Topic

Capstones- Summer 2026

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Capstones in the topic

Restoring Worker Power in an Age of Plutocratic Populism

By

Melissa Meng

On

October 31, 2026

With an emerging economic and political system, the law drags behind, leaving the working-class vulnerable. This brief examines how plutocratic populism and outdated labor laws have weakened worker power. Through an analysis of U.S. labor history, current labor conditions and proposed reforms, it explores how the loss of key protections for employees furthers economic inequality.

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Fields Without Farmers: Why Organic Farming Struggles to Take Root in Tamil Nadu

By

Iniya Nandakumar

On

October 31, 2026

Most farmers are eligible to be certified organic under PGS-India, as long as they form clusters of at least 5 with other farmers. However, financial assistance lacks for these small groups, leading to transition periods without proper institutional support and decreased yields. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), a national scheme financially assisting with that transition, only supports clusters of 50 or more farmers. Considering that 93% of Tamil Nadu’s farmers are small and marginal, it’s extremely unrealistic to expect them to form such large groups. As a solution, this brief proposes the Small Farmer Organic Transition Act, a state-funded proagram that is parallel to PKVY’s approaches, but funds clusters of 5 to 49. Alongside this, a second proposal suggests the state utilizes its food procurement system to purchase organic food from its own farmers.

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Locked Out of Work - Fairness for Maryland Contractors

By

Oorja Munot

On

October 31, 2026

Locked Out of Work: Fairness for Maryland Contractors proposes notice and appeal protections for independent contractors who rely heavily on a single digital platform, ensuring fair deactivation procedures without changing their employment classification.

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Addressing Emissions Leakage from RGGI Member States

By

Neel Venkatesh

On

October 31, 2026

This brief explores the issue of emissions leakage in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and how it complicates RGGI’s stance as a leader and global example in reducing emissions. It further explores who benefits and who suffers as a result of emissions leakage, what has been tried before, and potential policy solutions to eliminating leakage.

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U.S Foreign Policy Towards Venezuela: Supporting Sovereignty, Keeping Security

By

Russell Dallen

On

October 31, 2026

Venezuela’s prolonged political, economic, and humanitarian crisis has created significant consequences for regional stability and U.S. national security. This policy brief examines the effectiveness of U.S. policy toward Venezuela, including sanctions, diplomatic pressure, humanitarian assistance, and recent military intervention. It analyzes the challenges created by corruption, migration, organized crime, and continued influence of Maduro-era officials. The brief proposes a new U.S. strategy centered on vetting Venezuelan officials, strengthening oversight of humanitarian assistance, expanding diplomatic engagement, and encouraging responsible U.S. private-sector participation in Venezuela’s reconstruction.

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How U.S. Immigration Policies Impact Fairness at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

By

Harris Babar

On

October 31, 2026

This brief examines how U.S. visa and entry policies can create barriers for international athletes and officials participating in major sporting events, particularly the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and how these policies can affect sports diplomacy and American soft power. It proposes a World Cup-specific visa pathway to improve the entry process while maintaining necessary security screenings.

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United States Cobalt Dependencies and Child Labor in the Artisanal Mining Sector of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

By

Katie Ong

On

October 31, 2026

This brief argues that previous United States actions, including import bans and general due diligence measures, have all failed to tackle the root cause of this issue. Instead, the United States must play an active role in solving the poverty that drives Congolese child labor to ensure better strategic advantage and supply chain transparency.

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No Organs Left Behind: Combating Organ Non-Utilization

By

Jaya Vashisth

On

October 31, 2026

The United States organ procurement and transplantation system faces a grave organ shortage, with an increasing patient demand for organs. Despite the growing necessity of organs for transplant, nearly 20% of donated organs are non-utilized or discarded. Thus, this brief aims to examine systemic factors resulting in organ nonuse and explore policy solutions to improve institutional accountability and utilization of viable, donated organs.

