High School Summer Institutes Collection of Student Reflections - Summer '15

High School

Summer Institutes

Collection of Student Reflections Summer 2015

A special thank you to all of our 2015 instructors, teaching assistants, and program staff: Linda Dubis Lincoln Muhoro Craig Smith Dennis Mell Patricia Widder Vita Eruhimovitz Eileen G’Sell Jeremy Caddel John Kelly Corin Pursell Kate Bloomquist Mark Manteuffel Meg Russell Alejandro Martinez Briana Bostic Matthew Brown Manar-ul Islam Swaby Jonathon Gross Caitlin Donnelly Nora Shevick Sahl Ali Meghan Gunn Nicole Kawamoto Jordan Victorian Becki Baker Brian Heise Vivian Zhu Christine Cui Joanna Kim Catherine Kronfol Michael Gould Ben Huang Grant Black Lena Bradtke-Litwack

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The History of Medicine

By Emily Fitzgerald “We are not makers of history. We are made by history. –Martin Luther King, Jr. Our teachers tell us to remember. To remember that history repeats itself. We are told not to forget the past so we may avoid the same problems in the future. The warnings of the past are so ingrained in the topics of social justice and war; I only considered the lessons of the past true to a narrowly defined list of historical events.

Sarah VanVickle-Chavez’s lecture on the History of Medicine changed not only the way I view medicine, but also the way I think about history. History is not only a lesson to be studied in social sciences; it is relevant to the natural sciences as well. The progression of medical care is constantly advancing and expanding, but it also has setbacks and recurrences. The lessons in those relapses also shape history and offer an opportunity to learn from the past to fix modern day issues.

History tells the story of how Small Pox variolation led to the development of the current day vaccine, and how the rapid spread of sepsis led to modern ways of sterilizing surgical instruments. In the mid-1800’s, John Snow was the first person to methodically investigate the source of cholera. Snow found that the cholera epidemic was caused by a tainted water supply and by fixing the water the epidemic would subside. His method of tracking the movement of cholera shaped how modern physicians find the origin of diseases and illnesses such as salmonella.

It is inspiring to me to realize that medical knowledge can be further explored and improved by studying how medicine has advanced through time. The history of medicine has not only shaped the treatments and methods of today, but guides the future of medicine as well. In the most fundamental of ways, we are made by history.

Unify Communication

By Anhthi Luong Alarming statistics appear in the medical field constantly. We hear about obesity rates, the progression of various diseases, and astounding medical innovations. However, I was unaware of the growing epidemic that caused problems in the current health care system. I learned from a homework assignment that communication difficulties amongst doctors were found to be the leading cause of 98,000 patient deaths per year. Somehow, social skills that were needed to navigate the health care system had been lost in our rapidly advancing world. Although doctors saved millions of lives each year, I had always believed that they were the epitome of perfection.

When I arrived to attend the Pre-Medical Institute, I was introduced to the rigors of pursuing a career in medicine. I learned about the competitiveness of the application process and the various aspects involved. As future medical student candidates, our academic performance, MCAT score, and an interview define us in this process. However, the article, “New for Aspiring Doctors, the People Skills Test,” displayed an unconventional perspective of admittance and the role communication played in medicine. It explained how doctors focused on being individual experts for years, but the expertise converged into team-based patient care. According to the article, traditional medical schools failed to omit flawed applicants, introducing socially inept physicians. As a consequence, patients lacked quality care, causing communication errors in procedures and even deaths. However, various colleges have changed the process to discover natural skills that future physicians should possess. Shocked by the findings, I realized how vital the role of communication really was. As a student and patient, communication occurs daily and forms bonds that need to be upheld. Thus, the article gave me an insight into the flaws of the medical system, showing me that although it was not perfect, it continued to advance and improve itself.

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A New Perspective

By Margaret Schnabel I didn’t know what to expect when trauma surgeon Dr. Kareem Husain first stepped onto the stage to begin his lecture, but I never would have predicted that the following hour would completely change my view of surgery. Previous to attending the Pre-Medical Summer Institutes at Washington University in St. Louis, merely the thought of blood made me faint. However, in Dr. Husain’s presentation, even the goriest surgeries seemed to me an interesting challenge. A pole straight through a teenager’s chest? Sure. A head, cut open so that the skull was clearly visible? No problem. With each new topic Dr. Husain covered, another part of me was drawn to the field of surgery; I wanted to be one of the “rockstars of the surgical world” that he described.

Although he highlighted the glory of the surgical field, he was also quick to note the struggles inherent in such a high -risk profession. I was told of the long journey through medical school, residency, and fellowships; 24-hour shifts; and cases in which despite the doctors’ best efforts, the patient could not be saved. I appreciated Dr. Husain’s candid opinion; I was, much like the entirety of my class, newly enamored with the glory of surgery. However, had I not also heard of the drawbacks, I would not have had a truly representative picture of what surgery entailed. This invaluable experience reaffirmed my passion for medicine, inspiring me to help save lives as Dr. Husain did. Perhaps more importantly, it displayed the complete reality of the medical field, allowing me to get a clear picture of both the values and limitations of such a profession. This lecture changed the way I view medicine, inspiring and informing me in ways that will certainly prove useful in the future.

Holistic Medicine: A Reflection on My Enlightenment Regarding the Scope of the Medical Field

By Philip Jordache “Origins and Evolution of the Western Diet” and particularly its accompanying lecture have transformed my view of medicine. The article delineates difficulties accompanying changes in humans’ diets since industrialization and contemplatively discusses this transition’s profound health implications. I had always envisioned medical care as isolated from the outside world; the idea that the masses’ diet affects information collected in doctors’ examination rooms seemed novel. Professor Mark Manteuffel’s lecture reinforced “Origins” and imparted the value of assessing health and well-being holistically, underscoring this message in highlighting evolution as frequently overlooked in academic preparation for medical careers. He elucidated the importance of considering diet and exercise when evaluating health, indicating both that medicine exceeds illness identification and treatment and that comprehension of patients’ routines occupies just as important a role in prescribing medication and formulating prognoses.

Recently, I have begun to envision a medical career as a bland existence consisting of endless paperwork and dry interactions with patients and fellow doctors, prompting me to consider other career options to avoid a monotonous life.

However, my epiphany following Professor Manteuffel’s presentation reinvigorated my excitement for entering medicine through helping me realize that medical practice goes beyond determining patients’ maladies, assigning patients prescriptions or diagnoses, and sending them off to pharmacies or hospitals; more fascinating and eclectic views of patients are also crucial and will likely assume more central roles in the coming years as the field evolves at an increasingly swift pace.

