Barrett, The Honors College Thesis/Creative Project Collection
Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University proudly showcases the work of undergraduate honors students by sharing this collection exclusively with the ASU community.
Barrett accepts high performing, academically engaged undergraduate students and works with them in collaboration with all of the other academic units at Arizona State University. All Barrett students complete a thesis or creative project which is an opportunity to explore an intellectual interest and produce an original piece of scholarly research. The thesis or creative project is supervised and defended in front of a faculty committee. Students are able to engage with professors who are nationally recognized in their fields and committed to working with honors students. Completing a Barrett thesis or creative project is an opportunity for undergraduate honors students to contribute to the ASU academic community in a meaningful way.
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Description
The sport of tennis is played in over 100 countries and over 256 Division I collegiate programs across the United States. Each program contains 8-10 individual athletes for both men's and women's rosters. When first observing a roster from any Division I program, people will see that many of the athletes are international. Courts of Cultures is a documentary about the lives of five select tennis athletes of how they have adjusted to life in the United States, the shift in cultures and the transition into playing in collegiate tennis. Makey Rakotomalala (France), Pierre Louis Dodens (Switzerland), Thomas Wright (Great Britain), Lauryn John-Baptiste (England), and Tereza Kolarova (Czech Republic) all share their experiences of coming to Arizona State University and give insight into what life adjustments they have made not only for the college lifestyle, but international living as well. Head coaches Matt Hill (men's) and Sheila McInerney (women's) also speak to the recruitment of international students and how new technology has made the process simpler. In many countries, you either have to go professional in tennis out of high school, or toss away the racquet and just go to college for academics. Being able to play tennis and go to school benefits these athletes because they are able to improve on their skills and earn a degree. Each athlete featured in this film has a different story and a different background, but they all find commonality on the tennis court. A worldwide sport that has brought worldwide talent to Tempe. Courts of Cultures was directed, photographed, edited, and produced by Blaine McCormick along with narration by Scotty Gange.
ContributorsMccormick, Blaine Robert (Author) / Kurland, Brett (Thesis director) / Fergus, Thomas (Committee member) / Rhodes, Gail (Committee member) / School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning (Contributor) / Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Comm (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-12
Description
The Mid-South region, which consists of west Tennessee, northeast Arkansas, north Mississippi, and the Missouri bootheel, is one of many areas in the United States that frequently faces the threats to life and property posed by tornadoes. Forecasting the occurrence of tornadoes is arguably the biggest challenge for meteorologists responsible for the region. This study analyzes synoptic scale weather conditions associated with tornadoes in the Mid-South with the hopes of identifying patterns conducive to tornadic activity and that these patterns can be used to better forecast potential tornado days. It is hypothesized that patterns associated with tornado formation can be identified and that certain patterns may be more favorable to stronger tornadoes or tornado outbreaks than others.
To find these patterns, I analyzed surface and upper air features were analyzed on days where multiple tornadoes occurred from January 1999 to March 2018. Specifically, the surface low pressure, 500hPa trough, and 850 and 300hPa jets were analyzed. Using a floating nine point grid system, I identified the location of the Mid-South in relation to the feature. In the end, eight patterns of similar grid locations were identified to be related to tornado days. For example, the Mid-South was frequently to the southeast of the surface low. However, no correlation appears to exist between the patterns and the number or intensity of tornadoes. It is recommended that in the future these patterns be tested as a forecast method and/or compared to non-tornado days to verify that they are valid tools.
To find these patterns, I analyzed surface and upper air features were analyzed on days where multiple tornadoes occurred from January 1999 to March 2018. Specifically, the surface low pressure, 500hPa trough, and 850 and 300hPa jets were analyzed. Using a floating nine point grid system, I identified the location of the Mid-South in relation to the feature. In the end, eight patterns of similar grid locations were identified to be related to tornado days. For example, the Mid-South was frequently to the southeast of the surface low. However, no correlation appears to exist between the patterns and the number or intensity of tornadoes. It is recommended that in the future these patterns be tested as a forecast method and/or compared to non-tornado days to verify that they are valid tools.
ContributorsWanless, Anna Cecilia (Author) / Cerveny, Randall (Thesis director) / Svoma, Bohumil (Committee member) / School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning (Contributor, Contributor, Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
Arizona is a unique state in that rain is not a normal occurrence throughout most of the year (NWS). Arizona averages from less than three months to half a month of measurable precipitation days per year (WRCC). With that, it is important to know the public’s understanding as well as their general trend of likeness towards the weather forecasts they receive. A questionnaire was distributed to 426 people in the state of Arizona to review what they understand from the forecasts and what they would like to see on social media and television.