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The Failure of Oklahoma Legislation to Protect Autoimmune Patients from Non-Medical Switching

By

Ayat Nayyer

On

October 30, 2026

Because of rising healthcare costs and a lack of state-level regulation of non-medical switching, the healthcare insurance system has become ever more complex for patients, insurers, and physicians. In Oklahoma, current legislation fails to address non-medical switching and only regulates step therapy. This brief will cover gaps in Oklahoma legislation regarding non-medical switching, highlight the detrimental impacts on autoimmune patients, and propose realistic policy solutions.

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Struggling to Survive: The Urban-Rural Economic Disparities for Small Businesses in Texas

By

Varnika Kharkwal

On

October 30, 2026

This policy brief analyzes the financial inequality between urban and rural Texas and its effects on small businesses. The success of rural entrepreneurs extends beyond the economy, shaping the standard of living, education, infrastructure, and healthcare facilities.

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Regulation of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Cosmetics and Textiles

By

Divya Mohanraj

On

October 30, 2026

This brief proposes the Consumer Products PFAS Prohibition Act: ban PFAS as a functional ingredient in cosmetics and textiles, replace manufacturer self-certification with independent testing, and fund research into safer alternatives.

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The Digital Childhood Crisis in the United States: Policy Solutions to Address Kidfluencing, Data Privacy Gaps, and Financial Exploitation

By

Riley Tsai

On

October 30, 2026

This brief examines the growing gap between U.S. children's digital privacy law and the realities of sharenting and child-influencer culture, in which parents post, and often monetize, their children's images and personal information online with little legal oversight.

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Humanitarian Considerations in Syria's Temporary Protected Status Termination

By

Luna Bouhairi

On

October 30, 2026

This brief examines whether current Temporary Protected Status (TPS) termination procedures sufficiently account for humanitarian conditions, in light of Syria’s termination, and recommends reforms to strengthen transparency and consistency in future humanitarian decisions.

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Finding the Balance: Artificial Intelligence and National Cybersecurity

By

Aanya Shah

On

October 30, 2026

This policy brief evaluates three approaches to addressing this gap intended to balance national security needs and protections for private-sector corporations and their intellectual property.

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Ranking-Based Policy: The Detriment of Chasing After Gold Stars on an Individual and Institutional Level

By

Julia Markut

On

October 30, 2026

This brief explores the consequences associated with changes in curricula that prioritize exam performance. Additionally, it highlights policy proposals that, if implemented, will ensure that students are educated for the sake of their personal growth, rather than with the intention of meeting institutional objectives.

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Rape and Sexual Violence in Politics: A Problem for Both Parties

By

Priscilla Ha

On

October 30, 2026

This policy brief aims to tackle and target sexual offenders and abuse of power within the U.S. political system – particularly in Congress. It proposes establishing a nonpartisan, independent board to conduct thorough, transparent investigations, ensuring constituent protection and victim safety.

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Congress Should Require Watermarks on AI-Generated Content

By

Jesse Yu

On

October 30, 2026

This brief reports the harm deepfakes have already done to the general public, to politicians and elections, and to children. Further, this brief recommends that Congress requires developers of generative AI to label (or watermark) the content their systems produce so people are able to reliably tell a deepfake from reality.

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Improving Educational Equity for Native American Students in Tribal and Rural Communities

By

Cindy Wan

On

October 30, 2026

This policy brief examines these challenges and proposes increased funding and improved access to advanced classes and technology.

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Financial Literacy Education in American Schools

By

Aryan Jangle

On

October 30, 2026

This policy brief proposes the Connecticut Financial Readiness Framework and Financial Readiness Seal Program, connecting financial literacy coursework with a statewide competency assessment and an applied financial experience. The proposal aims to give Connecticut students a clearer and more consistent pathway toward demonstrating financial readiness before graduation.

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Protecting Children from Gambling Addiction: Policy Solutions to Reduce Underage Online Sports Betting

By

Drew Siegel

On

October 30, 2026

The rapid expansion of online sports betting has fueled a growing crisis of underage gambling. This policy brief recommends coordinated reforms to address this public health and consumer protection problem.

