Projects

By AUbrey Anderson

My research project explores how film marketing strategies influence audience engagement and their consumption. It focuses on how social platforms, like TikTok and Instagram, are used to support a film's success as well as provide direct opportunities for studios and distributors to interact with audiences, expand their audience, and develop creative strategies to promote films. It will explore the effects of social media services, provide the most effective marketing strategies, and examine whether they are beneficial. Ultimately, my findings may help marketers, film studios, and producers better understand how to advertise films in today’s digital and fast-paced environment.

By Kellinger Frey

I plan to explore the correlation between the revenue an NFL team generates and the effectiveness of its social media marketing techniques. I will take into account ticket sales, merchandising, and online viewership when collecting data about revenue and relate that back to social media engagement using different analytics such as views, likes, and followers. I plan to look at a few specific teams and compare the data I collect to establish a claim about how one affects the other. From there, I can find what techniques are most effective and how certain teams utilize or are failing to utilize these techniques to boost their profit margins. This information could be very useful for people in the sports marketing industry, giving them an idea of what specific factors are most important to increase their profits.

by Keating Cummings

Marketing is a multifaceted practice used in every field of life, most noticeably in the business realm. My project will explore the tactics that product sellers use to instill a desire in consumers to purchase what they are selling. By analyzing previous studies, exploring culture and its effects on consumer desire, and diving into behavioral economics, I will produce my own marketing plan to make either a real or mock brand into an aspirational lifestyle symbol. I will be paying close attention to the marketing journeys of retail brands Louis Vuitton, Hermes, and Rolex, all of which have a particular narrative driving their sales. This information will be used to create my own luxury marketing strategy and guide new business owners looking to enter the high-end fashion sphere without being overwhelmed in the extremely competitive market. 

By Ben Jetzer

Gen Z is becoming one of the most influential consumer groups, yet many businesses struggle to effectively connect with them. As a result of their habits of frequently using social media, and shifting cultural values, traditional marketing strategies are less effective. Because of this, my goal is to find multiple stratigies to effectivly advertise to the Gen Z viewer, specifically social media marketing. This is significant for many entrepreneurs and people in the marketing field who are still struggling to find effective ways to reach this generation successfully. At the end, I plan to create a guide for people who want to market specifically to Gen Z viewers, sharing every tip and insight I learned. 

By Dorian De Quillien
This project goes over whether access to low Earth orbit is limited more by supply than by demand. As private space companies keep growing commercially, demand for small satellites and launches keeps growing. However, the availability stays small. Through research of the economics behind government and commercial projects, this project will look at how cost and markets influence orbital access. My high-altitude balloon (HAB) project also gives real-world context to understand the small-scale space challenges.

by Ayla McManus

Most businesses strive for a healthy balance between profits and keeping consumers satisfied. However, for small fashion brands, it's especially challenging to achieve high returns and cater to every consumer demand. Society expects inexpensive prices, ethical labor practices, sustainability, and a diverse range of sizes. My project explores these aspects and delves deep into the sacrifices small labels must make to keep their businesses afloat. I have always loved thrifting, as it allows me to find unique pieces in a sustainable and cheap way. Unfortunately, specific pieces are difficult to find at the thrift store, where every day is a hit or miss, and most clothing stores don’t have what I’m looking for. Through this project, I aim to encourage businesses and consumers to be more ethically and environmentally conscious, and for businesses to establish a way to maintain that balance between customer satisfaction and profits.

by Ciara Paul

This project focuses on comparing female representation in the wealth management field in Orange County to that in other major financial districts, such as New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, Seattle, Denver, Shanghai, Tokyo, London, and Frankfurt.. For centuries, women have been underrepresented in the finance industry, making it difficult for them to obtain C-suite positions, as only about 21% of those positions in American financial institutions are held by women. This topic holds significance for me as a female aspiring to enter the wealth management field, with a particular interest in promoting female equality. 

by Logan D'Allmen

I am trying to solve the moral problem that private equity investments bring, as with Panera Bread, private equity allowed them to boost profits but they lost their soul in return and eventually lost business.

by Dutch McLellan

Private equity has become one of the leading forces in finance, while also picking up quite a controversial reputation. This project explores the core drivers behind private equity investment decisions. It also examines the different effects of these decisions on industries, workers, and communities, highlighting why private equity is often criticized for prioritizing short-term returns at the expense of others. At the same time, the research considers cases where private equity investment has created value, revived struggling businesses, and allowed for innovation. By analyzing both the motivations that guide private equity firms and the controversies that surround them, this project seeks to provide a balanced understanding of one of the biggest industries in the world.

by Masen McKinzie

My research looks at different sectors of the United States stock market and how they react to changes in the interest rates by the Federal Reserve. More specifically, I am comparing the leading stocks in the technology sector to the leading stocks in Utilities sector over the past 27 years. By looking at different stocks behavior, I am trying to identify patterns in how the different sectors respond to interest rates. This is an important topic because interest rates can influence the behavior of investors as well as policymakers. This means that investors and policymakers can make better decisions based on the patterns between each sector. I am really interested in researching this topic to become more educated on the economy and to improve decision making as an investor.

By Ollie Rankin

My research question is about how video games can help young authors write novels or projects. Not all teens that want to write know what is needed other than to just get ideas down on paper, I want to solve this problem using a game that I design that will streamline the process of writing a novel for these people. I am currently in the process of writing a novel and if I had had this resource before I had started to write it would have been a major boon to me. I wish to provide this opportunity for authors that follow me, so that they do not have to do as much research or trial and error as I needed to do.

By Tristan Le

In the modern digital world, it is becoming increasingly important to capture attention. Effective graphic design can be the difference between an event having few or many attendees, a product being sold or left on a shelf, or an app being confusing or clear. This research will incorporate concepts and studies on visual attention in order to develop a more objective approach to graphic design. This project aims to help designers by augmenting current design principles such as color, balance, and typography.

By Marina Villalobos

This project explores how the Bechdel Test, a tool used to evaluate gender representation in film, can be adapted to analyze Impressionist art. Traditionally, the test asks whether two women in a work talk to each other about something other than a man. While paintings don't have dialogue, this project reinterprets the criteria visually to examine how women are portrayed in Impressionist works: Are they shown interacting with each other? Do they exist independently of a male presence? This research raises questions about the visibility, agency, and narrative roles of women in 19th-century art. By blending feminist critique with art historical analysis, the project seeks to challenge traditional readings of Impressionism and highlight how gendered storytelling can persist across different forms of media.

By Reef Applebaum

My project studies how TikTok and short-form videos affect Gen Z’s attention span and the way we engage with movies. I want to understand how fast editing and quick content are changing how young people focus and connect with stories on screen; and if changes may need to be done to adapt to this new audience in the film industry.

by Katia Nguyen

This project investigates the decline in movie theater attendance, examining whether it is primarily driven by audience dissatisfaction with recent films or by broader cultural and behavioral changes, such as streaming trends and shifting entertainment habits. I will analyze industry data, audience surveys, and case studies of studio successes and failures to identify key factors influencing viewer engagement. The research aims to offer actionable insights for studios on strategies to re-attract audiences, while exploring how media consumption trends shape the future of the film industry.

