Ideafest logo

Ideafest

background 0background 1background 2background 3

The CSU has a new policy on freedom of expression. Learn more.

Breadcrumb

Presenters & Abstracts

May 3, 2024 | Digital Showcase | Humboldt Library

All Presenters & Abstracts

Filter by College
Filter by Year

Effects of Ladder Training on Sprint and Change of Direction Performance

Presentation Year: 2018

Trevor ShortKinesiologyGraduate Student
College of Professional Studies

Ladder training is a form of multidirectional lower limb plyometric training utilized by coaches and athletes in a variety of sports. Researchers have not examined how ladder training improves sprint and COD performance. The addition of 4 weeks of LT to a conventional pre-season strength and conditioning program seems to represent a time-efficient stimulus for improvement in sprint performance, stride frequency, and ground contact time. LT should be implemented as a warm up or neural priming exercise. These findings offer practitioners and athletes the ability to improve performance and induce kinematic adaptations at a desired period within the macrocycle.

Effects of the election of President Trump on the political dynamic of Humboldt State University.

Presentation Year: 2018

Aislin Edalgo Anthropology Undergraduate Student
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

This research is on the political dynamic of the Humboldt State University community. Specifically, of the course of the past year and a half I have been conducting three separate ethnography projects focusing on the effects of the election of President Trump, the origin of political beliefs and cultural policing of political speech acts. This research was conducted using participant observation, interviewing, surveying, and observation, with individuals involved being both students and instructors at HSU. This research has the ability to give a greater understanding into the political dynamic of HSU university and the beliefs of it's community members.

Efficacy of Variable Density Thinning at Redwood National Park.

Presentation Year: 2018

Kevin SolandForestryUndergraduate Student,Meagan BurgerForestryUndergraduate Student,Sonnette RussellForestryUndergraduate Student,Tyler DunlapForestryUndergraduate Student
College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Our group’s senior thesis investigated the physiological and water potential responses of redwood and tanoak trees to various thinning treatments that occurred during the Summer of 2017 in Redwood National Park. We selected 47 individual study trees among five different thinning intensities (No cut, 25%, 40%, 55%, and 75%) across three 1-hectare fixed-area plots. Our initial findings indicate a certain sweet spot which the trees seem to favor. Stop by our booth to learn more!

Energy Production and Profiling of Arizona, California, New Mexico, & Texas

Presentation Year: 2018

Kassandra WeberPhysics and AstronomyUndergraduate Student,Jacqueline GomezMathematicsUndergraduate Student,Christina AlvarezCellular Molecular BiologyUndergraduate Student
College of Natural Resources & Sciences

The states bordering the US and Mexico are very diverse. California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas each have different factors influencing the way they continue to advance. The past 50 years have experienced a large shift in technology as well as accessibility to renewable energy. In this project, we constructed energy profiles for each state, along with analysis based off of their unique aspects. Based on this analysis, we determined the state with the best quality profile and provided predictions for their energy usage in the years 2025 and 2050.

Environmental Impacts of the Homeless Population in Humboldt County

Presentation Year: 2018

Jennifer Mara ArvizuPolitical ScienceUndergraduate Student
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

There are many attempts to “solve” the homelessness problem in Humboldt County, but most have been unsuccessful, and they have not properly assessed the environmental impact that has been a result of human habitation in urban areas, particularly within riparian zones. Because homeless individuals are not considered within the traditional census boundaries, there isn’t reliable population statistics and the estimates vary widely. Within this research, I will examine environmental and socio-economic relationships within homeless population, including societal cost and environmental destruction.

Environmentalist of the Future

Presentation Year: 2018

Joseph KleistEnvironmental Studies Undergraduate Student,Jonathan GomezEnvironmental StudiesUndergraduate Student
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

The Humboldt County office of education (in partnership with HSU students is preparing) the environmentalist of the future by integrating their Classroom Aquarium Education Program with their Redwood Edventure Program in an effort to educate K-12 students on the value of aquatic environments. Their lessons speak to the balance that must be met to maintain and preserve California's fisheries and habitats and actively engage students to get up and out into their local environments where they can then see how our personal actions affect valuable resources.