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Beyond the Camera Light: Assessing California’s Legal Framework for Young Performers

By

Milan Prete

On

October 30, 2026

This brief seeks to mitigate the long-term socioeconomic hurdles faced by child performers through educational reforms to the California Proficiency Program (CPP) and targeted modernization of the Coogan Law’s earnings distribution requirements.

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More Than Efficient Users: Amending A4352 to Require Cognitive Autonomy in New Jersey's AI Literacy Curriculum

By

Shivanshi Dutt

On

October 30, 2026

New Jersey's Assembly Bill A4352 would require every school district to teach artificial intelligence literacy, but defines literacy as the ability to operate AI systems, excluding the ability to reason independently while using them. AI systems are responsive, and present themselves as conversational partners rather than fixed sources. Research documents that this design weakens critical thinking, and that anthropomorphic design has produced harm to minors both mentally and physically. American teenagers are using AI chatbots for tasks such as schoolwork and information-seeking. This brief argues that A4352 should be amended to require cognitive autonomy as a fourth skill alongside the bill’s existing requirements.

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Supporting Florida Small Businesses Through Workforce Tax Credits

By

Omy Patel

On

October 30, 2026

This policy brief will furthmore explore how workfoce retention challenges afffect small business owners, employees, consumers, and the sunshine state of Florida. It detials and highlights the direct relationship between employee benefits and worker stability including health insurance, retirement plans and paid leave while also reviewing Florida's already existing attempts at remediating this issue.

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Civic Literacy as Democratic Defense: Mandating Civic Education in U.S. High Schools to Prevent Further Democratic Backsliding in America

By

Alice Ahn

On

October 30, 2026

This brief argues that declining civic education is a primary driver of democratic backsliding in the United States. It identifies that the prior incentive-only policies have failed us, leaving civic education inconsistent and deepening socioeconomic disparities disproportionately. It proposes a national civic education mandate on every student as a prerequisite to graduation to combat the accelerating pace of democratic deterioration.

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Artificial Intelligence in the Criminal Justice System: Balancing New Innovations with Constitutional Rights

By

Tess Sorrels

On

October 30, 2026

In this brief, I will examine the rapid evolution of Artifical Intelligence in the United States Criminal Justice System.

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“We are Still Here”: Seeking Federal Recognition for the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania

By

Madeline Yang

On

October 30, 2026

The Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania lacks federal recognition preventing this indigenous group from governing as a sovereign entity and accessing federal welfare services. This policy brief dives into the history of forced removal and assimilation of the Lenape people and explores potential solutions that account for the complexities of the federal recognition process.

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Not So Precision Medicine: The Hidden Ancestral Biases in Genomic Care

By

Yatharth Tomar

On

October 30, 2026

Genomic precision medicine is marketed as comprehensive care tailored to a person’s DNA; however, this promise only holds true if the patient happens to be of European descent. Databases used to construct treatments rely on European-biased data. It means the further a person’s ancestry strays from Europe, the less accurate their treatment and risk assessment will be, leading to numerous complications. This brief addresses the need for rules mandating cross-ancestry validation, to ensure a more equitable medical future for patients regardless of background.

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Closing the Gap: Expanding Civic Education and Youth Engagement

By

Zahra Zaidi

On

October 30, 2026

This policy brief examines gaps in civic education and youth voter participation and considers how practical civic learning, increased access to pre-registration, and stronger connections with local government could address them. It proposes building on state's existing programs to make civic participation more accessible to the youth of tomorrow.

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Closing the Gap: Reducing Racial Disparities in Maternal Mortality Within New York State

By

Anushri Rana

On

October 30, 2026

This policy brief examines the significant racial disparities in maternal mortality in New York State, where Black pregnant people face substantially higher mortality rates than other racial groups. It provides the history behind the issue and explores several factors causing these disparities. The brief then proposes several state-wide policy solutions aimed at addressing underlying issues and reducing inequality.

