2008 Proceedings - St. Cloud State University

Abstracts
Session T All Disciplines Ballroom
A Comparison of Science and Liberal Arts Majors’ Knowledge of Physical Change and Environmental Topics
This study investigated students‘ abilities to provide scientific explanations about physical change and their environmental knowledge. By
doing so, chemistry instructors may be more knowledgeable on the effects of students‘ logical reasoning versus their academic
performance in class. This research will show how important it may be for educators to increase in-class instruction to amplify students‘
ability to reason at a formal-operational level. Furthermore, this study will stress the necessity of environmental education in the classroom.
With the use of the Physical Changes Concept Test (PCCT) (Haidar and Abraham, 1991) and the Classroom Test of Scientific Reasoning
(CTSR) (Lawson, 1978) we will attempt to identify any correlation between students‘ knowledge of chemical concepts and their scientific
reasoning skills. These instruments were given to two groups of college students from two courses at a public university. The first group
consisted of 43 students enrolled in a second-semester general chemistry course. The second group consisted of 11 students enrolled in a
chemistry course normally taken by non-science majors to fulfill a general education science requirement. The survey results show a
statistically significant correlation between students‘ thinking skills and their PCCT scores. Finally, an evaluation was done on the
correlation between the CTSR scores and the students‘ ability to correctly answer questions on an environmental questionnaire (Michail,
Stamou, and Stamou, 2006). There was no significant correlation between the CTSR scores and the environmental questionnaire scores.
Suggestions for future studies will be presented.
Presentation Index: T55
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Department: Chemistry
Project Sponsor(s):
Student Presenter(s): Brandriet, Alexandra
Krystyniak, Rebecca
Hydrologic and Hydraulic Analysis of the Upper Rum River System from Buckmore Dam to Lake Onamia Kathio State Park,
Northwest of Onamia, Minnesota
The analysis of the Upper Rum River system is multifold. Not only is the study of scientific interest, but it is of a socio-economical concern
for the native Ojibwe tribe who harvest wild rice from the lakes in the system. Recently, the grain has ceased growth in comparison to
historical yields which is believed to be caused by fluctuating hydraulic conditions in the system. The research is an essential building
block for any future human intervention that will take place in the region. The solved inquiry of the project is to calculate and model of the
amount of water, the rate at which it travels and the direction and mechanics of how it flows through the system. This will be apparent by
the collections of field data and inputs into computer models to simulate actual field conditions. Importantly, the fluctuations in surface
elevation and lake depths will be targeted as a monitored parameter. This data is useful in that it can be widely used amongst other
disciplinary fields; not only this project. Conclusively, the findings of the research makes for a well defined and needed piece of science
and information for further analyses in the region.
Presentation Index: T56
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Department: Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
Project Sponsor(s):
Student Presenter(s): Wojciechowski, Travis
Fedele, Juan
Synthesis and Characterization of Naringin Flavonoid with Vanadium Complexes
Flavonoids are a class of secondary metabolites commonly found in plants and are commonly known for their antioxidant activity.
Vanadium, when found in the body, displays antidiabetic properties but is known to be toxic. Research has shown however that when
synthesized with a flavonoid, vanadium retains its antidiabetic properties while possessing less toxicity than it would normally have. Ideally,
a vanadium-flavonoid complex could yield a pill form pharmaceutical for the treatment of diabetes. The purpose of this research is, given a
flavonoid, to determine a mechanism to form a vanadium-flavonoid complex and subsequent classification to determine whether the
desired product was formed. When product of this synthesis was observed, IR spectroscopy revealed peaks in the OH region, CO region
and VO region, giving support that a vanadium-flavonoid complex was formed. Further study of the produced compounds was
administered by method of both NMR and UV-vis spectroscopy. These methods require the sample to be in solution which is important as
drugs are usually administered in solution state.
Presentation Index: T57
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Department: Chemistry
Project Sponsor(s):
Student Presenter(s): Willing, Alexander
Mahroof-Tahir, Mohammad
St. Cloud State University Student Research Colloquium 66
April 22, 2008