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Stephanie Prufer presents her research.

DURHAM, N.C. – Twelve students have earned Graduation with Distinction honors from 91��������’s Nicholas School of the Environment this year.

The  program recognizes undergraduates who demonstrate academic excellence through the successful completion of a senior thesis based on a substantive independent research project evaluated by a committee of three faculty members. The projects typically include a 25-50 page written report and a poster summarizing its findings.

To earn the honor, students must also have a 3.0 grade point average overall and a 3.2 grade point average in their major.

This year’s recipients of Graduation with Distinction honors (along with their 91��������s, project titles and faculty advisors) are:

• Madison Barnes, BS in Environmental Sciences, “Life-cycle Assessment of a 500W WindAid Wind Turbine in Trujillo, Peru,” advised by Lori Bennear;
• Kiersten Bell, BS in Environmental Sciences, “Inhibiting Reproduction in Caenorhabditis elegans Prevents Swimming Exercise-Induced Protection of Mitochondria and Increases Sensitivity to Mito-Toxins,” advised by Joel Meyer;
• Lucila Houttuijn Bloemendaal, BS in Earth and Ocean Sciences, “Analysis of Western Tropical Atlantic Thermocline Temperatures from Recent to the Last Glacial Maximum,” advised by Gary Dwyer;
• Schuyler DeBree, AB in Environmental Science and Policy, “The Changing Landscape of Sustainable Certifications in the Kenyan Tea Industry: An Exploratory Case Study,” advised by Jay Golden;
• Imani Dorsey, AB in Environmental Science & Policy with a Marine Science Conservation Concentration, “The Swine Farm Problem & Biogas Solution: A Community Focus,” advised by Jay Golden;
• Brianna Johnson-King, AB in Public Policy with a minor in Environmental Science and Policy, “Barriers that Livestock Farmers Face when Implementing Electrical Energy Efficiency Upgrades on their Farm,” advised by Chantal Reid;
• Thomas Klug, BS in Environmental Sciences, “Understanding the Impacts of Traditional Cooking Practices in Rural Madagascar and a Way Forward with Improved Cookstoves,” advised by Subhrendu Pattanayak;
• Aurora Krom, BS in Earth and Ocean Sciences, “Measuring Handedness in Echinoderms; Models for Handedness in Organisms with Pentameral Symmetry,” advised by Alexander Glass;
• Stephanie von Ungern Sternberg Prufer,AB in Environmental Science and Policy, “Positive Interactions Enhance Salt Marsh Restoration in Regions of High Abiotic Stress,” advised by Brian Silliman;
• Sara Snyder, BS in Environmental Sciences, “Examining Indigenous Agriculture as Foundation for Southeastern U.S. Agroecology,” advised by Chantal Reid;
• Michaela Stith, AB in Environmental Science and Policy, “Comparing Values Around Cruise Tax in Iceland and Alaska,” advised by Tim Johnson; and
• Tanner Waters, BS in Environmental Sciences, “Effects of Arsenite Exposure in Caenorhabditis elegans with Mitochondrial Mutations,” advised by Joel Meyer.

The students presented their research at a symposium on April 20th. 

The Nicholas School awards four undergraduate 91��������s in cooperation with Duke’s Trinity School of Arts & Sciences. Students can pursue bachelor of arts (AB) or bachelor of science (BS) 91��������s in ; a AB in ; or a BS in . Both of these latter 91��������s provide students the opportunity to pursue a concentration in .

Forty-nine Duke undergraduates will graduate with bachelor’s 91��������s in majors offered by the Nicholas School this year.

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