“Origins” and Professor Manteuffel’s lecture therefore overturned my narrow-minded view of medicine, and instilled in me the idea that the field’s scope pervades countless aspects of life, a notion that has revamped my enthusiasm for entering medicine by helping me realize that the field’s true span exceeds memorization and menial tasks, and involves understanding the overall human condition from myriad perspectives.

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Reflection on DNA

By Shreya Nair Deoxyribonucleic Acid: a self-replicating material present in nearly all living organisms’ chromosomes that is too hard to understand. At least, this was my mindset when I first walked into Dr. Smith’s classroom. As far as the eye could see, there were 3-D DNA ball and stick models plastered everywhere. I silently groaned and hoped that we could get this lab over with as fast as possible. After Dr. Smith explained the basics of DNA to the class, he gave us a packet. When I looked around, everyone was scribbling away furiously whereas I was drawing a blank. My Teaching Assistant noticed that I was struggling and took the initiative to help me. While he was explaining it to me, I began to slowly grasp the concept. It turned out that my whole table needed help as well, and who could blame them? We talked about how we could manipulate Carbon and how many bonds each base had. As a team, we figured out the complex material that gives life to everything - the same thing that differs from human to human by only a tenth of a percent.

Essentially, we are all the same. In the medical field, you need a vast knowledge of science and an even bigger heart full of compassion. This is why I want to go into the medical field. All health professionals see each other as equals and come together as a team. Doctors, nurses, therapists, and administrators all, as a team, make sure that a patient is in optimal health, gets the compassion he/she deserves, and is respected and treated as an equal. Only after that lab, did I then truly understand how DNA is so simple yet intricate. That day, we looked beyond the chemical structure and formed a new definition of DNA. Deoxyribonucleic Acid: the material that makes us equal.

The Power of Perseverance

By Zoe Nicozisin Something about medicine has always drawn me in. I am fascinated by scenes that many with the faint of heart would turn to look away from. Just because I'm interested in medicine doesn’t make it any less daunting though. Years of schooling are ahead of me, along with endless hours of work and stress. I often wonder if I have the mental capacity to make it through med school, let alone, can I even make it past the prelims into medical school? Questions like these are always in the back of my mind; however a recent lecture made me approach the answer differently.

The trauma surgeon grasped me and changed the way I think about medicine. The lecturers preceding him seemed bitter and resentful and unintentionally hinted that one's life can be EITHER family or medicine, and not both successfully.

The trauma surgeon got on stage, happy and upbeat to tell us about his awe inspiring profession intertwining details of his successful marriage. Even though I only heard him speak once, his words deeply impacted me.

His profession of being a trauma surgeon was something I never thought of before, however after hearing him speak, his sincere words made me more and more fascinated with the world that he lived. He was passionate about his wife and children along with his job, which proved to me that the only thing preventing someone from achieving a successful career in a medical field is themselves. The trauma surgeon spoke about how he made both aspects of his life priorities and that that, his mental will to succeed, was all that he needed. I look up to him in the professional sense, but also as a person. He was genuine and passionate and showed us all what it means to live a happy life, which is why I think his lecture made the biggest impact on me at this summer institute.

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Suturing

By Danial Mohammad I hold the sharp needle tight within my fingers. My hand shakes as I prepare to puncture the subject with the needle, but the anxiety was masked by my concentration. I place the needle and thread in the chicken meat and begin the sewing process. Back and forth, intertwining the needle in the soft meat, crossing the string like a strand of DNA. Within a few minutes, the thread had made its way through the gash, pulling it together like a freshly stitched gown. The laceration was stitched together. The medical students told us that healing this laceration was similar to that of a person.

The satisfaction from healing a piece of chicken was not the same as saving a person, but I understood the idea. The ability to heal a potentially life threatening injury, and save a life in a matter of minutes is astounding. From performing my own suturing, I understand that it does not take a very invasive surgery to save and change one’s life. Something as simple as sewing a string between skin can make the difference between life and death. As well as the simplicity, the concept of suturing is the basis of all surgical procedures, non-invasive, and basic.

From this experience, I have learned that the field of medicine is one in which the health and welfare of the patient is the utmost priority, and that efficiency, accuracy, and speed is vital for the safety and healthy recovery for the patient. With the suturing, I learned how the patient’s interest always comes first. Whether it’s with a fast procedure to make it easy on the patient, or tying a strong knot to prevent another rupture. A humanitarian and selfless mindset, is required in medicine.

Teamwork in the World of Medicine

By Lucy Darr This summer my classmates and I were introduced to many diverse topics in medicine. We learned about issues such as the effects of unhealthy food and lifestyles. We listened to lectures ranging from topics in nursing, trauma surgery, and child psychiatry. We were able to participate in hands-on activities such as suturing, dissecting animal organs, and bringing simulated patients back to life with defibrillators. Throughout all of the activities, topics, and lectures we were exposed to, there was one overarching theme that stuck out to me: teamwork.

In these three weeks, we learned what it would be like to be a doctor. However, in those three weeks, we were never alone. We discussed controversial issues together, we reviewed homework together, and we dissected hearts together. Yet, there were many conflicting opinions. While it was hard to work together, we challenged each other in the best way possible, and we expanded each other’s thoughts.

While working together was a useful skill I acquired, I wondered why it was so important. How was collaborating with peers relevant to medicine? As it turns out, an activity called “Let’s Play Doc” answered my question.

In this activity we were divided into small teams. One person would simulate as a patient and choose an illness while the others would simulate as doctors, working together to diagnose. I soon realized the purpose of collaborating: to figure out the disease. Throughout this process, one person would voice their opinion, while another person would disagree. After discussing and weighing opinions, we came to a consensus, and in that realistic activity, I realized why collaboration was so important. Without the many diverse opinions, we would not have been able to come up with the best possible solution.

Throughout this program, we were taught many things to expand our knowledge of the world of medicine. I learned that there are downsides to being a doctor. I learned that success is earned. And lastly, I learned the rewarding benefits of teamwork.

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A Glimpse Into My Experience in a Lab at WUSTL

By Adithi Govindan Between working with a Bunsen burner fire for sterilization techniques, using a centrifuge to create a DNA pellet for sequencing, and jamming to songs from Imagine Dragons to Temptation’s “My Girl,” these past couple of weeks working and learning in a research lab at my dream school, Wash U, has been an eye opening experience. I’ve learned micropipette techniques, bacteria streaking and spreading techniques, and PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA gene and the Alu gene of the Tissue Plasminogen Activator. But apart from being an exhilarating experience, I also discovered that I would learn information that is relevant to my own experience with medical knowledge.

