A Botanical Survey of Eastern & Central Tibet, HSU Field Studies, 2019

Presentation Year: 2020 College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Western China, Tibet and the Hengduan Shan particularly, is a region that has been of botanical interest to the West since predominantly the 19th century. Plant Hunters have historically made field explorations in this region. My goal was to survey the areas we visited during the 2019 Tibet field expedition to illustrate the region’s floral diversity. Observations of plants were recorded with photos and notes and many references for identification and regional nomenclature were consulted. An overview list of genera and species was created for each location visited and were compiled to present a plant check list of the 2019 route.

A Geospatial Inventory of the Jacoby Creek Forest & Potential for Restoration Thinning

Presentation Year: 2020 College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Second-growth stands of conifers are increasingly being looked to for timber production and ecosystem services across the Pacific Northwest. These stands, regenerated after old-growth logging in the mid-20th century, have the potential to provide timber products, watershed protection and wildlife habitat. However, for these stands to function to their fullest potential, they often require silvicultural treatments such as variable density or restoration thinning. This project conducted a preliminary inventory of the Jacoby Creek Forest using geospatial analysis. Previous silviculture, stand conditions, road networks and watercourses were all compiled to create inventory maps of the forest.

A Symbol of Hope: An Ethnographic Analysis of Religion and Disaster following the Camp Fire

Presentation Year: 2020 College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

What support do survivors turn to after environmental disasters? This research examines how survivors of the Camp Fire, one of the deadliest and most destructive wildfires in California’s history, draw upon religion in the aftermath of disaster. Specifically, this research asks: What role does religion play in rebuilding a community post-disaster? During the summer of 2019, I conducted ethnographic observations, interviews and surveys with individuals affected by the Camp Fire. I documented material, social and spiritual forms of support that religions organizations offered to residents of Paradise and consider how these factors relate to building the town.

Acts of Uncovering: Compiling Data on MMIW to Address a Hidden Crisis

Presentation Year: 2020 College of Professional Studies

Sovereign Bodies Institute (SBI) maintains the largest and most comprehensive database of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) in the US and Canada. Due to the high number of cases and the desire to have comprehensive information on each individual case, we were honored to work with SBI to compile case files for 107 MMIWG in Northern California. SBI will use this information to have a clearer picture of what is known, what is unknown, and what has been written about or publicly shared about each missing or murdered Indigenous women and girls in Northern California.

Analysis of Post Mortem Human Muscle Proteome via Gel Electrophoresis

Presentation Year: 2020 College of Natural Resources & Sciences

The changes in proteome human muscle tissue were analyzed using protein extraction and quantification techniques, SDS-PAGE, and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Muscle tissue samples were collected at defined postmortem intervals from a single body at the Forensic Investigation Research Station (FIRS) in Grand Junction, CO. These techniques were used to identify decomposition products of the rectus femoris muscle proteins that occur ​post mortem. The ultimate goal of this research is to correlate protein decomposition product masses (via mass spectrometry analysis) to distinctive postmortem intervals measured in accumulated degree days (ADD).

ANTH 352 Experimental Archaeology - Experiments in Ancient Technologies

Presentation Year: 2020 College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

This presentation looks at the many ways that archaeologists and students in ANTH 352 - Experimental Archaeology try to gain a better understanding of past technologies by recreating those technologies. Students research, design and implement experimental projects that help them to understand how peoples of the past used the environment and materials available to them. Projects include the creation of lithic tools, re-creating ancient ceramics and make-up, experimenting with wattle and daub construction, and ancient textile production technology.

Bisexuality, Intersectionality, and the Bechdel Test in Jane the Virgin

Presentation Year: 2020 College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

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.

Building Support for Study Abroad at HSU

Presentation Year: 2020 College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

This project will investigate the current support mechanisms for students intending to study abroad and how HSU could both better prepare students for their experience and help re-acclimatize them on their return. This work would involve interviews with those working with students as faculty and staff as well as student interviews about what they would find valuable in terms of support. The aim for this work would be a set of practical proposals for the marketing and outreach to encourage more students to study abroad as well as more aware pre-departure preparation and return programming.

Cham, The Sacred Dance of Tibet

Presentation Year: 2020 College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

During the summer of 2019, I was given the opportunity to participate in the HSU Tibet program under the direction of Anthony Rossi. The program is set up to allow each student a chance to conduct field observations of various topics. My focus, as a Religious Studies major, was set to learn about the various ritualistic practices unique to Tibet Buddhist. The ritual that I have chosen to focus on is the Tibetan Buddhist Cham, a festival dance that we observed in Drigung on June 30. My goal is that my project gives a comprehensive understanding of the religious goals of this ritual through an analysis of the dance formation, history, and meanings to its community.

Comparative Analyses of the Soil Microbiome of Phlox Hirsuta (Polemoniaceae), a Rare Serpentine Species

Presentation Year: 2020 College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Phlox hirsuta, the Yreka Phlox, is a threatened species native to northern California. The species is restricted to five populations, all of which occur on serpentine soil. Given the small number of populations and the edaphic specialization of the species, the viability and longevity of the populations is an important area of study. Multiple factors influence the growth and germination of individual plants , and the amount of growth of an individual plant can fluctuate from year to year. One overlooked aspect of plant growth, in this species, is the soil microbiome, and examining this can shed light on the role of this underground component, in plant growth.