ContributorsHermansen, Alexis Nicole (Author) / Alvarez, Melanie (Thesis director) / Cerveny, Randall (Committee member) / Hondula, David M. (Committee member) / Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Comm (Contributor) / School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning (Contributor, Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
As existing typologies and precedents that integrate music into architectural form don’t pay careful consideration to the composer’s intent and technique of the score into built structure and its program, the goal is propose a new architecture that integrates the site, program, and acoustics. Scenes from Childhood (Kinderszenen), composed by Robert Schumann, depict memories, dreams, hopes, candor, and games- all lost in paradise. Schumann composed the piece as an adult, reminiscing of his childhood. The rising 6th with a four-note falling figure is the main motif. The motif opens the 1st movement, reappears in the 2nd, 4th, and 11th, and is transposed in the 6th, 7th, and 9th. This motif and the implications of each movement, as well as the piece as a whole, became the organizing principle in defining form, program, and experience: a public park wedged between two elementary schools in a low-income neighborhood in Los Angeles, California. The proposal aims to integrate the lack of the two institutions’ music programs into the experience of the 13 pavilions that reflect the 13 movements in Schumann’s piece. The manifestation of the final project was just as important as the process; the program is developed through the score, and the architectural is supported by the musical curriculum as well as Schumann’s intent.
ContributorsKim, Cecile (Author) / Vekstein, Claudio (Thesis director) / Mclean, Elizabeth (Committee member) / The Design School (Contributor) / School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
This study examines the flaked-stone economy at the Epiclassic site of Los Mogotes, located north of the Basin of Mexico in central Mexico. Chert and obsidian artifacts were classified based on form and material in order to examine the nature of the regional lithic economy during this time. The findings suggest that the inhabitants of Los Mogotes were not primary producers of obsidian tools but were dependent on long-distance exchange for already manufactured goods. This pattern contrasts with evidence of primary production using more locally available chert. Despite being closer to high quality obsidian sources in Pachuca, Hidalgo, Los Mogotes relied on gray obsidian from sources located farther away (such as Ucareo, Michoacan). These findings conform to broader regional trends observed at contemporaneous sites during this time. Our interpretations focus on how the broader political economy shaped access to resources and the institutions necessary for their distribution.
ContributorsBlumenfeld, Dean Michael (Author) / Morehart, Christopher (Thesis director) / Nelson, Ben (Committee member) / School of Human Evolution & Social Change (Contributor, Contributor) / School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
Educational institutions are in a unique position to take advantage of computers and software in new, innovative ways. The Mechanics Project at Arizona State University has done an exceptional job integrating many new ways of engaging students and providing resources that can help them learn course material in a way that they can understand. However, there is still very little research on how to best compose multimedia content for student use.
This project aims to determine what students struggle with in these courses and develop multimedia content to support their education in Dynamics specifically.
This project aims to determine what students struggle with in these courses and develop multimedia content to support their education in Dynamics specifically.
ContributorsBadahdah, Adam Salim (Author) / Hjelmstad, Keith (Thesis director) / Chatziefstratiou, Efthalia (Committee member) / Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Eng Program (Contributor) / School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
Regional governments provide access to safety, health, and welfare through consistently good services. This analysis examines the underlying motives and mechanisms for achieving these goals. A current trend in governance is to outsource technology software and development to private sector efficiency. To achieve this claim and in attempt to save money the physical employee workforce is being replaced by technology. The government interaction in this philosophy is not being met with the same diversity and flexibility of the private-sector. This missed opportunity is the result of not accompanying software or governance practices with the principles of entrepreneurship including performance measures, marketing, and collaborative process design. The linkage of these three key principles provides the potential to reinvent government communication and interaction leading to successful endeavors for the public it serves and employees it aims to recruit and retain. This is an applied research thesis with foundation in a working body of regional government. The Maricopa County Planning and Development Department (MCPPD) provided the resources and project objective to discover the root causes of e-Governance challenges. The framing was constructed under recent theoretical trends of New Public Management Theory and Joined-Up Governance approaches to government administration. Extensive data collection was then performed to inform a remedy to these contemporary e-Governance issues. The premise of this thesis is to understand theory and practice of
e-Governance and apply methods to measure and propel that perspective to an operationally adaptable framework applicable to regional government.
e-Governance and apply methods to measure and propel that perspective to an operationally adaptable framework applicable to regional government.