Recently, I started a research project for the International Baccalaureate (IB) program in which I am writing a research paper on the microbial variance between healthy skin and acne prone skin. One of the techniques that is important to my research is 16S rRNA sequencing. So, when I walked into lab one day and saw the procedure for “16S rRNA bacterial identification” I could not contain my excitement. I was learning the technical part of my research and was actually performing the procedure myself.

So, you could say my experiences at Wash U had a deep relevance to my medical knowledge. I developed a better understanding of the 16S rRNA sequencing and PCR method that the lab I will be sending the microbe samples from my research to, will conduct. I loved executing every step of the process I learned at Wash U independently, because having the opportunity to see what the future might look like, accessible at my fingertips, allowed me to confirm for myself that this is something that I could for the rest of my life.

Fighting Tomorrow’s Battles

By Neel Patibandla The scope of many medical professionals today seems to be limited to responding to people’s issues as they come.

Although this has always been somewhat effective, especially with the technology and expertise we have today, in an ideal world, we would be able to instantly cure any injury, disease, or condition that a patient presents. Unfortunately, curative medicine lies far in the future, with cures for a wide range of conditions, including HIV/AIDS, schizophrenia, and cancer, yet to be discovered. However, preventive medicine, medicine focused on preventing these disease and conditions from arising in the first place, presents a viable solution for the time being. Professor Mark Manteuffel addressed this idea in his lecture on evolutionary nutrition. In his lecture, he explained that certain modern practices, including diet, lifestyle, and even attitude, were responsible for contributing or causing many of the medical conditions people face. Changes towards a healthier diet, a more active lifestyle, and positive outlook could do wonders for a one’s health, keeping people free of sickness and at a much lower risk for a host of conditions. The ideas he presented, although they did not represent all that preventive medicine entails, helped shift my perspective on medicine. I had previously been focused on the idea of becoming a doctor that is able to treat every one of his patients successfully, but Professor Manteuffel’s lecture, along with many other recent experiences, has helped give me a wider perspective, one focused on preventing patients from ever becoming sick or hurt, and maybe one day being able to cure all of their conditions. With so many people in need of help, it is our responsibility as the future of medicine to solve their problems and to keep others from facing the same troubles.

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The Essence of Engineering

By Cyrus Lee Our group laboratory project served as the most valuable and applicable activity in the Pre-Engineering program.

The activity involved scholars choosing groups of two to four and deciding on a simple engineering task; our group decided to build a miniature car which drives forward until it hits a surface, whereupon it reverses, turns, and proceeds forward. Developing and utilizing our previous knowledge and problem solving skills to accomplish a specific goal within the framework of a team, this project provided a realistic representation of engineering.

In order to construct our car, our team had to sketch designs on paper, use Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software to construct models, and fashion figures using a 3D printer, utilizing classroom mathematics and physics to make sure each different component would fit inside the model. We also had to apply our primitive knowledge of circuitry to rig our car to receive inputs from the pressure plates located on the front of the car, while simultaneously employing basic programming to force our car to reverse and turn when encountering this pressure. This construction, using applied knowledge conjointly with contemporary engineering tools, provided a genuine feel for modeling, making circuits, programming, and assembling in the context of engineering.

In addition to applying our classroom knowledge and utilizing modern engineering devices, we each also had to alter and sacrifice parts of our original visions in order to implement our ideas into a physical construction and preserve team cohesion: we had to add motors, modify wheels, and scrap additional features both to guarantee the car would function properly and to respect each team member’s ideas. This give-and-take process, making sacrifices while attempting to maintain the authenticity of original ideas, is the key concept behind problem solving, which provides the backbone to any field of engineering. By presenting us with a situation in which genuine problem solving exists as the only route to success, this activity provided for us a stellar illustration of engineering as it appears in the real world.

A True Test in Applied Learning

By Christopher Wong When our instructor, Vita, first introduced our final lab project to the class, I was initially daunted. Very few times in my experiences as a student have I been told, “Do whatever you want.” My classes typically consist of either a lecture or teacher-led discussion where, while student participation is encouraged, it is often simple parroting of the previous night’s reading. Rarely are truly original and creative ideas formed or presented. After letting this unusual task settle in, however, I realized that the absence of guidelines or rubrics made it the closest thing to actual engineering that we had experienced this whole program. Engineers in the field don’t have an instructor or a manual to help them every step of the way. When encountered with a problem, they are forced to come up with a solution themselves.

My partner and I experienced this freedom first hand in our brainstorming, designing and eventual building of our very own quadcopter. We took some of the skills we learned in previous labs, the basics of Computer-aided design (CAD) and Arduino programming, and applied them to this project. It was amazing to see the progress in our learning actually take shape as the 3-D printed, plastic structure of our quadcopter came together. While many of the other labs were just as interesting and engaging as this final project, none could match it in its complexity and difficulty. Our instructors offered their help and insight when we really needed it, but they mostly let us rely on ourselves and learn from each other. This project demanded from us intuition, hard work, a little creativity and a great deal of trial and error, skills and practices that will be vital as I continue to pursue my goal of becoming an engineer.

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Sustainable Engineering

By Hunter Wasserman The idea of sustainable engineering, providing reliable methods for preserving the environment, interests me because it possesses the power to change the world. Dr. Mark Manteuffel gave an inspirational lecture wisely explaining the need for ethics and engineering to co-exist in order to create a sustainable future. Referring to himself as a pragmatic optimist, he strives for a perfect world but humbles this fantasy with the feasibility of the steps necessary to reach this goal. By minimizing environmental damage and progressing forward with a higher understanding of the relationship between nature and society, sustainable engineering can be viewed as revolutionary. The four main entities that encompass this ideology are economics, ecology, culture, and politics, which all have a direct relationship with the posterity’s education and ethical development. While this lecture primarily generalized environmental issues, most, if not all, fields of engineering share some connection with the environment and the need to become sustainable.

My primary interests are in chemical and biomedical engineering. After experiencing an educational environment both at school and at WUSTL that is flooded with moral, ethical students who share a common desire to learn from each other to benefit their environment, I have gained an interest in engineering as it coincides with environmental sustainability.

