Personal Healing and Restoration through Creative Expression

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

I recently completed a midterm project in which I discovered the renowned photographer Kenro Izu. His unique use of negative space, meticulous and innovative coloring methods sparked a fire in my artistic soul. In October of last year, I lost my best friend and cousin. The gravity of grief is immeasurable and there is no right or wrong way to experience loss. Through artistic inspiration and the pursuit of expression, I have begun to create a space for healing in my life. I would like to have the opportunity to share the methods that I have used to construct peace in my life through my work.

Picea Sitchensis Trees Have a High Capacity for Foliar Water Uptake

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

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.

Pomo Water Rights in the Russian River Watershed

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

This poster will illustrate the relationships between the Northern, Central, and Southern Pomo tribal communities and the Russian River watershed in the context of their forced relocation to reservations and rancherias over the course of the nineteenth century. It will illustrate the effects of settler incursion in terms of genocidal campaigns, enslavement, western agriculture, urban development, and recreational water use. Furthermore, it will explore the effects that both the loss and subsequent restoration of federal recognition had on Pomo rights to ground and surface water in the Russian River watershed.

Post-Fire Seedling Recruitment by Burnt Trees at the 2017 Helena Fire

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

A regeneration survey was conducted in Weaverville by the 2019 Forest Ecology class at the 2017 Helena Fire students looking at post-fire seedling recruitment. Forty five 10-meter radius plots were established. Within the plots, seedlings and fallen seed cones were counted. We assumed that the seeds were mature when this site burned (August 31) and that all seedlings came from burnt trees; i.e. the seeds within the cones survived the flames. Thus, we hypothesized there would be a positive relationship between seedling and seed cone density. The results showed a positive correlation (R2 = 0.82) between seedlings and seed cones per plot, thus sustaining our hypothesis.

Predicting Support for Atypical Leaders Under Conditions of Uncertainty

College of Professional Studies

People support leaders who embody the traits of their group (Hogg, 2001). However, previous research suggests that non-prototypical political leaders can also gain support when constituents are uncertain about their identity (Gaffney, Rast, Hogg, 2018; Rast, Gaffney, Hogg, & Crisp, 2011; Hogg, 2001). This can be problematic as identity uncertainty predicts support for autocratic leaders (Rast, Hogg, Giessner, 2013). Therefore, further understanding of the factors involved in support for leaders under conditions of uncertainty is important. The present study attempts to extend previous research by examining support for leaders under conditions of uncertainty.

Preserving Humboldt's Native Biodiversity

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

My project focuses on invasive plant management in Humboldt County. I partnered with the California State Parks Environmental Services division to identify, combat, and manage some of the more aggressive plant species found in Patrick's Point State Park.

Professional Networking Communications

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

I will be presenting a poster and an oral presentation on Professional Networking Communications (P.N.C). Being able to attain new opportunities through the art of communication is what P.N.C means to me. Not everyone is born with a golden spoon, so to get what you want, you might have to persuade, motivate, or enlighten someone. You can network with verbal communication, like speaking appropriately, and variating your tone of voice. However, physical communication is just as effective when networking; the way one dresses, behaves, and even stands. Professional networking communication is the skill of growing yourself and or career through person to person encounter.

Pursuing Perfection: Social Media and the Ideal Self

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Due to the rapid changes to social media studies, I conducted analyses of relevant literature to explore Instagram (IG) users’ motivations and methods used project images of themselves to the world that are seen as ”ideal”. The existing literature suggests IG users’ motivations for cultivating and maintaining online personas correlate with an overall trend of commodification of “self”, and data show that IG users use the platform to manage relationships online and in “real life” (face to face). IG usage highlights changes in ourselves as a result of our choices involving self-identity online, and the ways in which maintaining an IG profile changes the way we perceive and engage with others.

Quantification and Comparison of Microplastic Contents in Wild Mussels and Maricultured Oysters from Humboldt Bay, California using Enzymatic Digestion Methods

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

This research evaluates the microplastic (MP) contents of commercially maricultured Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) and wild mussels (Mytilus edulis) from Humboldt Bay (HB), California. Bivalves were collected from each of three different locations in HB, and oysters were cultivated in HB. All bivalves were digested with proteolytic enzyme complexes, vacuum filtered, and MP's were quantified by microscopic examination. All samples contained MP's, and significantly different concentrations of MP particles were found between bivalves collected from different locations. Results also suggest that Corolase 8000 is a more efficient enzyme complex than Corolase 7089 for this purpose.

Quantify Your Perception: A Portable (And Stylish) Method

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Have you ever wondered how much dopamine your brain releases when you hug your dog? Or how extensive your addiction to caffeine is? Recent advances in brain imaging have allowed us to begin answering such questions, and many more, without the need to insert probes into a person’s head. The use of Electroencephalography (EEG) is one method of measuring brain activity, which is both high in temporal resolution (it’s fast) and possibly the next big fashion trend. This project examines the efficacy of using EEG to measure regional neurotransmitter concentrations, brain-activity pathways, in addition to the feasibility of making such technology aesthetically attractive to wear.