The Alien Movie Project is a 91-part podcast series about alienhood rhetoric in cinema. Dr. Donaldson will overview and summarize podcasting as a form of education as well as the lessons learned from critically interrogating nearly 100 alien movies from throughout history and across the globe.

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).

Understanding the potential locations of where plant species will thrive is a fundamental necessity for resource managers who are concerned with controlling invasive species as well as promoting endangered ones. This study examines the credibility and usage of predicting ecological niche models developed through a Python program which uses in-situ data for counties within California (primarily climatic, elevation, and slope data). We tested its validity to predict the distribution of invasive species of plants by using an easily identifiable species known as Cortaderia selloana (Pampas Grass) with initial findings indicating an extremely high degree of success (well over 90% overlap).

As part of a Masters thesis, this study explored how individuals are defining, interpreting, and practicing the Paleo diet in the United States and any associated health outcomes. Qualitative and quantitative research methods were used. Ethnographic methods included interviews and media analysis. A national survey was also conducted. This study found that specific practices of this diet varied by individual. Most common practices included frequent vegetable consumption, and avoidance of grains and processed foods. Increased energy and muscle tone, and decreased weight and frequency of illness were the most frequently reported health outcomes from these practices.

When was your last adventure? How did you know it was an “adventure”? If you felt like it was an “adventure” that’s a good start and likely means that it was! That is because the meaning of the term adventure is fairly personal and based on what you personally perceive as unique, unusual and exciting. It may also include a certain level of risk, potentially some dangerous risk, such as swimming with sharks in Australia or riding a motorcycle on a mountainous road in Italy. But risks don’t need to be life threatening or thousands of miles away.

Research on the studies and methods of understanding what the religious practices in Neolithic Age Ireland were.

A look into how the Potawot Community Garden, an offshoot of United Indian Health Services, aids in the fight for decolonization and health independence for local tribes.

Water bears—known to science as tardigrades—are found from polar ice caps to tropical jungles, yet only about 90 researchers study them. With so much ground to cover, there’s still so much to discover. Here in Humboldt’s temperate rainforest, you'd expect documentation, but there’s almost none. We set out to catalog the tardigrades of Cal Poly Humboldt, with plans to expand across the county. By studying their morphology, habitats, and behaviors, we hope to uncover new insights, and maybe even new species.

This study examined the relationship between zooplankton abundance and piscivorous bird richness at the Arcata Marsh

We have discovered that online teaching is hard, and I am no expert, however I did what to better understand what types of presentations are possible when you have limited funds and even more limited expertise. The simplest solution is almost always the best. I believable this statement and reference it often when I am working on a problem. However I wanted to look at some ideas. In this presentation I will explore, through demonstration several ways of presenting online. My initial focus was to find ways to do home video with better sound, but a little research has shown me that with a some effort and a small investment you can create more interesting and engaging material for students.