The recent experience at WUSTL this summer has, in particular, inspired me to pursue these fields in the future with a scientific and ethical approach. Dr. Manteuffel, additionally, has inspired me to pursue these fields as they pertain to sustainable engineering and environmental science. He has instilled in my mind how vital it is to help make the world sustainable and improve the human experience. Now I not only have a stronger interest in engineering, but I also better comprehend its potential to create a better, more sustainable world.

A Commanding Language

By Piers Braunrot Right from the beginning I was confused and frustrated. Declaring variables had no meaning to me. Seeing the terms void setup and void loop, and all the following indented and strangely worded phrases, looked tedious and mentally painful. But I soon remembered something that made it seem not so challenging at all. I loved learning languages, and coding is exactly that. Instead of learning French or German, I just had to learn “computer.”

I soon realized how coding is just a logical string of orders. These orders go to and from components that I had defined at the beginning as variables. In the setup, I told the computer whether it should read their status as inputs or send signals to them as outputs. Under the loop section, I figured out how to set up the Arduino to read the status of an input, and base the output signals on that using “if” statements.

As I worked on the Arduino project with my group, we divided up the different jobs and I chose to do the coding. I decided not to copy a single line from the Internet and instead wrote the whole thing myself. When it worked, I felt like I had conquered my fear. I had always found computers intimidating and had been reluctant to try to learn anything about programming, because I was afraid it would be too complicated. This activity, however, showed me that I can in fact write code, and that I really enjoy it. I’m really glad I learned about coding because it has many applications in most technical fields, so no matter what I choose to do in the future, studying coding will prove to be very useful.

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Sustainable Learning

By Jake Gluckman Rarely have I ever had a teacher who was able to change my views about the world’s possibilities. As an engineer, I envisioned myself working in a laboratory designing parts for the next big technological Goliath. In terms of engineering, I was skeptical. I did not know there was room for ideas that could actually make positive and productive change, at least until I met Professor Manteuffel.

Engineering in sustainable agriculture first struck me as an unproductive career. Yet, Professor Manteuffel’s passion, energy, and optimism inspired me to view it in a new light. For example, he presented aquaponics as a useful innovation that could revolutionize plant growth and fish farming. Not only did he show us how effective this growing technology is at saving water and providing efficient plant growth, but he proved that it was a technology capable of undergraduates like me to research and take a part of.

In just the aquaponics industry alone, undergraduates can research areas such as thermodynamics, water quality, and economics. Professor Manteuffel even showed us how he built aquaponics stations in a community college nearby, a challenge that is possible at Wash U as well.

One of my favorite anecdotes that Professor Manteuffel told was his goal of living to 140. Some people may frown upon idealists like him, but ideas like these are what drive innovation and creativity. When talking about solving the world’s energy crisis, Professor Manteuffel said, “live the impractical and make it practical”. This kind of radical and critical thinking is what engineers are trained to do. In the end, engineering is about taking a problem that some would deem unsolvable, and make it solvable.

Professor Mell’s Systems Lab

By Calvin Schwartzberg The Systems Lab with Professor Mell was one of my favorite activities of the institute. I had been curious to see what exactly systems engineering was since the first day when Professor Mell mentioned it during his lecture. It seemed to be an extremely specialized engineering field that involved less physical constructing and more conceptual thinking, which I greatly enjoy. Because of this unique aspect, I was looking forward to the systems lab, and it did not disappoint.

The lab was especially informative in terms of grasping the engineering approach because I had to problem-solve to succeed. In contrast, some of the other labs, while educational and interesting, simply required following instructions without thinking much about the purpose of each step. For the systems lab, however, Professor Mell did not merely direct us on how to make a system. We began with a few simple components, and he had us test them out ourselves to examine how they worked and determine how to combine them effectively. Throughout the lab, he introduced us to more complex system elements. Not only did I learn about systems engineering, but I was also able to learn more about the engineering process as a whole, which involves trying to build upon what has already been created to increase efficiency.

What I enjoyed about the systems lab was the chance to exercise my own brain and still work with others. It made me realize how crucial teamwork is in engineering because everyone brings something unique to the table. My group constantly played off of each other's ideas to discover the right answer. Although I originally planned on exclusively pursuing biomedical engineering, I now see the advantages of being well-rounded and the usefulness that systems engineering can bring to almost any field.

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Changing Perspective

By Claire McPeak People consistently told me the importance of detail, but it wasn’t until the time I found myself completing an activity in Brookings Quad that I recognized the value of including various perspectives in my writing. Preceding our outdoor writing activity, Professor Bloomquist pulled up two pictures of Brookings Hall. Although the images pictured the same building, each left me with a unique feeling because of the way the different photographers adjusted color, shot angle, and crop. The two images demonstrated the effect of perspective change in photography, but during our descriptive independent writing activity in Brookings, I learned that perspective shift works similarly with writing.

Before this program my writing focused too much on the “establishing shot,” the firsthand glance or overall view.

Professor Bloomquist compared this perspective to driving across campus in a golf cart; you see everything, but not in depth.

She explained to me how vital this perspective is, but advised that it be used with a multiplicity of viewpoints when writing.

By using aerial, central, and detailed perspectives, one’s writing will hit readers with greater impact. Though the idea seemed quite simple, as I incorporated it into my independent writing, I realized even a small tweak made my style more credible and distinct.

With this I gathered my belongings to begin the campus setting exercise. As I moved around to different areas of the quad I began to notice things from nature’s perspective: a robin’s broad aerial view, a squirrel’s fast-paced middle distance view, or like a tortoise who takes a slow, long look at everything. One small change in the dynamic of my writing made a huge difference. During an afternoon activity under the sun I learned to ask one important question when writing: How can I see this differently by using a variety of writer lenses?

Day at the Museum

By Jack Kelly After checking in our bags and water bottles, each receiving a neat tag with our names handwritten on it, a handful of friends and I browsed the St. Louis Art Museum, oohing and ahhing over the more impactful pieces of art. When we had all selected a piece to contemplate and eventually write about, we gathered in the main room of the wing we had ventured into, and plopped onto the comfy couches and out came the laptops. We quickly settled into a near silent state of concentration only broken by the constant clicking of keys. We had all ascended to writing euphoria, our prompt of inhabiting and explaining a particular character in a painting, engaging us as we created a world based upon the piece each of us had selected.

