More than 30 Knox College students shared their advanced research and creative work with the Knox community at the annual Horizons conference on April 10. The students' research covered a wide range of subjects, such as psychology, theatre, computer science, music, and biology.

Eve Martinez '15 spoke at Horizons about the "green chemistry" research she has been doing for the past couple of years under the mentorship of Knox Assistant Professor of Chemistry Helen Hoyt '01. "Green chemistry" is the innovative scientific field that blends chemistry and environmental sustainability.

A double major in chemistry and Spanish, Martinez is one of the students working with Hoyt on synthesizing an iron catalyst -- a project that ultimately could make some antibiotics and other drugs more affordable for the people who need them.

"This project is important because it's making significant advances in the chemical field," said Martinez, who next year will begin pursuing a doctorate in chemistry at Purdue University.

Knox has a long tradition of providing students with opportunities to pursue intensive, long-term projects that build on what they're learning in and out of the classroom. Students can choose from several options, including an independent study project, a creative endeavor, or a collaborative project with other students and faculty members.

Each year, Knox awards more than $350,000 in grants to support students' research and creative projects.

This year's Horizons presentations took various forms, including poster displays, dramatic readings, and slide shows. Here are some examples of the research projects.

• Celinda Davis '15, a history major, presented, "Saving the Congo: British Involvement in the Congo Crisis and Belgian Annexation."
• Maddie Mondeaux '15, a creative writing major, discussed her adaptation of Samuel Richardson's 18th century novel, Pamela. She is directing a theatrical version of the work during the 2015 spring term. Her presentation was titled, "Virtue Rewarded: Bringing Samuel Richardson's Pamela to the Stage."
• Gbenga Ojo '15, who is double-majoring in biochemistry and chemistry, examined how binge drinking affects the immune system. His project was titled, "The Effect of Alcohol on the Inflammatory Response." He plans to study immunology or a related field in graduate school.
• Kathryn Todd '15, a Spanish major (pictured above), presented on "Second-Language Learning Motivations Among Knox College Students."
• Psychology major Julie Wertheimer '16 presented her psychology research, which explores how watching crime shows on television might affect the way jurors evaluate evidence in a criminal trial. Her project was titled, "The CSI Effect: An Experimental Look at the Effects of Forensic Crime Shows on the Public's Perception of Forensic Evidence."
• Computer science major Anda Xu '15 researched "Geometric Task Mapping for Supercomputer Applications," which can lead to better weather forecasting.