May 2, 2025
Reception & Presentations 2pm to 5pm
Cal Poly Humboldt Library
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Presenters & Abstracts: Search
Ethnozoology in North America
Camryn Kenneally
Zoology
Undergraduate Student
College of Natural Resources & Sciences
Exploring what ethnozoology is and how various Native American tribes used traditional ecological knowledge and ethnozoology to learn about animals and apply that knowledge to their way of life. The project will also cover how ethnozoology can be applied to our research, treatment, and conservation of animals throughout the country today.
The True Roots of Chocolate: A Study of Cacao
Arii Geampa
Botany
Undergraduate Student
College of Natural Resources & Sciences
When we eat food, we don't tend to think about its agricultural history and origins. An effective way to learn this history is by looking to the original Indigenous peoples' relationships with this food. This is a look at a plant/food we heavily value in the present day: chocolate, otherwise known as cacao. Though we presently have it all around the world in a variety of methods of consumption, this poster will help inform the ways in which cacao was used by Indigenous peoples of North and South America. Studying the past uses of this plant in compared to current uses will provide a thought-provoking learning experience that allows us to reassess our own present uses of cacao.
The Yurok Tribe and The California Condor
Nicholas Isola
Wildlife
Graduate Student
Remy McCuistion
Wildlife
Undergraduate Student
College of Natural Resources & Sciences
We will be presenting the connection between the California Condor and the Yurok tribe. Focusing on the reintroduction of the California Condor into Northern California and Humboldt county. We will be presenting information on the history of the California Condor and the problems it has faced in the past.
The Involuntary Sterilization of Native American Women
Liliana Cortes
Biology
Undergraduate Student
Haiyan Libaire
Biology
Undergraduate Student
College of Natural Resources & Sciences
Between the 1960s and 1970s, Native American women were involuntarily sterilized when they went to the Indian Health Services (IHS). Many would go in for one procedure and end up being sterilized and made believe that it was reversible.
Bringing the Buffalo Back
Nataly Sanchez
Zoology
Undergraduate Student
Kimberly Trinidad
Zoology
Undergraduate Student
College of Natural Resources & Sciences
Researching how Zoology and Native American Studies to join together to find a way to protect rain forests.
The Use of Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Yellowstone Park
Shea Alexander
Zoology
Undergraduate Student
Julian Duran
Zoology
Undergraduate Student
College of Natural Resources & Sciences
Throughout history, indigenous tribes have used traditional ecological knowledge, TEK, to utilize natural resources while simultaneously tending to the environment. In our presentation, we will examine how incorporating these ideas of TEK will be a positive addition to the ecosystem and aid in conservation. We will focus specifically on the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone Park and explain how this is an example of TEK. By adding a predator to the ecosystem, they will benefit it by keeping prey populations under control to restore the natural balance of the land
Only Birds Can Start Wildfires
Nathan Chavez
Wildlife Conservation and Management
Undergraduate Student
Payton Wills
Wildlife Conservation and Management
Undergraduate Student
College of Natural Resources & Sciences
Our creative project is going to revolve around the ecological knowledge of the Chicken Hawk that is from Indigenous people of the Humboldt County area. We want to show the significance that Chicken Hawk has in their culture and how it correlates to scientific research that has been done and is being done on them today. We aim to show how ecological knowledge can be applied to current research and assist modern day scientists.
Restoration and Medicinal Plants: Ending the Negligence Towards Ethnobotany and TEK
Cami McQueen
Botany
Undergraduate Student
Victor Garcia Balderas
Botany
Undergraduate Student
College of Natural Resources & Sciences
Our project focuses on the importance of ethnobotany with an emphasis on restoration and medicinal plant properties. Ethnobotanical studies fixated on traditional ecological knowledge have long been disregarded by western science; however, this information is crucial for the restoration of the environment, advancement of medicines, and cultural revival of the Native people. Due to colonization and westernization, the continuation of knowledge throughout generations along with the vast ecosystems that once thrived has depleted. Conversely, through the expansion and shared education on plants and restoration processes long known by Natives, the gap between western science and TEK will degrade.
Analysis of Protein Nanodisc Assembly Methods
William Castillo
Chemistry
Undergraduate Student
Madelyne Green
Chemistry
Undergraduate Student
College of Natural Resources & Sciences
Nanodics which are nanolipoprotein particles (NLPs) can be assembled in order to solubilize and study membrane proteins in a water soluble discoidal particle.. Here, NLPs were assembled using two techniques: dialysis & biobead adsorption. These methods differ in the removal of a detergent called cholate. The Biobead method is much faster, but is relatively untested, whereas the dialysis method is in current use, but is fairly time consuming. By demonstrating the effectiveness of both techniques for nanodisc assembly, solubilization of membrane proteins can be optimized. This will ultimately be helpful in studying ASR, a retinal containing membrane protein for Anabaena (Now Nostoc) PCC 7120.
Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Application to the Klamath River
Rachel Mack
Zoology
Undergraduate Student
Chris Vignery
Zoology
Undergraduate Student
College of Natural Resources & Sciences
The application of TEK to the klamath river and the Yurok tribe. How to intertwine the scientific methods with the original knowledge of the native people. Mainly focusing on how pacific lamprey and salmon are effected and ways to apply the old and new techniques to help the current populations recover and grow, such as better ways to monitor and take care of the river and what live in the river ecosystem.