Even though we were in the academic writing program, this prompt allowed our creative side to show through as well, blending the previous week’s lessons of creating exigency and narrative writing with our own personal flair. I selected the Earthquake of Messina, a darkly-colored piece featuring rioting escaped convicts after an earthquake had savaged the Italian town of Messina. As I wrote in the museum, and later back at the dorm editing, I felt particularly proud that not only was I making a well-crafted piece of writing, but I was consciously analyzing and adjusting it to account for the new information and conclusions I had made over the past few days. By the end of the night, I had crafted what I felt to be a compelling narrative from the perspective of an apathetic escapee that reminded me of the well-written fantasy novels I consumed so voraciously.

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Perspective in Communications

By Kazai Drew As a writer I can be one-dimensional. Although I manage to include every aspect of a topic, I only notice the aspects on a certain level. This one-dimensionality limited me as a writer until the Communications class at Washington University Summer Institutes had a lesson on perspective.

In this lesson we looked at a black and white image of Brookings Hall and compared it to what we viewed. As expected, my comparison and description of both the image and the actual hall were relatively shallow and generalized. After the comparisons we took the activity outside and wrote about Brookings Hall and Brookings Quad from two different angles, then combined our descriptions and analyzed the outcome.

This activity developed a deeper understanding of the different views I could take as a writer. I learned that with photography and writing alike I could view a subject from 5 different angles or point of views: Aerial, an angle at which you are able to see the overall image; Establishing Shot, similar to aerial, but more detailed; Middle Distance, an angle that involves more characters and conversations; Close- Up which involves more facial expressions and gestures; and Extreme Close - up which includes miniscule details and expressions.

Learning about perspective helped me realize my one-dimensional writing and after the activity I was able to write on a deeper, more meaningful level, rather than writing the pure basics of a topic. Beginning to write from an extreme close up and expanding outward gives the reader some form of tension and suspense. This lesson provided me with information I might not have obtained at school. It was also easy to understand. Knowing what I learned in this lesson will forever change my writing style.

A Walk in 1875 St. Louis

By Zachary Sorenson We sat on the rough white stone steps outside the Missouri History Museum. Behind us, some local band I vaguely recognized was playing generic indie rock music long gone mainstream. We had just ended our tour of the exhibitions and listened to our instructor as she stated the prompt for the day.

“Today on your visit to the Missouri History Museum choose one exhibit and write a promotional description of the exhibit. What is the exhibit about? What are some of the artifacts displayed? Why is this exhibit relevant to an outside audience?”

I wracked my brain for some nugget of inspiration on which to found my first sentence. Figuring I’d have a head start, being local, I selected the exhibit A Walk in 1875 St. Louis. The first sentence came slow, a subtle trickle of inspiration to latch onto. Then came a torrent of words, I sat there typing quickly as the diluted music wafted over me and my laptop gradually overheated in the humid July heat. In a hot flash I was done, the essay was a cobbled together abomination but by ten that night I would have it smoothed and molded into something, hopefully, worth reading.

This exercise was the most useful activity I did during the summer academic camp. This piece introduced me, as well as many other students, to the concept of injecting exigency, more or less why the audience should read, into our writing.

Furthermore, I had to write something on a topic and in a style I’ve never really explored. All while also getting the opportunity to share my work with my class the following day. Receiving constructive criticism that yielded substantial rewards, both in confirmation of what I had done well, and revealing the aspects that I needed to revise. It was the fundamental concepts of exigency, and peer support that made this activity stand out as the most valuable to me.

13

A Precursor to a Career in Archaeology

By Jenny Bobo The Cahokia Mounds Historic Site is a testament to the unknown wonders of prehistoric peoples on the North American continent. My interest in taking part in excavation of the mounds was piqued after perusing Cahokia’s website, learning about Woodhenge, the startling similarities between the cosmos and the ancient city’s layout, and the sheer size of the mounds and plazas. During this first week, I acclimated quickly to the fairly simple archaeological protocol but barely scraped the surface of uncovering details of the site’s purpose, contents, and history. I dug up an abundance of pottery sherds, bone, chert, and charcoal and came to learn that each artifact represented a principal facet of daily life in the city; specialization among craftsmen led to ornate jewelry and innovative tools – what I found was the remnants. Despite not finding an unmarred artifact like an intact plate or string of shell beads, I was still pleased with the fruit of my excavation since I was learning the basis of Cahokia’s functions in trade and social gathering. Childlike wonder in unearthing numerous shards of history combined with a scientific curiosity thirsting for explanations to this “Midwestern Mecca” proved a powerful enticement to me in contemplating a future career in archaeology. Little has been discovered about Cahokia despite years of meticulous excavation; however, I, comparatively, have read about half the prologue to the catalogue of Cahokia’s existence.

For every piece of information I learned about the construction and various Mississippian cultures associated with Cahokia, a dozen questions formed in my mind. History solidifies into reality when you heave it up from the ground, bucket by bucket.

The Ancient Discovery Institute aided the development of my knowledge of ancient Cahokia via modern archaeological practices while pivotally cultivating my curiosity to discover untold history.

A Different Kind of Learning

By Jack Smith The Ancient Discovery Institute is a program that stimulates passion and interest in what came before us through research and discovery in the fields of archaeology, anthropology, and the general study in ancient culture. This program, however, differs from ordinary lecture and classroom-setting learning, and uniquely allows the student to flourish while practicing and conducting research in the field alongside peers and professors. The activity which resonated with me the most by far was this research and maintaining of an archaeological unit in the Cahokia Mound 34: a ceremonial mound apart of the largest archaeological site in all of North America.

Despite having a few interesting classroom lectures and off-site learning, digging in Mound 34 gave me an immensely rewarding experience in first hand learning. Our main curriculum did not deal with examining pictures of artifacts or researching facts on the Internet, but on the contrary, dealt with excavating real ancient artifacts in situ that were tangible evidence of the mysterious ancient culture that was Cahokia. This hands-on experience is what makes the Ancient Discovery institute special, and allowed me to further cultivate my ancient historical knowledge by investigating ancient history in its purest form; I was in fact providing the important research and basis for the creation of textbooks or articles. This unique learning did not only benefit me with the understanding of the archaeological experience, but also created a more easygoing collaborative environment with my professor. While the respect remains between the student and the professor, working alongside masters in the field of archaeology granted me a new air of freedom and responsibility. In this environment I was able to come to conclusions on my own, rather than being told the answers. The Ancient Discovery institute speaks truth to its title, and allowed me to attain a once in a lifetime experience excavating in the largest archaeological site in North America, as well as allow me to improve my historical knowledge through independent discovery. First-hand tangible learning alongside elite professionals created a truly unparalleled learning experience that I will remember forever.

