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Presenters & Abstracts: College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
An Intergroup Threat Theory Approach to Support for Political Movements, Symbols, and Candidates
- Benjamin AnjewierdenPsychologyGraduate Student
- Sophie TiminPsychologyUndergraduate Student
- Corinne HarrisPsychologyUndergraduate Student
- Joseph PangPsychologyGraduate Student
- Christopher AbersonPsychologyFaculty
This research project utilizes Intergroup Threat Theory to examine how positive and negative contact with African-Americans relate to feelings toward Black Lives Matter, the Confederate Flag, Joe Biden, and Donald Trump. It also examines how this relationship between contact and feelings is mediated by perceptions of realistic and symbolic threat from African-Americans. This project has implications for understanding how having diverse social experiences may influence our political beliefs. This research also shows that Intergroup Threat Theory goes beyond just examining evaluations of groups, and extends to political figures, movements, and symbols as well.
Analysis of Soil pH in Relation to Decomposition
- Erika EbelAnthropologyUndergraduate Student
- Alyssa HaggardAnthropologyUndergraduate Student
- Kiaya Charlton-GrantAnthropologyUndergraduate Student
- Casey HegelAnthropologyUndergraduate Student
This research attempts to observe the effects organic decomposition has on the soil pH and aims to determine if pH levels are altered when remains are frozen opposed to unfrozen. Weekly qualitative observations and soil tests were conducted on six naturally decomposing swine limbs. We hypothesized that there would be a slight delay in the cycling of pH levels for frozen remains.Three frozen and three control limbs were deposited atop of undisturbed soil and observed for five consecutive weeks at the Simulated Archaeology Site at HSU. This research intends to address the correlation between pH levels and decomposition, which can be beneficial for future taphonomic research.
Analyzing Bloodstain Patterns using Animals’ Blood Versus Synthetic Alternatives
- Taylor ErnestAnthropologyUndergraduate Student
- Claudia AlvaradoAnthropologyUndergraduate Student
Passive stains, transfer stains and projected/impact stains will be created with various tools and tested on multiple surfaces including: cotton, linen, and carpets. The components of the Bovine blood versus stage blood will be used for analysis and comparison. This research will help determine if synthetic blood provides an accurate representation for bloodstain pattern analysis in research. After all experimental work and calculations are complete, statistical analysis will be conducted to determine the statistical validity of using synthetic blood alternatives to analyze bloodstain patterns.
Analyzing Variation in Taphonomic Processes within Artificial Substrates
- Carolyn HinsonAnthropologyUndergraduate Student
This study aims increase understanding of the taphonomic processes associated with the decomposition of nonhuman mammalian remains (as a proxy for human remains) in human altered substrates. Most prior taphonomic research has been restricted to regional studies focusing on the decomposition in environments outside of direct human interaction. This study will focus on temperature, weight, and organic matter fluctuations between the various artificial substrates in the beginning and termination of the decomposition process in order to better understand the effects substrates have on taphonomic processes.
Ancient Costa Rican Incense Burners
- Ava HonigschmidtAnthropologyUndergraduate Student
Ceramics and incense are used in cultures all around the world for ritual purposes. In Costa Rica, Potosi Variety ceramics used hollow jaguar and crocodile effigies to diffuse incense smoke as an offering. Potosi Variety vessels have not been subject to much research within the field of archaeology; throughout my project, I will be studying these vessels through experimental archaeology and ethnoarchaeology. In my recreation, I will be using similar materials, methods of ceramic shaping that are or have been used in Costa Rica, and photos of Potosi Variety vessels to inform my process. My methodology will then be compared and contrasted with other possible methods of production.
Angels Camp and The Rhetorical Power of Jumping Bullfrogs
- Todd LoughranEnglishUndergraduate Student
My hometown of Angels Camp is a bit bullfrog crazy because the town has various statues, paintings, and plaques of bullfrogs all over the town. There is even an annual fair where people from all over the world compete to see how far their bullfrog can jump. My project would explore the use of the bullfrog as an important rhetorical artifact in Angels Camp as the reason the town has prospered very well. This will be done by taking a look at the history between the town and the bullfrog from the creation of the town, approving the bullfrog as a rhetorical artifact in 1928, and its continuous success today.
Annual Day of Caring - Leadership and Service
- Sophie ZindaCRGS and the Center for Service Learning and Academic InternshipsUndergraduate Student
Day of Caring provided me with an awesome opportunity to practice leadership in working for social change and serving the community around us. I was able to work to provide opportunities for a large number of students to give a Saturday in September to working in one of 16 different local organizations that are working hard to serve the Humboldt Community. Every year students provide wonderful feedback about their experience and it was one more opportunity to put what we learn about communities and service into action.
ANTH 352 Experimental Archaeology - Experiments in Ancient Technologies
- Barbara KlessigAnthropologyFaculty
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.
Arcata CA Yoga Culture Ethnographic Analysis: Themes of Communalism and Individualism
- Alicia OsmundsonAnthropologyUndergraduate Student
A 16 week ethnographic study of Arcata Yoga Culture was performed in Fall of 2018. To present findings, the poster overviews of the application of one of numerous lens of analysis used in the final ethnography to examine research results. A dualist lens, contrasting the concepts of communalism and individualism was selected for its tangible interpretation of yoga culture specific to Arcata by looking at how people of the community interact and conceptualize yoga. This lens was used in the ethnography to provide a base for the application of additional lens that could potentially giving insight into the role and interpretation of yoga in the general West and its acculturation process.
Arcata Demographics
- Michael ThomasPolitical ScienceUndergraduate Student
This poster will look at the demographics of Arcata and how this effects the community. This would include students at HSU and also people out in the community of Arcata. Looking at the demographics of a community would be interesting in order to see what the population looks like. For many people that live in a community they do not know the demographics because the community is so large. Even though a city like Arcata is small to most it is still large enough for many people not to know one another. This would also help improve the relations between the students of Humboldt State Univversity and the community of Arcata.