ContributorsSchwartz, Michael (Author) / King, David (Thesis director) / Maynard, Andrew (Committee member) / School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning (Contributor, Contributor, Contributor) / School of Sustainability (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
The rise in urban populations is encouraging cities to pursue sustainable water treatment services implementing constructed treatment wetlands (CTW). This is especially important in arid climates where water resources are scarce; however, research regarding aridland CTWs is limited. The Tres Rios CTW in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, presents the tradeoff between greater water loss and enhanced nitrogen (N) removal. Previous research has suggested that water loss due to transpiration is replaced by a phenomenon termed the Biological Tide. This trend has been documented since 2011 by combining transpiration values with a nitrogen budget. Calculations were made at both the marsh and whole-system scale. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how the Biological Tide enhances N uptake throughout the CTW. Results indicate that about half of the nitrogen taken up by the vegetated marsh is associated with new water entering the marsh via the Biological Tide with even higher values during warmer months. Furthermore, it is this phenomenon that enhances N uptake throughout the year, on average, by 25.9% for nitrite, 9.54% for nitrate, and 4.84% for ammonium at the whole-system scale and 95.5%, 147%, and 118% within the marsh. This paper demonstrates the Biological Tide’s significant impact on enhanced N removal in an aridland CTW.
ContributorsTreese, Sawyer Matthew (Author) / Childers, Daniel L. (Thesis director) / Grimm, Nancy (Committee member) / School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning (Contributor) / School of Sustainability (Contributor) / School of Public Affairs (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
Coastal dunes are dynamic landforms that provide the first defense for sea-level rise and coastal flooding. Coastal dunes depend on vegetation to trap and store sediment, which alters beach-dune sediment budgets and foredune morphology. Invasive vegetation species change these patterns and alter how the system responds to both littoral and aeolian processes. Dynamic restoration is a growing practice whereby plant communities are modified to enhance aeolian processes and help return coastal dune ecosystems to a more ‘natural’ state of ecosystem structure and function. A portion of the foredune system at the Lanphere Dunes in the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge (HBNWR), near Arcata in northern California was targeted for dynamic restoration. The invasive plant species Ammophila arenaria (European beach grass) was removed in August 2015, while native vegetation treatments consisting of combinations of a dune mat forb assemblage and the dune grass Elymus mollis (Sea Lyme-grass) were planted over the summer and over the winter of 2016-17. Four different vegetation regimes were studied consisting of a control plot of A. arenaria two plots of exclusively Dune mat and E. mollis, and then a plot that is the combination if Dune mat and E. mollis. This restoration presented the opportunity to study the patterns of vegetation re-establishment and the related responses in sedimentation and morphological adjustment of the foredune system at both the landform and vegetation plot scales. Bi-annual terrestrial laser scanning surveys and cross-shore transects were used to calculate volumes of sediment change, distinguish patterns of sediment erosion/deposition and discern geomorphic change within different plant cover types. Results suggest that the Dune mat-E. mollis assemblage was most effective a trapping sediment with 96.9% of the plot experiencing deposition over the 17-month observation period, to a spatially averaged depth of +0.16m. During the study, the Dune mat treatment site experienced a landward flattening of its crest and considerable erosion of up to -0.5m around the plants, resulting in a normalized volumetric change of -0.139 m3 m-2. The E. mollis site experienced considerable sediment bypassing on the stoss slope and deposition on the lee slope of the foredune, resulting in accumulation at the toe of the lee slope of +0.6m while base of the lee slope moved 4m landwards. Site morphodynamics and sediment budgets were also influenced by changes in vegetation density and recovery from storm erosion. Longer terms studies could be conducted to investigate responses to vegetation disturbances over a longer temporal scale.
ContributorsHuck, Rosemary Alice (Author) / Walker, Ian (Thesis director) / Dorn, Ronald (Committee member) / Historical, Philosophical & Religious Studies (Contributor) / School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning (Contributor, Contributor) / School of Sustainability (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Residential Choice’s Impact on Sustainable Transportation Options: A Study in the Phoenix Metro Area
Description
This study adds to the literature about residential choice and sustainable transportation. Through the interviews and the personal stories gathered, there was diversity shown in the residential location choice process. We also noticed that “commute” means different things to different households, and that many people did not consider their commute to work to be a primary factor determining their final home location. Moreover, many people were willing to increase their commute time, or trade access to desirable amenities for a longer commute. Commuting time to work was one example of the tradeoffs that homeowners make when choosing a home, but there were also others such as architectural type and access to neighborhood amenities. Lastly, time constraints proved to be a very significant factor in the home buying process. Several of our households had such strict time constraints that limited their search to a point of excluding whole areas. Overall, our study sheds light on transportation’s role in residential choice and underscores the complexity of the location choice process.
ContributorsKats, Elyse Nicole (Author) / Salon, Deborah (Thesis director) / Kuminoff, Nicolai (Committee member) / School of Sustainability (Contributor) / School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning (Contributor) / School of Community Resources and Development (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05