By Milen Avakian

As environmental concerns increase daily, more education concerning the environment is being introduced in classrooms; however, some people will not care as much as others.  As such, my project will focus on which variables profoundly influence students’ attitudes towards environmental care, measured across schools in Southern California. This research will focus on schools across Southern California that vary in socioeconomic status, proximity to a body of water, and level of environmental education.  By evaluating students' perspectives at each school on ocean and water conservation, I will pinpoint which variables have the most significant impact on students’ attitudes toward helping the environment.

by Anya Gerber

This project explores the effectiveness of partnerships between NGOs and social enterprises in tackling the lack of education in India. While NGOs operate independently of government and social enterprises use commercial tactics to drive social change, both have a goal of improving communities. In India, they're challenged with nearly 300 million children lacking proper education due to poverty, infrastructure gaps, gender gaps, and various other factors. This creates cycles of poverty that education could help break. Through my research in how NGOs and social enterprises can collaborate, I uncover strategies that increase funding, awareness, and impact for underprivileged children. This research is personally significant because of my business, Anja Jay, where I donate a portion of the profits to support children’s education in India. I want to understand how social good can be combined with business practices to create lasting change and greater opportunities for those in need.

by Kyli Kanter

How does past reporting of the Israel-Palestine war play a role in people’s perception of the conflict today? For decades, the topic of Israel-Palestine has been deeply rooted in many nations’ minds and concerns. In the past, many people have looked at the surface of this conflict because of the news spilling out of the media. Not knowing what is credible or not, information has been consumed, reevaluated, and rehashed throughout nations. In doing this, lots of propaganda, false information, and bias has seeped through the seams and changed millions of perspectives for years. Being a Jewish-American myself, it is important to me to see the whole picture, as well as inform those around me of what is true and false. Not only do I want to be more well educated on the situation and have a neutral, but strong, understanding, but I also want to break into the reasons behind these changed perspectives and how they can be stopped to protect future generations. 

by Cameron Mostofi

This study investigates adolescents’ levels of media literacy, such as focusing on their ability to identify bias in sources and distinguish between artificial intelligence and human-made sources. Through surveys and interviews, this paper aims to highlight the strengths and weaknesses in youth media literacy abilities. In the end, this paper will determine whether or not the younger generation is prepared to make informed decisions in a media-driven world, while also providing educational ways to do so. This paper is unique because it not only evaluates whether today’s youth have enough media literacy skills to distinguish fact from fiction, but also educates people on how we can better prepare them. Many studies in this field have already pointed out the weaknesses in teens when it comes to media literacy, but few focus on education-based solutions to this rising dilemma.

By Tane Rice

My project explores how U.S. importation of Chinese car parts has changed over time and how this shift impacts American auto manufacturers. Since the 1970s, when trade with China began to expand, the U.S. has increasingly relied on China for lower-cost automotive components such as batteries, semiconductors, and electronics. Today, these parts are vital to modern vehicles, especially electric cars, making supply chains and trade policies critically important. This research focuses not on whole-car trade but on parts, offering a more specific lens to understand how trade barriers, global supply chains, and political relations affect U.S. companies and workers. This topic matters to me because it shows how international trade decisions directly shape industries that people depend on every day, while also revealing broader economic challenges in US and China relations.

by Mila Davis

Description Coming Soon

by Logan Marshall

This societal and historical analysis aims to examine the roles of ethnic groups in the formation of national identities in countries with varying levels of ethnic fractionalization. This research will be assessing the voting patterns of ethnic groups as well as personal accounts regarding this topic to better understand the sentiments emanating from different ethnic groups regarding national identity.

By Glory Velasquez Belland

This research compares government-sponsored stereotypes against immigrants during the Trump administration with non-government-sponsored stereotypes during the Obama administration to predict the potential economic impacts of recent deportations and government-led rhetoric in Trump’s second term. Using deportation data, both of Obama's terms and Trump's first term will be assessed and compared in order to draw economic models like the Labor Market model and the Aggregate Model, which will assess only immigration and its effect upon wages, jobs, growth, and productivity during both presidencies, providing a common ground for comparison. An understanding of human behavior and political theory is imperative to see how negative perspectives toward ethnicities shape public opinion and political decisions, and how this rhetoric morphs and affects the immigration decisions of those in power.

By Danielle Nagy

Firearms are powerful weapons, and have the potential to result in irreversible consequences. In a time of debate about what the proper course of action is regarding this matter, tensions are intense, and the truth can be overlooked—or even intentionally neglected. This research evaluates various legislative measures and their effectiveness in protecting specifically Generation Z from violence caused by firearms. In addition to examining laws, this project will investigate the initial interpretation of the Second Amendment, its evolution over time, and how that has led to the current situation. While gun possession is a constitutional right granted to all Americans, preventing disasters that may arise from this liberty is also imperative.

By Ariana Ghane

Laguna Beach faces unique challenges from climate change, including wildfire risks, rising seas, and aging infrastructure. Growing up here, I’ve seen how vulnerable our community is, which inspired my project on sustainable infrastructure. I will explore how innovative building and planning approaches can reduce emissions, improve resilience, and help create a greener, lower-carbon future for Laguna Beach.

by Jordan Casolari

This project asks the question of how childhood experiences influence not just the likelihood of criminal behavior, but also whether the crime was impulsive or premeditated. While prior research establishes that childhood trauma and adversity increase the risk of criminal involvement,  not much research has been done on whether this early trauma is more strongly linked to impulsive acts (such as theft or assault) or to deliberate, planned crimes (like fraud or organized violence). Looking at developmental psychology and criminal justice, this study will examine how childhood trauma affects brain development, emotional regulation, and decision-making, and how they could lead to different behavioral outcomes. Its goal is to aid in understanding how trauma shapes criminal behavior and potentially inform prevention and rehabilitation strategies.

by Lane Yang

The values ​​and pressures placed on individuals by society often influence their choices, and the constant interaction between the two shapes each society's unique culture and environment. Within these unique environments, violent crime thrives. Attitudes toward authority, gender norms, the degree of collectivism versus individualism, and the influence of honor culture all shape how individuals perceive and engage in violent behavior. In many societies, certain norms may legitimize or justify aggressive behavior, undermining trust in law enforcement and other institutions, further perpetuating the cycle of violence. This project aims to provide a more concrete concept of society by exploring how these social values ​​influence violent crime through comparative analysis. By emphasizing the root causes of violent behavior in society beyond economic and political factors, this research aims to provide more culturally aware strategies for crime prevention and community safety.

By Ocean Niederberger

This research paper examines the most significant legal cases that have had a profound impact on the real estate market. Beyond discussing how, why, and what has had the greatest effect, this paper will also discuss how the real estate market is likely to be affected in the future and the implications we can take to prevent future issues. In order to better serve buyers, sellers, developers, and owners who have experienced these issues firsthand, research is needed to analyze these matters. This research is significant to me because I am very interested in learning about the legal issues within the real estate market, as I am obtaining my California Real Estate Licence, and am dedicated to understanding the challenges faced throughout the market.

by Bencé White

Hungary, often referred to as the “heart of Europe,” has long been defined by its struggles for independence and national identity. Following the failed revolutions of 1848, Hungary became part of the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy in 1867, which grew into a powerful empire of over 50 million people before its collapse in 1918. The 1920 Treaty of Trianon drastically redrew Hungary’s borders, reducing its territory by two-thirds and leaving millions of ethnic Hungarians outside its new frontiers. This research examines how the treaty’s territorial changes continue to shape modern debates about borders, national identity, and minority rights within the European Union. By connecting historical grievances to contemporary politics—such as Hungary’s stance under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán—this study explores how Trianon’s legacy still influences European unity and ongoing regional tensions today.

by Chiara berman-yuhas

This study explores how new environments, such as school mobility, can influence adolescent growth. Most research focuses on the negative effects of school mobility; however, this project highlights potential psychological benefits and the positive effects that follow. Specific areas like behavior, mental health, relationships, and physical well-being are all factors that can be altered in a way that promotes growth. This research is significant because it is easy for adolescents to focus on the negative aspects in a sudden shift of environments; however, I want to recognize how these challenges can promote optimism and resilience instead.. I hope to provide insight to parents, guardians, teachers, and school districts on how their actions and extensive support can help play a role in making students feel welcomed in a new social environment. 

By Andrea Billy

The primary objective of this project is to compare the effects of various acne medications, including  Spironolactone and Clascoterone (otherwise known as Winelvi), on female patients. In order to do so, I will evaluate how they affect severe and mild acne, and if they increase redness, irritation, and sun sensitivity. This research will help identify which treatments are most effective for different acne severities, while also highlighting potential side effects that may influence patient comfort and overall treatment success."

