RESOURCE MENU
The College of Arts and Sciences’ best and brightest shine during the Research Showcase, the long-running spotlight on student original research at AU.
The Anderson University Research Showcase, hosted by the College of Arts and Sciences, is a biannual opportunity for students to present the research they’ve conducted in the prior semester. The event seeks to connect students, scholars and the wider Anderson community with outstanding new research in fields they might not encounter otherwise.
The Showcase perfectly encapsulates Anderson University’s commitment to Great Academics— and its broader commitment to a comprehensive Christian education that produces informed and well-rounded individuals capable of contributing to the world through the generation of new knowledge.
Junior Ryan Davis tested a less- expensive protocol for novel photosensitizers, which are used in photodynamic therapy as a treatment for various skin diseases and some cancers. Davis collaborated with Dr. Andy Norris on a new way to test photosensitizers (such as riboflavin) for a fraction of the prior cost. These tests could ultimately make new scientific discoveries for photodynamic therapy more financially accessible
“The Showcase gave me a wonderful opportunity to witness the successes of my peers. Whenever I was not actively presenting, I was able to listen to the presentations of the students around me, giving me another perspective on the work I had seen them develop throughout the year.”
– Ryan Davis, Junior
Senior Landry Foye worked with Dr. Laary Cushman and Dr. Carrie Koenigstein to study the effects of a 2014 oil spill in Belton, South Carolina. By extracting environmental DNA from samples of nearby creeks, they determined oil is still present and having an impact on the affected creeks even nine years later.
“These concepts reveal hidden patterns in complexity, offering new ways to describe and explore the universe—from the infinitely small to the unimaginably vast.”
– Landry Foye, Senior
Senior David Dunford, under the guidance of Dr. Todd Fenstermacher, explored the mathematical concepts of dimension, infinity and fractals, revealing how these concepts shape understanding of abstract ideas and the natural world. Through his research, he sought to highlight how these concepts reflect the intricate beauty of God’s creation in the world.