Epiphyte Diversity and Distribution in an Old Growth Sitka Spruce Crown

Presentation Year: 2018

Alexander GormanForestry and Wildland Resources Undergraduate Student
College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Various epiphytes such as lichens, mosses, leafy liverworts, and ferns are known to inhabit the crowns and boles of old-growth conifers and hardwoods. This study looks at the diversity and distribution of epiphytes on a single old-growth Sitka spruce tree. Data were analyzed to test for significant relationships between species richness, abundance, height distribution, and substrate type.

Evaluation of the Scholars Without Borders’ (SWB) Undocumented Students Ally Training (USAT)

Presentation Year: 2018

César G. AbarcaSocial WorkFaculty,Ruby AguirreSocial WorkGraduate Student
College of Professional Studies

As a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), HSU lacked a project which served its Undocumented. DACAmented and AB 540 students. Due to the need for staff, faculty and administrators to learn how to better serve this group of students, the student group Funding Resources and Empowerment through Education (F.R.E.E.) organized and advocated for many year to create a student support program. The result was the creation of the Undocumented Students Ally Training (USAT) in 2015 and Scholars Without Borders (SWB) in 2016. The purpose of the program evaluation of USAT was to measure the impact of the training on students, faculty and staff members who participated in the training.

Everglades in Peril

Presentation Year: 2018

Kelsey BensonEnvironmental Science and Management - Environmental Education and InterpretationUndergraduate Student
College of Natural Resources & Sciences

This project is an interpretive panel designed to highlight some of the effects of climate change on the Florida Everglades. Multiple consequences have risen, many of which are reflected through decreases in the populations of a number of key species that make up the Everglades ecosystem. In this panel, I selected just some of these devastating effects to help bring light to the horrors that this ecosystem is experiencing. The goal of this panel is to both inform the public about the issues we are facing from the effects of sea level rise, as well as inspire them to want to take actions that could make a difference.

Every Body Humboldt

Presentation Year: 2018

Nich GrahamEnvironmental StudiesUndergraduate Student
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Becoming a 501(c)(3) under the Ink Peoples Dream Makers project, Every Body Humboldt aims to create accessible safer spaces for participants to learn skills and tools for regulating stress, healing trauma, making healthy social connections and creating new patterns. We’re currently working to eliminate economic, physical ability, and social barriers to learning these tools. Every Body Humboldt is working with folks at Humboldt County Correctional Facilities, with the general public at Om Shala Yoga, and Synapsis Nova, with intentions to work with drug courts here as well. I will be sharing some tools and literature for folks, while showing what is currently going on, our mission, and goals.

Examining the role of the ADCY5 point mutation p.R418W on cellular cAMP levels and how cAMP affects neuronal differentiation of murine stem cells

Presentation Year: 2018

Elizabeth ZepedaBiological SciencesGraduate Student
College of Natural Resources & Sciences

ADCY5-related Dyskinesia is a rare movement disorder, with early onset in childhood and adolescence. Previous studies have linked this disease to various point mutations in the ADCY5 gene. One study has demonstrated two of these mutations cause an increase in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). However, the molecular basis of this disease phenotype has yet to be fully understood. Our study seeks to characterize the effects of one specific point mutation, p.R418W, on cellular cAMP levels using HEK293T cells, and to determine if increased cAMP levels affect neuronal differentiation using mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs).

Exploring Environmental Justice with Girl Scouts

Presentation Year: 2018

Giuliana SartoEnvironmental StudiesUndergraduate Student
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

For my service-learning project, I've teamed up with the Girl Scouts of Northern California to teach about environmental justice and the connections between social and environmental issues. The project aims to empower these brilliant young girls to take action locally and advocate for environmental justice. My presentation will summarize my experience working with girl scouts among different age groups, as the girls connect with each other to create community outlets for activism.

Farmworkers unions in CA

Presentation Year: 2018

Ariana UrreaHistory Undergraduate Student
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

The poster will be on a research project I am currently working on involving the legacy of farmwork in California and their lack of support in regards to forming labor unions.

Fixed and Growth Mindset Shift Through Primed Short-Term Interventions

Presentation Year: 2018

Ana Beltran-CastilloPsychologyUndergraduate Student,Caitlin MacePsychologyUndergraduate Student,Zach HufftPsychologyUndergraduate Student
College of Professional Studies

There is more that differentiates students who succeed in school from those who do not, and focusing on differences in IQ will yield little to no knowledge about why some succeed and others fall behind. Research on growth and fixed mindset has shown that the way students perceive their intelligence, skills, and/or abilities has the potential to impact their academic performance (Dweck, 2006) . This study investigates the immediate impact of being presented with fixed or growth mindset information and uses time spent on problem questions as a measure of mindset.

