Bats are a maligned and misunderstood, yet crucial, part of urban ecosystems. Often attributed as pests, bats are major insect population controllers and biodiversity indicators with complex social systems and language. In Seattle, bats take advantage of the abundance of water and tree canopy, and are often seen in public parks and natural areas. However, the current social climate around bats is based mainly on fear of disease and human injury. Bat populations globally are in decline due to habitat loss, and from a fungus that causes white-nose disease, which can be fatal to bats. Landscape architecture is uniquely poised to address both the environmental needs of native wildlife in cities, as well as the social perception of nature. This project uses landscape design as a lens to interpret scientific research on insectivorous bats and proposes creative methods of landscape intervention to communicate these concepts to the public.The structure of this project is composed of three main elements: a literature review that examines current research being done on bats in cities worldwide; a series of field observation sessions in three Seattle parks to document bat emergence sites; and design proposals for highlighting areas in these parks where bat activity can be safely observed by the public. Data collected includes (but is not limited to) landscape assessment of bat emergence sites, number, and species of bats observed. Results and design proposals are presented visually, including audio recordings and photography of field observations along with digital collages of site design proposals. Also included are interview excerpts, key findings from literature review and an explanation of scientific communication concepts.

Cancerous cells have a modified metabolism that supports their demands for increased proliferation. One of the essential molecules in cancer cell metabolism and proliferation is the amino acid aspartate. Aspartate is not only incorporated into proteins, but is also a substrate for nucleotides and other amino acids, including asparagine. Aspartate availability can constrain tumor growth rate, and the consumption of aspartate to generate downstream products can alter aspartate levels. One gene that draws from the aspartate pool is asparagine synthetase (ASNS). ASNS converts aspartate into asparagine, which is used in the production of proteins, but does not increase cell proliferation. Thus we hypothesized that ASNS expression and activity can affect aspartate levels. With this, we aimed to determine if ASNS expression could alter aspartate availability and change sensitivity to aspartate suppressing therapies. Since cancer cells express ASNS to varying degrees, my project sought to determine if ASNS expression could be used to identify those cancers that are most amenable to aspartate suppression therapies. To test this I generated cell lines that express ASNS in different ways and treated them with multiple electron transport chain inhibitors. Preliminary results suggest that cells that express ASNS to a higher degree are more susceptible to mitochondrial inhibitors. More broadly, this research sought to better understand the conditions that determine aspartate levels, and how to exploit those conditions to inhibit tumor growth in association with asparagine synthetase.

An increase in televised police violence and the mass protests in response to George Floyd’s death have led to well-deserved critiques of our current police system. Calls to defund the police have been generally void of discussing viable alternatives. Using an equity and social justice lens, I examine the development of the policing system in the United States, calling into question the necessity of police. First, definitions of public safety and their changes over time are discussed. Parallels are drawn between the inception of policing and the overt police violence of today. From volunteer runaway-slave patrols toting guns and whips in the 1700s, to today's heavily funded and militarized forces across the nation, police have traditionally been based in aggression and violence as a means of keeping the public safe. In this literature review, I capture the conversation and public opinion on policing in addition to the media portrayal and how those have changed over time. Police kill around 1,000 people each year and Black individuals are twice as likely to become victims in those situations than white individuals. Because of this, it is clear our current system isn’t working to keep all people safe equally. Currently, police handle issues of mental health, homelessness, drug addiction, sexual assault, and domestic violence without standardized training to do so. Why is an organization rooted in violence and aggression the one to respond to these community crises without proper training? What if we were to examine the issues that are currently “solved” through policing and base a new system on compassion, empathy, and true public safety? For the majority of communities, police are not necessary to keep their public safe. This research concludes that investing in communities and solving the root causes of violence is more effective than the current policing structure.