Abstract Examples

Please see below for a selection of abstracts identified by the planning committee as being suitable examples in a range of fields.

Humanities
"Unpacking Nelson Mandela's Rhetorical Strategies in 'I Am Prepared To Die' : A Critical Analysis of Resistance Discourse in Apartheid-Era South Africa"
This project delves into the profound impact of Nelson Mandela's "I Am Prepared to Die" speech during the Rivonia Trial in 1964. Through a meticulous review of existing literature, qualitative analysis of Mandela's discourse, and critical examination of the historical context, the project explores the strategic employment of rhetoric to challenge the apartheid regime and galvanize support for social change. By dissecting Mandela's rhetorical strategies and their ramifications on the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, this study illuminates the enduring relevance of his words in shaping political discourse and inspiring activism.

"Rita Strohl’s Bilitis: A Feminist Reading in Song?"
At the turn of the 20th century, a number of Parisian composers of art song were inspired by Pierre Louÿs’ 1894 poetry collection Les Chansons de Bilitis (The Songs of Bilitis). The enigmatic and sensual poems tell the story of a fictional woman in ancient Greece named Bilitis, and the narrative follows her relationships with both men and women. The most recognizable musical setting of Louÿs’ poems is undeniably Claude Debussy’s Trois Chansons de Bilitis (Three Songs of Bilitis), which is still regularly performed by the soprano recitalist. However, at the same time that Debussy composed his three songs, a lesser-known female composer named Rita Strohl composed a 12-song cycle simply entitled Bilitis. Both settings borrow texts from the early portion of Louÿs’ narrative that follows Bilitis’ relationship with a man named Lykas, and their settings detail the couple’s first meeting, their first sexual encounter, and eventually the end of their relationship. However, while Debussy’s choice of poems in his Trois chansons de Bilitis leaves the cause of the end of the relationship vague, Strohl explicitly sets the poem that reveals the awful truth of what led to the relationship’s downfall: Lykas’ sexual assault of Bilitis. In my exploration of the representation of sexual violence in Rita Strohl’s song cycle, I will explore the possibility of Strohl’s “feminist” reading of Louÿs’ text. In addition, an analysis of this setting will highlight the ongoing conversation on the representation of sexual violence in vocal music.

Health Science - Occupational Therapy
Factors such as historical experiences, injustices, and limited access to healthcare have a significant impact on health management decision-making. Personal and structural experiences can significantly shape their perception and understanding of health information influencing their health management. This qualitative grounded theory study was completed in two parts: researchers first explored how older adults living in affordable housing managed their health and then developed the theoretical direction to explore racial influences affecting health management using theoretical sampling to gather perspectives of minority older adults. Research question: how do minority older adults living in affordable housing understand racial influences on health management? Using semi-structured interviews, researchers in part 1 of this study interviewed six older adults living in affordable housing and in part 2 of this study, four residents in affordable housing who identified as minority older adults. Researchers used Charmaz’s analysis methods to inductively build theory via action coding and constant comparison methods. The core category, Racial Undercurrent (influencing health management), built from categories (action and external supports) and subcategories (Going with the flow, Rising up/calling out, Succumbing to the undercurrent, and “People like me”). For these minority older adults, racial undercurrents (both current and past) did affect their health management decisions. Supports from people like themselves (doctors, friends, family) were important to engagement. The research team recommends OTs work to recognize and attend to racial influences on health managements while also using findings like these to dismantle barriers to access and care and promote health equity and inclusivity.

Biology
Planaria are animals that belong to the phylum Platyhelminthes or flatworms. These animals are model organisms known and studied for their ability to regenerate any part of their body ranging from tiny fragments to prominent parts due to the presence of neoblast or adult stem cells. The purpose of this experiment is to determine if the Planaria is able to regenerate under different temperature changes in its environment. This study was performed by dividing the body of the planaria into two segments and placing each part in plates containing water at different temperatures to monitor their development over a period of time. The hypothesis of this study is that Planaria growth is affected by the temperature changes in its environment. Planarians are susceptible to changes in the environment, which can alter their regeneration process. This explains the importance of studying how factors such as temperature can influence the growth and development of planarians, which are models of study in the field of regeneration.
Keywords: Planaria, regeneration, neoblasts, change in temperature, growth.

Fashion
"Couldn't Escape if I Wanted to: Cyclical Fashion Trends as Explained Through ABBA"
This presentation covers historically-influenced designs, focusing on the 70s and 80s through the further influence of the band ABBA. It features a handful of designs created through research and passion, and will touch upon where such style is seen today. All designs are heavily influenced by ABBA’s concert costumes, and subsequently altered to better suit the current market while still reflecting the aesthetic of the time. This research looks at how the cyclical nature of time is heavily prevalent in fashion, which in turn unites the past and the present. The chosen time period is the 1970s and 80s, when bands were really exploring their identities and how they present themselves on stage. It was chosen due to the recent influx in popularity for the colours and prints of the time. The presentation shows the importance of understanding the past as well as how to take old designs and turn them into inspiration for modern garment design. The research put into this project reflects both performance garments and everyday ready-to-wear items, as well as how designers handle the pendulum swing of fashion trends.