2013-2014 Theory-to-Practice Grants

The following is a list of the Theory-to-Practice Grants awarded in the 2013-2014 academic year.

Aging Experience of Older Adults in Myanmar
Submitted by junior Thin Nu Yee. From June 1 to Aug. 1, Yee will assess the attitudes of young adults toward older adults and how the experience of aging is evolving within Myanmar culture. Learn more.

Artists and Immigrants: Exploring Berlin’s International Art Scene
Submitted by seniors Megan Pinto and Jaclyn Amanna. From Jan. 2 to Jan 10, they will visit Germany to study the impact of immigrant artists on Berlin’s flourishing, international arts scene.

The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Across the Academic Spectrum
Submitted by professor of physical education, Richard Hawes. From March 7 to March 16, Hawes and a group of students will obtain hands-on experience with the AIS departments of sports science, nutrition, performance psychology, and performance recovery. Students will include Kaitlyn Eckert, Jennifer Erichsen, Marissa Esber, Ryan Stefancik, and Robert Lindberg. Learn more.

Creole Cultures in the French West Indies / National Identity and Cultural Production in Martinique and Guadeloupe
Submitted by students Maya Buening and Emily Knapp. From March 5 to March 17, they will study the effects of French colonialism on national identity and cultural production in Martinique and Guadeloupe.

Do Pinworms Eat Bacteria? Investigating the Diet of Nematode Parasites from Cockroaches
Submitted by student Kristie Goughenour. Goughenour will work through February on a research project to determine the food source of pinworms.

The Effects of PYY3-36
Submitted by senior Mohammed AL-Issa. Between January and May, AL-Issa will examine the weight loss and appetite suppression effects of Peptide YY3-36 (PYY3-36) in cases with and without ventromedial hypothalamic (VMH) lesions.

Hawaii: Exploring Literature, Language, and Culture of the Pacific Islands
Submitted by associate professor of English, Karen Poremski, with students Colleen Bodee and Taylor Johnson. From June 14 to July 6, the group will study cultural, historical, and linguistic features of the Pacific Islands.

Investigating Environmental Conservation through Ecological Research and Cultural Exploration in Australia
Submitted by students Laura Robison and Marissa Witkovsky. From May 15 to June 6, they will examine how Australia balances human interests with conservation. Learn more.

The Role of Indigenous Healing Systems in Haiti
Submitted by student Valentina Marginean, with professor of sociology-anthropology, Mary Howard. From May 18 to May 25, they will investigate adaptations found within Haitian health-care that resulted from structural violence. Learn more.

Sustainable Train-the-Trainer Program
Submitted by student Alexa Katrinchak. Through January 2015, Katrinchak will attend health- and fitness-related conferences in Ohio, Kentucky, and Virginia to gain certifications to lead, serve, and manage the trainer program.

When Species Collide: The Effects of Habitat and Ecological Competitors on White-Breasted and Eurasian Nuthatch Foraging Strategies
Submitted by student Emily Johnson. Between February and March, Johnson will research the effects of congenerics and ecological competitors on the birds’ selection of foraging habitat, tree rugosity, and maturity while in Germany. Learn more.

Writers and World Citizens: The Disquiet International Literary Program in Lisbon
Submitted by professor of English, David Caplan. From July 1 to July 14, Caplan and several students will attend the two-week festival in Lisbon, Portugal. Students will include Julia Stone, Katie Purdy, and Oore Ladipo. Learn more.

Protestant-Catholic Intra-Religious Dialogue in Northern Ireland
Submitted by student Meghan Byram and Associate Chaplain Lisa Ho. From May 12 to May 22, Byram and Ho, and six additional Ohio Wesleyan students and staff, will travel to Ireland to study the history of Catholic-Protestant conflicts in Northern Ireland, the peace and reconciliation movement, and the resulting intra-religious partnerships. Set to participate in the travel-learning opportunity are students Liam Dennigan, Anna Eames, Noah Manskar, Emily Phillips, and Luke Waters; and staff member Amanda Stewart. Learn more.

Following in Their Footsteps: A Pilgrimage to Santiago
Submitted by Makenna Huff. From June 18 to July 28, Huff will visit France and Spain to explore Camino de Santiago – a Christian pilgrimage route dating back to the Middle Ages. Learn more.

Conodont Biozonation of the Dundee Limestone, Michigan Basin
Submitted by student Brittany Hupp and professor of geology-geography, Keith Mann. From May 9 to April 19, 2015, Hupp and Mann will visit Michigan at intervals to use biostratigraphic techniques to produce the conodont biozonation of a portion of the Dundee Limestone.

Sustainability in Asian Culture: Learning How to Cultivate Cultural Awareness, Language Skills, and an Organic Eco-friendly Way of Living
Submitted by student Lauren Janowicz and assistant professor of modern foreign languages, Ching-Hsuan Wu. From May 13 to May 31, Janowicz, Wu, and student Megan Keppler will travel to the Ananda Suruci Eco-village in Taiwan to study sustainability.

Tim Miller Residency at OWU
Submitted by student Ryan Haddad and associate professor of theatre and dance, Ed Kahn. Miller, a performance artist from California, will be in residency from March 1, 2015, through April 30, 2015. He will hold workshops with 16 to 20 OWU students, culminating in a public performance of the students’ work.

Theatermakers Summer Intensive at Eugene O’Neill Theater Center
Submitted by students Kristen Krak and Ryan Haddad. From June 13 to July 26, Krak and Haddad will attend the summer program at the O’Neill in Waterford, Conn. Learn more.

Neither Colony nor Nation: Citizenship, Identity, and Images of Nation in Present-Day Puerto Rico
Submitted by student Katalyn Kuivila and assistant professor of politics and government, Ashley Biser. From June 2 to June 10, Kuivila, Biser, and assistant professor of modern foreign languages, Glenda Neito-Cuebas, will travel to Puerto Rico to analyze ways in which Puerto Rican residents and citizens conceptualize citizenship by examining cultural identity, nationalism, historical influences, and present-day conditions.

C.S. Lewis, Reclaiming Virtues: Human Flourishing in the 21st Century
Submitted by student Katie Nunner. From July 20 to July 31, Nunner will travel to England to attend the 2014 C.S. Lewis Summer Institute at Oxbridge to gain a greater understanding of cultural developments of the past half-century within Christian engagements of culture.

Finding a Path to a Deeper Expression on Stage: The Balinese Workshop for Actors
Submitted by student Haewon Park. From July 4 to July 27, Park will travel to Indonesia to attend The Balinese Workshop for Actors conducted by Per Brahe.

Examining Addictive Properties in Sugar Relative to Nicotine and Amphetamine
Submitted by students John Peranzi and Thomas Horsfall. From Aug. 25 to Dec. 19, Peranzi and Horsfall will search for evidence of the addictive effects of sugar and relative severity compared to nicotine and amphetamine.

Sexual Orientation Perception: A Research Analysis
Submitted by student Kyle Simon. From May 12 to Aug. 21, Simon will visit Canada to work as part of a research team analyzing perceptions of sexual orientation at the University of Toronto. Learn more.