Patricia and Peter Shannon Wilson Undergraduate Research Prize

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/1807/73266

The University of Toronto Libraries' Patricia and Peter Shannon Wilson Undergraduate Research Prize awards undergraduate students in any first-entry faculty across the University of Toronto’s three campuses based on their effective and innovative use of information sources. This prize provides students with an opportunity to reflect on their information-seeking experience, showcase their research to an audience beyond the classroom, and promote scholarship excellence at the undergraduate level at University of Toronto.

Please visit the Undergraduate Research Prize website for more information about the award, including submission guidelines.

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Now showing 1 - 20 of 56

A Dual Scoping Review of Factors Causing Misdiagnosis of Cardiovascular Diseases in Women
(2024-06) Pannu, Bhavnoor Kaur
My TRN377 independent research project investigates the overlooked risk factors contributing to the misdiagnosis of cardiovascular diseases in women, considering both biological and social factors. Part I conjures a comprehensive list of cardiovascular risk factors which correlate with misdiagnosis, aiming to identify atypical symptoms, address social barriers, and evaluate best clinical practices. Part II examines primary studies for evidence, employing methodological approaches, to evaluate whether the variables established in Part I are being considered in current research. Results are systematically synthesized, identifying gaps and patterns. The discussion contextualizes findings, and explores misdiagnosis with a social justice informed lens, advocating for equitable healthcare practices.
Burnout: Changing fire regimes and health effects in Indigenous Amazonia
(2024-06) Permaul Flores, Hannah
This project investigates the impact of changing fire regimes on air quality in the Amazonian Indigenous Park of the Xingu (PIX). The study measures and analyzes PM2.5 pollutants from forest fires and assesses their health effects on local populations. Employing data from NASA's MODIS satellite and PurpleAir sensors, and GIS methods it examines the correlation between fire intensity and PM2.5 levels. The research highlights the challenges posed by increased fire frequencies due to deforestation and climate change, exacerbating respiratory health risks among Indigenous communities, providing insights for effective mitigation and adaptation strategies to protect these vulnerable populations.
Double Blind Spots: Contextualizing and Remedying the Historical and Historiographical Marginalization of Queer Asian Americans within Houston, 1970s-1996
(2024-06) Cho, Jacqueline
While Texas has long been a hub of political organization and activism, the state has not typically been considered an epicenter of Asian American nor queer organizing. This perception is even more largely impacted by those at their intersection. While the field of scholarship has certainly grown, scholarship of queer Asian Americans within the city remains under-researched. Within my paper, I argue that queer Asian Americans within Houston faced marginalization on two different fronts within the past that directly contributed to their modern lack of study: specifically through the widening cultural divides between queer and Asian American communities and the perception of queerness as a direct deviation from the model minority. Furthermore, I argue that this marginalization and lack of study is still perpetuated today by the lack of study caused by the aforementioned factors, legally based suppression, and anti-southern bias.
Recommendations to Mitigate Amplification of Vaccine Misinformation on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter
(2024-06) Kapoor, Anoushka Indira
The spread of vaccine misinformation on social media is facilitated by an algorithm optimized for engagement, human tendency toward confirmation bias and the subsequent formation of echo chambers. This has caused distrust in health authorities and a lack of adherence to public health measures. Social media companies are not liable for the content on their platforms. All measures to mitigate the effects of vaccine misinformation have been self-implemented in the face of public pressure. Additionally, the efficacy of these measures is unknown due to a lack of data from these platforms. Policy measures to combat this could include community infodemic managers, deplatforming repeat offenders, capping depth and breadth of a message, corporate social responsibility branches, research by academics and building on the model used by WHO to handle COVID-19 misinformation.
Understanding the Impact of Smartphone Screen Time on Adolescent Loneliness: A Comprehensive Analysis
(2024-06) Saggu, Mehakpreet Kaur
The research provides a comprehensive literature review of the relationship between smartphone screen time and adolescent loneliness. Against the backdrop of escalating smartphone usage (Schaeffer, 2019) and a concurrent rise in adolescent loneliness since 2012 (Keyes et al., 2019), seven carefully selected studies constitute the primary evidence base, consistently demonstrating a pattern: prolonged screen time correlates with heightened loneliness among adolescents. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions. Limitations include reliance on self-report measures, insufficiently diverse longitudinal data, and dearth of comprehensive intervention studies. Proposals for interventions encompass multi-site randomized controlled trials and community-based initiatives, aiming to promote healthy screen habits and mitigate this pressing societal concern.
