Rebecca Coyne participated in Celebration of Learning

2012 May 7

More than 75 Augustana students from all academic areas shared their advanced research projects on Saturday, May 5, at the Celebration of Learning. This on-campus research symposium annually gives students an opportunity to show off their academic accomplishments to their families and the Augustana community.

Among the students involved:

Rebecca Coyne, a senior from Naperville, Ill., majoring in biology and pre-medicine. The research was titled Dopamine Receptor D4 7R Allele and Its Relation to the Out-of-Africa Migration. This research explores the role of the dopamine D4 7-repeat allele in human migration out of Africa as well as the current role of the 7R allele on the San and Suruí societies. Through exploring multiple theories, I argue that the DRD4 7R allele emerged before human migration out of Africa, and, as such, played a functional role in this migration. I also argue, having studied the San society in Africa and Suruí society in South America, that the frequency of this allele is expressed by these populations through the presence of risk-taking behaviors, such as conflict with others and religious rituals.

Celebration participants presented their research through a poster display or an oral presentation. Many students expounded on the results of their Senior Inquiry, a multiple-term research project required for most academic programs. Other students shared honors capstone projects or student-faculty research findings. Because of the advanced level of research involved, most of the presenters are upperclass students.

Anne Earel and Stefanie Bluemle, Augustana reference librarians and the event's co-directors, said the Celebration of Learning provided an outlet for students to showcase their accomplishments.

Presentations topics varied greatly and included anthropology, biology, physics, geography, gender studies, theater and more.