GSURC 2009 Award Winners

"THE BOND OF BROTHERS"
Donnie Reider
Art and Design
Faculty Sponsor: Nancy Floyd

The Bond of Brothers examines pairs of brothers in which one is homosexual and the other is heterosexual. My initial hope was to garner some insight on the debate of environment verses genetics concerning sexual orientation. However, in the process of creating this project, I discovered more similarities than differences in these brothers. Aside from their sexual preferences, they share comparable paths, manners, and lifestyles.

I met with each pair of brothers on at least two separate occasions. During the first meeting I would interview them together, inquiring about how the gay brother’s coming out affected their lives. This was a subject they never broached before, and they told stories they had not shared in the past.

The project led me to photograph each brother alone in his bedroom to get a sense of his surroundings and personality. Later they were photographed together in a neutral setting. These portraits would prove valuable in emphasizing their differences, similarities, and interpersonal dynamics. These paired images disclose a certain discomfort with one another--none having been photographed together since childhood, but also display a safety and pride in brotherhood.

Poster Presentation:

First Place and Provost Award:
Isaac Solomon
SYNTHESIS OF IMINOSULFURANES AS DERMAL PENETRATION ENHANCERS
Chemistry
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Maged Henary

Second Place:
Monica Ponce
DIET VARIABILITY AMONG AUSTRALOPITHECUS AFRICANUS AND AUSTRALOPITHECUS ROBUSTUS
Anthropology
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Frank Williams

First Place:
Heather Kravagna
KUSHITE ARCHAISM IN THE 25TH DYNASTY: AN EXAMINATION OF GENDER AND AGENCY IN NUBIAN ART
Anthropology
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Despina Margomenou

Second Place:
Kelly J. Pittman, Chandan Robbins, and Bryan Stubblefield
luxS EXPRESSION INFLUENCES ESHCERICHIA COLI BIOFILM MACROSTRUCTURE
Biology
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Eric Gilbert

First Place:
Donnie Reider
THE BOND OF BROTHERS
Art and Design
Faculty Sponsor: Nancy Floyd

2008 GSURC Winning Presentation Abstracts: The 2008 GSURC winners' abstracts serve as excellent examples to guide prospective participants in their own writing.