Tulane University Libraries Showcases Exceptional Undergraduate Research Through Digital Access

Tulane University Libraries has once again demonstrated its commitment to academic excellence and knowledge dissemination by making the latest cohort of Newcomb-Tulane College Honors Theses freely accessible to the global community. The 2025 collection, featuring eighty-nine outstanding undergraduate research projects, has been added to the Scholarship at Tulane collection within the university's Digital Collections, providing open access to a remarkable showcase of student scholarship.

These research projects demonstrate how undergraduate scholarship can address real-world problems with immediate relevance to local communities. The focus on New Orleans-specific challenges, from infrastructure and environmental remediation to cultural identity, shows how academic research can serve community needs while advancing scholarly knowledge.

The digital accessibility of these theses amplifies their potential impact. Policymakers, community organizations, environmental groups, and other researchers can now access these findings to inform their own work. 

By making these theses publicly available, the university ensures that the innovative research conducted by its undergraduate students can contribute to broader scholarly conversations and inspire future generations of researchers.

Janey McGowan, Library Associate, Digital Production, played a crucial role by performing the complex ingest process, ensuring that each thesis was formatted correctly and integrated into the digital collection system. Jane Fiegel, Metadata Librarian, managed the intricate metadata preparation and transformation, work that is essential for making these documents discoverable and accessible to researchers worldwide. The project's oversight and quality control were carefully managed by Madeleine Wieand, Digital Production Librarian, and Andrew Squitiro of Newcomb-Tulane College, who also worked directly with students to compile the necessary metadata and files.

The attention to detail in metadata preparation and quality control ensures that these valuable research contributions will remain accessible and useful for years to come.

The range of topics covered in this year's collection demonstrates the breadth and depth of undergraduate research at Tulane. 

One standout project, "Returning Claiborne to New Orleans" by Corwin Almo, addresses the critical issue of urban infrastructure and community well-being. The research explores interventions along Claiborne Avenue to remediate conditions created by prioritizing vehicle traffic over pedestrian needs. Almo's work proposes practical solutions, including bike lanes, improved green spaces, mixed-use developments, and light rail options. The project is particularly significant as it combines environmental health research with urban planning, demonstrating how green spaces can improve mental health while reducing flooding and urban heat island effects.

Environmental remediation takes center stage in Molly Aubrey's thesis on "Heavy metal bioaccumulation by bald cypress trees." This research investigates the potential for Louisiana's native bald cypress trees to perform phytoremediation of toxic heavy metals in the industrial corridor. Using sophisticated analytical techniques, Aubrey's work provides valuable insights into natural solutions for environmental pollution, with particular relevance to Louisiana's industrial challenges.

The collection also addresses pressing social and health issues. Isaiah Epstein-Bagneris explores "Hip hop as a buffer to adverse mental health outcomes following bereavement," challenging negative stereotypes about hip hop culture while examining its potential protective effects for Black American adolescents. This research contributes to meaningful conversations about cultural identity, mental health, and the role of music in coping mechanisms.

The Digital Collections initiative ensures that this exceptional work receives the recognition it deserves while contributing to the global knowledge base. As these research projects become available to scholars, practitioners, and community members worldwide, they will continue to generate discussions, inspire new research, and influence policy and practice decisions.

Tulane University Libraries' commitment to open access scholarship through this digital collection represents both a celebration of student achievement and an investment in the future of knowledge sharing.
 

Photo caption: Rendering by Corwin Almo in "Returning Claiborne to New Orleans."

Article by Rebecca Gipson

Published: October 1, 2025