted a corrupting influence on “good” German men.

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School of Theoretical and Applied Science²
Ramapo College of New Jersey
Mahwah, New Jersey

Title
Macro-Financial Linkages in Emerging Markets: The Interconnectedness between Macroeconomic Variables and Financial Markets

Synopsis
This study investigates how interest and exchange rates in Ghana’s emerging market affect stock market returns. Using ARIMA and SARIMAX models, it analyzes temporal patterns and the influence of these factors. The findings suggest a complex relationship, indicating limited predictive power due to unexplored variables and market dynamics.

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PhD. In Data Science²
University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso, Texas

School of Theoretical and Applied Science³
Ramapo College of New Jersey
Mahwah, New Jersey

Title
Transforming Time Series into Texture Images: A Fusion of Recurrence Plots and Gramian Angular Fields for Convolutional Neural Network-Based Classification

Synopsis
This paper presents a novel approach for converting time series data into texture images by combining recurrence plots and Gramian angular fields, termed as Recurrence-Gramian Convolutional Neural Network (RGCNN). Recurrence plots capture the temporal dependencies and recurrence patterns inherent in time series data, while Gramian angular fields encode the temporal dynamics into spatial structures resembling texture images. By combining these two techniques, we aim to create rich representations of time series data that can be effectively utilized by CNNs for classification tasks.

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Title
Exploring STEM Beyond Science, Technology, Engineering and Math through an English Language Arts Novel Study

Synopsis
This case study discusses how STEM learning can be infused into non-traditional STEM curricular areas, to encourage and ignite interest in STEM-related fields.

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Title
Non-programming Artificial Intelligence Educational Practice using Free Classification Services

Synopsis
In this paper, we present a practical example of a non-programming data analysis class for social science students. In the practice, three types of analysis methods were presented to the students, and they developed exercises in which they analyzed and discussed the data to the extent that they were able to do so. The results and effects are considered in a setting that allows students to recognize their own skill level and produce satisfactory results to the extent possible.

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Title
Case Study on Using Project Management Methods in Theatrical Performances

Synopsis
The purpose of this study is a case study on the use of project management methods in theatrical performances.

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Title
Technology Simulations Training and Apps: The Use of Technology in Disaster Preparedness and Response

Synopsis
The mission of Emergency Management is to protect communities by coordinating and integrating all activities necessary to build, sustain, and improve the capability to mitigate against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from threatened or actual natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other man-made disasters. Such disasters may include natural (e.g., hurricanes, tornadoes, typhoons, tsunamis, earthquakes, etc.), and man-made (e.g., terrorism, bioterrorism, pandemics, school violence, etc.)

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Natural Sciences Department²
University of Houston-Downtown
Houston, Texas

Title
Mentoring: All by Collaboration

Synopsis
UHD Peer-Team Led-Training has been a part of the mentoring training system for over 20 years. Professor Nakamura was one of the first trained in PLTL mathematics and has championed PLTL in mathematics, computer science, and chemistry disciplines over the years. In 2019 Dr. Parker included PLTL training workshops and trainees in several DOED MSEIP grant awards (2019-2023) (P120A190069, P120A210015, P120A230070). These funded grant awards supported PLTL training workshops for almost 30 trainees per year. This paper describes the training, the training’s influence on leadership development, and the application to various groups where collaboration is critical to student development aimed at providing student support and growth.

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Title
Case Study of the Economic Effects Brought About by Fans for Artists

Synopsis
The purpose of this study is a case study of the economic effects brought about by fans for artists.

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Title
Economic Summits: U.S.-Japan Economic Relations during the Carter Administration, 1977-1981

Synopsis
This paper delves into U.S.-Japan economic ties during the Carter Administration, emphasizing protectionist rhetoric’s influence on trade and energy talks against post-Vietnam War global shifts. Analyzing diplomatic exchanges and summit discussions show how Japan’s ascent and engagements with communist countries challenged U.S. authority, underscoring economic diplomacy’s critical role in navigating trade imbalances and energy dependencies for global cooperation.

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Title
Extracurricular Opportunities Supporting Enhanced Workforce through Certificate Attainment

Synopsis
The UHD project targets security training of emerging and current workforce populations, especially those underrepresented. These efforts support a highly skilled workforce able to quickly build and transfer these critical security proficiencies into the Houston workforce. Certification within the areas of security will form one of the most important outcomes of success. Key population targets for this proposal center around an emerging workforce comprised of current college undergraduates.

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Title
Case Study of Project Risks Faced by Beginners in Project Management

Synopsis
The purpose of this study is a case study of project risks faced by beginners in project management.

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Title
Case Study to Promote Inbound Tourism in Japan

Synopsis
The purpose of this study is a case study for promoting inbound tourism in Japan.

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Office of Digital Learning²
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, Pennsylvania

Teaching and Learning with Technology³
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, Pennsylvania

Title
Beyond Distance: Fostering Community in Online Art Courses through 3D Virtual Spaces

Synopsis
This paper examines the collaborative efforts of professors and their technology team from The Pennsylvania State University, exploring the evolution of universities beyond virtual reality in digital learning environments. By leveraging insights into student interests, technological advancements, and instructional design principles, faculty members Dr. Zena Tredinnick-Kirby, Anna Divinsky, and Courtney Redding have developed innovative curricula that foster community engagement. Through the integration of virtual reality (VR) elements, they bridge digital divides in access, equity, and inclusivity within online art courses, opening new possibilities in educational technology. This ongoing research aims to cultivate a virtual community within online art classes, offering interactive VR experiences that transcend geographical limitations.

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Department of Social Sciences²
Albany State University
Albany, Georgia

Department of Natural Sciences³
Albany State University
Albany, Georgia

Title
Technically Speaking: Building Scientific Communication Self-Efficacy

Synopsis
The overall goal of the project is to improve academic competency and science efficacy to retain undergraduate STEM students so that they graduate and pursue careers/advanced study in STEM. The project focuses specifically on improving scientific communication to achieve this goal. Two learning communities pair biology and chemistry with a public speaking course in order to improve science communication, student engagement, and STEM retention. Our aim is to test curriculum and effectiveness.

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Department of Mathematics and Statistics²
University of West Florida
Pensacola, Florida

Department of Mathematical Sciences³
William Rainey Harper College
Palatine, Illinois

Title
Bi-Harmonic Maps’ Existence and p-Balanced Energy and Connections to Harmonic Maps

Synopsis
We discover bi-harmonic maps’ existence, energy growth, and connections to harmonic maps. A nontrivial bi-harmonic map’s existence in a unit sphere is proved. We investigate the p-balanced energy as energy technical breakthroughs to break the constraints of the existing q-energy technique in detecting q-energy towards boundlessness. We study the connections between bi-harmonic maps and harmonic maps by discovering a rigid dichotomy between infinite energy and finite constant energy.

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Title
On Fibonacci-Cordial Labeling of two Special kinds of Graphs

Synopsis
In this paper we investigate Fibonacci-Cordial labeling of graphs in two special families of “corona products”, namely, Cn⊙Nm and Cn⊙Km. We prove the existence of the Fibonacci-Cordial labeling of Cn⊙Nm and establish an efficient algorithm to find one. We also prove the nonexistence of the Fibonacci-Cordial labeling for Cn⊙Km when m is much larger than n.

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