May 3, 2024 | Digital Showcase | Humboldt Library
All Presenters & Abstracts
Intersections of Gender, Access, and Confidence in Women's Leadership
Presentation Year: 2019
This poster reflects my experiences in leadership positions within HSU campus organizing, and how those experiences intersect with questions of gender, power, access, and confidence. Although we might hope that leadership is open to all folks, this isn’t always true in the workplace. It was through my own journey of self-reflection, research and, trial and error to foster my own confidence and leadership skills, that I found myself asking how gender and power reinsert themselves in such contexts. My poster provides ideas for how we can foster these skills for other women in similar and differing situations.
Investigating the Genetic Diversity of Immune Genes in Non-Native Populations of American Bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus)
Presentation Year: 2019
The American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) is a highly invasive species that has successfully colonized different habitats around the world. Our project’s objective is to isolate and characterize the genetic diversity of a rapidly evolving immune gene in an invasive bullfrog population in California’s Sutter National Wildlife Refuge. The level of genetic variability in a population may help determine how resistant a population is pathogens and how persistent an invasive population may be over time. We compared the genetic diversity within this population to that found in other frog populations, including both native and non-native populations.
Investigating the Timing of Seed Maturation Inside Conifer Cones
Presentation Year: 2019
Evidence of high density non-serotinous recruitment post-fire questions if seed dispersal from a live tree is solely responsible. Studies suggest that seed maturation occurs before the cone scales reflex, and it’s possible that cone scales act as a protective barrier during fire, such that mature seeds are protected and remain germinable. If cone scales adequately protect seeds, then an aerial seed source post-fire is available for recruitment, relative to seed maturation and time of fire. This research aims to determine the timing of Pinus contorta ssp. latifolia seed maturation within a coniferous cone and its relationship to degree days.
Is ‘Populism’ or the ‘Neoliberal Project’ Challenging Liberal Democratic Norms & Institutions?
Presentation Year: 2019
Conventional wisdom in academia and media often paint recent challenges to liberal democratic norms and institutions as a a result of “populism”. In this lenses, the anti-pluralistic, and tribalistic tendencies of the demos, or people, of a political community challenge the ‘liberal’ element of liberal democracy. In this project I challenge this conventional wisdom, and argue that such an analysis does not take into account the causes of the what is referred to as ‘populism’’. To understand the causes, I argue that we must take a look at the cultural, political and economic changes that have been unfolding since the late seventies.
Islamophobia, Anti-Semitism, and Other Forms of Religious Prejudice in Humboldt County
Presentation Year: 2019
In Fall, 2018, Religious Studies senior Michael Howell wrote a research paper for RS 332 "Introduction to Islam" on Islamophobia in Humboldt County. Professor Biondo encouraged Michael to expand the scope to examine religious prejudice more broadly. To help him interview twelve Jewish, Christian, and Muslim leaders in Humboldt County and to publish his findings, Michael was awarded an Undergraduate Research & Creative Activity Award from the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. Does Humboldt contain an ideology or worldview (such as libertarianism, secularism, spirituality, or naturalism) that prevents violence or promotes civic engagement?
It Gets Better: Policy Changes Predict Implicit Bias Against Homosexuality
Presentation Year: 2019
The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of policy changes on people's implicit biases about gay people. Participants completed an online IAT task that measures implicit favoritism for gay vs. straight people. A time series analysis indicates that the average monthly implicit favoritism score (for straight over gay people) decreased following the legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States. This suggests reduced favoritism for heterosexuals over gay and lesbian people, b = - 0.83, t(164) = -18.74, p < .001. As predicted, people exhibited less implicit bias against homosexuality after the legalization of gay marriage.
Jefferson Community Center: Making Progress Where People Matter
Presentation Year: 2019
Jefferson Community Center is a non-profit organization located in Eureka, CA. This project will focus on their dedication to food insecurity and how they teach their youth programs about sustainable food practices. It will also show other services such as their sustainable garden plots in which they grow their own food but also plant native plants for wildlife conservation. My poster will show the variety of services I've helped with during my time there.
Jefferson Community Center: Working Together for the Greater Eureka Community
Presentation Year: 2019
The Jefferson Community Center is dedicated to fostering a sense of working together by increasing recreational, educational and vocational opportunities to the needs of the community. The excitement builds as our community shows its commitment to a clean, safe neighborhood full of activities for all ages. This project will summarize my service learning at Jefferson, primarily working with the youth programs. I will describe a few other programs and services offered at Jefferson, supported by photos of events and activities. I will provide contact information and opportunities to get involved. Join us with your ideas, projects and energy!
Kaulana Na Wai Eha
Presentation Year: 2019
In central Maui in the Wailuku district, a system of fresh water streams that sustained thriving Hawaiian communities since time immemorial is all dried up. Kaulana Na Wai Eha (the famous four great streams) is comprised of the Waihe’e river, Waiehu, Iao, and Waikapu streams. These waterways have been diverted since the beginning of the plantation era, to grow sugarcane. The sugarcane industry has now cease but the water is still being diverted and sold to private corporations, continuously draining the streams leaving no water for the surrounding community. I will be talking about the legal battle between the Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. v. Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation.
Keeping it Glassy: Skeletal Analysis of Ancient Mesoamerican Obsidian Weapons
Presentation Year: 2019
The project examined the damage caused to skeletal remains by ancient Mesoamerican weapons, due to the lack of research into this topic. The project focused on macuahuitls, wooden clubs lined with obsidian blades, which were produced through a combination of ancient and modern techniques. These weapons were then tested on animal crania acquired from a local butcher. The preliminary results show that the weapons left similar patterns of damage to the skeletal remains while having unique characteristics reflective of the individual weapon. These results show potential for future research in the area that could be compiled into a database similar to those used today for modern forensic cases.