By Audrey Calef

This research examines the factors that increase the risk of kidney disease in cats, a condition affecting over 10% of senior cats and progressing silently until it reaches advanced and potentially life-threatening stages. By examining factors such as age, diet, environment, and socioeconomic status, this study aims to gain a deeper understanding of the risks associated with the disease and identify insights that could improve prevention and care. I hope this research can help raise awareness within my community and beyond. It is relevant to me because I grew up with two cats, who both had kidney disease, and I hope to try to avoid this chronic illness with my new cat, Tobe!

By zach Hornstein

Emergency departments increasingly serve as holding areas for patients in mental health crisis. My project asks: what drives prolonged psychiatric boarding and how does it change patient care and resource use in the ER? I will compare recent data from a Southern California hospital. The data will display the average boarding time, while accounting for arrival volume, acuity, and local crisis capacity. Motivated by needs in the Lakewood–Los Angeles community, this work aims to separate crowding from root causes such as limited inpatient beds and placement bottlenecks. 

By Harlow Janssen

Exposure therapy is cognitive behavior therapy used by trained therapists to help treat patients with anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. While effective, many patients discontinue treatment due to difficulty performing exposures or a perceived lack of therapeutic benefit. For this reason, my project will explore  “enhanced” methods that psychiatrists can integrate during exposure therapy to improve the outcome for individuals with anxiety and phobias. My research will compare four additional methods: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Virtual Reality, Ketamine, and D-cycloserine. The goal is to identify which method most effectively assists exposure therapy and determine optimal administration strategies. This research aims to provide therapists and psychiatrists with evidence-based approaches to increase the success of exposure therapy and better help patients in reducing anxiety and phobic symptoms.

by Adeline Hlava

My project explores how the way people take weight-loss medications, such as by injection, pill, or nasal spray, affects their willingness to use them. Right now, the most effective and available GLP-1 drugs are injections, but many people hesitate because of needle fear, stigma, or inconvenience. As new oral versions are developed, it is important to understand whether easier or more familiar delivery methods could make these treatments more accessible and appealing. I am studying this from a pharmacoeconomic perspective to see how patient preferences influence medication adoption, health outcomes, and cost-effectiveness from both a business and patient perspective. This topic interests me because it connects pharmacy and economics to help explain how people make real choices about their health.

by Conal Buckley

My research explores the question: How does customer satisfaction change when interacting with an AI front desk agent instead of a person? In many service-based businesses, the front desk receptionist plays a critical role in scheduling, handling customer concerns, and encouraging repeat visits. However, missed calls and limited availability can result in lost opportunities. To address this, I am designing an advanced AI agent that can assist or even replace a receptionist by scheduling appointments and answering client questions. I will have my AI agent learn basic sales negotiation skills for membership conversions. I will implement this in a massage studio setting. I will obtain customer satisfaction data to measure whether clients prefer the efficiency of AI or the personal touch of human interaction. This project is personally meaningful to me because my mother owns a massage studio, and the findings could benefit her business while also being applied to businesses nationwide.

By Kelsey Dearing

My research question is what chemical formula can help rehydrate soil after a fire and stop mudslides. When theres a wildfire the soil gets kinda water proof and rain just runs off instead of sinking in. That runoff can cause flooding, erosion and even landslides which is really dangerous for people and animals. I want to look at if there are chemicals or mixtures that could make the soil soak up water again and stay more stable. This is important to me because wildfires keep happening more in California where I live and the damage after is almost as bad as the fire. If I can find something safe and not too expensive that works it could really help with recovery in the future.

By Angeline Elyazal

My research evaluates which dengue diagnostic technologies are best suited for widespread use in island nations in Southeast Asia. Many of these nations are limited in infrastructure, healthcare access, and continue to face rising numbers of dengue cases. The early and accurate detection of dengue remains a large challenge in this region despite its importance in the later treatment of the illness. This study evaluates three main diagnostic tools—NS1/IgM/IgG rapid tests, RT-LAMP, and RT-PCR—by assessing their accuracy (sensitivity and specificity) as well as their feasibility for region-wide deployment, which is determined by factors such as cost, training, portability, and infrastructure requirements. This research aims not only to contribute to improved diagnostics in Southeast Asian island nations but also to address the broader issues of global health equity.

By Liam Hanna

Description Coming Soon

by Jack Liston

This project aims to quantify cryptocurrency usage in crypto-adopting countries using machine learning to identify and classify specific consumer transactions withing Layer-2 Rollups. Building upon past applications of machine learning to analyze cryptocurrency activity, this investigation will importantly isolate retail payments from non-retail payments within L2 rollups in an effort to gauge the volume of retail transactions that would otherwise remain obscured. By distinguishing hits activity, this project has a broader goal of understanding the affect of cryptocurrency adoptions within countries and its inherent macroeconomic implications.

by Emma Petersen

How will the Laguna Beach coastline shift and change in the coming years? This project attempts to answer that question by studying patterns of coastal erosion along the town's cliffside. Laguna Beach is known for its striking cliffsides, which make it special and unique, yet also vulnerable to rising sea levels and other factors that drive erosion, causing treacherous landslides that hurt both the landscape and community. This research aims to educate the community on erosion and its effects.

by Hayden Petrie-Norris

My research asks: How do California spiny lobsters benefit from Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Southern California? These lobsters are both ecologically vital and economically valuable, making them ideal for measuring conservation effectiveness. I will compare lobster biomass inside MPAs to nearby non-protected areas to test whether protections increase abundance. This work matters because marine ecosystems face pressure from overfishing, habitat loss, and climate change. By studying lobsters, my project will help assess whether MPAs truly support species recovery and sustainable fisheries.

by Becket Gilchrist

My Project explores how artificial intelligence can be used to leverage and build an economic calendar that predicts upcoming financial news and integrates it into an understandable, simple, and useful platform. Economic calendars are commonly used between traders and students, but many are too expensive, too technical, or lacking in applicability to the average investor. By researching how LLMs and neural networks function, I hope to understand and build a cost-effective product to compare to commercial models such as Gomoon AI.  An important understanding of my research involved analyzing financial news sources and their reliability, since accuracy is essential for any user investing their hard-earned money. As a day-to-day investor, this project is ultimately significant as it bridges the gap between my knowledge in the long-term market and upcoming technological advancements with AI. 

By Teddy Rubin

Description Coming Soon

By Aniela Cavka

Fashion today is a huge global industry relying on many interconnected working parts in order for it to bring products to market. Unfortunately, the manufacturing aspect of fashion has a very negative impact on the environment and on many of the workers. There are many sustainable fashion brands, but not many that are viable, big, and successful. I want to know what it takes to create a recycled fashion brand that is big, and has a big impact on the world. To complete my project, I will be researching and creating a business plan to see how a sustainable fashion brand can be made on a large scale. This is important to me because fashion is a huge part of this world and my life, but we may no longer have a healthy world or workers if we continue to ruin our planet and harm people in the name of bringing cheaper clothes to market faster.

by Kevin Hua

This research investigates the impact of industry consolidation, specifically through mergers and acquisitions (M&A), within the media, technology, and telecommunications sectors. These industries are crucial to the economy, and their consolidation raises important questions about pricing, market competition, and long-term stock market performance. By analyzing historical data and current trends, this study aims to illuminate the relationship between M&A activity and these critical economic factors. The findings will offer insights into whether such consolidations ultimately benefit or harm consumers, competitors, and shareholders. This topic holds particular significance for me as an economics student with a longstanding interest in the dynamics of market behavior.

By Skye Cheney

This project explores what it truly means to be an independent artist today. Using my original music as a case study, I examined the full process—songwriting, recording, copyright, distribution, and marketing—releasing two singles: Midnight Swim and Inside My Head. I analyzed real-time data, social media metrics, listener demographics, surveys, and reflections to understand what drives growth. I found short-form, personal content sparked the most engagement, while playlist placements supported long-term reach. I also explored the emotional side—creative highs, self-doubt, burnout, and the pressure of doing it all. Finally, I considered the trade-offs between independence and label support. This project aims to offer an honest snapshot of the independent path in today’s fast-moving, algorithm-driven industry.

