Intrinsic Investigations: Exploring the Impact of Original Student Research

Intrinsic Investigations: Exploring the Impact of Original Student Research

by Bergen County Techincal School Students and Mr. Olivo

Education Society & Culture

Season 3

AI Integration into Mammography

This episode's title refers to the ongoing effort to incorporate artificial intelligence into breast cancer screening workflows. Polina uses an integrative review of 14 peer-reviewed studies to examine whether AI is ready to take on a meaningful role alongside radiologists, and finds that the answer is less about accuracy than it is about trust, regulation, and who takes the blame when something goes wrong. Scrub to 1:10 to skip the introduction.

Body Image and Brandy Melville's Instagram Feed

This episode's title refers to the academic term for the outsized presence of thin body types in media and marketing. Erin uses a content analysis of Brandy Melville's Instagram to examine how the brand's one-size-fits-all marketing strategy reinforces a narrow standard of beauty, and what that means for the young women consuming it. To skip the introduction, scrub to 1:10

The Portrayal of Mental Health in Ginny and Georgia

Selah dives into the impact of mental health portrayal on television by examining the Netflix drama Ginny and Georgia, a show that has quietly become a staple of teen viewership, and explores whether its portrayal of therapy and mental illness humanizes or stigmatizes its characters. Along the way, she reflects on how content that feels relatable and positive can still send complicated messages to the young audiences consuming it. Please skip to 1:10 to get right to the interview.

What's poppin'? Acne Stigma in Teen Sitcoms

The pun in this episode's title is a reference to the acne puns frequently used in the titles of episodes in teen sitcoms where pimples and zits become the stigmatizing focus of an episode. Morgan explores this phenomenon through shows from the early 2010s and shows how, when something is commonplace, it can still be a source of ridicule. (Scrub to 1:05 to skip the introduction)

Russian Stereotypes in "Red Dawn" and "Stranger Things"

Vazira examines how Russians are portrayed in the Cold War film Red Dawn, which depicts a Russian invasion of America, and compares it to their portrayal in the retro pastiche of Stranger Things. Scrub to 1:05 to skip the introduction.

Honorifics in New Jersey Gubernatorial Debates

Are political debates in the United States becoming more disrespectful over time? If so, how does that manifest at a state level? Tyler reviewed every New Jersey Gubernatorial debate from 1980 to the most recent race between Sherrill/Ciattarelli to see how candidate language changed (or didn't) and how that impacts voter engagement. Scrub to 1:10 to get started and skip the introduction.

Examining Eye Witness Testimony with a Meta-Analysis

Maria uses a meta-analysis to determine which variables influence the accuracy of eyewitness testimony. We discuss the flaws with human memory and how that can manifest in a courtroom. (Scrub to 1:05 to skip the introduction)

Narrative Disposability in Hispanic Love Interests in Television Shows

Episode 3 of the 2025-2026 school year starts off with a media studies project from Katelyn that examines the portrayal of Hispanic love interests on television shows. She explores how Hispanic characters inserted into love triangles find themselves exited the relationship or ultimately fulfilling their romantic intentions. Skip to 1:10 to start the podcast and avoid the introduction.

Season 2

Marine Heatwaves and Krill Temperature Tolerance

Addison gets the opportunity to exercise a passion for science and math and apply it to understanding the growing phenomenon of marine heat waves in the Southern Ocean. The discussion covers the importance of understanding the relationship between these heatwaves and their potential future impacts on krill and the broader trophic web. (Scrub to 1:05 to skip the introduction)

AI Storytelling

Meet Andrew, a student who enjoys creative writing and is curious and concerned about the creative writing abilities of generative AI. He examined how well AI can explore the Hero's Journey in terms of character development and compared that with the work of human writers. We close with a discussion of how we feel about AI being involved in the very human work of creativity. (Scrub to 1:05 to skip the introduction)

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