Klamath Dam Removal
Presentation Year: 2019
Within our poster we will present the positives of the removal of the dams on the klamath and the effects that it will have on the water ways in that area. While doing this we will also inform about the history and importance of rivers like the Klamath that are being dammed. We will also cover the socio economic effects of the dam removal on indigenous groups that have thrived on salmonid populations. Scientists have speculated that the presence of the dams is responsible for the decline of salmonid in northern rivers. In conclusion we will make a hypothesis based on other dam removals to see what effect it will have on the area.
L.A. Sheriff’s “Our Mission, Creed, and Core Values”: a Subversive Standpoint
Presentation Year: 2019
The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department has strategically created a message in hopes of persuading its population that they stand for justice. “Our Mission, Creed, and Core Values,” may be considered an honorable message to its preferred audience. But from a subversive standpoint, the message is considered to target and criminalize marginalized citizens. This study will demonstrate how the hegemony uses militarized rhetoric to support their war on our communities. Ultimately, this research seeks to educate its audience about the ways in which messages, those similar to the LASD’s, continue to instigate hostilities towards and among the marginalized population.
Leaf Dispersal Trends Among Pyrophytic and Mesophytic Oak Tree Species
Presentation Year: 2019
We hypothesize that leaves from pyrophytic species (highly flammable species with historically frequent fire regimes) will disperse farther than leaves from mesophytic species (less flammable species with lower frequency fire regimes). To test this, we examined the leaf fall velocity and dispersal distance of four mesophytic and four pyrophytic oaks species from California by dropping ten leaves of each species from five different heights in the absence of wind. Preliminary results indicated that mesophytes dispersed farther than pyrophytes, and mean leaf fall velocity was slower in pyrophytes. Mesophytes could have traveled farther due to having lower surface area-to-mass ratio.
Leeroy Jenkins; Identity Formation, Investment, and Social Structure of a Guild in World of Warcraft
Presentation Year: 2019
World of Warcraft, an online fantasy game, connects more than 10 million players worldwide in a multiplayer story-based adventure. Each player builds a character and plays through game content individually or in groups called guilds. Through participant observation over the course of a year, this study of one guild found: social/hierarchical bonds/structure are reinforced in all group activities; and the correlation between individual time investment in guild play/communication and group cohesion. This research contributes to existing scholarship on online sociality by providing insight into the role online gaming plays in connecting people across time and space in new forms of community.
Mad River Fish Hatchery
Presentation Year: 2019
One issue facing fisheries management is communicating with the public in an informative way. Filmography has shown to be an excellent medium for educating the public. A major driving force of education consist of documentaries, giving access of new information to the most amount of people. In collaboration with the Mad River Fish Hatchery I have created an educational documentary that assists in further educating the the local community and students that visit this site. This project will reinforce the necessity of the Fish Hatcheries educational purposes and further continue their mission in fish management practices.
Makeup Design for Evil Dead the Musical by Amy Beltrán and Constance Hill
Presentation Year: 2019
National Award Winning Makeup Design for Evil Dead: The Musical by Amy Beltrán and Constance Hill.
Due to the theatre department not having a makeup class dedicated to teaching FX makeup, we had to teach ourselves the entire process of face casting, creating latex prosthetics, and designing realistic gore makeup. Our creativity ranged from using fake nails to create teeth on zombies, to using chocolate syrup to make fake blood.
Our collaborative design won us the national award for excellence in Allied Arts at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival back in February, 2019, as well as an internship with the Stage Craft Institute of Las Vegas over the summer.
Making Connections Between Queer Students and Resources
Presentation Year: 2019
The Eric Rofes Multicultural Queer Resource Center (ERC) works hard every year to provide resources to the queer identified students on campus. This can be a difficult yet rewarding position to be in. The difficulty being, at times, queer students have other needs that go beyond what the ERC is able to assist with. This does not stop the ERC from trying to connect students with other resources both on and off campus. With their guidance a resource zine was created. Its intention is to bridge gaps and make connections from the students to the resources they may find useful.
Mapping Our Way to Zero Waste
Presentation Year: 2019
A Zero Waste perspective is supportive of reducing plastic consumption. Zero Waste Humboldt cooperated with six local governments and three schools with sponsorship from Coast Central Credit Union, Strong Foundation, and Mad River Rotary Club. They obtained a startup grant from the Footprint Foundation to implement the process of installing water bottle refilling stations to support the local communities and reduce the amount of single use plastic. They needed several maps in different mediums showing the locations where they have installed the water bottle refilling stations. I supported their efforts by making a web based map and a printed map for their public outreach.
Marijuana Cultivation on the Yurok Reservation
Presentation Year: 2019
This poster will look at the history of illegal cannabis cultivation within the Yurok Reservation boundaries. This poster will include the impacts to the tribal communities and their dependence on the water resources used in maintaining cannabis farming, the impact on natural and cultural resources and the current tribal stance on cannabis cultivation.
Mask Design for Fantastic Mr. Fox by Constance Hill
Presentation Year: 2019
My concept for the mask design is rooted in sustainability, using found materials to decorate the masks. The masks are made out of items that are found in nature - items that animals would use if they were able to make masks for themselves. Ranging from feathers, to redwood tree leaves and bark, to pine cones, and to dirt. Each material provides texture that is accurate and unique to that of the animal, or to the animal’s personality.