Honors Research Fellows and Undergraduate Research Scholars Theses
Browse by
Browse this collection:
Recent Submissions
-
Lagoudas, Natasha Christina (December 2009)[more][less]
Abstract: Only 18.1 percent of engineering bachelor degrees in the nation are awarded to women, which represents a two percent increase over the past two decades. The purpose of this research is to explore the experiences of men and women in undergraduate engineering in attempt to explain the continuing gender gap. I held an in-depth interview with one male and one female senior student from selected departments of the Dwight College of Engineering at Texas A&M University. Participants discussed the far-reaching perception of engineering as masculine, which created a gendered undergraduate experience. Male and female participants were found to have similar high school preparation and reasons for studying engineering; however, women received significantly less support from peers. Both sexes cited the overload of work as the cause for many students leaving engineering, but women additionally complained about the impersonal attitude of professors and lack of practical examples in the classroom. Moreover, participants revealed experiences of sexist treatment by male professors and peers towards female students along with a more subtle form of sexism through gender roles formed in engineering teams. These results, while specific to Texas A&M University and the departments of participating students, shed light on possible explanations of the gender gap and improvements to enhance the undergraduate engineering experience. Recommendations include a shift in marketing of engineering to be more compatible with women’s interests, more interactive and application-focused teaching approach in classrooms, and training for professors on gender sensitivity to create an inclusive environment for enhancing the undergraduate engineering experience for both men and women.
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/127953 Files in this item: 1
Lagoudas_Thesis_December 2009 SD.pdf (548.5Kb) -
Wright, Cynthia (May 2011)[more][less]
Abstract: Historically, rangelands were managed to reduce brush and increase livestock grazing habitat. As with much of the southwestern United States, the seemingly endless ―free grass‖ of Texas rangelands was overgrazed during the late 1800s. Overgrazing reduced fine fuel loads and, combined with disruption in fire regimes, allowed woody plants populations to invade grasslands. Consequently, livestock carrying capacity ultimately declined. Because livestock overgrazing has a central role in land degradation and woody plant encroachment, I analyzed historical livestock numbers to identify potential trends that can generate and be integrated into future hypotheses of land use change. The counties included in four ecoregions of Texas (Edwards Plateau, Lampasas Cut Plains, South Texas, and West Texas) were selected based on the existence of historically uncultivated rangelands. I collected data from the U.S. Census of Agriculture and graphically explored trends in livestock numbers. Although livestock numbers varied across time and by region, three general hypotheses could be identified: a) livestock numbers are direct drivers of degradation and indirect drivers of woody plant encroachment; b) for rangelands threatened by woody plant encroachment, decreasing livestock numbers may be associated with recovery of rangelands in an ecoregion; and, c) given transformation of the landscape from rangelands to woodlands, decreases in livestock numbers over time are related to increases in key indicators of ecosystem health (e.g., ground water flow). This historical analysis provides insight to complex human-ecological interactions and will be used as supporting data for further studies regarding ecosystem health and services.
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/ETD-TAMU-2011-05-9686 Files in this item: 1
WRIGHT-THESIS.pdf (1.392Mb) -
Prasad, Sharath N. (May 2011)[more][less]
Abstract: Hearing loss victims suffer from loss of hearing at specific bands of the frequency spectrum. We designed a programmable filter that can compensate for hearing losses at different frequency bands. We design the circuit using operational amplifiers and resistor-capacitor banks. The circuit has programmable parameters that control the gain at different frequency bandwidths. The design is minimalistic and optimized on silicon area and power dissipation. The filter developed could be programmed to provide gains on three bands of the hearing spectrum. The circuit was realized from the transfer function and experimentally simulated for its frequency response. The results indicated that the filter behaved as expected, and could be customized using the programmable parameters. However this does not solve the eminent “cocktail-party effect”, hence the continuum of this project will include the introduction of multiple microphones to improve the signal to noise ratio by taking advantage of the spatial locality of noise.
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/ETD-TAMU-2011-05-9690 Files in this item: 1
PRASAD-THESIS.pdf (1.341Mb) -
Wardlaw, Brandon (May 2011)[more][less]
Abstract: This paper seeks to evaluate the role that Network Neutrality policies play in terms of access to knowledge in the public sphere, as well as the role that approaches to distributive justice might play in offering justification for pro-Network Neutrality viewpoints. I argue that information technologies provide a means for knowledge – which often acts as a commodity – to be selectively manipulated in ways previously unheard of, and that the widespread adoption of Internet-based technologies for social, educational, and political purposes creates a dangerous juxtaposition of commercial interests against those of the public. I posit that an approach to Network Neutrality whereby the Internet Service Provider acts as a neutral fiduciary in the transport of information provides an effective means to balance commercial against public interests. I analyze public interests in terms of the Capabilities Approach to distributive justice, as it best encompasses the wide variety of purposes for which the Internet is often used in both public and private life.
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/ETD-TAMU-2011-05-9683 Files in this item: 1
WARDLAW-THESIS.pdf (960.2Kb) -
Thompson, Bennie (May 2011)[more][less]
Abstract: The amount of carbon flux from soils on a global scale is estimated at over 75 x 1015 g C yr-1. Climate change is projected to affect regional environmental conditions, raising temperatures and altering precipitation patterns. The semi-arid environment of the post oak savannah is an ecotone in transition. As juniper encroachment replaces native grasses, changes in species composition may affect carbon cycling. Given that water is limiting in this warm-temperate climate, changing precipitation patterns coupled with higher temperatures may alter function in addition to the structure of savanna ecosystems. The Texas Warming and Rainfall Manipulation (Texas WaRM) experiment is designed to test global climate change factors and the responses of the dominant tree, eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) and grass species, little blue stem (Schizachyrium scoparium). We compared respiratory carbon losses of soils between eastern red cedar and little blue stem plots subjected to warming (1.5 °C) and summer drought treatments to determine the effects of climate change on integrated below-ground CO2 efflux. During the June to August months, soil CO2 efflux rates were determined and compared among treatments in relation to soil temperature and moisture. Overall, juniper and grass plots had relatively equal CO2 respiratory flux, although it generally has more associated roots and microbial biomass. Soil respiration in grass plots appeared more responsive to changes in soil moisture, while juniper maintained more consistent respiration under increasing heat and declining moisture conditions during summer drought. With equivalent soil CO2 efflux and reduced responsiveness to warming or drought, coupled with increased woody biomass, juniper encroachment might have positive effects on the carbon cycle of this transitional biome through increased carbon sequestration. Determining these transitional characteristics of a changing carbon budget will aid in projecting climate change impacts on carbon cycling and provide management options for native and managed vegetation.
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/ETD-TAMU-2011-05-9682 Files in this item: 1
THOMPSON-THESIS.pdf (680.7Kb)
Browse
