Paige Fullerton | Turibius Rozario | Allison Smock | Marelen Soto | Maia Turman Cooke
Assessing Campus Vegetation From Above
Paige Fullerton, Brian Hughes, Neil Taylor, Sarah Armstrong, Cheyenne Nickerson
Charlie Kaylor, Geography and Environmental Systems
Location: UC Ballroom 1 – 2 p.m.
This presentation will present the method and findings from an ongoing effort by the GES 286 course to gauge the health of campus vegetation. Students collect data necessary to derive the Normalized Differential Vegetation Index (NDVI) by sending tethered weather balloons with a payload of two cameras (one color; the other, infrared) 450 feet above campus to observe vegetation at different locations on the UMBC campus. Results are then georeferenced using Geographic Information Systems to generate the NDVI using “map algebra”. This approach is analogous to imaging techniques used for research and policy purposes, introducing students to the data models and techniques used in remote sensing generally. Ultimately, by imaging repeatedly, we can observe how the overall health of campus vegetation changes seasonally and over time.
UMBC Multidisciplinary Capstone: Design and Development of an Autonomous Fixed-Wing UAV for Long-Range Payload Delivery
Turibius Rozario, Joseph DeFusco, Adam Miu, Alex Vennos, Sean Stahler, Abby Joseph, Connor Cox, Emily Kosloski
Mentor: Charles LaBerge
Location: UC Ballroom 11 – Noon
A UMBC multidisciplinary capstone team is designing and constructing a fixed-wing UAV. The UAV will carry a 10 lb payload and fly a range of 10 nautical miles at a minimum airspeed of 35 mph. It will be capable of autonomous flight and avoiding hazards. This aircraft is built from 3D printed and hobby-level electronics and software. It will also be capable of transmitting video and maintaining the safety of operators and nearby property. Sub-teams consisting of Computer and Mechanical Engineers have worked collaboratively to complete these tasks. A conventional gasoline-powered airframe with a v-tail minimizes drag while maintaining structural integrity. Remote ID detection, front sensing LiDAR, bottom-mounted LiDAR, and an airspeed sensor are used for UAV and forward obstacle avoidance and autonomous landing. Real-time Kinematic (RTK) GPS is used for centimeter accuracy. Telemetry radios and long range ExpressLRS radio are used to maintain connectivity over long range. A proof-of-concept prototype with a low-cost flight controller has been constructed. Additional tuning, setup of full autonomy, and configuration of video transmission, including lessons learned from the first test flight are yet to be performed.
Mexican Feminist Movements And The Role Of Social Media: Civic Participation And Transnational Solidarity
Allison Smock
Mentor: Thania Munoz Davaslioglu, Modern Languages, Linguistics, and Intercultural Communication
Location: UC Ballroom Lounge | 10:20 – 10:35 a.m.
In this presentation I will share how the role of social media has shaped Mexican feminist movements. I will focus on this through an analysis of hashtags, social media presence, and geo mapping tools that have been utilized to spread awareness and objectives of the movements. I will focus specifically on the region of Jalisco due to its interconnections between narco violence and feminicides. Scholars have argued Mexico has four contemporary phases of feminicides. The first one recorded to be from 1993 to the 2000s has been named the “Feminicidial Emergence”, which coincides with this period of increased narco presence. Nonetheless, feminist resistance has continuously found ways to denounce narco gender based violence. In March 8th protests, through the use of hashtags and other identifying factors (colors, symbols), the movement’s objectives can be consolidated and spread. The same day an event happens in Jalisco’s capital there are complementary events in other cities in the state or even other Latinx’s cities, such as Miami or Detroit. This plants the question of how social media can provide and inspire a space for civic participation and engagement across borders.
I am a recipient of a UMBC Travel Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs
Multi-Dimensional Mural: A Live Performance of Art, Sound, and Movement
Marelen Soto, David Cobb Jr , Maria Fernanda Diaz Miranda, Justine Gaylord
Mentor: Corrie Parks, Visual Arts
Location: UC Ballroom 2 – 2:30 p.m.
As a fine artist and muralist, I’ve often observed that despite the initial awe and admiration my completed works evoke, those feelings tend to fade from people’s memories quickly. This project aims to elevate static artwork into a dynamic performance that resonates deeply with viewers. By integrating music, movement, and visual art, I hope to foster a shared experience that becomes ingrained in collective memory, enriching our understanding of humanity’s creative expression.
Coming from the Dominican Republic and living in America has shaped my perspective as an Afro-Latina not only through music and art but also socially, politically, culturally, and ethically. This artwork represents not only my own identity but also the world around me. It reflects the ongoing struggles both internal (personal) and external (environmental) that affect my body, mind, and spirit. The selected music serves as an empowering force, connecting me to my roots and driving the emotional rhythm of the performance. My wish is for my art to bring joy and empowerment to communities. A distinctive feature of this work is the live performance, where each piece of animation will be synchronized with the rhythm of the music, creating an interactive, immersive experience.
Resilient Hearts: Literary Portrayals of Lauryn Hill’s Self-Love and Resistance Against Intimate Consequences
Maia Turman Cooke
Mentor: Earl Brooks, English
Location: UC 312 | 10:20 a.m.
This study examines Lauryn Hill’s work through feminist and rhetorical criticism to explore the essential balance African American women maintain to survive—a balance rooted in the interplay of self-advocacy, self-love, and resilience. This is critical because African American women navigate a world that challenges their worth, silences their voices, and tests their endurance. Survival, in this context, means thriving in a society designed to diminish them, all while holding onto their optimism, power, and individuality. Through Hill’s work, this balance becomes a metaphor for a deeper truth: the constant negotiation between speaking out against oppression and nurturing well-being. Hill’s words reflect a path for African American women to simultaneously fight systemic injustices, preserve inner strength, and cultivate spaces of peace and sisterhood. This delicate equilibrium allows for survival that isn’t just reactive but transformative—creating empowerment and fostering love amidst adversity. Further research will go beyond Hill’s work to explore other manifestations of this balance in Black women’s lives. This includes gathering further data to uncover how rhetoric interacts with other factors influencing self-preservation and community care, ultimately contributing to a deeper understanding of how Black women safeguard their energy, resolve racial trauma, and build lives rooted in self-love and resilience.