Posters - Christopher D. Smith

Assessing the Environmental Impact of the Frank Borman Expressway in the Calumet Region

Abstract This research examines how construction of the Frank Borman Expressway transformed landscapes and communities throughout the Calumet Region of Northwest Indiana. Using georeferenced historical aerial imagery, GIS analysis, and landscape interpretation, the project reconstructs patterns of roadway expansion, interchange modification, and community displacement from the late 1940s through the modern era. Research Themes * […]

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Tracking Changes in Invasive Species

Posters / Christopher D. Smith

Abstract Tracking changes in invasive species through GIS-based environmental monitoring. The project examined changes in invasive wetland plant species within the Beverly Shores region between 2017 and 2019. Using ArcGIS spatial analysis and field survey data collected through the Shirley Heinze Land Trust, the study mapped concentrations of invasive species including Typha species, Phragmites australis,

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christopher d smith amino acids within mars regolith july 2019

The Stability of Amino Acids within Mars Regolith Simulant

Posters / Christopher D. Smith

Abstract This undergraduate research project investigated the stability of amino acids within simulated Martian regolith environments using Ultra High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-MS). Samples containing amino acids and perchlorate salts were exposed to Mars regolith simulant MM2 under varying chemical conditions to evaluate molecular degradation over time. The study focused on understanding whether organic

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christopher d smith graphene supported ni4 catalysts for propane dehydrogenation 2018 july poster

Graphene-Supported Ni₄ Catalysts for Propane Dehydrogenation

Posters / Christopher D. Smith

Abstract This computational research project examined graphene-supported nickel cluster catalysts for propane dehydrogenation using density functional theory (DFT) methods and VASP modeling. Conducted through collaboration between Valparaiso University and Ivy Tech Community College under the Indiana Space Grant Consortium, the study investigated reaction pathways, activation energies, and the effects of nitrogen doping on catalyst behavior.

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