The Bob Graham Center’s annual Undergraduate Research Symposium is a showcase of scholarly excellence, featuring panel-style presentations from undergraduate students engaged in the Center’s research programs. This symposium offers a unique opportunity to explore the findings of students participating in the Civic Scholars program, the Askew Research Fellows, the Haskell Research Fellows, and the International Studies major. These students have created research projects surrounding issues impacting global communities. To learn more about these projects, explore the abstracts below.
Camila Acevedo
The Impact of Language in Diplomacy
This thesis explores the various sectors in which language influences diplomacy, from specific incidents of mistranslation to broader patterns that involve language training and proficiency. It investigates linguistic proficiency, training, translation and effective communication with communities, and how they impact the process of negotiation. Through case studies and interviews it highlights the critical role language plays as a tool for building diplomatic relationships, increasing trust, shaping policy, and maintaining global affairs in a multilingual world.
Isabella Castro
Winning Isn’t Everything—It’s the Only Thing: Fidesz and the Mechanics of Political Dominance
Under what conditions has Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party maintained power since 2010? Past work has examined democratic backsliding, media control, and populist and anti-immigrant rhetoric as separate explanations for the party’s political dominance. Still, I argue that combining these factors leads to power retention and not just a single factor. This finding matters because it can raise understanding of authoritarian resistance and heighten public awareness of democratic backsliding patterns in different societies.
Michelle Chi
Taiwan’s Geopolitical Importance: Beyond Semiconductor Advancements
Taiwan’s geopolitical relevance is highly shaped by its advanced semiconductor industry, despite exclusion from international organizations. Using a combination of neoclassical realism and case studies, I explore how great powers and domestic factors influence Taiwan’s foreign policy and strategy. I also acknowledge that while semiconductor dominance strengthens Taiwan’s position, it also creates vulnerabilities. Therefore, Taiwan should diversify its geopolitical strategies by emphasizing its unique location as the first island chain and Indo-Pacific trade hub.
Selin Ciltas
Polarization and the Legislative Activity of Florida Women
How does polarization impact women’s legislative behavior? Existing research finds mixed results regarding women’s legislative activities, especially when comparing state and national politics. Fewer studies explore how polarization impacts these aspects of lawmakers’ behavior. Given the increasingly polarized nature of politics at all levels, it is important to understand how this phenomenon impacts legislative behavior, and ultimately, policy adoption. Our research examines the impacts of this phenomenon as it related to the Florida State Legislature, a unique case of party polarization and a key actor in contemporary American politics.
Brooke Clayton
Bridging Cultures and Code: How Cultural Compatibility Influences ICT4D’s Impact on Economic Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa
ICT4D projects have had underwhelming economic outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa. While existing research often attributes this to implementation failures in host regions, this study shifts focus to design-related factors. Drawing on an analysis of 30 ICT4D projects, I argue that culturally compatible designs are more likely to contribute to economic growth. A regression analysis is proposed to test the relationship between cultural compatibility and GDP growth. My findings aim to inform more effective and context-sensitive ICT4D practices.
Arianna Dali
Young People & Social Media: Will They Vote?
To what extent is social media usage linked to young voter turnout in developed democracies? I suggest that increases in social media usage among youth results in their increased voter turnout and propose to test this using statistical analysis. This contributes to existing literature by adding to the research on low young voter turnout, building on the reasoning that social media is increasingly important as a news source. Findings will advance our understanding of young voters and why they interact with democracy differently from older citizens.
Kaelynn Del Monte
Beyond Liberalization: Contextualizing the Role of Electricity Market Liberalization in Europe’s Energy Transition
While European countries share a common goal of transitioning to renewable energy, they vary in the degree of electricity market liberalization. Existing research focuses on how liberalization affects prices and economic outcomes, but its role in driving renewable energy growth remains unclear. My research explores conditions under which liberalization contributes to this transition, aiming to inform future policy and market design for a more sustainable energy system.
