EAES Undergrads Showcase Their Research At The 2026 Undergraduate Research Forum

Nine undergraduate students affiliated with the Earth and Environmental Sciences Department presented their research at this year’s UIC's Undergraduate Research Forum on April 21st. Their poster presentations highlighted the breadth of research opportunities available to EAES students as well as the diverse research questions they explored in collaboration with faculty in the department.

At this year’s URF, Emma Swaw received the Distinguished Presentation Award in Engineering and Physical Sciences. Congratulations to Emma and to all the presenters for sharing their research experiences and discoveries with the UIC community!

Students Poster Title
Tasneem Arabi Soil Moisture Variability in Gezira, Sudan from 2020 to 2024 Using SMAP, CHIRPS, and DEM Data
Roland Asongakap Culturing Sulfur Comproportionators from Yellowstone Hot Springs
Dylan Janowski Demographic Influences on Climate Change Perceptions in the Midwest: Geographic, Educational, and Age-Related Patterns
Rachel Krick Forgotten Fossils: Charles Lyell, James Hall, and the Transfer of Geological and Paleontological Knowledge
Zoe Schaaf Projected Climate Zone Changes and Impacts in Southeastern Europe
Sandy Sotelo Observation of Leaf Wetness in an Urban Environment
Emma Swaw Tracking Equilibrium Line Altitude for 1331 Glaciers in the Conterminous United States
Jocelyn Wagner Characterizing Lead Contamination in Backyard Soils around Chicago via Soil Kitchens – Community-Based Soil Sampling