Evaluating Approaches to changing visitor behavior with the B.A.R.K. Ranger Program

Nizhoni Kears, College Corp Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Headwaters Forest Reserve, located in Southern Eureka, protects over 7,400 acres of old-growth and second-growth redwood forest, sensitive riparian habitat, and threatened species. As recreation use increases, managing the impacts of pets — especially dogs — has become a growing challenge for both resource protection and visitor experience. In partnership with the College Corps program, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) launched the B.A.R.K. Ranger Program at Headwaters following a successful student pitch that won funding. This national visitor education initiative promotes responsible pet recreation through positive messaging and public engagement.

Evaluating Samsung SmartTags as a Low-Cost Wildlife Tracking Tool

Daniel Meng, Wildlife Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Samsung smart tags are used as a tool for tracking the location of mule deer and assessing their use in different environments with levels of urbanisation.

Evaluating the Effects of Grazed and Ungrazed Habitat on Raptor Abundance

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

I examined the effects of ungrazed and grazed habitats on two raptor species, Northern Harriers and Red-tailed Hawks. The study evaluates how raptor abundance varies between the two habitat types, as well as, how factors such as rodent abundance and perch availability influence their distributions.

Evaluation of a Novel Cellulase to Optimize Biofuel Production

Amanda Ratcliff, Biological Sciences Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Cellulose waste is utilized for biofuels, however cellulase enzymes are a limiting factor. We sought to evaluate a novel cellulase identified in cow rumen metagenomic analysis provided by the Joint Genome Institute. We performed DNA analysis, SDS PAGE, and a cellulase activity assay to theoretically calculate and compare to experimental molecular weight; and determine cellulase activity. The theoretical molar mass (64.9 kD) strongly correlates to the experimental molar mass (60.7 kDa). Purified cellulase has an activity, 6.27 cm2/ug, 6x higher versus commercial cellulase enzyme. These results have positive implications for the creation of biofuels from agricultural waste products.

Evaluation of the behavior of yttrium and lanthanum in surface seawater

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

The biogeochemical cycling of trace metals in the ocean, as the name implies, is a cycle that describes the complex interplay of a broad range of physical and chemical processes that govern the behavior of metals in the ocean. Input of trace metals into surface ocean water can come from any of several sources including anthropogenic input from the continental surface, airbound particles, or upwelling from the deep ocean, among others. Metal concentrations for yttrium and lanthanum were obtained from surface Pacific Ocean water and the data sets were interpreted to evaluate the behavior of each of the two metals in the context of this cycling.

Evaluation of the Scholars Without Borders’ (SWB) Undocumented Students Ally Training (USAT)

College of Professional Studies

As a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), HSU lacked a project which served its Undocumented. DACAmented and AB 540 students. Due to the need for staff, faculty and administrators to learn how to better serve this group of students, the student group Funding Resources and Empowerment through Education (F.R.E.E.) organized and advocated for many year to create a student support program. The result was the creation of the Undocumented Students Ally Training (USAT) in 2015 and Scholars Without Borders (SWB) in 2016. The purpose of the program evaluation of USAT was to measure the impact of the training on students, faculty and staff members who participated in the training.

Evening Bike Ride Extravaganza

ernesto roide, School of Applied Health Undergraduate Student

College of Professional Studies

I put on an event as my senior project for my recreation administration degree. It is an evening community bike ride in McKinleyville at Roger’s Market! There will be backyard games, music, snacks, drinks, and a whole lot of fun. Everyone will meet at Roger’s, which is right next to the Hammond Trail. Participants can ride their bikes along the trail, play backyard games, and purchase refreshments at the market. I will be tabling the event and making sure every attendee gets a stamp! This stamp will mean they signed the necessary waiver and know the risks involved during the event. I’ll have a first aid kit and bike repair kit at my table just in case.

Everglades in Peril

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

This project is an interpretive panel designed to highlight some of the effects of climate change on the Florida Everglades. Multiple consequences have risen, many of which are reflected through decreases in the populations of a number of key species that make up the Everglades ecosystem. In this panel, I selected just some of these devastating effects to help bring light to the horrors that this ecosystem is experiencing. The goal of this panel is to both inform the public about the issues we are facing from the effects of sea level rise, as well as inspire them to want to take actions that could make a difference.

Every Body Humboldt

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Becoming a 501(c)(3) under the Ink Peoples Dream Makers project, Every Body Humboldt aims to create accessible safer spaces for participants to learn skills and tools for regulating stress, healing trauma, making healthy social connections and creating new patterns. We’re currently working to eliminate economic, physical ability, and social barriers to learning these tools. Every Body Humboldt is working with folks at Humboldt County Correctional Facilities, with the general public at Om Shala Yoga, and Synapsis Nova, with intentions to work with drug courts here as well. I will be sharing some tools and literature for folks, while showing what is currently going on, our mission, and goals.

Examining Capabilities of Various Single Bacterial Strains on Peptide Degradation in Seawater

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

The research aimed to compare the capabilities of two single strains of bacteria in their ability to hydrolyze a common peptide found in the seawater. The research is important in adding to knowledge of the carbon cycle, and how organic matter is processed on incredibly small scales. The data collected over the course of ten weeks turned out significant and more data is going to be added in the future to compile a database for the different bacteria strains which may one day help in environmental restoration projects.