2019 Winners

"Risk Factors for Suicidal Behavior Among Transgender and Gender Non-Binary Individuals"
Risk of suicide is highest among transgendered and non-binary individuals with almost 40% attempting to harm themselves in their lifetime. Ana’s research links this phenomenon to current victimization as well as toxic social environments. She explains why improving these environments should be the main focus of policy makers and field practitioners.

"Should our Kids Learn to Fight?"
Alexander is confronted with a student struggling to reconcile his faith and school. After analyzing the situation, he finds that secular commitment to reason is as contestable as religious faith. Alexander explores how we can come together in agonistic disputes, rather than antagonistic, and why it is important to teach our children to be comfortable with disagreements.

"What is Yeoman? Status and Identity in Later Medieval England"
Yeoman can tell us a lot about modern day middle class. In Louisa’s research, she finds the story of yeoman emerging in the fourteenth century to be relevant to understanding contemporary American politics today. Their identity was fluid. They were often defined by their economic worth, military service, or religious piety. The political meaning attached to the fifteenth century yeomen farmers give us context through which to better understand the rise of the modern American middle class.

"Microbial Worlds: What we can learn from the bacteria found on NYC's salamanders"
Elle’s research helps us learn how we can impact the world through our microbes. The microbial realm act similarly to our own world in which nations compete with one another. Through her research on urbanization and fungal disease’s effect on salamanders, Elle highlights how the salamanders’ microbiomes react to these threats and what this means for human beings.