Session IA: Biology Presentation 2 - Food Allergies and the Immune Response: Milk, Egg, and Shellfish Allergies (Undergraduate)

There has been an increased prevalence of food allergies within the last decade with very little information on preventative measures and treatments. They can have long lasting and life threatening consequences with a wide range of symptoms. Egg and milk allergy are most common in children whereas shellfish is most common in adults. Early introduction and immunotherapy have been recommended to desensitize the immune system

A Nudge Towards Excellence: The Application of Behavioral Economics in Education Policy

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the potential for the application of behavioral economics to the field of education policy through “nudges.” Given the difficulty of passing effective comprehensive education reform legislation, the application of nudges represents a low-cost, high-impact approaching to improve student outcomes. This paper offers definitions of several key concepts in the fields of behavioral economics and education: education reform, behavioral economics, choice architecture, nudges, and why behavioral economics is particularly relevant to education reform. Also, the paper describes past education reform attempts, including two that incorporated behavioral economics and two that did not, and evaluates their effectiveness. Finally, the paper offers nudge recommendations for students, parents, and teachers