Jefferson Fellows Present Papers

February 21, 2008 — The Jefferson Scholars Foundation will hold its sixth annual Jefferson Fellows Symposium on Friday, Feb. 22. Jefferson Fellows are graduate students from across the University of Virginia. The symposium provides an opportunity for the fellows to present their research and share insights from their disciplines with faculty, students and the general public.

Research scheduled to be presented includes:

In the Shadow of Norway
Every year, the streets of Norway fill with children, music and Norwegian flags in celebration of the signing of the nation's constitution. Norwegian communities in the United States mark the same anniversary; however, the vast dissimilarity in the makeup of the parades suggests that they vary not only in mode of celebration, but also in motive. (1:30 p.m., Pavilion IV)

Rethinking Mount Vernon
Hundreds of books and articles have explored this famous early American space, the home of George Washington. Most focus on Washington, yet 300 other people also lived here. This presentation examines the built environment of Mount Vernon, paying particular attention to the ways in which Washington's architectural and landscape design choices reveal his attitudes toward slavery. (2:30 p.m., Pavilion IV)

Land-Use Change Impacts on Phosphorus Cycling in a Dry Tropical Forest
Long-term ecological responses to recurrent deforestation associated with shifting cultivation in dry tropical forests remain poorly investigated. The implications for farmers in the region are that agriculture and other means of livelihood will have to be adjusted. Without fertilizer to maintain productivity, fallow periods may have to be increased, new forest land may have to be cleared, or the region's agronomy will have to alter. (1:30 p.m., Pavilion II)

The Growth Imperative

What is a "premium" company, and why is this important? How do business leaders instill the state of mind and management processes necessary to achieve and maintain this lofty status? The dominant criterion for achieving premium status should be a five-year Compound Annual Growth Rate (of Net Income in excess of 15 percent. The presentation develops a comprehensive definition of what it should take to become a "premium" company and why CAGR of NI should be the foremost criterion. (1:30 p.m., Rotunda Dome Room)

High-Resolution Spectroscopy and You

A variety of techniques, using every type of light, from radio waves to ultraviolet, has been implemented to understand a variety of biologically important systems. This presentation will provide examples of systems that have been studied by high-resolution gas phase spectroscopy in the laboratory with the ultimate goal of using the findings to understand structure and energy flow in highly complex biological systems. (2:30 p.m., Pavilion II)

Functional Brain Imaging and Individual Differences

While the activity of a particular brain region is a vital part of the knowledge base, much of this research has limited effects on the everyday lives of most people. However, new research techniques and strategies can use brain imaging to teach why and how we behave, interact and emote as we do. With a focus on individual differences, we can start to unravel the mysteries of why some people are depressed, why others are resilient, why some have anxiety, and how we use each other to cope during times of intense emotion. (2:30 p.m., Rotunda Lower West Oval Room)

Visions of Sound
In "Fear and Trembling," Kierkegaard's pseudonymous character, Johannes de Silentio, examines the Biblical character and father of faith, Abraham. In particular, de Silentio attempts to articulate Abraham's faith in relation to ability to communicate with others. De Silentio concludes: “Abraham is silent — but he cannot speak, therein lies the distress and anguish. For if when I speak I cannot make myself understood, I do not speak even if I keep talking without stop day and night." Abraham's form of communication has implications for community and ethics. (1:30 p.m., Rotunda Lower West Oval Room)

Now in its 28th year, the Jefferson Scholars Foundation, one of the largest merit-based scholarship endowments in the nation, supports the recruitment of top students who exhibit qualities of outstanding leadership and citizenship.

For a complete schedule of the presentations, visit www.jeffersonscholars.org/graduate/symposium.html.

Media Contact