By Tristan Le

In the modern digital world, it is becoming increasingly important to capture attention. Effective graphic design can be the difference between an event having few or many attendees, a product being sold or left on a shelf, or an app being confusing or clear. This research will incorporate concepts and studies on visual attention in order to develop a more objective approach to graphic design. This project aims to help designers by augmenting current design principles such as color, balance, and typography.

By Arshawn Roohian

My research focuses on how the strategic use of color and lighting in interior design influences cognitive and emotional responses in residential versus hospitality spaces. Color and lighting play significant roles in designing a space, as they affect how people think, feel, and behave. In residential spaces, these design elements can create a sense of comfort and relaxation, while in hospitality environments, they are often used to create welcoming and comfortable atmospheres for guests. Understanding the psychological effects of color and lighting is important because it allows designers to create spaces that support the overall well-being. I will be working alongside an experienced interior designer, applying their knowledge and expertise to analyze real spaces and refine my research.

By Ruby Samson

My project explores how athlete endorsements shape both brand value and public perception. Focusing on case studies like Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Lance Armstrong, I analyzed how personal image, scandals, and values impact the success—or failure—of athlete-brand partnerships. Using Nike’s financial reports, Q Scores, and nonprofit financial data, I evaluated how endorsements elevate or endanger brand reputation. The findings show that alignment between an athlete’s character and a company’s values is crucial, especially as consumer expectations grow in the digital and NIL eras.

By Sophia Utge

My project was about evaluating the effects of fast fashion on Indian craftsmanship and what steps can be taken to preserve and revive the traditional handicraft that has been passed down through centuries. By exploring the complicated economic aspects of the fast fashion industry in India, this research will explore the reasons behind why the handicraft industry has suffered so much in the 21st century and what solutions can be implemented to save it. Additionally, this research will explore the government's role in both industries and the costs and benefits for workers in either field. Lastly, this project hopes to continue the conversation in advocating for sustainable and respectful approaches to fashion that will honor both workers and the history behind their craft. 

by Lili Bazargan

The Fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the reunification of long-divided East and West Germany led to tensions and opposing viewpoints based on starkly contrasting lifestyles. Today, people in the former East are twice as likely to have favorable attitudes towards the far-right populist party, Alternative for Germany (AfD). AfD weaponizes concerns about immigration to achieve political gains and uses Islamophobic rhetoric to call for a "pure" Germany. Analyzing demographics of Young AfD's social media followers will provide an understanding of the age, gender and region of supporters. AfD's main social media platform will indicate common themes that garner support from followers. This paper will focus on growing far-right sentiments among youth in Germany and how the formation of Young Alternative for Germany (JA) empowers dangerous anti-Muslim attitudes. 

By Kate Hennessey

This research explores why countries like Germany have elected long-serving female leaders while the United States has yet to elect a female president or reach gender parity in Congress. Focusing on societal attitudes reflected on social media, the study analyzes campaign posts from Kamala Harris and Hillary Clinton across Instagram, TikTok, and X, identifying recurring themes, language, and tone around key political events. It also compares the political systems and cultural values of countries led by women such as Angela Merkel, Jacinda Ardern, and Claudia Sheinbaum. The project aims to understand barriers facing women in U.S. politics and inspire young women to pursue political careers.

By Carter McKinzie

This historical investigation aims to evaluate the enduring cultural legacy of the Croatian Party of Rights, a far right neo-fascist Party in that former Yugoslav Republic.  The investigation will be looking at Croatian Textbook adoption and their connection to voting patterns since Croatia joined the European Union in 2013.  Since then Croatian schools had to adhere to EU education standards, during which certain regions' schools veered away from nationalist revisionist history textbooks.  This study will seek to find a link between those patterns and current politics in Croatia 

By Kiera Robinson

My project explores how value-based matching can increase student engagement with global humanitarian issues. I created the Humanitarian Impact Index (HII), a website that helps students identify which crisis aligns most closely with their personal values. Through a two-group experiment in Government and Multicultural Studies classes at LBHS, I measured whether students were more motivated to learn and take action when guided to an unexpected but personally relevant crisis topic. Data suggests that algorithmically matched topics led to greater emotional investment and curiosity than independent research alone. This project matters to me because I believe global education should not only inform but also resonate personally, inspiring action through empathy and connection.

By Maddie Rootlieb

By analyzing firsthand accounts, memoirs, and written stories, this study aims to understand how personal experiences can provide a voice for survivors of sexual exploitation and enact meaningful change within government policies. The specific research will focus on sexual exploitation during WWII. This study will also identify the governmental policies that were put into place because of the exploitation then and compare them with policies now.

By Trenton Tran

In the public school system, there are many improvements to be made to accommodate students with special needs and the "gifted." Special needs students especially are often overlooked within public education, and I believe that "gifted" students are another group of students with unique needs and require a unique environment. Students should love to learn, and I believe I've found a way to bring that interest back. This project focuses on the creation of a hybrid model between the Montessori Method and traditional education in a California public school with respect to public school limitations. Therefore, the following paper will include smaller, more approachable methods for educators to get students more engaged. While my data is general population-based, the background research I have done for this paper translates to Special Education. I hope to bring a conclusion that can be a stepping stone for the education system not just at Laguna Beach High, but also for other high schools.

by Selena Hsu

This research started by trying to upgrade pediatric nebulizers. However, this research chased a dead end since those devices are now largely obsolete. After that, I started researching the most commonly-used pediatric medical device in my School District, which yielded inconclusive results. I discovered that Diabetic Type II is becoming more common in United States in the past 40 years because the US food industry and more children and young people are not getting enough exercise. I continued by researching further on device that injects insulin into the body: vial & syringes, insulin pen, and insulin pump. I decided to make a case for the insulin pen based on a child-friendly, attractive cartoon character.

By Allie Nottage

While global physicians have decreased opioid prescriptions by 44% since 2011, an alarming trend has emerged: the overdose deaths and addiction rates have not declined. They are actually rising. This suggests that over-prescribing is not the root cause of painkiller abuse. So, what is the real issue? This study aims to explore how decisions made during drug development may shape real-world outcomes like safety, accessibility, and potential for abuse. It focuses not only on opioids but also on other pain-management drugs that affect patients.

By Delaney Mangan

My project explored the challenges of conducting a social media detox study among high school students. Originally designed as an experiment comparing three detox methods including gradual reduction, restricted access using a device called Brick, and complete disconnection. The study shifted into a case study due to low participant engagement. Through attempted recruitment, partial participation, and follow-up feedback, the project uncovered key emotional, academic, and logistical barriers teens face when trying to reduce social media use. Although full data collection wasn’t achieved, the project offers insight into the real-world difficulties of behavior-change research and highlights the importance of designing digital wellness efforts that are flexible, realistic, and emotionally aware.

By Tess Smialowicz

Human trafficking is a global crisis that often goes unrecognized in healthcare. I surveyed physicians from hospitals like CHOC and Providence Mission to uncover barriers to victim identification, then analyzed responses to find gaps in training and response. Based on this, I created an educational flyer for healthcare professionals outlining key indicators of trafficking, response algorithms, and access to screening tools and resources. I also launched an administrative awareness campaign via email to share findings, promote standardized protocols, and advocate for institution-wide training programs. This issue matters deeply to me, not just because of my passion for advocacy, but because healthcare providers are often the only point of contact for victims. Empowering them with the right tools can transform lives and help bring victims to safety.

by Frederic Butler

The project will focus on analyzing the effectiveness of changing the parameters of the NEAT algorithm in improving runtime and capacity to learn. The NEAT algorithm works by practicing natural selection on neural networks, which function like small digital models of brains. These neural networks are then used to populate new generations of neural networks with some modifications. This project will help people who use machine learning models better understand how to improve NEAT and related algorithms. It will help reduce the amount of energy spent on the training stages of these programs and allow them to be more efficient, more powerful, and less costly.

