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Learning a second language is undoubtedly a challenging undertaking, and the pedagogical methods involved in teaching a second language can make the process easier or more difficult for students.  Linda Yu ’12 will spend this summer with Professor Hong Gang Jin, the William R. Kenan Professor of East Asian Languages, testing different pedagogical methods for teaching Chinese. Their project, “Attention to What? An Investigation on the Linkage Between Attention and Input,” is funded by an Emerson Summer Grant.

 “When you are totally dependent on local intelligence organizations, you tend to protect them,” said Ned Walker, the Christian A. Johnson Distinguished Professor of Global Political Theory and former ambassador to Egypt and Israel. Walker was quoted in a June 12 Newsweek  article titled “Intelligence Test” that also appeared on The Daily Beast website. The article detailed the challenges currently being experienced by U.S. intelligence networks due to the upheaval in the Middle East.

For Kevin Graepel ’11, a career in biomedical research is a goal that he has been working toward since his first year at Hamilton. Graepel, who graduated with a degree in chemistry last month, will take the next step in realizing his goal as he begins a two-year stint conducting research in Bethesda, Maryland, on viral pathogenesis and vaccine development for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Butterfly populations, and the changes within them, can speak volumes about the ecosystem that these insects call home. Abby Koppa and Professor of Biology Ernest Williams will examine one particularly threatened species of butterfly in relation to its habitat in the Rome Sand Plains. 

Refugees and recent immigrants to the United States often face an uncertain future. In a new culture, many must confront the daunting challenge of learning new skills and a new way of life. Fortunately, there are organizations that help new residents adjust to United States culture, some of which rely on caring interns to continue their nonprofit work.  Susannah Spero ’13, a recipient of a 2011 Levitt Public Service Internship Grant, will work with Vermont newcomers to help them establish their independence in organic farming.

Professor of Mathematics Debra Boutin organized a mini-symposium on Embeddings and Geometric Representations of Graphs at the Canadian Discrete and Algorithmic Mathematics at the University of Victoria May 31 - June 3.  She also gave a talk titled "Automorphisms of Geometric Graphs - a retrospective and prospective."  In this talk Boutin presented both earlier work and new directions on the symmetries of networks drawn in two dimensions.

From healthcare to education to immigration, every citizen has concerns related to the government. In a large constituency, such as that of a Senate member, a single politician could not possibly respond to all these voices alone. For this reason, local Senate offices play a critical role in making citizens’ opinions heard. Dylan Wulderk ’13 is spending the summer in just this position, interning for Senator Frank Lautenberg’s office in Camden, N. J.

For students interested in public policy, a think tank offers an ideal environment to begin exploring a range of policies, methods of research, and potential solutions to current issues. Elizabeth “Betsy” Bilharz ’12, an economics major with a public policy minor, plans to take full advantage of a think-tank environment; she will spend her summer as an intern for the New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies in Concord, N. H.

Climate change is a major topic of discussion among economists, lawmakers, businesses and the general public. As climate change becomes an increasingly pressing issue, environmental law gains importance for society. Victoria Grieves ’12 will spend the summer contributing to environmental efforts by serving as an intern at the Environmental Law Institute in Washington, D.C.  Her internship is funded by the Levitt Center through its new Leadership Program.

Associate Professor of Biology Mike McCormick presented the results of a multi-year research project conducted at Green Lakes State Park at the national meeting of American Society for Microbiology in New Orleans, May 21-25.