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White Pollution: Plastic

By Yange Bian For my entire life, I have been surrounded by plastic. I was a typical urbanite who believed plastic equals convenience. ‘Plastic Paradise’, the documentary made by Angela Sun, not only changed my perspective, but also led me to question: where does plastic eventually end up?

During the first part of the film, Angela Sun traveled to Great Pacific Garbage Patch where most of the plastic trash in the ocean accumulates. What surprised me is that when we eat marine animals that consume plastic, we are at risk of getting diseases because we can’t metabolize the harmful chemicals found in the plastic. Even any contact with common plastic products, as Angela demonstrated in an experiment, could result in BPA permeating our skin and circulating our body.

Then, why are people still building the “paradise”? Based on her interview, most workers from plastic factories neither knew about the garbage patch nor accepted any negative impact of plastic. At this point, I realized that the problem isn’t due to the lack of awareness, but due to people's greed that causes them to avoid the truth about plastic, leaving the public uninformed of the negative impact.

The US Government, as Angela has researched, doesn’t directly control plastic production, but it has laws regulating plastic recycling. But Angela made me learn that over 90% of plastic products cannot be recycled because of their chemical compositions. Such a situation led me to question the efficiency of recycling in China. Similar to the US, the Chinese government regards industry as essential to its economy and avoids conflict with industry. Factories recycling plastic emit poisonous gases that pollute air and nearby water resources, and increase risk of cancer in local populations. As a result, recycling only worsens the plastic impact, so reducing production is imperative.

Growing up in a metropolis, I thought sustainability is the ability to balance between using and preserving the environment for the current generation. Facing ‘Plastic Paradise’, I now realize that we use elements from nature to satisfy our needs, while we are blinded by immediate profits in the present. We should view sustainability as intergenerational to dismantle the current “paradise” and be responsible for the future generations.

The Future of Sustainable Living

By Julie Jones During my experience in Washington University’s Environmental Studies and Sustainability Institute, I was exposed to new concepts highlighting the amazing possibilities in the field of sustainability. As part of our studies, we visited the Tyson Research Center, which includes a 2,000 acre outdoor laboratory providing undergraduate and graduate students with research and educational opportunities related to the environment. The most notable aspect of the facility is Tyson’s Living Learning Center (LLC), one of the first buildings designed to meet the requirements of the Living Building Challenge.

Dedicated to creating truly sustainable buildings in countries all over the globe, the Living Building Challenge is the most advanced green building rating system in the world. Among other prerequisites, Living Buildings must have net-zero energy and water. To meet these specifications, the LLC supplies all of its energy needs by utilizing multiple solar panels. The panels produce renewable energy free of pollutants without releasing direct greenhouse gas emissions. To meet its water needs, the LLC uses captured precipitation and reused water that is purified on-site without the use of chemicals. With its remarkable renewable energy and water purification system, the LLC gives us a glimpse into the future of sustainable living.

Tyson’s LLC has significant environmental implications for local, regional, and global communities. The building is a physical manifestation of the problems we face in our environment and creates awareness of the need for environmental sustainability in all communities. The LLC brings to light environmental issues and solutions to the growing need for innovative ways to live sustainably and lessen our carbon footprints. The building’s success has global ramifications for bringing sustainable energy and clean water to all communities. As we continue to deplete our world’s resources, solutions from the Tyson Research Center give us hope for the well-being of future generations.

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The Pollution Within

By Kiev Gambrell I applied to be in the Environmental Studies and Sustainability Institute because I am interested in gaining insight about careers in Sustainability and Environmental Engineering. Instead of learning about global environmental issues from a pessimistic viewpoint, Professor Manteuffel exposed our class to knowledge about global issues and, how avoiding these issues will become detrimental to our health and well-being.

The lecture on Environmental and Human Health was by far the most intriguing because of the personal connection to our lives. Our United States government was created to protect its people from dangers within and outside of our country.

However, countless beauty, medical, and food products distributed in the United States contain toxic chemicals that may damage our health. How are companies allowed to sell these products? They utilize their corporate power in court to avoid testing their products. Unfortunately our next lines of defense, American health organizations that specialize in revealing these dangers, have multiple limits on their power.

I was extremely shocked to see some of the correlations between the uses of certain products and health problems that affect millions of Americans. According to global health and neurology experts at Harvard, the synergistic effects of toxins in medicines have been linked to disorders such as Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and autism. Synergistic effects are created as different chemicals from multiple products react in a way that harm the body. Since we use these products over a prolonged period of time, synergistic effects may not occur immediately but are detrimental to our health nonetheless.

In conclusion, the lecture on Environmental and Human Health was eye-opening because it unveiled the truth behind many of our society’s diseases. I am grateful for the opportunity to have learned more about the pollution within our bodies as well as the environment.

Strength Without Numbers

By Cali Suba If we do not work together very little progress will be made, for it takes collaboration to accomplish great feats.

Many people have told me this throughout my life, yet the thought of it is daunting when it comes to positively impacting the environmental sustainability issues we face today. In no way will I undermine the importance of unity, but at Washington University I have discovered how much power individuals possess, and how that power can be used to make a positive change.

Human impact on the environment has increased so rapidly in the past century that nature struggles to meet our growing demands. New developments threaten the wellness of ecosystems, and for me the most eyeopening danger was that of plastic. Plastic – although to us it disappears when thrown away – is never truly gone. It contains toxic chemicals detrimental to our health and it cannot decompose, yet most of the plastic we use is discarded after one use.

This begs a very important question: what can I do to make a difference? It's overwhelming to consider this on a global scale, and I believe many people are driven to think globally as success would bring them fame and fortune. This mindset must be abandoned, for planetary wellness begins with personal well-being. If I stop using plastic so abundantly my impact on the Earth might not be astounding, but for my own health it could make all the difference. Then I spread this idea to a friend, their family, it grows, a city takes action, a state, a nation, and suddenly one person's movement has turned into something much larger. Professor Manteuffel taught me the valuable lesson that cooperation is vital, but it takes motivated individuals to spark the flame that brings about a greater change.