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Building a Coordinated Dementia Care Pathway: Improving Early Detection, Safety, and Support for Older Adults with Cognitive Decline

By

Ella Kanitkar

On

October 30, 2026

This policy brief examines how changes in hearing, vision, and cognitively demanding everyday activities may help identify cognitive risk earlier. The research underpinning the brief identified cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships among sensory functioning, difficulties with instrumental activities of daily living, particularly financial management and telephone use, and cognitive functioning, supporting the value of looking beyond cognitive screening alone

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The Hidden Deal: How Predatory Lending Impacts Us

By

Akul Raina

On

October 30, 2026

The following brief outlines the history of predatory lending and its effects on the most vulnerable groups of society as well as on the issue of banking deserts that create an opportunity to provide more people with high-interest credit. Three policy options are analyzed, namely: a 36% interest-rate cap at the federal level, addressing the "rent-a-bank" loophole via adopting a true lender standard, and increased investments in CDFIs. The conclusion reached states that adoption of a true lender standard at the federal level is the most feasible policy option as it will help to close the rent-a-bank loophole.

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Groundwater, Farmers, Rural Communities, and Data Centers: Water Policy and Economic Systems that Encompass All Parties

By

Milo Tetsu-Nishio Takemoto

On

October 30, 2026

This brief argues that California’s Groundwater failure is a governance issue, and it proposes three reforms: guaranteed representation for large water users, region-specific water market systems, and enforced water monitoring.

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Advancing Water Conservation Through Water-Efficient Technology

By

John P. Confrey

On

October 30, 2026

This brief examines how expanding the use of water-efficient technologies can improve California’s resilience against recurring droughts.

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Improving Passenger Communication and Airport Security in U.S. Aviation

By

Adhvaith Ananth

On

October 28, 2026

Air travel depends on coordination among airlines, airports, the Transportation Security Administration, federal agencies, and passengers, yet important travel information is often fragmented across different apps, websites, and systems. This policy brief examines how unclear communication during delays, security screening, tight connections, baggage pickup, and airport transportation can create avoidable confusion, congestion, and accessibility challenges.

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Post-Discharge Care: Forgotten in Healthcare

By

Pranav Kolli

On

October 27, 2026

This policy brief examines the lack of transition between inpatient and post-discharge support, specifically focusing on trauma patients served by county hospitals and Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Programs (HVIPs).

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Data Centers in Your Backyard: How Local Communities and Governments Can Respond

By

Sahasra Nersu

On

October 27, 2026

This policy brief explores the expansion of the AI data center industry into residential areas and offers solutions for how local communities and governments can respond.

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The Ethics of Genetic Editing: Balancing Human Rights, Medical Innovation, and Responsibility in the Age of CRISPR

By

Jordan Olson

On

October 27, 2026

This policy brief shows how CRISPR's rapid progress has outpaced current laws, creating serious challenges across disease cures, designer babies, and genetic privacy. It argues that the United States must replace its piecemeal regulations with a single national framework that protects patients' rights and makes treatments affordable.

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Mitigating Potential Public Health Risks Associated with Hyperscale Data Centers in Rural Communities

By

Huxley Sidari

On

October 27, 2026

Hyperscale data centers are rapidly expanding nationwide, but current policy addresses energy demands and tax incentives and overlooks public health impacts from surrounding infrastructure, which includes backup diesel generators, fossil fuel electricity, local water usage, and noise. This brief argues that public health should play a key role in data center regulation and permitting.

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Regulating Sovereign AI: Protecting Digital Sovereignty in a Fragmented World

By

Saina Priyadarshi

On

October 27, 2026

As countries develop domestic AI systems to protect data and reduce dependence on foreign technology, the lack of international governance creates risks including cybersecurity threats, privacy violations, algorithmic bias, and technological inequality. This brief examines these challenges and proposes a multilateral infrastructure hub, a UN Committee on Sovereign AI Assets, and mandatory transparency standards to promote equitable access, protect fundamental rights, and strengthen international cooperation.