Anime Music, The Piano, And Animenz: An Exploration of a New and Emerging Genre of Music
(2024-06) Zhai, Di (Steven)
During the school year, I researched Anime Music and Anime Piano Music. Anime itself is becoming incredibly popular and the music is gaining increasing attention. Due to a lack of academic scholarship from the music community, I decided to take it upon myself to research this topic. I also looked into a specific anime pianist and arranger known as Animenz. Due to the lack of academic sources, I decided to conduct a survey with the piano faculty and interview Animenz. This was approved by the Ethics Review Board. I hope to lay some sort of academic foundation for future scholarship to work off of.
Law and Land: Coloniality in the Labor Landscape of Trinidad
(2023-05) Mullan, Fatema
Using the conceptual framework of the coloniality of labor, this project examines the use of British colonial land distribution policy and legal mechanisms in Trinidad, from 1834-1917, to illuminate colonial continuities in the formation and racial polarization of the labor landscape in Trinidad prior to independence.
Does sleep deprivation increase the concentration of amyloid beta peptides in the central nervous system?
(2023-05) Huynh, Andrew
This paper investigates the hypothesis that sleep deprivation increases the concentration of amyloid beta peptides in the central nervous system. Amyloid beta peptides are implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, which is becoming an increasing concern of public health as the global prevalence of dementia rises. The discussion analyzes three molecular mechanisms that demonstrate the link between sleep deprivation and amyloid beta build-up, after which concerns in proving the causality of the relationship are also considered. Ongoing research studying the link between lifestyle habits and neurodegenerative diseases is crucial to the foundation of public health and a productive society.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Under MONUSCO
(2023-05) Singh, Jai
To assess the impact of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), I conducted a data-driven analysis of humanitarian indicators in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). My research and data visualizations suggest that while the early 21st century saw both noteworthy improvements in key health indicators and a decline in violence, the past half-decade has seen civilian deaths rise to new heights – a major challenge MONUSCO and other UN-affiliated programs will have to face with arguably insufficient resources and humanitarian funding.
Redefining Community, Desire, and Liberation: Gay Asians of Toronto
(2023-05) Liu, Alexandra
This essay was written as a final research project for HIS496. I wanted to embrace the theme of this course, which was LGBT liberation through the archives, and chose to use the ArQuives to conduct primary research on the group Gay Asians of Toronto. By looking at a group on the margins of both wider society and the LGBT movement, I found how meaningful and impactful self-advocacy and representation was within the context of patterns of LGBT organizing during the 1980s and 90s. I used a wide variety of materials to construct a history which has been largely lost to narratives of LGBT liberation, including ephemera, meeting minutes, community publications, correspondences, and more.
Illuminating History: Analyzing The Antiphonarium and Breviarium Manuscript Illuminations and their relation to The Catholic Church’s Power in 14th and 19th Century Societies
(2023-05) Stellato, Sophia
This paper analyzes the 14th century Catholic antiphonal illuminated manuscript, Antiphonarium and Breviarium from the Thomas Fisher Rare Books Library, and its relation to the Catholic Church’s decline in political power throughout the 14th and 19th century. Antiphonarium and Breviarium features twenty-one illuminations of both sacred and secular nature, which were added to the manuscript later in the 19th century. By analyzing the subject matter, placements and stylistic features of the illuminations, the manuscript demonstrates a shift towards societal secularism in the 19th century, which began with the Protestant Reformation and ended with the fall of the Holy Roman Empire.
A New Transcription and Translation of Pedro de Ayala’s 1498 Letter
(2023-05) Jaime, Adrian
The project was a new translation and transcription of a primary source used in the historical scholarship about King James IV of Scotland. The purpose was to reexamine the text and compare how a new translation would improve upon an older translation and how a new transcription would improve upon the older transcription. The general conclusion is that historical scholarship has been relying on flawed translations and transcriptions when utilizing this primary source.
Architecture on Modern European Banknotes: In Search of Stability through Abstract Circulation
(2022-05) Abe, Nicollo
The final research paper urges students to critically situate how mobility has shaped architecture and vice versa within a specific historical and geographical context with the help of visual materials (and image analysis) to support one’s thesis. The course explores interdisciplinary and intersectional approaches in uncovering new meanings of architectural production, appropriation, and representation using the concept of movement.
With More than a Little Help from “Our Canadian Friends” : Canada, the United States, and the Canadian Caper, 1979-1980
