NW Valley Times

Students from Grand Canyon University (GCU) showcased their research at the Canyon Undergraduate Research Conference, held in Antelope Gymnasium. The event saw participation from 239 students, with 93 research posters and 36 presentations. For the first time, high school students joined, presenting their own posters.

Elizabeth Liu, an exercise science major, presented findings from a study on the Army Combat Fitness Test, which showed that aerobic capacity has a greater impact than body fat percentage on test performance. “Our finding was that it doesn’t necessarily matter how lean an individual is. What does matter is how in shape their heart is,” Liu stated. Liu's project won a Dean’s Award for research and presentation excellence.

Biology major Ana Camorlinga, involved in a research project for the first time, worked on a study titled "Plant-Based Induction of Apoptosis in Breast Cancer Cells by Origanum Vulgare." The study, which tested the effects of oregano on breast cancer cells, was also awarded a Dean’s Award. Pre-med senior Arielle Weber, part of Camorlinga's team, noted that increased concentrations of oregano decreased cell viability, attributing this effect to flavonoids, which have antioxidant properties.

In other health-related research, biology major Paige Albrecht examined the relationship between body fat and cardiovascular health. She stated, “Previous data has kind of shown that if you do control VO2 max and age, then your body fat doesn’t add very much because your body is healthy, and so, how much fat you have doesn’t really matter.”

The conference also included research on the correlation between athletic identity, religious identity, and stress by sports psychology major Logan Demeter from the EPIC Research Lab. Lindsay Carter, studying exercise science, researched the impact of spiritual activities on mood. Her study, "Influences of Chapel on Mood in College Students," suggested that attending chapel services could improve mood similarly to exercise.

Each project highlighted the diverse interests and capabilities of GCU’s students, offering them a platform to share their findings with a broader audience. "The most important thing about this conference is that we are able to give students the opportunity to talk about the research and experiential learning opportunities they are a part of," said Katalina Inzunza Herrera, the Honors College's academic program manager.

The Canyon Undergraduate Research Conference has evolved from two separate events into a comprehensive program that includes the Canyon Undergraduate Research Symposium, the Honors Showcase, and the Canyon Emerging Scholars program. The event continues to expand, incorporating participants from various colleges and encouraging collaboration and mentorship.