Cole Erickson-Cartaya
Electoral Commissions and Coups d’état: Europe and Institutions of Power Transition in Post-Cold War Francophone Africa
This study connects electoral commissions, coups d’état, and international electoral support in Francophone Africa. The findings pose potential implications for actors in the region: election commissions without full autonomy and capacity, but are neither so firmly under autocratic control, are at enhanced risk of instability via military takeover that may or may not have negative long-term consequences for autonomous election holding in the region depending on the relative level of the electoral commission’s capacity.
Liam Ferguson
To Infinity and Beyond: A Nuclear Revolution
Scientists have not been innovating nuclear energy in the most efficient way over the last 30 years and it’s time to fix that. Currently Uranium zirconium hydride fuel is utilized for only training reactors. Research shows that its efficiency positively correlates with overall temperature, pairing this tech with metal cooling would create a power source leagues more efficient than leading energy sources.
Madeline Flint
Generational Gentrification: Urban Redevelopment and Ethnic Identity in Orlando’s Mills50® District
In recent years, advocates have promoted authenticity and centralized the idea of the “real” Orlando, shifting the center of gravity from Disney to Downtown Orlando—more specifically, the Mills 50® neighborhood. Due to the historical presence of the Vietnamese community in the district’s business sector, my research investigates the extent to which the Vietnamese community has been impacted by this transformation. Who is involved? Is this classic-case gentrification or a more intentional, inclusive approach to planning?
Maiya Francois-Ifill
A People Centered Approach to Mitigating the Impact of Industrialization and Urbanization on the Availability of Consumable Water in Mexico City
Previous research has linked urbanization and industrialization in Mexico City to inconsistent availability of consumable water. Previous research has overlooked the importance of citizens in addressing water stresses. This matters because water availability depends on policy, infrastructure as well as citizens’ engagement. Using quantitative and qualitative research methods, I examine stressors on water resource distribution and propose a reconsideration of water management. My contribution is a perspective that prioritizes a people-centered approach to water management.
Muyao Guan
An Exodus of Excellence: Chinese Educational Competition and Emigration Over Four Decades
Past work has examined patterns of Chinese emigration and found links between economic opportunity, political policy, and migration trends. However, the extant research has not examined the impact of China’s hyper-competitive education system on emigration, and this matters because of resulting economic loss and brain drain. Driven by increasing domestic competition and the desire for alternative educational pathways, I examine how competition within the Chinese education system has shifted over the past four decades and contributed to rising emigration, especially among socioeconomically privileged families. I argue that the stress and limitations of the domestic education system have become a significant push factor influencing emigration choices, and propose to test this assertion using a mixed-methods approach, including historical policy analysis, cultural discourse review, and emigration data. I expect to find a correlation between periods of intensified educational pressure (e.g., Gaokao reforms) and a rise in educationally-motivated emigration. This finding matters because understanding contemporary Chinese migration motivations shape both domestic education reform and international immigration policy.
Camilla Guzman
Feeding the World, Failing the Farmer?: Multinational Corporations and Their Effects on the Livelihoods and Food Practices of Latin America’s Small Farmers
Small farmers in Latin America are increasingly facing the pressures of globalization and the expansion of multinational corporations. Research shows that both contract practices and the international orientation of multinational corporations adversely affect small farmers in Latin America. My research examines the relationship between both income of small farmers and the nutritional quality of the food they produce and the contract practices and international orientation of multinational corporations.
Sofia Hernandez
Contraception and Poverty: What Democratic Democracies Reveal About U.S. Policy Shifts
Research indicates that expansive contraceptive policies in developed democracies— family planning, abortion access, and availability of contraceptives like oral pills and IUDs—are associated with reduced poverty levels. These policies promote labor force participation, higher education rates, and improved financial planning among women. My study explores the correlation between such policies and poverty rates in these democracies, offering insights into how recent shifts in U.S. contraceptive policies might influence domestic poverty levels.
