SHOWCASING UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH

The Summer Research Institute offers undergraduates the chance to sink their teeth into a major project—under the mentorship of a professor

Zach McClellan ’25 comes from a long line of firefighters—and has seen first-hand the trauma first responders can experience. So as a participant in this year’s Summer Research Institute at Chaminade, the psychology major decided to study something that hits close to home: he looked at how occupational stressors correlate to quality of life indicators for firefighters.

In July, he presented his findings at the Summer Research Institute Symposium, an annual showcase of cutting-edge undergraduate research conducted under professor mentorship.

“I want to take it as far as I can take it,” McClellan said, pointing at his poster board and explaining there’s still more research to tackle. “The end goal is to get the study published.”

The Summer Research Institute and symposium, organizers say, reflects Chaminade’s commitment to advancing academic excellence while fostering close collaborations between faculty and student researchers. The research often leads to new opportunities for students— from grants to internships to pathways toward graduate studies.

A two-time participant in the Summer Research Institute Symposium, Grace Helmke’s presentation this year was titled “Climate Tricksters in an Indigenous Future.”

Mentored by Assistant Professor of English Dr. Justin Wyble, Helmke ‘25 said she chose to study the intersection of indigenous studies and climate change because “I believe indigenous peoples to have an incredibly important perspective on society.”

“Their viewpoints surrounding the ways in which to combat colonialism, preserve their culture and fight for a greater future are all concepts that each of the texts I focused on examined,” the English major said. “Discussing these concepts, principles and cultural beliefs from an indigenous perspective seeks equity and healing of the people.”

Amber Noguchi, program director for Chaminade’s Undergraduate Research and Pre-Professional Programs Office, said the symposium allows Summer Research Institute participants to not only discuss their work, but get feedback and questions from attendees.

The institute is funded by a joint federal Title III grant with Kapiolani Community College.

“We just completed our fourth SRI,” Noguchi said, adding that participants also present at Kapiolani Community College’s Student Undergraduate Research Fair each semester.

Georgeanna Flook is a rising senior double-majoring in Historical and Political Studies, and Criminology and Criminal Justice. Her research looked at the influence that education has on crime and how those connections could impact policing methods.

Flook said she found education, “acting as a means of formal social control and providing social support, can effectively reduce crime—regardless of the academic ability of the individual.”

“Future studies on the topic could focus on further articulating what effective social support means in the context of criminology and use working examples of social support to compare against crime trends,” concluded Flook, who aspires to go into criminal justice policy analysis.