STEM CENTER

The Anthropomorphic Robotic Arm (ARA) research project aims to create a safe and reliable prosthetic arm that can match or exceed the capability of a biological arm, while being accessible at a relatively low cost. The research for this project ran from 2019 to 2023, and it saw the creation of an ARA that was a modified version of the open-sourced robotic arm from InMoov. We called our version “DaeDalus”. In 2024 the ARA research project saw the creation of many original designs made from the ground up, including a manufactured and functional prototype. In 2025, we focused on a new design which improved upon the failures from the previous iterations, ensuring cost-effective, easy to assemble, and a fully 3D printable design. These improvements allow the arm to be more dexterous, and easier for the amputee to use.

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Anthropomorphic Robotic Arm (ARA)

DT-10 (The 10 Meter Drop Tower) is a portable and affordable alternative to traditional drop towers, designed for educational purposes. The tower is intended for studying key principles of physics, including but not limited to aerodynamic properties, instantaneous velocity, and drag. The drop tower is constructed from readily available components, such as extruded aluminum, lasers, 3D-printed components, microcontrollers, and sensors. This prototype consists of five subsystems: the Gravity-Gate (to drop an object into free-fall), the Gravity-Claw (to drop smaller and lighter objects), the LiDAR (to gather data points during free-fall), the Velocity-Gate (to measure an object's instantaneous velocity), and the Impulse-Catch (to safely catch objects). This poster aims to attract investors for future prototypes of DT-10 to improve the tower’s safety mechanisms, high repetition rates, and impact force measuring, while maintaining a cost-effective option to increase marketability.

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DT-10

(Drop Tower)

Electric Vehicle Conversion

The Electric Vehicle Conversion (EVC) project began in 2014 to contribute to the reduction of atmospheric carbon emissions by taking an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle and converting it into one powered by electricity. Approximately one-third of greenhouse gases (GHGs) are from the transportation sector, with light-duty vehicles (e.g., cars, SUVs, and trucks) accounting for 57% of GHG emissions (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2024). By targeting light-duty vehicles, an electric vehicle conversion would address a large contributor to GHGs. Using a donated 1998 Chevrolet Cheyenne K1500 pickup truck as the platform for conversion, its original components were stripped, and a battery bank, electric motor, and Arduino-based dashboard were added. The purpose of this year’s iteration was to optimize performance, robustness, and safety. Anticipated efforts include expanding the current capacity of the battery pack to prevent shutdowns under high current demand, upgrading the cooling system, and implementing better programming practices.

Mud Watts

Growing a Living Fuel Cell

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This project will explore the continuous monitoring and creative interpretation of bioelectrical activity generated by microbial communities in a MudWatt microbial fuel cell (MFC). Using the Pocket Scion platform, voltage output produced by metabolically active bacteria will be recorded in real time, enabling high-resolution tracking of fluctuations in microbial electron transfer. The system will capture raw electrical data over extended periods, providing insight into the dynamics of microbial metabolism under varying environmental conditions. Collected data will then be processed and transformed through sonification techniques, mapping electrical signals to sound parameters such as pitch, amplitude, and rhythm. By integrating low-power biosensing, data acquisition, and auditory display, the project represents a novel intersection of microbiology, environmental sensing, and digital art, with potential applications in education, research, and bio-interactive media.

Video Games in College Course Development

Our team completed a 12-week project to create an 'edutainment' game. Using the skills from our respective majors, we designed a 3D first-person chemistry game aimed at helping students challenged by traditional methods. The focus was on meeting neurodivergent students' needs and addressing COVID-19's impact, emphasizing evidence-based learning. The process included pre-production, creating a Game Design Document, defining the target audience, and using the sprint cycle. This effort resulted in an engaging, accessible educational tool that promotes higher-order thinking and makes chemistry learning enjoyable.