Fluidity of Fragility: Modeling the Effect of Climate Change on State Fragility

Presentation Year: 2018

Hahn ArchibaldMathUndergraduate Student,Olivia HelprinGeologyUndergraduate Student,Jared WalbertGeologyUndergraduate Student
College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Summary of a mathematical modeling contest submission investigating the impact that climate change bears upon state fragility index, as defined by the Fund for Peace. Parameters used in this model include total annual precipitation and percentage of water made available to rural populations over a span of 24 years. From our model, we find that states that are fragile and vulnerable will be affected by climate change.

Food Insecurity Impacts Multiple Domains of Students’ Life

Presentation Year: 2018

Brandi L. GoodspeedPsychologyGraduate Student,Nena N. McGathPsychologyGraduate Student,Carolina K. Gonzalez-EstolanoPsychologyUndergraduate Student,Jennifer MaguireSocial WorkFaculty,Christopher L. AbersonPsychologyFaculty
College of Professional Studies

Research suggests associations between food insecurity and poor mental health outcomes such as anxiety, depression, stress, and disruptions in social and emotional development (e.g., Knowles et al., 2015). The current study examined relationships between food security and mental health outcomes among 1,415 college students. We hypothesized that greater food insecurity would be related to more personal problems, academic concerns, lower GPA, and greater instances of poor mental health. The present study found that food insecurity related to negative impacts across students personal and academic lives. These results suggest that food insecurity may be a barrier to academic success.

Forest Education and Upkeep

Presentation Year: 2018

Caitlin EhnowEnvironmental studiesUndergraduate Student
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

I have been helping Redwood State Parks with trail maintenance, removal of invasive species, and interpretive hikes through Patrick's Point's native plant garden. The goal of this work is to help maintain forests and trails, and educate the public about the botanical features of the region. I have also helped a biologist map plant diversity in various parts of Little River State Beach. The goal was to detect differences in areas that were both disturbed and undisturbed. I hope to contribute to the upkeep of Redwood State Parks in a meaningful way, as well as inspire others to see the importance and beauty of the natural world.

Fortuna Firefighting

Presentation Year: 2018

Robert JohnsonEnvironmental StudiesUndergraduate Student
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

For my research project, I engaged in volunteer work for the Fortuna Firefighting Department. To fully engage myself into the lens of a firefighter, I signed up for the full academy and will earn fire fighter I status. This entails firefighter ethics and expectations, safety, communications, tools and equipment, water supply and hose lays, fire behavior, building construction, ventilation, loss control, rescue and extrication, and wildland fires. The firefighter code is to save lives, protect the environment, and protect property. With doing so, firefighters continuously adjust to diversity, personal characteristics, personal responsibility, and resistance to change.

Fostering Preparedness: Service Learning with the Red Cross

Presentation Year: 2018

Nicole Goodin, Environmental Studies, Undergraduate Student
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Community preparedness for extreme geophysical events (floods, wildfires, etc.) is essential, especially since such events are projected to increase in terms of frequency and intensity due to climate change. For my spring 2018 capstone project I have partnered with the Red Cross to engage with their local preparedness programs. Our collaboration has allowed me to apply my GIS skills and participate in mapping their supply trailers and shelter locations, which I will overlay with additional data such as flood zones, wildfire prone areas, etc. The maps I will complete throughout the semester will provide insight regarding possible emergency scenarios and contribute to their effective planning.

Free Weight Bench Press Muscular Fitness Normative Data for Adults Aged 20-29 Years

Presentation Year: 2018

Young Sub KwonKinesiologyFaculty,Nathan TamayoKinesiologyGraduate Student,Andrew HahnKinesiologyGraduate Student
College of Professional Studies

The free weight bench press test is one of the most convenient tests used to evaluate muscular fitness and the effectiveness of resistance training programs for a variety of sports. However, its use and interpretation as an evaluative measurement for health-related physical fitness tests are limited because there are few published reference values derived for the general population. Therefore, the aims of the present study were to generate normative values for free weight bench press 1 repetition maximal (RM) and 4 sets of 65% of 1RM training volume (total repetitions × resistance) for 20- to 29-year-olds for men and women.