By Kelsey Dearing

My project's incentive is to examine the dangers of nuclear energy and waste and compare them to what people think and know. I explored the radioactivity of nuclear waste from power plants all around the US by measuring their average MRem, which is the dose of radioactivity you receive. I compared this data to similar medical devices and common things like eating a banana. Then, I sent out a survey asking people's opinions of nuclear energy while also surveying how well they know what nuclear energy is. 

By Anna Sandquist

After the Pipeline P00547 Oil Spill of 2021 that polluted Orange County beaches with crude oil, organizations such as the California State Parks were unable to hold the oil companies accountable.  Lack of data on naturally occurring tar formations made it impossible to establish that the oil on the beaches were the result of the oil spill.  In this project, I collected data on the tarballs at Crystal Cove State Park in order to establish their natural origins.  More importantly, as part of this project, I established the procedure for the data collection so that such data can be regularly collected in the future using citizen science. 

By dylan newburry

AI is the most significant, rapidly developing technology due to its vast array of uses and benefits it can offer individuals and corporations. In this project, I sought how AI can respond to and analyze something as complex as the US financial markets. Many politicians are concerned about AI's potential to replace many jobs in the workforce, and I will test this hypothesis. AI is not a technology to be concerned about but a tool we must learn to utilize to the fullest extent. It is undeniable that AI will substantially impact society and the economy in the following years, and getting ahead of the curve is the best action to take currently.

by aryana Mojaherian

I will be researching Instructure's product marketing tactics and the process of customer acquisition. From a marketing standpoint, I will be learning about how LMS's are marketing towards school districts. The key element is localization and tailored marketing outreach to most effectively gain new customers.

By Kevin Hua

The planned work involves developing a comprehensive business plan for a restaurant to be established in a city that has no similar cuisine offerings. The goal was to introduce an Asian restaurant in a predominantly Caucasian city, where I recognize the potential challenge of aligning local tastes to an introduced cuisine. The restaurant will be centered around our main culinary offering, xiaolongbao. The focus will be on outlining the initial capital requirements, cash sources, and repayment plans. The concept, service type, and menu offerings will be thoroughly described, accompanied by architectural sketches and detailed build-out and remodel costs.

by Lucas Silverman

I will be researching the logistics that would go into creating a music streaming app with unique features such as personalized recommendations, shared playlists, leaderboards, featured artists, and special listening experiences. Some of the topics that I plan to research are music licensing, app development, marketing, and bluetooth/location services. After my research, I will put together a business plan and financial models on how this app could be marketed, built, and turn a potential profit, as well as survey LBHS students on their music listening habits. This app would revolutionize the music streaming industry.

By Arend Hekma

How do you clearly convey various musical concepts through a book? When I began exploring the theory behind music, it seemed incredibly daunting. In my experience, it was difficult and frustrating trying to find sources where I could learn since none of it ever made sense to me. Since then, I have learned a lot from many different professors, and I want to retain that information and show people what I have learned if they are inclined. I want to research this topic to help others in the same position I was in many years ago. With my finished product, I hope to create more informed musicians that will contribute to good music.

By Gavin O'Neill

In my research project, I going to be studying the world of concert ticketing trends, aiming to see why prices have soared recently. I plan to study historical patterns related to economics, technology, government policies, and demographics, seeking answers about the ticketing economy's future. Additionally, I'll look at the impact of current events and technological advancements, along with innovative approaches by ticketing companies. My ultimate goal is to anticipate what the future holds for concert ticketing, especially concerning general and resale ticket prices. Over the past few decades, concert prices have significantly increased, posing financial challenges for many fans of live music. Through this study, I hope to offer insights into how we can continue enjoying live music without financial strain.

By Molly Riehle

Travel by fans makes up 70-90% or more of a concert or festival’s massive carbon footprint. It’s estimated that cars emit around 400 grams of CO2 per mile, and when many concert goers are traveling miles and miles to see their favorite artists live, the impact is massive; however, a Live Nation global sustainability study in 2021 found that 82% of live musicgoers strive to maintain an environmentally sustainable lifestyle. This desire unfortunately is not reflected in their actions, but they may not be entirely at fault. Many concerts and festivals do not have reliable transit systems, especially in LA, making it difficult to do anything other than drive. My action project will consist of researching the best options for festival transit and implementing my system in collaboration with Frank Arellano and Wyland at their upcoming festival in Dana Point.

By Luxy Bynum

This research paper will study Artificial Intelligence’s ability to generate an impactful and complex Hollywood-level script. With the rise of AI, especially seen in creative fields, it would be beneficial to be able to clearly see AI’s actual ability in scriptwriting to measure how much of a competitor it could really be. As I am applying for film as my future major/career, this issue is very relevant to my life, but also to everyone else’s life and the quality of films they may watch in the future.

by julianna franconi Krychman

My paper seeks to analyze how first sentencing affects young women as a group as well as certain aspects of their respective communities. It will look to measure if and to what extent sentencing and increased incarceration play a significant role in impacting communal and societal factors. The implications of this research will be to better understand the widespread effects of excessive sentencing and subsequent increased imprisonment on an under-researched population such as young women. Women within the criminal justice system are often overlooked in the larger discussion of women’s rights and issues. Developing a deeper understanding of its impact on young women is the first step in creating a more equitable system of criminal justice and a more inclusive conversation involving women’s rights.

By Carter McKinzie

Throughout the historiography of the various permutations of Yugoslavia, the development and role of pre–WW2 Nationalist Movements has yet to be adequately examined. This research aims to provide an understanding of the reasoning and the transformation between a far-right military organization, ORJUNA, and its fascist core to the Yugoslav People's Moment (Југословенски народни покрет), which took its silhouette under the fascist dictatorship. While these moments existed at two distinct periods, the underlying motivations of ORJUNA seem to metamorphosize within latter movement; it seems that in a broader scope that many of similar movements (nationalism) that organizations maintain the same purpose of periods (five to twenty-five years); however, it does appear that engaged population and devices do vary, meaning in essence that understanding these organization and movements require looking at the original, which in this study is ORJUNA.

By Miwako Miki

School Bullying, specifically during middle school is declared to be a crisis across the United States. When teachers are put into situations where they witness bullying, many are unsure of how to stop it in their classrooms. My research will test the efficacy of middle school teacher workshops on bullying prevention, from both a legal perspective using case studies and through an emotional perspective by sharing student stories of bullying and what they need from their teachers in certain situations. The research data will be collected through surveying teachers and their students about their classroom environments, before, during, and after, the workshops.

by Luna Alonso

The project will focus on studying what specific parts of a shopping experience trigger psychological responses. I hope to draw conclusions between shopping environments and the psychological responses they produce . Answering my question is important because the topic itself pertains to lots of people. Everyone (to some extent) is a shopper/consumer. Understanding what happens psychologically when one shops and how different environments affect this is interesting to me and hopefully others too.

By Lila golden

The development of one’s personality is a combination of their environment and genetic makeup, and certain people’s development is interrupted by the formation of potentially destructive, abnormal personality traits. How a person’s personality develops and how their traits solidify as they age, greatly influences every aspect of their behavior, even their violent tendencies. These traits can often times be categorized into differing personality disorders that are sorted into clusters. Cluster B disorders are societally correlated with violence: histrionic, narcissistic, antisocial, and borderline. This study has a focus on what impacts violence in people with borderline personality disorder with a concentration on childhood adversity, genetic components, and childhood intervention.

By Mia Levins

My project was about asking psychologists what outside factors affect diagnosing a patient. Because the DSM is not scientific text, many times psychologists interpret and consider things aside from symptoms presented. Comparing their answers to years of experience, was there any connection?

