Fall 2023
Students are listed in presentation order. Recordings are linked where available.
Acculturation Orientations of Chinese Immigrant Parents in the United States: The Formation and Approach of Ethnic-Racial Socialization Towards Children -- Yating (Cabi) Wang
Yating (Cabi) Wang is a Master of Social Work (Children, Youth and Family Track) at University of Washington. She has a background in education and translation. During her Practicum at Chinese Information and Services Center, she worked with immigrant children and families, as a program specialist of social-emotional learning, culture and the world, and a supportive counselor to help newcomer immigrant children for better adaptation. She is now working as a children's mental health counselor intern at Asian Counseling and Referral Services. Her research interests were inspired by working with immigrant families and is currently applying to doctoral programs.
Using Radio Frequency to Enhance the Manufacturability of Composite Materials -- Surabhit Gupta
Surabhit Gupta is a graduate student at the department of mechanical engineering, specializing in manufacturing, automation and controls. He completed his Bachelor’s degree from the Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi in 2023. He has delved into varied fields ranging from predictive molecular dynamics, Electric Discharge Machining, Swarm-robotics and Disaster response modelling under uncertainty. He has had internships at EPFL, Lausanne, IIT Guwahati, and the University of Washington. Beyond academics, Surabhit has mentored students, organized summer camps, and engaged in various volunteering and outreach activities. He is driven by academic excellence, research passion, and a commitment to making a positive impact on his community.
Religion, Politics and Contemporary Art -- Nikoloz Nadirashvili
Nikoloz Nadirashvili is an art historian from Tbilisi, Georgia. His expertise encompasses religious-themed contemporary art from the lens of socio-historical art studies.
From 2017 to 2021, Nikoloz managed Contemporary Art Archive – Tbilisi, a publicly accessible multimedia database of Georgian contemporary art from the 1970s to the present, and Oxygen Biennial.
Nikoloz has previously taught arts management to undergraduate and graduate students at the Tbilisi State Academy of Art and Theatre and the Film University of Georgia and given talks locally and internationally, including the Zimmerli Art Museum/Rutgers University (the USA), the University of Strasbourg (France), and the University of Lisbon (Portugal).
Trash to Energy: Closing the loop on renewable landfill gas -- Geneva Schlepp
Geneva Schlepp is a 2nd year graduate student at the University of Washington pursuing a Master of Science in Civil Engineering with an emphasis in wastewater treatment. At the UW, her thesis work has involved optimizing a novel technology to remove arsenic from landfill gas condensate. Prior to her graduate studies, Geneva earned a bachelor’s in civil engineering at Washington State University and interned with Jacobs' wastewater treatment group at their Bellevue location. She is excited to graduate in March and add a W next to her car's Cougar decal.
How to Look at Things that React Violently to Air -- Aaron Thomas
Aaron Thomas is a Clean Energy Institute (CEI) Fellow and PhD student in the Jun Liu group in UW materials science. Aaron's research centers on understanding the interphases in advanced lithium metal batteries inside the broader scope of enabling a clean energy transition. They earned bachelor’s degrees in Materials Science and Chinese language studies at Georgia Tech. Aaron has done projects across materials science ranging from simulating polymer physics to the design of electron transport layers for perovskite solar cells. Alongside research, Aaron remains dedicated to fostering inclusivity in STEM, mentoring students, and advocating for neurodivergent and LGBT communities.
Veiled Assault: The "Unseen" Side of Ballet Partnering -- Beth Twigs
Beth Twigs (she/her) grew up in Santa Cruz, California where she spent her early childhood years creating worlds, theatrical performances, and dance extravaganzas. At a young age she was introduced to ballet and immediately fell in love. After spending ten years with Ballet Austin in Texas and freelancing in San Francisco and London, she moved to Seattle where she has been passionately exploring, generating, and supporting dance works through her company, The Gray. Beth is thrilled to be diving even deeper into her curiosities through the generous support of The University of Washington’s Dance Department’s MFA program.