Daniela Hoyos
Impact of the USAID Shutdown on Global Partnerships: Through the Lens of the Livestock Systems Innovation Lab
My research initially sought to analyze partnerships between research institutions in the global north and the global south, specifically the Livestock Systems Innovation Lab (LSIL), funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). On February 6, 2025, it was announced that USAID direct-hire personnel would be placed on administrative leave. Now, this research will analyze the impact of the USAID shutdown on LSIL partnerships and evaluate its effects on foreign relations, education, and global health.
Sanduni Karalliyadde
The Kafala System & the Price of Progress: A Comparative Look at Worker Exploitation in Qatar & the UAE
My research explores the exploitation of migrant workers under the Kafala system in Qatar and the UAE, focusing on how labor laws are enforced and their impact on workers’ conditions. I look at issues like passport confiscation, lack of legal protections, and abusive work environments. By comparing labor law enforcement in both countries, my aim is to understand how well reforms are working and how different sectors and recruitment methods affect the level of exploitation faced by workers.
Rebecca Kern
The Role of ADHD in Eyewitness Decision-Making
When people witness a crime, high confidence is often viewed as evidence for an accurate suspect identification. However, research suggests this confidence-accuracy link is not always reliable. This study examined whether individuals with higher ADHD symptoms—who tend to be overconfident in various tasks—are less accurate in suspect identifications. Understanding how ADHD-related overconfidence affects eyewitness decision-making is crucial, as misidentifications are the leading cause of wrongful convictions.
Kamila Koralasbayev
SCAR MAPS: Combatting Seagrass Scarring on Florida’s Nature Coast
The SCAR MAPS Project is a multi-faceted research project aimed at addressing knowledge gaps and directing management actions around seagrass propellor scarring in Florida’s Nature Coast. After conducting 18 interviews with various managers, law enforcement, and other stakeholders, a qualitative analysis was completed to highlight lessons learned and best practices. Among interviewees, there are overarching themes of data necessity, process transparency, and incorporation of multiple perspectives. The results of these conversations will guide future conservation and management efforts.
Jian Lee
Path to a Healthier Heart: Tracking the Success of HEARTS Initiatives in Cardiovascular Disease Rate in Mexico
Early-stage research has predicted that the HEARTS initiatives implemented by the World Health Organization (WHO) in cooperation with the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) will significantly impact the improvement of primary care services and Mexican health systems. However, these works did not analyze the direct effects of the initiatives on the cardiovascular disease rate, which is an aspect to look at, as it is one of the most common diseases in Mexico. In this research, I examine the quantitative data collected before and after 2020 and compare the cardiovascular disease rate. I expect to find a reduction in cardiovascular rates after 2020 when the HEARTS initiatives were implemented in Mexico.
Emily Mancha
Nature in the City: Assessing the Impact of Urban Green Spaces in Southeast Asia
As the major cities of Southeast Asia continue to urbanize, there have been significant issues with managing the consequences of rapid development. This has resulted in the examination of urban green spaces as a method to minimize these effects. My research analyzes to what extent urban greenery has improved air quality and helps mitigate the urban heat island effect in these key cities.
Megan Meese
Past, Present, and Future: Effects of Historic Treatment of Jewry on the Cultural Heritage Preservation of Jewish Places in Spain and Germany
Two subgroups emerged from Jewish diaspora in Europe: Sephardic (mainly in Spain) and Ashkenazi (centered in Germany). Ongoing discrimination and hatred against these populations resulted in Spain and Germany perpetrating two of the worst instances of anti-Jewish persecution: the Inquisition and the Holocaust. My research compares the cultural heritage preservation of Jewish places in Spain and Germany, investigating how human emotions about the past shape decision-making in the present for the sake of the future.