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The Humanitarian Crisis within Our Borders: Reforming ICE Detention Centers

By

Nina Hernandez

On

October 27, 2026

The abuses within ICE detention centers have garnered national attention for their scale, severity, and life-threatening effects on detainees. This brief explains the context and urgency of this situation, ultimately offering solutions based on political and legal precedent to remedy the current state of detention facilities.

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Revamping Nutrition For All: Expanding Nutritious, Affordable Food Options for Underrepresented Communities

By

Maria Joseph

On

October 27, 2026

Numerous low-income, minority communities lack access to nutritious, affordable food and are forced to resort to cheap processed foods for sustenance. This policy brief examines the Food Inequity in the United States and the multisectoral practices which perpetuate this issue.

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Confronting Agricultural Nonpoint Source Pollution in U.S. Water Policy

By

Danyan Yang

On

October 27, 2026

Runoff from cropland—fertilizer, manure, eroded soil—is now a leading cause of impairment in the nation’s rivers, streams, lakes, and wetlands. “Nonpoint source” pollution is defined in a way that pulls agricultural runoff specifically out of the permitting system that holds industrial and municipal dischargers accountable. This brief follows that failure to its clearest consequences—nutrient-driven algal blooms, the Gulf of Mexico’s summer dead zone, and nitrate contamination now reaching the drinking water of more than 60 million Americans—and argues that the most realistic solution available to Congress is a stronger version of an existing policy.

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Student Exclusion from Fiscal Decision-Making in Howard County Public School System: A Case for School Participatory Budgeting

By

Saranya Ganti

On

October 27, 2026

This brief looks at the legal and structural barriers that keep students out of HCPSS's budget decisions, makes a case for School Participatory Budgeting as a way to fix that, and offers recommendations for giving students real input into the budgets that affect their educational journeys.

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Protecting Students Online: An Approach to Sextortion Prevention

By

Serrah Ssemukutu

On

October 27, 2026

This brief recommends adding sextortion prevention lessons to K–12 health classes, along with yearly training for school staff and awareness programs for parents and guardians. Together, these steps would help students, teachers, and families better recognize warning signs, get help, and prevent harm.

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Strengthening Mental Health Support in U.S. Public Schools

By

Sara Hamdaoui

On

October 27, 2026

This policy brief examines gaps in school-based mental health services, including staffing shortages, inconsistent funding, and unequal access across communities. It proposes expanding the number of school-based mental health professionals, strengthening mental health education and early intervention, and building partnerships between schools and community providers.

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Securing Tomorrow Today: Legislative Defenses Against Risks of Astronomical Suffering

By

Arya Seth

On

October 25, 2026

This policy brief will discuss the reasons why those two futures would constitute a risk of astronomical suffering. The brief will then detail measures that the United Nations as well as state governments should take in order to mitigate the likelihood of either two risks ever occurring.

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Closing the Wealth Gap: Combating Financial Exclusion in Redlined and Tribal Communities

By

Jack Lee

On

October 21, 2026

Out of eighteen Native tribes in the biggest reservation population in the nation, San Diego county, only one has a bank branch attached to it. This example is exacerbated on the national level, and therefore this policy brief aims to highlight the financial inequalities redlined and tribal communities face throughout the United States.

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Putting the CARE in Health Care: Reforming Pharmaceutical Pricing

By

Kyle Gulko

On

October 21, 2026

This policy brief examines how the U.S. healthcare system contributes to the rising cost of prescription drugs and the growing affordability crisis. It explains why the pharmaceutical market is failing, looks at key issues such as patent practices, limited generic competition, and pay-for-delay agreements, and proposes policy solutions to increase competition and make prescription medications more affordable.

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Preventing Drugs and Substance Abuse in Youth

By

Sohum Shah

On

October 21, 2026

This policy brief is about preventing drugs and substance abuse in teens. It talks about why kids start using drugs, like peer pressure, stress, or family issues, and explains how schools, families, and communities can help stop it.

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