2020 Featured STPs
Introduction
This year, the class of 2020 was pitched a few hard-breaking curves. First off, they were assigned me as their STP supervisor. As a new teacher to MPH, I'd be figuring out the STPs right alongside my students, the learning equivalent of playing a game with a baseball mitt you have yet to break in. Then came the novel coronavirus, which kept students from key resources, face-to-face support, and the camaraderie of their peers just as they were entering the ninth inning of their projects. Finally, students had to deal with my compulsive reliance on questionably helpful baseball metaphors, many of which veered woefully wide of the strike zone.
And yet...what remarkable work these students have produced! The videos here give a glimpse of what this class was able to accomplish throughout the year. None of our seniors thought in September that they would be forced to MacGyver a digital version of their STPs for the MPH community on short notice. No matter—the gallery below showcases a deep bench of academic All-Stars performing in the clutch with passion and compassion. These featured STPs draw from several disciplines and reflect a range temperaments, talents, and learning styles. They turn a triple play of academic ambition, altruism, and art. Any one of these videos will give you dose of hope for the world to come. In times like this, that feels like a home run a no-hitter a gift.
Mr. Zencka
"Slip and Slide: The Myths and Science Behind your Winter Drive"
Andrew Benincasa takes on the myths that perpetuate unsafe winter driving.
"Genetic Jigsaw: The Progression and Potential of Human Genetic Modification"
Sarah Hogan surveys the past, present, and possible futures of genetic engineering.
"Art vs. Standardization: A Portfolio"
Ana Videto diagnoses a culture of academic standardization and uses her art to combat it.
"Savez-Vous Vraiment le Français? Exploring Sociolinguistics Through a French Lens"
Anna Bender demonstrates a sure command of history and sociolinguistics in this introduction to Quebecois French.
"Engineer a Change: Female Participation in STEM Occupations"
Sana Nizam envisions a more inclusive STEM culture.
"The Left’s Missed Opportunity: Why America’s Progressive Movement Failed to Produce a Viable Socialist Party"
Peri Cannavo examines the rise and fall of socialist movements during America's Progressive Era.
"The Contemporary Use and Development of Stem Cell Transplants in the Hope of Curing Acute Myeloid Leukemia."
Maddie Roberts details a range of medical advances in treating Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
"I'm loving it! Am I loving it? How Advertising Hides the Blood of Meat Production from Us"
Bella Zheng analyzes how advertising reflects global ambivalence about meat-eating amid changing cultural trends.
"The MPH Approach: A Student's Perspective"
Nathan Sonnenfeld argues that greater interaction between age groups at MPH can increase our sense of community.
"The Inside Looking Out: An Analysis of Online Citizen Journalism and Activism in America and their Impact on Media Structure"
Simon Hoke considers the implications of the rise of citizen journalism.
"Art as a Means and Measure of a Broader Indigenous Identity"
Liv Bigtree reflects on the influences and intentions that guide her artwork.