By Vanessa Kirstein

Good or bad, what one eats will determine how well one's athletic performance will be. I conducted a survey for our very own LBHS Football team to respond to with various questions of generally what they eat during lunch, where they go to eat during lunch, their grade level, and most importantly how they feel about their sports performance during games and practices. Taking a deeper look into that last question, I analyzed that a large majority of the lower classmen who aren’t able to leave campus during lunch scored themselves lower on a scale from 1(worst) to 5(best) on how they feel about their athletic performance. Upon observation, I noticed that our school lunches were lacking in proper amount of macronutrients specifically for athletes; namely protein and carbohydrates. With that, I hope to bring my recommendations to life in the cafeteria, offering a new lunch option for athletes to select that would provide them with better nutrition before their practices and games not long after lunch.

by Kellen Dyer

Cosmic rays hold vital information about the chemical evolution of the universe, and their interaction with Earth’s atmosphere provides strong insight into the behavior of many fundamental particles of matter. For my research, I have constructed two small cosmic ray muon detectors to obtain muon counts at sea level and at 10,000 feet on Mount Baldy. Analyzing the effects of altitude on muon flux can shed light on where in the atmosphere muons are produced and even other cosmic ray species passing through the detectors. Discrepancies between muon counts will also be explained through special relativity to determine the speed of muons. I have also utilized the muon detectors to measure the angular distribution of muons in our atmosphere.

By Russell Franconi Krychman

This project is about how advancements, discoveries, and progress in the space exploration field affects society, while also exploring how society affects the speed of which the space exploration sector can progress. In order to notice trends and relationships, multiple aspects of society were looked at, including entertainment, the economy, and education in the STEM field. These were then compared to a graph made from a custom scale that showed the importance and magnitude of discoveries and advancements.

By Logan Teeple
This project follows the well known process of aircraft design but applies it through the lesser researched and documented application of 3D printing manufacturing. This application poses many challenges and benefits that my project seeks to address and discover. While 3D printed RC aircraft have been built before, this project documents the feasibility of an inexperienced and unqualified aerospace engineer attempting to design a fully 3D printed aircraft. This is useful for many other hobbyists and professionals alike who want to develop their own idea into a flying creation through the relatively new technology that is 3D printing.

By Jonathan Kiannasr

Although the need for stents in children is relatively low, there are cases where children suffer from congenital heart defects and would need a stent placed. I will be comparing two possible solutions for stents in neonates. By researching both the Renata Minima Stent and the current off-label solution, I will come up with the drawbacks of both a tailored expanding stent vs. the emergency solution. I will make a compare and contrast model on both the effectiveness, safety, and financial implications of both.

By Aryana Mohajerian

How does effective cash flow management impact the success of a local Hawaiian chocolate business? The financial plan while trying to scale a business is what eventually will make or break the company. Having the capital to level up the business is crucial for long-term success. Lonohana is a local, natural, and ethical Hawaiian chocolate company. I will be involved in the process of creating a solid strategic financial plan so that Lonohana can scale the business with the right capital, financing, and budgets to put them in a good position for systematic efficiency.

by Hana Hagen

As a "sustainable" business owner, I found myself labeling my company, Hana Hagen Swimwear, as an eco-friendly, sustainable business. I recently discovered that almost nothing is sustainable, and it made me question whether sustainability is just a marketing ploy. I want to know how I can improve my business and make my eco-friendly label legitimate. Fast fashion has thrived in our consumer society, and its effects on the environment are beginning to reveal themselves, which tears me up. I am passionate about putting a product out into the world that I am proud of, which means it needs to fit my criteria of being environmentally friendly.

By Auston Hutcheon

I am the first student in AER to take the Business Challenge plan. This entails that I job shadow Jeremy Samson, the general manager of Big Canyon Country Club. I will also shadow other members of the club including chef Craig Strong. Chef Strong recently released a brand new dinner menu. This menu will last for around 3-4 months. During that time every 2 weeks I will be collecting data to find a trend in certain dishes on the menu; this will help chef better understand what the members of the club like and dislike on the menu. With this information Chef Strong will have a solid understanding of what he should and should not keep on the menu when he alters it again.

By Carter Ghere

My project will be to find a correlation between socioeconomic periods and changes in car design during those times.  As the car-buying public has lived through economic recessions, wars, and major cultural events in the last century, I want to see how car design has been influenced by its consumer base and lifestyles rather than a car's design team or brand.

by OSCAR JACQUEZ

CGI and Cinematography are fairly recent concepts originating in the 20th century which are fundamental in every blockbuster today. My goal and project is to find out the relationship between cinematography and CGI as well as how they impact each other in the creative process of filming. I hope to do this through a mix of diving into literature and sources as well as using other students to help my project through several procedures that I hope to implement into my work by the end of the year.

by Chanel Goddard

Going into the design field, I am researching on the wonders and interests I have about set design. To challenge this interest, I decided to dig deeper into the benefits and status that set design gives. Questioning how largely known high fashion brands use set design/production in their seasonal fashion shows to gain popularity and status is main focus which will lead into researching statistics between different brands and possibly different current events that were incorporated into the fashion industry. 

by Samantha Flores CarRillo

Social Media has made a big change to fashion in many ways, but most importantly it has promoted fast fashion and made it more popular. In my research, I want to analyze the factors that social media has done to make this possible and the far-reaching effects on our society

by Alexandra swellen

In recent years, several technologies have been developed to use artificial intelligence in order to aid interior designers in predicting client preferences. GSR is a wearable technology that measures a user's skin responses to predict emotional responses to certain interior environments. VAS is a technology that predicts points of interest and attention in interior designs.  Working with an interior designer, I will try to verify the accuracy of these technologies by replicating their results among real humans. 

By tyler palino

I will be researching what is the best way to educate older adults in Orange County to defend themselves against common online scams. I see that there is a lack of educators for older adults that live either alone or in facilities as the responsibility for educating older family members falls onto the family. With online scams, older adults are the most preyed upon. Due to their usually more trusting nature and lack of technology skills, they are the most taken advantage of demographic. I plan to research the most common scams, create lessons that will be presented at facilities, connect with local facilities, and create helpful pamphlets for older adults to take and utilize in the future.

by Kirra Moore

I will be creating an online and in paper journal on international relations. The purpose of my product is to measure how social media has shaped journalism in today's world. I found that social media has had a large impact on the world around me from attention spans to how we as a society view the news. This pushed my curiosity on the topic and I wanted to learn more. I will collect data on how well each version of my journal statistically and draw conclusions about how journalism has changed over the past decade in the digital age.

by oliver behunin

Zines are homemade, low-cost publications that have historically served disadvantaged or marginalized groups.  By circulating zines in their subcultures, many groups and individuals have found outlets for their voices that would otherwise have been silenced.  I plan to create zine workshops of my own among various random groups in order to measure the impact of zines on the participants' self-image, confidence, and feeling of empowerment.

By Jackson Lawsky

Many internal conflicts around the world start or continue because of disputes over natural resources. Often times, sub-national groups have disputes with central governments over the control of these natural resources and where the wealth from them will go. I will seek to determine if sharing these natural resources between the central and sub-national governments is effective in creating stability. The reason conflicts start has always sparked interest in me and I want to gain a deeper understanding of potential solutions along my research process.

by Sai machiraju

My AER project will determine how successful digital banking services and welfare systems have been in lifting large swaths of the Indian population from poverty. The majority of Indian workers labor in the informal sector, receiving non-taxable cash payments (instead of bank deposits) and minimal government protections. My paper makes policy recommendations based on data from India's initiatives, and I hope that my research will inform anti-poverty efforts in other developing nations. I believe that the large informal economy prevents India from mimicking the rapid growth of East Asian economies.

By nicholai grombchevsky

I will research correlations between government response to pandemics and other viral outbreaks. Throughout history, there has been opposition to government involvement in the health sector, ranging from disregarding health regulations to conspiracy theories. When making these decisions, it is challenging to balance logical thinking and the response, mostly emotional, of the people. By finding and presenting these correlations in a simple and effective formal, I hope to create a tool that can help health policymakers get to the best possible balance between health and peoples’ view and trust in the institution.

