Microbes have influenced beauty standards for thousands of years, according to research by student Chelsea Scanlon.
Luis Cruz shared research on the gut-eye axis at the Commonwealth Honors Showcase.
The Honors Colloquium (IDS 200) is a cornerstone of the Commonwealth Honors Program at QCC. This 3-credit, interdisciplinary course is required for students graduating as Commonwealth Honors Scholars. Designed to foster intellectual curiosity and collaboration, IDS 200 brings together professors from different disciplines to explore a single theme from multiple perspectives.
Each student develops a thesis related to the course topic, conducts in-depth library research, and produces a research paper. The experience culminates in a poster presentation, shared both in class and at the Honors Colloquium Student Showcase, where students present their work to the broader QCC community. Many participants also take their research beyond campus, presenting at the Undergraduate Research Conference at UMass Amherst in April.
At last month's showcase, students presented their research on the theme, “The Small Engines of Humanity: Germs, Cooties, and Diseases – Microbial Impact & Societal Transformation,” which examined how microbes (tiny organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and algae) shape human life and culture. Co-taught by Associate Professor of Biology Opeyemi Odewale and Professor of English John Stazinski, the course bridges science and the humanities, guiding students through an exploration of microbes’ influence on contemporary societal challenges.
“IDS 200 is unique among classes at QCC in that the students, every single semester, become very close and end up forming a true learning community," said Stazinski. "They're genuinely engaged by each other's projects and tend to keep each other on track.”
The research topics this semester were as diverse as they were fascinating:
- Luis Cruz investigated the Gut-Eye Axis, inspired by his background in ophthalmology and future plans for graduate school and a Ph.D. His project explored early eye treatment options to prevent surgery. “As an older student," Cruz reflected, "this has helped prepare me for what’s next.”
- Emma Dattis examined how music and social networks influence the gut microbiome, uncovering links between cultural factors and microbial health.
- Chelsea Scanlon explored microbes and beauty standards, tracing their role from ancient Egyptian kohl eyeliner to modern Botox.
- Other projects delved into microbial survival in space, the connection between depression and the microbiome, intergenerational trauma and more.
The Honors Colloquium is more than a class; it’s a transformative experience that challenges students to think critically, communicate effectively, and engage deeply with ideas that matter.
For more information on the Commonwealth Honors program, contact Jean Kennedy at jkennedy@qcc.mass.edu.