COVID-19 brought about unprecedented difficulties for college students. Challenges associated with online learning, such as one-way interactions, presented obstacles to college engagement. We explored the role that instructors play in fostering greater academic involvement. Specifically, we examined the effects of autonomy support. Autonomy support involves encouraging students to explore their own interests and self-regulate. We posited that autonomy support would predict, respectively, greater self-esteem and mastery-approach goals for students. In turn, we expected that these effects would predict greater engagement. Our findings highlight the importance of autonomy support.

The purpose of our community project is to explore and assess whether any formalized local Indigenous palliative & hospice care services and resources exist in Humboldt County. Research was conducted to gauge the availability and accessibility of culturally-relevant end of life care services.

Rust fungi are obligate plant parasites that exhibit multiple life stages with drastically different physical features depending on the host it infects. While studies in the classification of rust fungi are actively debated, the ultrastructure of this particular rust fungus has been vastly understudied. Using SEM and TEM, images were taken of Calyptospora columnaris to elucidate the fine features of these different stages in an attempt to give this fungus a more comprehensive visual representation.

A study looking at how bees perceive danger, and if it affects their foraging behaviors. This was determined by the use of simulated dangers, in this case artificial black capped chickadees. These dangers were placed in bushes and the number of bumblebees that visited each bush (either with or without dangers) was counted. The research finds that the presence of danger is significant to bees when choosing which flowers or bushes to forage.

This project explores how American Robins change their songs in response to human-made noise. I recorded robin songs across urban and quiet areas in Humboldt County to see if louder environments caused them to sing at higher pitches or volumes. Using sound analysis tools, I compared changes in song frequency and amplitude with background noise levels. This research helps us understand how noise pollution affects bird communication and can guide efforts to make urban spaces more wildlife-friendly.

This project showcases Brunner Family Farm and the fantastic fiber production we do there. Discover the process of yarn production with our friendly Angora goats. We are able to shear, spin, and dye our yarn all within 200 miles.

This presentation emphasizes the importance of incorporating Yurok language and culture in early childhood development. I also include the learning experiences and exploration during this service learning opportunity at the Yurok Tribe Head Start program. I also connect the theoretical constructs that I learn in Child Development classes and the practical experience that I have gained during this service learning opportunity.

A sensitive flow injection (FI) system for determining dissolved iron concentrations involved a complex manifold: peristaltic pump, two electronically actuated 6-port, 2-postion injection valves, UV-Vis spectrophotometer and a desktop computer controlled by a software program for data acquisition. The FI method allows for direct preconcentration of iron in samples at trace metal nanomolar concentrations using the catalytic colorimetric indicator N, N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride. Toyopearl AF-Chelate-650M chelating resin is used to remove the need for sample treatments before preconcentrating and eliminate interferences from iron binding to organic ligands in the sample matrix

Some plants absorb water through foliage as well as roots. This is an important water acquisition strategy for many plants in the redwood forest ecosystem during dry California summers when fog is often the only water input for months. The goal of our study was to determine if Picea sitchensis trees have the capacity for foliar water uptake, and if they do, how they compare to other species in redwood forests. We also wanted to learn if capacity for foliar uptake increases with height in tree crowns and how it changes under increasingly negative water potentials. Our findings have important implications for P. sitchensis water use, physiology, and growth potential.

I did my project on the telenovela "Jane The Virgin" and looking at the stereotypes that the show portrays about Latino culture. I discuss bisexuality within the latino culture, intersectionality, the Bechdel Test, and apply all of this to the show and telenovelas in general. I did this project for my Comm 309B class.