By Alexandra grombchevsky

Legislation has contributed to advances within the athletic training profession to create a safer environment for student-athletes. However, there has been little research regarding the qualifications that coincide with the athletic training profession. California is the only state that does not have certification requirements such as an athletic training license. Therefore it is necessary to research the effects this has on the athletes. The purpose of this project is to bring attention to the effects the lack of legislation has on high school athletic trainers and the safety of the athletes. 

by hailey weng

My project dives into how camera distortion can affect teenage mental health. As images teenagers portray on social media directly impacts their self-image and self-confidence, I hope to shed light on this issue.  Also, as phone camera technology differs somewhat from dedicated photographic cameras, I want to make it known that not all photos that one takes are how they appears on a screen.

by coleman judd

In the modern world, mental health is becoming increasingly prevalent as new diagnoses and illnesses arise. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a leading cause of suicide and general decline of well-being in trauma victims. Treatment to these issues is becoming harder to achieve with hard to access pharmaceuticals and substances with high drawbacks. A leading potential change to this roadblock is the institutionalization of psychedelics in the medical field. Due to their recent stigma with Nixon’s “War on Drugs” these substances were classified as Schedule 1 Drugs, the most restricted classification of drugs. This halted research and use not only in the United States, but globally as other countries followed suit. Here my interest originated as this propaganda against hallucinogens spread misinformation to follow the government's agenda. With careful study and regulation, psychedelics contain the potential to save lives against seemingly invisible illnesses in the brain. 

by logan teeple

My research will explore the future of passenger aircraft design. It will show what are the driving forces of innovation and what the current stage of aircraft design looks like. The importance of efficiency will be explored. The project will focus on three major technologies that the future could hold. These technologies will be analyzed to decide which one will most likely prevail. This research is important as the world relies on commercial aviation to interact with people across the globe. The importance of efficiency is more important than ever as our climate crisis and the imposed sanctions on carbon emissions grow.

by ranen seeck

All I knew coming into this class was that I wanted to learn about something cool, something unique. Once I heard about the opportunity to go to a farm, I was in. I didn't know why, but there was something about working with natural resources that made me feel a comforting pureness.  So sustainability came into mind, but sustainability can be done through many things, and it is impossible to be fully sustainable in this day in age. But through guidance and consideration, I chose to undertake composting food waste to save more money in order to grow your own food.  In the end, I hope to use my experiences to create a guide book that will encourage other families to compost as well.  I believe this effort can drive our thinking further to create a more sustainable future, that is a lot more cool.

By Maxim Bernik

How has Covid-19 affected the prices of meals differently in restaurants in different cities of the Central Region of Orange county? With coronavirus affecting so many restaurant businesses with some closing for good or struggling to keep open it has created a huge roadblock for restaurants. With so many people losing jobs, with transportation of goods being much more difficult it has affected restaurants to have to create a change to the way they run. They need to fluctuate their prices, to what the supply and demand of their meals are, to how they have such a small staff, or to the restrictions coronavirus has created for restaurants. There has been so many things changed in the restaurant business, so then how has the coronavirus affected the prices of meals.

by kate madigan

Especially due to modern ways of obtaining or selling products, it is extremely important for lawyers and businesses to fight Intellectual Property infringement.  For my project, I will be researching and drawing conclusions about the best way lawyers can prevent Chinese IP infringement specifically, due to the immense amount of infringement that occurs from there already. The purpose of this project is to expand my knowledge of Intellectual Property law and obtain data that could help inform others as well.

by logan teeple

For my project, I will be creating a digital program/platform for filtering and selling boats. My mentor works for Sun Country Marine Group which is a large motor yacht retailer. They sell boats ranging from thirteen feet to 65 foot yachts. I am looking to create a platform that can filter through this range depending on what a buyer is looking for. It will take into consideration many aspects such as speed, range, cost, and length. We will survey yacht owners to find out what was appealing to them when buying their boat and use this qualitative data to create the platform.

by hailey weng

My project is all about discovering how brands can maximize their sales through social media. I will follow user trends to understand what is deemed popular in the public's eye, and will discover different ways I can maximize the reach of a brands content. The purpose of my project is to gain a better understanding of what businesses can do to manipulate the media's algorithm in a way that benefits their company. I am partnering up with a local lifestyle brand, and will be running experiments on their behalf. Questions like what app is the most efficient when trying to sell product, and tactics a business can do to sell more product will be answered in my paper!

By jackson flemming

The film industry has produced content in relatively the same way for over 100 years, however, the rise of the digital age has introduced a new method of producing content for consumers. This year I will be researching how the rise of digital streaming services, such as Netflix, has impacted the way production companies release their content. As this new medium for content distribution has been dominating the film industry in recent years, it has placed the film industry at a crossroads. While most production companies produced movies through a theatrical release, streaming services have introduced a subscription based system that values convenience over experience. Many people are now wondering: What is next for the film industry? I hope to answer this question by comparing these business models to see which model will survive this turning point in the industry.

by emma purdy

How has surf culture influenced high fashion from 1980 to 2021? Surf culture is ever so present in 2021 fashion trends from runway looks to day-to-day wear. My goal is to gain an understanding of how trends work so that I can fully explain how surf culture has influenced fashion trends since the 80s.

by gavin zaengle

This project dives into the publishing of a video game, and specifically will answer whether a game creator should publish their game as free-to-play or as paid. Nowadays, video games like Fortnite and Call of Duty have millions of players online and playing every day. With this comes a lot of profit through in game transactions and the actual purchasing of a game. The biggest question is, which business model is overall the most profitable. This will aid new and aspiring game creators in taking their next and possibly most important step to constructing a successful game.

By owen dyer

This research paper seeks to determine if further integration can help solve the European Union's current political and economic problems. Since its founding, the European Union has been partially integrated, or half-built. The inherent incompleteness of the EU has resulted in inefficiency and has exastrubated several calamities. This project will analyze the role of partial integration on causing or worsening three recent European issues: the eurozone crisis, Brexit, and the European migrant crisis. In addition, I hope to determine whether or not these problems can be solved by further European integration. Ultimately, my project should provide reasoning for or against European integration.

by isabela reichel

In my research, I seek to understand the past, present, and future perceptions of Socialism in the United States. Naturally, this has affected and been affected by the respective state of global politics. In my opinion, Socialism has been vastly misunderstood as an ideology, mainly because of extremist-communist dictatorships during the 20th century. Even many academics refuse to have a civil conversation on the merits and drawbacks of leftism because of the stigma associated with far left-wing politics. My AER project mainly serves to answer how people think of Socialism and how this affects the implementation of leftist policies in United States politics.

by abigail roedersheimer

America has seen increasing polarization over the last decade, and the divide between parties becomes wider, more consequences are created. Studies have already found that Thanksgiving times have been found to be shortened due to political divide, polarization during elections leads to quality being less and less of a consideration, and polarization can make viewers distrust media with varying political views. Figuring out how political divide is created in the media and how it affects elections could play a crucial role in uniting the country and bringing trust back to the media.

by peter durand

By now, it is well known that climate change is causing ocean temperatures to rise. This has led to the bleaching and death of many coral reefs around the world. Coral reefs are one of the most diverse and ecologically important ecosystems on Earth and their conservation is vital to our oceans. But, climate change is also causing more extreme weather, which can cause colder temperatures around coral reefs. For my project, I plan to research what the effects of extreme cold are on coral reefs. My experiment will include setting up tanks where I can model this extreme weather and observe how multiple coral species react to the change in temperature. My goal is to collect data that accurately reflects the effects of colder temperatures on coral reefs around the world and data that can be easily interpreted by anyone trying to understand the importance of conservation of coral reefs.

by alexandra wyman

During my 4 years at LBHS I have taken a veterinarian tech classes and have heard many stories through my instructors about animals being turned away for getting proper care because of their species/breed. I plan to gather data from the general public and various doctors in clinics about their perceptions on these pets that have been turned away, and overcome these stereotypes for these pets and make sure they can all get the help they deserve.

