Curiosity Killed the College Student: Recent Episodes

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Exploring undergraduate research happening in English 105 at UNC.

Isabella Wheeler first discusses the physical and medical applications of laughter as a therapeutic treatment and secondly dives into how cities are and are not built for indigent and disabled populations by means of transportation, accessibility, and architecture.

Gwen Peace first discusses the illegal exotic trade of insects on the black market, and what long term implications this can have on the environment, as well as how it is being/can be regulated. She then dives into exploring the topic of how social media influences politics and the election cycle, focusing closely on how disinformation forms and is spread. She shares the insights she gained from guest experts Dr. Deen Freelon and Erin Sedita, both of whom specialize in this topic.

Brooke Eisenberg discusses her podcast series created in English 105 this semester. The first podcast dives into the safety and advertising of highly caffeinated drinks like pre-workout and energy drinks. The second podcast shines light on the Covid 19 impacts on mental health and resources we have here at UNC. She interviews a student and president of the mental health club Active Minds, to get another perspective on the topic.

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Interview with Dr. Allie Thomas, an expert in city and regional transportation planning, to explore how cities are and are not built for indigent and disabled populations by means of transportation, accessibility, and architecture.

Dr. Allie Thomas

Assistant professor at the University of Chapel Hill Department of City and Regional Planning. Dr. Thomas studies how best practices travel the globe and where they land. She uses ethnographic research methods to understand how “best practices” in transportation are adopted (or not) in developing economies, such as China, focusing on planners.

Sources:

Hu, W. (2019, November 8). 'hostile architecture': How public spaces keep the public out. The New York Times.

Rosenberger, R. (2017). Callous Objects: Designs Against the Homeless. University of Minnesota Press.

Savičić Gordan, & Savić Selena. (2013). Unpleasant design. G.L.O.R.I.A.

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Can laughter really be the best medicine? The physical and medical applications of laughter as a therapeutic treatment.

Foundations Utilizing Laughter Therapy:

• ComedyCures
• The Baring Foundation

Sources By Timestamp:

0:29 - ComedyCures

1:38 - American Medical Association Journal of Ethics / Dr. Nicole M. Piemonte. AMA J Ethics. 2020;22(7):E608-614. doi: 10.1001/amajethics.2020.608.

3:19 - RadioLab Rat Laugh Recording

3:39 - "Laughter: A Scientific Investigation" by Robert Provine (Provine, R. R. (2001). Laughter: A scientific investigation. Penguin Putnam Inc.)

4:14 - Bennett MP, Zeller JM, Rosenberg L, McCann J. The effect of mirthful laughter on stress and natural killer cell activity. Altern Ther Health Med. 2003 Mar-Apr;9(2):38-45. PMID: 12652882.

4:23 - Miller M, Fry WF. The effect of mirthful laughter on the human cardiovascular system. Med Hypotheses. 2009 Nov;73(5):636-9. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2009.02.044.

4:54 - Berk LS, Tan SA, Fry WF, Napier BJ, Lee JW, Hubbard RW, Lewis JE, Eby WC. Neuroendocrine and stress hormone changes during mirthful laughter. Am J Med Sci. 1989 Dec;298(6):390-6. doi: 10.1097/00000441-198912000-00006. PMID: 2556917.

5:36 - Jang KS, Oh JE, Jeon GS. Effects of Simulated Laughter Therapy Using a Breathing Exercise: A Study on Hospitalized Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Aug 17;19(16):10191. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191610191. PMID: 36011829; PMCID: PMC9408366.

6:39 - Morishima, T., Miyashiro, I., Inoue, N., Kitasaka, M., Akazawa, T., Higeno, A., . . . Matsuura, N. (2019). Effects of laughter therapy on quality of life in patients with cancer: An open-label, randomized controlled trial.

8:06 - Paul Osincup. How to use humor in clinical settings.AMA J Ethics. 2020;22(7):E588-595. doi: 10.1001/amajethics.2020.588.

8:36 - The Baring Foundation