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The Hedgehog’s Flaw

By Varun Krishnan Predictions. In a world where information is being created and thrown at you the most it’s ever been in history, people have more data, more proof, more evidence to discern more patterns, more trends and henceforth make smarter predictions about the future...right? Before taking the Global Leadership course I would’ve seen no fallacy in your logic. Yet through the exposure to Nate Silver, a reputable statistician and author of the best-selling book The Signal and the Noise, I have learnt that even the “expert” forecasters are no better at predicting than the flip of a coin. Nate Silver’s remarkable analysis on the failed predictions from the people we listen to everyday, uncovers the rarely seen underside of the true skill it takes in making a correct prediction. These people, the political scientists, professors, and television hosts we have all come to known, Silver has dubbed hedgehogs.

Hedgehogs are described as type A personalities who are stubborn and ideological. They are specialized, their careers have centered around one or two great problems. New data is simply used to refine their original models. Nate Silver contrasts this with the fox, one who is more cautious about their predictions, empirical and self-critical. They incorporate ideas from different disciplines and are tolerant and aware of the multi-faceted nature of the world. The plain truth, through a multitude of thorough research, is that foxes are simply better forecasters. This is incredibly disconcerting in relation to Global Leadership, to think that the majority of our decisions, internationally and locally, are being made by hedgehogs, whose forecasts are nothing more than a game of chance. A world where more foxes are in power would mean one where policies reflect more accurate predictions, where the international community is more open to conflicting ideas, and overall increased cooperation and flexibility throughout the international world.

A Very Artsy Experience

By Alberto Konde I had a fantastic time at Washington University in St. Louis this summer. These two weeks allowed me to gain a global perspective on the many issues that plague our society. My personal favorite experience of the Global Leadership Institute program was the field trip to the Kemper Art Museum. There, I was able to view some extremely thought-provoking pieces that I would've never known to exist if not for this program.

The piece I found most intriguing at the museum was “It Shall be Name” by Renee Cox. It depicted a young African American slave boy, without genitalia, being crucified. I was told by Ms. Miller that the piece, from the author's perspective, symbolized how violent racists would lynch and mutilate young black boys; de-masculinization. I spoke with the assistant educator about it. My opinion on it was that it symbolized religious hypocrisy in the United States; the majority of U.S. citizens identify as Christian, yet they would commit such atrocities similar to that which ended the life of their savior. We engaged in a conversation about race and religion for the remainder of the trip. It was so enjoyable to have a discussion with her!

Our discussions truly made me contemplate how the U.S. is viewed globally. The rest of the world has the misconception that Americans are always killing one another; hate crimes especially. As large of a generalization this is, it seems to be the case when seeing what themedia tends to cover; there's a shooting, a race war, or both. From an outsider perspective, there is no wonder why they may have some misconceptions about our country! If we are all going to live in a global community, it is best to better present ourselves, lest we end up as that gun-loving neighbor everyone is scared to be around.

I am immensely thankful for the global perspective granted to me by the institute, as well as Ms. Miller.

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The Importance of Understanding the Human Brain as a Global Leader

By Jessica Holechek A leader is the voice for a group of human beings. In order to correctly voice the opinion of a group of people, you have to understand the very basic ideas about how the human brain works. Our guest lecturer, Susan Craig, explained to us that our brain may inevitably perceive information the wrong way, making error a natural product of our problem solving abilities. Her lecture “Why We Need to Think Differently” taught me that although mistakes are inescapable, a leader can alter the way they think in order to be a more accurate representation of the people they lead.

Many people believe that the human race is powerful due to our preponderant intelligence, but few people understand the faults in our nature, as our brain often misunderstands simple problems in order to quickly generate solutions.

Susan Craig described our minds as “still in the evolutionary process” which is not only humbling, but helps put our seemingly infinite power into a much more realistic perspective. This lecture was relative to the global community because as a leader it is important to understand the average global person in order to conduct yourself as a more fair and just representative. Understanding our behavior is so important, yet it is so easy to forget just how primitive our mind is, which was shown to us by looking at simple optical illusions.

The lecture “Why We Need to Think Differently” by Susan Craig took an alternative approach in helping us understand what it means to be a leader. Instead of expressing just how powerful a leader of the human race can be, it showed us how to improve our leading abilities by making our individual faults apparent and explaining how we can improve them, which is undoubtedly an important characteristic of a leader.

Girl Rising

By Delaney Battle The increasingly globalized world of today lends itself to the rapid exchange of information from all corners of the globe. While raising awareness about some of the most pressing economic and social issues of the global community, this onslaught of information regarding issues that persist on such a large scale can also inhibit our ability to contextualize and truly process their severity.

One such global issue is the access, or lack thereof, to education for girls in the developing world. There is a difference between reading that there are currently 66 million girls out of school globally and fully empathizing with this fact as well as understanding its global repercussions. The documentary, “Girl Rising,” grounded the issue in my mind and gave me a newfound appreciation for the struggle of these girls by both presenting shocking statistics and personalizing the people affected by telling the stories of nine girls from the developing world.

Not only does the documentary address the systemic and cultural influences in these countries that prevent girls from pursuing an education, but also the global ramifications of this disparity. The film analyzes the roles women play in the developing world and, due to the fact that women own a majority of small farms and businesses in these countries, comes to the conclusion that the education of girls is one of the smartest investments a country can make. If India enrolled even 1% more of its girls in school, their GDP would rise by $5.5 billion. An increased GDP in these countries would not only benefit their own economies and people, but the global economy as well, making the investment in girls’ education an issue that should be a priority for the entire global community.

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My Reasons Why

By Noa Steiner Without a purpose to continue living, society and the human population would cease to exist. Becki Baker’s lecture on “Defining your Leadership Style” touches on the importance of purpose as she stresses the concept of recognizing the reasons that drive us to do the things we do. Her lecture and TED talk by Simon Sinek emphasize how promoting our “why” in our causes will make us more effective leaders and result in more people recognizing said causes. When asked to think of what drives me to live my life as I strive to do, I instantly think of the reasons why humans want to continue living. From a biological standpoint, the life or death of individual human beings and the human race does not matter. What matters in nature is that the evolutionary process continues to thrive. Humans, therefore, must create their own purpose in the world. I believe that part of what makes people human is the strong internal emotions that they feel. As a leader, it is important to recognize the fire and devotion that people can possess when they feel strongly about a certain topic. This strong emotional attachment people feel can be utilized to get people to believe in and fight for a leader and their cause. Part of my “why” is to make the world a place worth living in and help current and future generations find their “why” and what makes them happy.

In the TED talk, Sinek emphasized that people do not follow what you do; they follow why you do it. This concept reminds me that I must stay true to my heart as a leader and not alter my ways as a leader solely based on the end result.