By Gabrielle Denny

As Airbnb continues to affect the amount of customers that choose beach resorts and hotels, the unanswered question still remains: What are they doing different that is making them so successful to the point where customers choose Airbnb over beach resorts? This project lays out the reasons for the rise of the Airbnb platform, the opinions of real customers and their preferences, and the ways beach resorts and hotels can alter their environment and personalities to further attract customers. Through surveying, interviews, and research collecting, this project seeks to answer the major questions.

By Trent Ralston

The management styles used by different business most directly affects the employees work ethic in good ways and bad ways. To begin, there are hundreds of different management styles that result in a happy or unhappy employee. This paper will discuss the ways that managers treat their employees and how it most directly results in profits.

By Izzy Saunders

During my work, I plan on looking into the youth brands of fashion companies and how they attract audiences. My mentor, Iva Pawling will be connecting me with those youth brands and I will be gathering data on how they successfully develop an audience. Mostly, this data will be based on surveys from a list of youth companies I will be hand selecting. Collecting data on those will let me determine the successes and failures in fashion companies among the youth. These results could eventually help youth fashion companies around the world with their branding towards their specific audiences, speaking in a language that youth understands, and while also gaining inspiration from these examples and processes. 

By Aun Dabbas

Fashion has been developing and trending massively over the years which makes sense since it is the clothing that keeps one appropriate and protected. The vast industry of fashion made me realize that its importance on every individual is what makes it crucial to improve it in certain ways. I want to democratize fashion and revolutionize the whole procedure of clothing purchases.  My plan is to tackle and improve this field of fashion; by creating an online platform that provides a unique system which enables easier accessibility to purchase desired clothing presented on the platform. I want to make “having good style” an easy task by making fashion choices and outfits more accessible to the ones who believe fashion and style is only possible with high end brands. 

By Luke Teeple

This paper compares and contrasts how businesses grow and develop differently in the US and China. The primary lens will be from a purely economist-based perspective; however, when necessary cultural and political perspectives will be discussed to add background and/or when relevant. The focus of this paper will be on two companies and how these companies have grown and developed differently as a result of the economic systems present in the US and China. This paper will also discuss how these companies are reacting to the trade war.

By grace peterson

Studying the factors that prohibit teacher-student relationships from forming will greatly help educators and students understand what causes these bonds and what good comes from them. It is evident that students excel when they have a professional relationship with a teacher, but there are so many different things that prohibit these relationships to form. Many students say that a teacher-student relationship changes the student’s life forever, so the things that are stopping this must be significant. Researching the running thread between academic success and a friendship with a teacher is something that provides limitless information.

By nathan solomon

While modern American society has suggested to simply throw money at low performing schools, the country’s education system continues to remain in shambles as the educational disparity gap remains. The research conducted attempts to understand if the government's practices of issuing school grants has any effects on student outcomes and performances. The research project shall be carried out with the following strategy: 3 California districts given varying amounts of government-granted funding will be compared. Factors such as socioeconomic status, majority ethnicity, average household income, etc shall be controlled.

By Cole Normandin Parker

The goal is to study where students apply each year, take the data and show the ranking of each college and how many students apply each year from each school. Also, add in common data and different schools to show how there are many schools to apply to, other than for example the UCs and Ivy Leagues. 

By Madi Garwal

In this research paper I will be finding the effects and advantages of having new concussion testing technology on high school athletes. I will be using new concussion diagnosing technology to see if there are advantages to having a non-biased and quicker way to diagnose concussions in high school athletes. I will be trying to find if using this new test that uses eye-tracking effectively diagnoses concussions and if it works better than the current concussion testing and diagnosis process at my high school.

By Clara Becker

Veterinarians are at an increased risk for depression, veterinary offices are similar to an emergency rooms with the constant up and down of incoming patients. This experiment aims to prove that because of the extreme highs and lows of veterinary practices it puts the doctors at a higher risk of depression compared to the average citizen. To prove this the Vets will record how the feel after every visit on a one to five scale and also state the type of visit it was. The data will then prove that vets are at increased risk of depression because of the constant change of the severity of the animals being treated.

By ANTHONY RAMIREZ

This question is important to understanding the rising depression rate among teenagers in the U.S. due to an increase in marketing strategies masked by the usage of mainstream social media. Researching these industries and how they work will contrast the culture between teenagers now vs. those from the 90’s.  So far, there has been an increase of grunge aesthetic in modern teens as well as a high epidemic of drug use and decline in mental health. My research will find the answers as to how powerful the tools of commercialization are on teenagers today, leading to an unanswered question as to how dangerous the industry really is on younger generations.

By Abigail Amish and Julia Henry

Different types of prisons use many types of rehabilitation efforts for their prisoners. For example, private prisons are known for putting prisoners to work for below-minimum wage, and high-security prisons are less likely to have any sort of distinct rehabilitation efforts. Educational efforts and healthy living conditions in prisons have been shown to lower recidivism rates in low-security prisons, but this data could also be attributed to the lesser crimes committed by those prisoners. 

By Angelica Jorio

The research focuses on government operated homeless shelters versus non-profit operated homeless shelter. The city of Laguna Beach has had the first and longest city-run homeless shelter in Orange County, as well as a homeless shelter operated by Friendship Shelter NGO. Other cities in Orange County have shied away from the city or county operated homeless shelters because of high costs of running them. In substitution, cities leave it up to Nonprofits to help alleviate the problem. In some scenarios, non addressing the problem at all, dumbing their homeless in neighbouring cities. My research centers around the two types of homeless shelters, and, as a control, how cities without any type of alternative sleeping location have addressed homelessness. 

By Alex Coulolias

This paper articulates the ways in which the new coming of age virtual reality headsets are helping laborers working in factories or distribution centers are using virtual reality to learn how to operate machines. Through the use of devices such as the Oculus Rift, companies are now able to create a safer and faster work environment for the employees. By having workers train on machine simulations, stimulated through the use of virtual reality, companies are able to train their employees, and keep the cost of doing it low.

By Luke Gold-Sine and Weston Judd

This paper will explore the increasing problem of plastic waste in our oceans. More specifically, the process of how plastics break down in the ocean. Our research will attempt to provide a solution to prevent plastics from breaking down into microplastics. Microplastics should be considered a primary concern as they are harmful to zooplankton -- organisms that are necessary for a healthy food chain. Our research will include a controlled experiment involving plastic bags in several water tanks with various PH, salinity, and UV levels.

By Kian Trengove

I will be experimenting with different kinds of electrokinetic phenomena to see the differences in reliability, fidelity, and feasibility to manipulate different microplastics using electrokinetics. For example, it is known that some microplastics will aggregate with other particles such as sand in the ocean, which can be at least moved using electrophoresis, but not on a large enough scale to be feasibly implementable. The results of this research should also provide insight into the ability of electrokinetics to destroy or detect microplastics. 

By Henry Stewart

For my experiment, I plan on researching the California kelp forests. There are tide pools close to my house, so I have access to kelp that I can work with. I hope to implement an experiment where I record the density of kelp in different environmental factors such as depth, temperature, and sunlight and how it develops depending on where it is. I’ll watch how it grows, seeing where it flourishes and where it struggles to survive. I hope to learn what environment kelp thrives in in Laguna Beach.

In my research I want to learn about submarine propeller cavitation and use that knowledge to apply to altering the way industrial ship propellers make noise. Submarine propellers are known to have much lower cavitation and are made to move quietly. If this technology was applied to the current vessels producing the most noise in our oceans it would make a great impact on reducing noise pollution affecting marine mammals. 

By Jeremy hayes and finn van der baan

Due to climate change, the ocean’s temperatures have been rising at alarming rates, so we want to figure out how these changing temperatures will affect species living in our oceans. For our experiment, we plan on creating a closed system to manipulate ocean temperatures to test the rate at which Brittle sea stars legs regenerate. Our goal is to discover if the sea stars will regenerate limbs faster or slower and what their physical state is after completing the experiment. After discovering our findings, we plan on expanding our thinking into how this would affect brittle Sea Stars in their natural ecosystems and how their loss will affect the ecosystem around it.