Carleigh Wood (left) and Delaney Humphrey, both biology majors on a pre-med track, present their research on myotonic dystrophy using fruit flies during the Jepson Science Center Fall Research Symposium. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

Biology major Juliana Ramirez studied the University of Mary Washington’s trees, shrubs and herbs to predict possible effects of invasive species. Elementary education major Maria Werner created a picture book about a disorder that causes children to limit the types of foods they eat. Linguistics major Emma Sanford observed college students learning to speak Japanese to examine the role humor can play in teaching foreign languages.

These studies, all completed by UMW seniors, were among nearly 90 shared during an array of symposia held last week at Mary Washington, including the Honors Senior Capstone Fall Symposium, Jepson Science Center Fall Research Symposium and Columns Humanities and Social Sciences Symposium.

UMW students showcased compilations of work they’d completed throughout the past several months, often longer, with posters, presentations and capstone projects. The end-of-semester events followed close collaboration with faculty mentors, exploring everything from the role of norepinephrine in Alzheimer’s disease to the theatrical lighting of Baroque sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini.

“Getting to engage in undergrad research is one of the best things I’ve gotten to do here,” said Delaney Humphrey, who presented findings about the muscle-wasting disorder myotonic dystrophy with fellow senior Carleigh Wood. “It gave me connections. It gave me a sense of place.” Read more.