Kelly Fuller '19 Presents Summer Research Project
Students and faculty gathered in a classroom in the Garthwaite Center this week to attend a scientific research presentation led by junior Kelly Fuller. Over the summer, Kelly participated in a program at Wagner College on Staten Island, taking courses in medicine and microbiology and engaging in an independent research project.
Students and faculty gathered in a classroom in the Garthwaite Center this week to attend a scientific research presentation led by junior Kelly Fuller. Over the summer, Kelly participated in a program at Wagner College on Staten Island, taking courses in medicine and microbiology and engaging in an independent research project.
For her independent work, Kelly chose to study the spread of infectious disease, specifically in high density living environments, using surveys, field work, and lab work. Taking the effects of crowding and overbuilding into consideration, Kelly hypothesized that there would in fact be a correlation between high density urban environments and the spread of infectious diseases and infections like the common cold. What she found, however, was that there wasn’t necessarily a correlation between the two variables, and that rates of infection are more directly impacted by the daily hygiene practices of given community members. This being said, her survey results indicated that most people still believe that infections spread more quickly in homes with more people.
For her independent work, Kelly chose to study the spread of infectious disease, specifically in high density living environments, using surveys, field work, and lab work. Taking the effects of crowding and overbuilding into consideration, Kelly hypothesized that there would in fact be a correlation between high density urban environments and the spread of infectious diseases and infections like the common cold. What she found, however, was that there wasn’t necessarily a correlation between the two variables, and that rates of infection are more directly impacted by the daily hygiene practices of given community members. This being said, her survey results indicated that most people still believe that infections spread more quickly in homes with more people.
As part of her project, Kelly also gathered bacteria samples from around the Wagner campus, studied their growth, and used chemical testing to determine what that bacteria may be. In one such case, bacteria she found on a cafeteria table turned out to be a bacteria commonly found in the GI tract, re-emphasizing the importance of personal hygiene.
“In the end I discovered it’s not about where you live, but how well you keep up your daily hygiene,” Kelly shared. “So don’t forget to wash your hands!”
A science enthusiast, Kelly looks forward to conducting high level scientific inquiry in the future, ultimately aiming to enroll in a pre-med program for college.
CSW thanks Kelly for sharing her experience with us!
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CSW—a gender-inclusive day and boarding school for grades 9-12—is a national leader in progressive education. We live out our values of inquiry-based learning, student agency, and embracing diverse perspectives in every aspect of our student experience. Young people come to CSW to learn how to learn and then put what they learn into action—essential skills they carry into their futures as doers, makers, innovators, leaders, and exceptional humans who do meaningful work in the world.