International Business, Finance, and Music

The Improvisatory Language of Western European Saxophonist Max Ionata: Trancription, Analysis, and Comparison of Eight Selected Solos

Thomas spent a semester at Instituto de Empresa in Madrid, Spain studying international business relations and researching Western European jazz musicians and “gigging” culture. In his honors thesis, he set out to examine how European jazz musicians establish shows, perform the music, honor the jazz tradition, and contribute to the genre. Thomas, an academically trained saxophonist, appreciated gaining a firsthand view into his area of research. It was his first time alone in a foreign country, and, within weeks, he rented a saxophone and found himself immersed in the city’s jazz, funk, and R&B music scenes. Soon, he was playing gigs nearly every night and even got to tour with musical groups around Spain. One performance stands out amongst the rest: playing with the Walter Sachs Band for a sold-out crowd at Café Berlin. “I found the most joy, and I learned the most (from) being with these other musicians,” Thomas said.

Samantha Radcliffe

Psychology and Criminal Justice

The Protection of Trafficking Victims in Thailand: A Legal Analysis

Samantha spent one semester at Mahidol University in Thailand followed by another in New Zealand. While abroad, she furthered her studies of forensic psychology and advanced her research into human trafficking. She conducted a legal analysis of Thailand’s human trafficking laws, specifically comparing the efficacy of legislation addressing both sex and labor trafficking. Samantha found that labor trafficking remained inadequately addressed, primarily due to challenges in identifying victims and the barriers preventing them from coming forward, such as migrant worker status. “I wouldn’t have understood the severity of the problem if I didn’t see it firsthand,” she said. Studying abroad allowed Samantha to connect with leaders of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and with human trafficking advocates.

Joanne Kunze

Neuroscience
Black and White Morality: The Ecuadorian Gray Areas

The dichotomy between good and evil has been debated throughout history as we search for the truly “moral life.” Most cultures throughout the world maintain basic normative principles: for example, most would confidently agree that murder is immoral. However, other issues concerning gender roles, health care, and the construction of criminality are often catered to the culture in question. Ecuador, a small South American country nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Amazon Rainforest, has a unique perspective based in its complex history of Catholic dominance, the prevalence of el machismo, and a greatly divided socioeconomic landscape. While studying in Quito, the country’s capital, I was exposed to cultural concepts and oral legends that starkly contrasted my own cultural assumptions of normative principles.

Keesha Matz

Microbiology
Environmental Ethics in Costa Rica

Costa Rica has an astounding amount of biodiversity, the country comprises 0.03% of earth’s surface area but contains nearly 6% of the world’s biodiversity. As a result, the country has become a hotbed for ecotourism. 25% of the country has been set aside as national parks and reserves in an effort to preserve thousands of different plant and animal species. During my summer in Puntarenas, Costa Rica I took an environmental ethics course which included field trips to a variety of these protected natural area such as rainforests, mangroves, cloud forests, and volcanoes. Through this course, I learned how the huge diversity of animals and plants has helped to boost the economy of Costa Rica through ecotourism. However, the increase in tourists is also having a harmful effect on the natural environment of the national parks. Biological research centers and the government are currently monitoring changes to the important ecosystem that supports the vast biodiversity and investigating the ethical implications of ecotourism in their country.