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  The Snuffed Critique of Modernity: Adapting Brideshead Revisited for the Twenty-First Century

  Caitlin Spicer

  This thesis is an effort to understand the operation of divine grace in Evelyn Waugh’s famous queer and Catholic novel, Brideshead Revisited. I focus on the final pages and scenes of the original novel and the 2008 film adaptation, and I argue that they take different approaches to the final moments. I examine how each portrays divine grace in the lives of the characters in connection to Catholicism and the contrast of romance and religion at the center of each work. I argue that the novel holds the flame of faith at its center while the film ignites the spark of romance at the core: this difference matters because the film loses Waugh’s essential critique of the movement toward secularism in the modern world. This research fits into the critical conversation surrounding Brideshead Revisited and its 2008 film adaptation in that my argument takes on the sentiment of Gallagher and Colebatch in their criticism of the film—particularly of the treatment of God as the villain and the overarching theme of guilt that is not prevalent in the novel—while considering the question of conversion that Mooneyham presents. I claim that the 2008 film deviates significantly from the original novel, becoming a representation of the modern and secular world which is exactly what Waugh was afraid of.

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  The Theory Behind the Cape: The Ethics of DC Comics' Superman in Relation to Nietzsche's Moral Super-man

  Mary Newman

  For this project, the main question I set out to answer was is the DC Comic character Superman an accurate representation of Nietzsche’s Super-man theory? In his work Thus Spoke Zarathustra which was published in four volumes throughout the 1880s, Nietzsche explored the idea of a moral exemplar who would rise above other moral theories and create a new, superior set of morals for all humans. Nietzsche titled this moral exemplar the Übermensch, or Super-man. Beyond the name relation, it felt appropriate to analyze Superman’s ethics because Superman is a popular public figure that is often seen as a force of good with a strong moral compass, a seemingly perfect candidate to rise above humans and lead them to better morals as Nietzsche’s moral exemplar does. Superman’s dual identity as both a human, Clark Kent, and superhero also allows for a unique comparison between what ethics he has an ordinary citizen versus as a superhero. I argue that while Superman does meet some of Nietzsche’s criteria for the moral exemplar, such as Superman having an ethical advancement beyond Clark Kent, he does not meet all of them because Superman does not wish for all of humanity to adopt his ethics. Superman also differs from Nietzsche’s Super-man in that he never developed his ethical code with the intention to lead humanity into a new moral era, so while Superman may advance past typical human ethics, he does so with the intention of him being an exception not a leader which does not align with Nietzsche’s Super-man.

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  The Transition to a Renewable Energy Electric Grid in the Caribbean Island Nation of Antigua and Barbuda

  Patrick Hoody

  Most nations in the Caribbean rely largely on fossil fuels, specifically diesel, for power generation. The dual-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda does not differ in any manner from this, relying for 93% of its electricity on diesel generated electricity. Although small island states are responsible for only a vanishingly small amount of historical greenhouse gas emissions, as climate change continues to increase in severity, it is important for all nations to address the root of the issue by decreasing their carbon footprints. Fossil fuel prices have also been rising for some time, and there is little chance that this trend will stop. It will be beneficial to nations such as Antigua and Barbuda to transition to renewable energy to decrease electricity prices and help the fight against climate change. Nations in the Caribbean heavily favor renewables that rely on solar energy because of the daily sunshine all year long. The renewable energy technologies that are most economical and favorable to the region include wind energy and both solar photovoltaics (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP). This latter technology has rarely been considered for the region but could represent an important option. A model was developed to determine how much of certain technologies would be needed if the energy sector were to be redesigned and to be reliant on renewable energy rather than fossil fuels. This new system will also require energy storage such as utility-scale batteries and thermal storage used with CSP. Different combinations of technologies can accomplish this, but finding the best for each nation is the main purpose of this model.

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  Understanding the Barrier to Integrating Empathy Education into Pre-Medical Curriculum

  Angela Galluzzo

  The overwhelming consensus in healthcare research over the past two decades supports that healthcare providers demonstrating empathy is an integral component of quality of care and health outcomes (Reiss). The benefits of empathy in patient-provider relationships range from stronger immune responses from patients to a lowered burden on the healthcare system to fewer malpractice lawsuits against providers (Reiss). Even with this research suggesting that providers should be empathetic in patient interactions, there are barriers to implementation. The barrier that my research will focus on is time–specifically how time constraints throughout professional schooling prevent a broad education that would teach providers how to best demonstrate empathy to patients. My work focuses on a literature review to understand why empathy should be studied as the marker for success in patient-provider relationships and how empathy competency is being taught and subsequently measured in clinical practice. I, then, investigate time as the inescapable barrier to empathy education. With this foundational knowledge, I propose a recommendation that focuses on integrating empathy education, focusing on empathy as an attainable, measurable skill, into the pre-medical curriculum at universities.

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  Validation of effective removal of PFAS from glassware sampling train used for evaluation of thermal treatment of PFAS

  Elizabeth Riedel

  Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are anthropogenic chemicals that are extremely stable and highly toxic to the environment and human health. PFAS are used in a myriad of common products including nonstick cookware, water-resistant fabrics, personal care products, cosmetics, and aqueous film forming foam (AFFF). Because of their widespread use and resistance to degradation, PFAS have infiltrated the environment, including drinking water sources. To combat the spread of PFAS, various methods for treatment and removal of PFAS are being researched. A promising solution that has been identified for PFAS removal is thermal treatment, where degradation of PFAS occurs after exposure to exceedingly high temperatures. However, chemical characteristics of certain PFAS create the potential for them to adhere to equipment used during experimentation. For proper assessment of PFAS removal, it is essential to confirm that there is no carry over from sampling or contamination on the experimental equipment. This paper evaluates two techniques for their potential to effectively eliminate PFAS carry over on glassware used in a sampling train for thermal treatment. The first is a procedure used to clean glassware in the field when sampling for PFAS. The second is a modified version of the glassware cleaning procedure recommended in the OTM 45 protocol from EPA for PFAS sampling. In this experiment, glass impingers contaminated with solutions containing two of the most prevalent PFAS, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), were cleaned following the two separate procedures. Results from an analytical laboratory following EPA Method 537 showed that the second cleaning procedure was approximately five times more effective at removing PFOA and about two times more effective than the first cleaning procedure at the removal of PFOS from the impingers. Therefore, the second cleaning procedure is recommended for glassware used in PFAS experimentation.

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  Where Do Female Athletes Get Their Role Models? Exploring Women's Basketball In the U.S. From Inception to NIL

  Tierra Freeman

  The goal of this research is to look into where young female athletes get their role models from while focusing specifically on the marketing and promotion women receive in the industry compared to their male counterparts. I hypothesize that most older Gen Z players had a lack of exposure to female role models, yet many younger Gen Z players can identify more players and female influences, possibly due to increased social media usage and/or NIL.The question I ask for you all to keep in mind throughout this presentation is : As female athletics become more visible, how will that influence the next generation of female athletes?