(2022-05) Di Vizio, Tessa
I use recently-released archival materials and academic sources to investigate Canada’s crucial intelligence role in the Canadian Caper and challenge popular narratives that marginalize its contributions. I argue that Canada’s actions in the caper were not an isolated example cooperation with the US, but rather, built on its existing intelligence capacities, functional power, independent policies, and international relations. Canada’s actions in Iran exemplify a broader pattern of collaboration between Canadian and American intelligence organizations, such as in Indochina and Cuba. Ultimately, Canadian intelligence was essential to exfiltrating the six American houseguests and contributed to American attempts to rescue the hostages.
An Unrealized History of Sound Film: Charles K. Cregier and the Talking Motion Picture Machine
(2022-05) Norquay, Conorr
On February 18, 1907, a patent application was filed with the United States Patent Office that had the potential to catalyze the film industry's synchronized sound film innovations years before its perfection - yet this innovation was never patented, and the innovator's story has been lost to time. This study aims to document how this device functioned and its history in the context of film sound technologies. In doing so, I will demonstrate how the Patent Office determined technological adoption and commercial exploitation, and therefore address historiographical concerns of how institutional confirmation of one's status as originator shapes the histories recorded.
Combining Music Listening and Positive Reminiscence Reduces Acute Stress Response in Healthy Populations
(2022-05) Prompiengchai, Sapolnach
Music listening and recalling happy memories (positive reminiscence) have been suggested as emotion-focused coping strategies to reduce stress. However, there has been very limited research to measure the combined effect of music listening and positive reminiscence on the stress response in healthy populations. Therefore, the present study examines the effect of positive reminiscence and music listening on the salivary cortisol level of the simulated population using the Island interface. The results suggest that combining positive reminiscence and music listening may be a simple cost-effective strategy that can be used to reduce acute stress among healthy Islanders in their everyday lives.
Peter Orlovsky: The Surrealist Beat Poet
(2022-05) Levy, Rion
Peter Orlovsky: The Surrealist Beat poet is the first critical examination of Orlovsky's poetry. This project establishes Peter Orlovsky as a worthwhile and interesting member of the Beat Generation who deviated from his literary circle through his unique implementations of Surrealist tactics. It also establishes the influence that Surrealism had on the Beat Generation extending beyond the few members who interacted with Breton's circle. Finally, this project also developed the first comprehensive bibliography of Orlovsky's published work, adding nearly forty entries to the ones proposed by Columbia University, the Harry Ransom Centre, and the Dictionary of Literary Biography.
Three Arias from Nixon in China (1987)
(2022-05) Yang, Eric
An analysis of three arias in Nixon in China. These arias were picked for their ability to be analysed with Neo-Riemannian transformations. One of the arias includes sevenths chords, while another includes bichords. The last aria was picked because it fit the current theory perfectly. Analysis of these arias concluded the presence of tensional levels, which combined functional theory with non-functional (transformational) theory. These tensional levels are later expanded upon into a fully fledged theory in a more recent paper.
Supporting the Self-Medication Hypothesis for Schizophrenia
(2021-05) Jain, Shrieda
This research paper argues the self-medication hypothesis is more relevant when considering the population of patients with schizophrenia and their nicotine consumption to reduce their cognitive symptoms. Building on topics learned in class, I extensively researched that covered three aspects of cognitive neuroscience: basic neurobiological research, cognitive and behavioural studies, and clinical trials that may be considered as proof-of-principle studies for the self-medication hypothesis. With this elucidated, I hoped it would provide support for finding treatment alternatives to self-consumed nicotine for vulnerable schizophrenic patients. In addition, I was motivated to understand the research at a personal level and hopefully apply it to improve empathizing with patients as an aspiring medical professional.
Censoring Petrarch: Responses of sixteenth-century censors and Venetian printers to the Roman Index
(2021-05) Campagnaro, Chiara
Centuries after the publication of his poetry, the study of the Renaissance continues to depend on the contributions of Petrarch. In the sixteenth century alone, 148 editions of Petrarch’s vernacular lyrics were published. And yet, Petrarch's poems were prohibited on the Roman Index. By analyzing numerous editions of Petrarch’s vernacular lyrics, this project traces the responses from censors, printers, and owners to the censorship of Petrarch during the sixteenth century, culminating in the study of a particular codex printed by Gabriele Giolito de Ferrari, which demonstrates how material culture can be shaped by human agency. The effect of censorship laws on print ultimately impacted the literary trends and audience preferences at the end of the sixteenth century.

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