May 2, 2025
Reception & Presentations 2pm to 5pm
Cal Poly Humboldt Library
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Presenters & Abstracts: Search
End of Life, A Talking Circle
Denise George
Social Work
Graduate Student
College of Professional Studies
End of Life, A Talking Circle
Grief support groups are offered to the bereaved, after the death of a loved one, yet are rarely made available to those who have been given a terminal diagnosis. This vulnerable and under-serve population may greatly benefit from having an outlet for complex new emotions, the experience of connectedness, understanding and support from others who are facing their own mortality. The purpose of this project is to develop a pilot support group model serving individuals facing end of life to assess the demand for and value of such an intervention. Research on promising practices with support groups for terminally-ill patients was combined with a community-
Activity of Novel Cellulases from Cow Rumen
Annie Jensen
Chemistry
Undergraduate Student
Tessa M. Balkow
Chemistry
Undergraduate Student
Vincent D. Calderon
Chemistry
Undergraduate Student
Aaron R. Darlington
Chemistry
Undergraduate Student
Madison E. Kishineff
Chemistry
Undergraduate Student
Jayden J. Losee
Chemistry
Undergraduate Student
David A. Morales
Chemistry
Undergraduate Student
Dr. Jenny A. Cappuccio
Chemistry
Faculty
College of Natural Resources & Sciences
Utilizing cellulase enzymes can enhance the production of biofuels. In this study, 14 cellulases identified through metagenomic analysis of cow rumen were expressed in E. Coli, purified using immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC), and then assessed for enzymatic activity versus a control cellulase isolated from Aspergillus Niger. To do this, we evaluated the breakdown of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) in a plate assay with Congo Red detection. 4 with high activity and 2 with low activity were selected for analyzing the effective pH on the enzymatic activity and expanding the research to kinetic analysis. Our results could inform new cellulase design and enhance biofuel production.
Gender, Sexuality and Crime in the Queer Life Course
Meredith Williams
Sociology
Faculty
Joice Chang
Politics
Faculty
Isaac Torres
Sociology
Graduate Student
Rachel Deckard
Sociology
Undergraduate Student
Jennifer Garcia
Sociology
Undergraduate Student
Alexandria Koontz
Sociology
Undergraduate Student
Emily Policarpo
Sociology
Undergraduate Student
Cesar Ramirez
Sociology
Undergraduate Student
Ashley Warr
Sociology
Undergraduate Student
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
In this study, we look at the offending of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) individuals over their life course. Growing research on criminal offenses finds LGB individuals offend more often than heterosexual individuals, due to different experiences within social institutions like family and school, but very little criminological research that includes transgender or gender non-conforming individuals as offenders. We aim to gather information about LGBTQ individuals’ experiences in social institutions, across the stages of their life course, to illuminate experiences that act as turning points in the queer life course toward and/or away from involvement in crime.
Optimizing Resistance During Multiple-Set Weight Training to Increase Training Volume for Rural Firefighters
Anna Welch
Kinesiology
Graduate Student
Young Sub Kwon
Kinesiology
Faculty
Gil Spitz
Kinesiology
Graduate Student
Christine Baldwin
Kinesiology
Undergraduate Student
College of Professional Studies
We hypothesized that a greater training volume would be produced using a training protocol where resistance is decreased with each set (DR) compared to a constant resistance (CR) protocol. In order to develop DRs, we used the subject's fatigue ratio (using an individualized regression equation) from a CR training protocol where the number of repetitions declines with each set. 20 active-duty male firefighters (mean±SD, age = 32± 7yr, height = 180±5 cm, body mass = 96±16 kg, fire service = 9±7 yr) completed 4 sets at 65% of their 1RM CR and DR bench press, lat pulldown, and leg press exercises to failure with 30 second rest intervals.
Cal Poly Humboldt Earth Week Quest/ Treasure hunt Evan Mack and Joe Watson Recreation Administration
Evan
Mack
Other
Undergraduate Student
Joe
Watson
Other
Undergraduate Student
College of Professional Studies
Our project idea involves hosting a campus-wide scavenger hunt that will span three days; Mon April 22-25, 2024, featuring four quests/scavenger hunts daily, participants will be given a riddle that will lead to one of 12 buildings on campus. In these buildings, we have hidden a piece of paper with a QR code. Students must bring this QR code back to our table on the quad and win a gift card. This activity is being held in part by WRRAP. Our aim is to offer an exciting recreational opportunity for participants to engage in interactive and social activities outside of their dormitories, fostering a sense of community and camaraderie among students.
Boobs and Beakers: Gender-Science Stereotypes Predict Implicit Attitudes Toward Women in Science
Hannah Ferguson
Psychology
Graduate Student
Benjamin P. Skillman
Psychology
Graduate Student
Danielle Siegel
Psychology
Graduate Student
Desiree Garcia
Psychology
Undergraduate Student
Kimberly Vazquez
Psychology
Undergraduate Student
Kierra Boykin
Psychology
Graduate Student
Christopher Aberson
Psychology
Faculty
James Peabody
Psychology
Undergraduate Student
College of Professional Studies
Women have always faced discrimination , but have made great strides, particularly in the workforce. Though more women are entering male dominated fields, these jobs are still seen as inherently male. Specifically, STEM fields have been slow to integrate women into its elite ranks. The field of sciences are traditionally male dominated and associated with masculinity. This is mostly attributable to sociocultural influences rather than biological differences or ability. Stronger implicit association of men with science promotes differences in academic and career outcomes. The current study aims to investigate gender differences in the masculine association with science.
Designing a Measure of Academic Help Seeking
Danielle Siegel
Psychology
Undergraduate Student
Henry Panti
Psychology
Undergraduate Student
Christopher Moreno
Psychology
College of Professional Studies
Existing studies on academic help seeking suggest that students only seek help if they are already academically confident. To examine these findings, The Humboldt Academic Help Seeking Scale (HAHSS) was developed in order to assess student's academic help seeking motivations and behaviors. The HAHSS was found to be reliable, and provided evidence for validity with criterion, convergent, and discriminant measures. It was also found that high scores on the HAHSS were significantly correlated with higher grade point averages. Real-world applications are discussed, such as implementing more effective online help programs in order to aid students intimidated by seeking in-person help.
Effects of the election of President Trump on the political dynamic of Humboldt State University.
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.
The Biocultural Trauma Feedback Loop
Michelle Irvine
Anthropology
Undergraduate Student
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
Trauma is repeated throughout a victim’s life, but the biological mechanisms of its recurrence (revictimization), even though understood biologically, are not accepted or discussed in all disciplines. To understand these issues, I conducted a synthesis of existing scientific research on revictimization. Sociological research revealed that initial trauma and revictimization are in a positive feedback loop, with incidences of one increasing the other. In biology, however, this loop has been acknowledged but has not been integrated into these disciplines. Recognizing the existence of this biological feedback loop has the potential to mitigate the damage of past, present, and future trauma.
Understanding NAGPRA
Chalene Duty
Archaeology
Undergraduate Student
Dawn Nystrom
Archaeology
Undergraduate Student
Virginia Vance
Archaeology
Undergraduate Student
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
This poster provides a deeper look into the history, legislation, enforcement, and weakness of NAGPRA. Alongside our analysis we include an in-depth discussion of the White VS University of California court case in which NAGPRA was enacted. The case study explores the difficulties in dealing with the vagueness of NAGPRA and applying this legislation to real world problems. This poster above all encourages critical discussions of our cultural resource management laws in this country and the necessary steps we must take to improve them. NAGPRA holds an integral place in our cultural management, and we must work to hold it accountable to the highest standards.