Joshua Nemery
America Abroad: Measuring U.S. Cultural Diplomacy in Europe
Cultural diplomacy is used by the United States to ameliorate the image of the nation abroad through arts, education, and other cultural activities. While cultural diplomacy only makes up a small portion of the US’ foreign policy budget, it can have an outsize effect on relations with other countries. My project measures changes in US cultural diplomacy spending in Europe, and whether it coincides with changes in foreign attitudes.
Nicolas Paz
Understanding How the WTO Influences Economic Development in its Member States
Countries that participate in global trade under the WTO can experience varying levels of economic development. However, research suggests that those with a comparative advantage in high-value sectors benefit more from liberalized trade. These countries tend to see stronger growth when they effectively use their advantage in global markets. My research examines the relationship between comparative advantage and economic development among WTO member states, and how trade participation influences growth outcomes.
Brian Pham
How Healing Can Begin: How Vietnam’s Collaboration with the WHO Impacts Access to Healthcare
What factors affect Vietnam’s collaboration with the WHO on access to public healthcare? Some scholars have explained how socio-economic inequality impacts implementation of policy reform for the nation as a whole, therefore negatively impacting public healthcare access. However, others say that the weakness of the Direction of Health Activities (DOHA) explains the lack of collaboration with the WHO. I contribute to this body of research by seeing how the weakness of the DOHA has caused a decline in public healthcare access in Vietnam. Through a combination of continuous and categorical data from the present literature on the rates of visits to public hospitals and choice of providers, I expect to find a lack of collaborations by DOHA with the WHO. I hope that this would explain the decline in public healthcare access. This works furthers the discussion of former colonized nations and how they interact with international organizations on healthcare policies.
Diana Rodriguez-Gomez
The Path to Presidency: Key Factors in Women’s Success in Presidential Elections
It is no secret that the role of President is strongly thought of as a man’s role. Women have often tried to breakthrough this glass ceiling with little success. Research shows that factors including, residing in gender progressive countries, may be an indicator for women feeling encouraged and supported in running for presidential elections. My research examines the relationship between gender progressive countries and how that may impact women running successfully in presidential elections.
Marcela Sandino
Public Perception & Policy Action: Investigating the Role of Environmental Attitudes in Sustainable Agriculture Adoption
This study investigates under which conditions a country adopts sustainable agricultural policies, focusing on the role of public sentiment toward sustainability. My hypothesis proposes that positive public opinion increases the likelihood of policy adoption. I will use qualitative data through public opinion surveys to measure sentiment and legislative records to assess policy presence and implementation. The research also controls for economic development, technology availability, and political ideology, while acknowledging limitations in data reliability and the influence of external factors.
Eva Schuh
Nature as Nurture: How Childhood Exposure to Nature Shapes Adult Environmental Advocacy
My research examines how childhood exposure to nature influences adult environmental advocacy. I explore the role of direct outdoor experiences, environmental education, and cultural factors in shaping pro-environmental behaviors. By comparing urban and rural populations, I investigate how socioeconomic and cultural conditions impact environmental engagement and advocacy. This study aims to highlight the lasting effects of early nature exposure on lifelong environmental activism.
Gabriella Simmons
The Price of Inequality: Exploring the Link Between Socioeconomic Disparities and Incarceration Rates Worldwide
Socioeconomic inequality plays a key role in shaping incarceration trends worldwide. While punitive systems increase imprisonment, less attention has been given to how income gaps and unequal access to legal aid contribute to this. My research explores the relationship between inequality and incarceration across nations, arguing that higher inequality and limited legal resources, especially for marginalized groups, lead to higher incarceration rates.
Natalie Stisser
Rescuing or Reinforcing: The Effectiveness of Food Aid in Post-Disaster Security
This research explores the relationship between international food aid programs and long-term food security in communities affected by natural disasters. While food aid provides immediate relief, studies suggest that its effectiveness in ensuring sustainable recovery depends on logistical coordination, local infrastructure, and community resilience. This study examines how these factors influenced food security among communities following a disaster and argues that combining improved logistics with strengthened local systems can enhance recovery and reduce dependency on external aid.