Acceptance

By Gaby Rueda This has been my first summer program out of the state of Oklahoma. I didn't quite know what to expect when I got here. I didn't even know if I was even leader material. At first I thought that most of the things we were doing had nothing to do with leadership. I thought that, until Rob Morgan came to talk to us. He seemed just like any other professor, nice and respectable. I believed that he was just going to talk to us about random designs. I didn't expect him to interact with us.

When he told us he was going to make us interact with him I got scared. I got even more worried when he gave us a small podium and told us to write 30 different uses for it in 2 minutes. He said to open our minds to everything we could think about, no matter how crazy. I only got 5 uses for it. I felt so close minded since the other people around me had about 15 uses. We ran the test again and this time it was a towel roll. I decided to actually think of ridiculous answers and I got up to 20 that time. Mr. Morgan said that most people don't know how to accept crazy ideas. That we as a society have been taught to not even propose an idea if it seems inadequate with our thinking. This experience helped me see that other people think in ways that I would never think about. It showed me that yes, sometimes there are stupid ideas but that we should still say them. Yet this lecture specifically showed me how to open my mind. I got out of my comfort zone and realized that there are so many different ways to look at something. I am very glad to have had this experience at Washington University.

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The Importance of Collaborative Leadership

By Orly Genin A harmony of voices filled the room simultaneous with the clatter of chalk against the board. Students scrambled to relay their artful ideas to their group members in the pursuit of envisioning and building the most innovative classroom environment. My team consisted of four of my peers and our creative process began with saying the first ideas that came to our head and relaying them to each other. We finally came to a consensus and began to draw, continuing to add improvements to our artistic design as they came to us. Before we had done this activity our lecture head, Professor Morgan, explained his experience in set designing. During his explanation, Professor Morgan continually came back to the fact that all of his set designing projects were a combination of different people collaborating to achieve one common goal. It would take designers, engineers, and directors continually challenging each other’s ideas before a perfect set could be designed. For me, this was the epitome of my understanding of leadership. Before coming to this program I had thought of leadership in terms of one person taking charge and inspiring others. However, after this exercise I understood that it is listening to each other’s ideas and allowing for a combination of everyone’s voices to be heard is what a true leader does. For example, here we had five very different students from different hometowns and backgrounds coming to a consensus on one perfect classroom. This exercise showed me that it is crucial to have a diverse group of opinions when accomplishing a problem and that it is the leader’s job to make sure all of those opinions are heard.

Small Garden, Big Impact

By Megan Leimkuhler Nestled in a brick enclosure in the South 40, The Burning Kumquat is a practical yet unique student-run farm on Washington University’s campus. Established in 2007, the quarter-acre garden has maintained its title as a farm by collecting at least $1000 in revenue annually from the many fruits and vegetables grown within its realm. Dotted and tangled with greenery bearing produce such as basil, apples, tomatoes, and onions, The Burning Kumquat is both visual and physical proof of the effort that students give year-round to ensure the vitality of the garden. The garden symbolizes the fruits of labor of the dedicated students at Washington University.

After touring and learning about The Burning Kumquat, I was impressed and inspired by its story. This garden opened my eyes to the impact that such a small-scale operation could have throughout a large city like St. Louis. The concept of The Burning Kumquat resonated with me and has contributed to the development of my mindset as a leader by proving to me that no matter how small an endeavor may seem, it can make a huge emotional difference in the lives of others. I often feel that the volunteer work I have done has had a miniscule impact on my community – because as one person there is only so much I can do myself. What I have learned, however, is that despite its size, The Burning Kumquat has been able to provide cheap, healthy produce to many people, leaving an influential mark on the St. Louis area. The waves made by this garden are motivation for me to continue growing as a leader, because even as insignificant as I think my actions are, if these efforts can change at least one life, they are worthwhile.

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Leadership: Standing Out vs. Fitting In

By Patrick Shanahan

I’ll be the first person to admit that I was skeptical about the idea of attending this institute. I had never stayed at a college before, and I was worried that I wasn’t going to be a very good fit in a leadership institute, considering that I’ve never been the best leader myself. When I think of leaders, I think about the kind of community service activists that are referenced on the news: regular people making drastic change in their communities. I’m not that type of person. I can’t manage a charitable organization dedicated to that kind of work. I don’t have the ability or the resources to do something like that. But what my experience at Wash U has taught me is that leadership isn’t defined by the kind of work one is doing, but by why someone is motivated to do what they do.

On the second day of class, we were introduced to the concept of the “why”, that is, why someone is motivated to succeed. Or specifically, why one wishes to lead by their example. This led to an interesting self-dialogue in which I pondered my own place in this world.

What I’ve come to realize is that people my age, in the era of the internet, social media and celebrity worship do what they do purely because of the outside pressure to fit into the mold that society deems as “cool.” This leads people with actual creativity and talent to be suppressed in favor of the sycophantic, fame-obsessed posers that populate the upper echelons of popularity. This lifestyle of hypocrisy and falsity has only given me one motivation, the reason why I choose to be creative: I want to stand out from this pack of up and coming creators based on my own merits, not how many times I retweet my favorite musical artist. I want to lead the next generation of artists, of writers, of poets, into a new creative renaissance, one not dominated by people perceived as talented because of their looks or because they dress cool. Wash U has reinvigorated this fire in me, and for that, I can’t thank this institution enough.

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Congratulations to all of the Pre-Medical and Pre-Engineering students selected for their individual project presentations.

June Pre-Medical and Pre-Engineering Anna Iademarco—”Psoriasis” Angela Wang—”Graves Disease” Eva Kitlen—”Sickle Cell Anemia” Vidushri Mehrotra—”Osteogenesis Imperfecta” Andrea Qi—”Aphasia” Injil Muhammad—”Splitit!”

Nolan Miller—”Maze Me App” Clara Mariencheck—”App Proposal”

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July Pre-Medical and Pre-Engineering Madeleine Scannell—”Erythropoietic Protoporphyria” Clarinda Tan—”Multiple Sclerosis” Heidi Dong—”Gigantism” Nicholas Mays—”Sickle Cell Anemia” Allison Goldstein—”Osteonecrosis” Preston Fong—”Emi Traveling” Jake Trookman—”MyRun” Hanming Zu—”Watch & Go” Ethan Snow—”Race Trainer”

View student projects at: summerexperiences.wustl.edu/2015-projects

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Summer Experiences 1 Brookings Drive Campus Box 1145 Saint Louis, Missouri 63130 summerexperiences.wustl.edu 24