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Abstract

The Florida Undergraduate Research Association (FURA) is thrilled to partner with the Florida Gulf Coast University to launch the second edition of the Florida Undergraduate Research Journal (FURJ)! Helmed by Dr. Melodie Eichbauer along with a talented and committed Editorial Board, FURJ continues to be the first peer-reviewed undergraduate research journal composed of submissions from students across the state. FURA would like to offer special recognition to the authors whose research you will read about in the following pages, scholarship spanning across the disciplinary spectrum.Dissemination, or the sharing of research, is a crucial component of the overall research process. It is not sufficient to conduct our research, if we are not sharing it in ways that benefit the wider public. FURA has long supported undergraduate research sharing through the Florida Undergraduate Research Conference, one of the nation's largest multi-disciplinary research conferences that is open to all undergraduate researchers from any Florida higher education institution. The addition of the Florida Undergraduate Research Journal provides another significant way for undergraduate researchers across Florida to share their research with this wider community, stretching beyond the boundaries of their individual institutions. We are especially delighted to have created a permanent DOI for the journal, so the incredible work of these undergraduate researchers will remain easily accessible moving into the future.Again, congratulations to the student authors represented in our inaugural journal and a very special thank you to all those who volunteered their time to review submissions and craft this impressive feat. For those interested in joining the editorial board or submitting your own work in the coming year, please be sure to check out the FURJ page on our FURA website or follow FURA on any of our social media accounts. We also encourage you to review the great work published in 2022 in the inaugural edition of FURJ here. Happy reading!