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Encryption Methods

In an attempt to make coding more environmentally friendly, we studied the efficiency of different Encryption Methods and pieces of hardware to gather data on energy consumption, power usage, and time of encryption. The experiment was completed by running the encryption methods AES, RSA, and the Hill Cipher in both Python, and C++ on a Raspberry Pi and macro software on a windows computer. We compared our data tables using the method and data type, whilst comparing their Energy Consumption in Watts as the independent variable. Using an ANOVA (analysis of variance) Test and All Pairs Tukey-Kramer (analysis of means) Test, we gathered that using symmetric encryption methods, paired with an interpreted programming language, is the most efficient combination when running cryptosystems. Additionally, testing also concluded that the lesser hardware-dependent device, Raspberry Pi 5, is more efficient at running encryption than using macro software.

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AI Encryption Methods

In a world driven by technology, encryption is necessary to protect personal data,

but it comes at a cost for the environment. We explored how much energy encryption

really uses up on cloud systems, with a focus on Amazon’s EC2. The runtime data was

collected from the EC2 t2.micro to test different encryption settings such as the file

sizes, algorithm type, and platform. Using the information, linear regression models

were built in an effort to predict the energy usage based on runtime and message size.

We found that longer runtimes resulted from larger messages. The goal is to assist

other users and developers in choosing smarter encryption setups and generate

recommendations that are both easier and greener.

Using Cannabis as Feedstock for Bioplastics

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This first proposal is for Cannabis research into bioplastics. We are looking at a collaboration with a team at Rutgers University (Dr. James Simon, Dr. John McLaughlin both at Rutgers New Brunswick - Hemp fibers) who are currently engaged in research using hemp fibers to produce bioplastics. We will be coordinating an experiment to utilize cannabis grown on our BCC campus to produce an easily degradable alternative to petrochemical based plastics. This experiment involves plant science, materials chemistry, and environmental science.

Training Cannabis Plants in Espalier Form to Increase CBD/THC Production

The second proposal is the propagation of Cannabis sativa in an espalier formation using a modified process called low-stress training (Cannabis training). Espalier is an ancient horticultural procedure to train woody plants to grow flat against a support. Cannabis is a non-woody plant and research into this method has not yet been undertaken to assess the impact on cannabinoid levels in mature plants. It is hoped that this type of morphology in cannabis would create a greater number of usable flower colas from each plant without a loss in the CBD content. This experiment involves plant propagation and husbandry as well as chemical analysis.

Apple Cider Research

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Cider apples and cider, or hard cider as it’s referred to in the United States, were very popular and abundant commodities prior to Prohibition. Despite their lack of popularity in the USA for the majority of the past century, there has been a recent boom in the cider-drinking culture of America. This recent boom has ignited interest in the cider apples of the colonial era that may have been lost to time and Prohibition. This study aims to find these heirloom apples and hopefully graft them to increase their population in the northeast US. We created a database of apple orchards in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, separated by county and state. Data has been collected on the apples that used to grow in this area. We also collected addresses, phone numbers, inventories, and responses from each orchard. The results will contribute to a body of knowledge that will help with the development of a cider industry in the United States and increase the quality and history of those beverages.

Summer Gardening and Hydroponics Education Program

The USDA/HSI NextGen Grant funds the Summer Gardening and Hydroponics education program, which works closely with the Turning Point Program and the STEM Center. In this program, we seek to educate and inspire. This summer we have developed an Open Educational Resource (OER) to provide lesson plans, fact sheets, and instructional videos to the community. This program provides students with experiential learning opportunities and inspires them to sustain their own communities using traditional gardening methods or hydroponics. We hope this program will inspire educators and students alike to spread this resource for anyone to use.

Breeding of Maypop (Passiflora incarnata)

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Maypop is a native vine found in the Mid Atlantic to South Eastern USA that produces a useful fruit. (McGuire 1999) Unlike its tropical relatives, Maypop is temperate and the vine dies back during the winter. Recent changes in the growing zones of New Jersey (Zone 6) have made growing of Maypop favorable to the area. The only problem is that the fruit isn’t that tasty. A group of enthusiasts led by the Experimental Farm Network (www.experimentalfarmnetworkorg) is breeding Maypop for size and quality to produce a high quality product for local farmers. The goal is to breed for large, pleasant, flavorful and early maturing fruit and large, pleasant, flavorful leaves.

