Wicked problems are complex issues that resist straightforward solutions due to their interconnected nature, uncertainty, and ambiguity. These problems defy simple solutions, are shaped by countless variables and often lack clear boundaries. No single discipline holds the key to addressing them. By integrating diverse perspectives, knowledge, and methodologies, students in the Individualized Degree Program (IDP) explored a range of wicked problems, examining them from multiple disciplinary angles, drawing on insights from various fields: science, humanities, and more. The aim of the project is to showcase the power of interdisciplinary approaches in addressing the challenges of our time.

The excessive use of fossil fuels has surged the need for alternative energy sources, such as solar energy. Here, possible organic photovoltaic (OPV) compounds were designed and their initial computational assessment was done. Density Functional Theory was used to calculate the HOMO-LUMO gap of the 26 compounds designed. Semiconductors such as naphthalene, 1,1’-biphenyl, and ɑ-septithiophene were used as the backbone and the main electron-withdrawing group (EWG) used was thien[3,4-c] [1,2,5]thiadiazole-2-sIV(8CI,9CI), among other thieno-thiadiazole derivatives.

For this project, a masters list of introduced mammals was provided. The masters list consisted of several different species of mammals who were classified by family, genus, species, and common names. Each species was accompanied by islands they were introduced too. Using the “Database of Island Invasive Species Eradication,” each animal on the list was searched for to see if they were successfully eradicated. If these animals had been eradicated, then the date and method of eradication were recorded. If these species didn’t show up on the database, then they were search for using various different search engines. If animals still remain of these islands the question becomes why?

My service learning project is with the Sunnybrae Middle School after school program. During my time spent at the after school program, I have learned about the process of empowering our youth to become social change agents in our community through support and knowledge of food justice. I facilitated activities with the kids around ideas of growing their own food, the importance of shopping locally, and the implications revolved around food in our community.

To inform the applicability of carbon nanotube networks for use as field-effect transistors or as biosensors, we have run computer simulations in order to characterize the electrical properties of these networks, and specifically, how the resistance of these networks changes with the metallicity, or the percentage of metallic to semiconducting carbon nanotubes. When running simulations over networks with varying metallicities, we find a trend where the resistance increases to a peak value then decreases.

The original 10 minute play was inspired by historical research on the early decades of the Soviet Union. Specifically the "Great Terror" of the 1930s. The play tells experience of real people but portrayed as a a nature documentary.

This report summarizes the experience working with Humboldt County Office of Education at the Eureka Community School. The goal of this project is to enhance visibility of the education system at court schools and improve upon each individual’s learning experience. This was accomplished through in-depth interviews with staff faculty at the Eureka Community School alongside 30+ volunteer hours as an aid in the classroom.

During the International Mathematical Contest in Modeling, our team tackled the problem of the destructive accumulation of plastic in the earth's land and waterways. We researched national and international policies attempting to curb the production and consumption of plastic, and constructed a simple model to predict plastic mass growth in the future, under various parameters and scenarios.

Humboldt County currently has an interpretation program to assist clients with Limited English Proficiency needs who seek local mental health services. This working alliance of the mental health provider, the mental health interpreter, and the client currently has no systematic support for mental health interpreters to reduce and cope with secondary trauma. The purpose of this project is to provide a resource guide on best clinical practices regarding this working alliance, the implementation of an Interpreter Coordinator for the county, and systemic structural recommendations in order to reduce secondary trauma among mental health interpreters.

The basis of this research consists of the use of graphene and supercapacitor energy storage as a more energy efficient and environmentally conscious alternative to traditional lithium ion batteries. This will also cover the government policies that could potentially fund the research, development, and integration of graphene based supercapacitors in the energy market. This energy market currently includes standard fossil fuel based energy as well as renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. Although renewable energy options have grown in popularity and commercial availability, the main issue with these sources is storage, and graphene based batteries could remedy this problem.