New Jersey Carnivore Biodiversity and Behaviors

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Wildlife in suburbia has drastically changed in the past few decades in presence and abundance. Deforestation, urbanization and fragmentation of habitat, over-collection and hunting, and other human produced factors have caused many animal populations to decline. This has led to a significant drop in biodiversity in the suburbs. Since the enactment of environmental protections in the 1970s some species have been increasing in numbers and returning to former ranges. We propose surveying the species on the Bergen Community College Paramus NJ campus and surrounding areas using direct observations and digital camera traps.

Domestic Animal Behavioral Research

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For years, domestic cats were considered not self-aware due to “failing” the very flawed mirror self-recognition test. In our study, we resolve some issues regarding a traditional mirror self-recognition test by administering an at-home procedure and using TikTok filters. We created our own coding system of cat behaviors using a scale of one through five. The four completed subjects in our study exhibited mostly passive and neutral behaviors when presented with a cat face and blurred filter.​

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The New Era and the Future of Computation: Quantum Computing

This project promotes quantum education by linking theory with simulation. We began with classical computing concepts like bits, gates, and circuits then studied basic quantum physics principles. Core topics like qubits, gates, and the Bloch sphere were explored using vectors/linear algebra. CoCalc supported math modeling, while Qiskit and IBM Q Composer enabled circuit simulations. Algorithms like teleportation, phase estimation, variational algorithms were implemented to demonstrate real-world applications.

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EVC Golf Cart

We would like to convert the Horticulture Departments ICE* powered work cart to Electric power.

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The golf cart is small, light and has a small engine that should be easy to remove. We believe it may be either chair or belt driven with no transmission.

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The cool thing about the project...most of the old cart does not wind up in the landfill.

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If students can get well-trained on the conversion, we might even create a niche business converting old ICE powered golf carts.

Experimental and Statistical Analysis of Climate Data

This study investigates climate change perceptions and attitudes at Bergen Community College by analyzing whether students, faculty, staff, and administrators view climate change as a significant threat and a priority for the institution.

This study aims to provide insights into whether the major stakeholders at Bergen Community College feel that Bergen has a social responsibility to address climate change and what should be done.

Institutes of higher education, including Bergen, can foster climate awareness, responsibility, and action by integrating climate education into curricula, encouraging environmental career paths, and promoting environmental sustainability.

Separation of Caffeine from Tannic Acid

Caffeine extraction from tea leaves is performed with dichloromethane (DCM), making it the most commonly used solvent in organic chemistry laboratory experiments. On July 8, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency mandated a federal ban on the manufacture, process, and commercial distribution of methylene chloride (Environmental Protection Agency, 2024). This study aims to find a suitable solvent to replace dichloromethane. Among other commonly used solvents immiscible to water, Ethyl acetate was chosen as the best alternative. To isolate caffeine from black tea, a liquid-liquid extraction technique was performed, and the organic layer was attained. The amount of caffeine was quantified using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography and characterized by melting point and Infrared spectroscopy.​

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Electronic and Magnetic Studies of Heusler Compounds XFe2Si (X=Ti and V): A First Principles Study

This research will examine the effects of non-thermal physical parameters on the electronic and magnetic properties of a ternary intermetallic system, XFe2Si (X=Ti and V). This compound has d- group elements, Ti and Fe, resulting in strongly correlated electrons after hybridization. This creates an unpredictable electron behavior within the crystal structure, which can potentially be a source of novel physical properties. The compounds’ ground state was examined using computational methods with the Expanse supercomputer and Quantum Espresso. First, the ground state was examined with volume optimization (VO) by using the method of VC-relax and then SCF calculations, followed by an analysis using the Equation of State (EOS). The ground state of TiFeSi was a non-magnetic semiconductor, and VFeSi was a ferromagnetic metal. The crystal structure, magnetic moment, and effects of pressure and chemical doping on each compound are analyzed and discussed.

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