Reclaiming Turtle Island: Decolonizing Anthropological Narratives of Migration

Sadie Neff, Anthropology Undergraduate Student

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

The Western-centric focus on early habitation of Turtle Island (North America) has often disregarded Indigenous oral histories as myths. It is critical to question how migration theories can dismiss Indigenous credibility. This objectification of western science perpetuates oppression of Indigenous peoples and assists in validating settler-colonial narratives. Academia has historically denied, or labeled controversial, North American archaeological sites older than 12,000 years, silencing advocates in the process. My goal is to highlight these injustices and underscore the importance of honoring Indigenous oral histories. I advocate for an inclusive, decolonized approach to archaeology.

The Therapeutic Potential of Exercise for Substance Use Disorder: Targeting Stress Resilience, Neuroplasticity, and Reward Pathways

Lillian Maddock, Other Undergraduate Student

Other

The purpose of this research is to investigate the therapeutic potential of exercise as an adjunctive treatment for substance use disorder, with the focus on three target problematic areas, in chronic use and relapse. 1. Regulation of the stress response or the HPA axis. 2. Promotion of neuroplasticity through BDNF expression. 3. Activation of natural dopamine reward pathways. This research will evaluate exercise's efficacy in building stress resilience, facilitating neural repair, and satisfying altered reward circuitry - thereby reducing susceptibility to relapse triggers. Potentially legitimizing its use as a low-cost, sustainable adjunct to current rehabilitation strategies.

2024 International Social Work Day - Buen Vivir: Shared Future for Transformative Change

Cheuk-Shan Kuang, Social Work Undergraduate Student

College of Professional Studies

A project in collaboration with Nord University in Norway to highlight students' perspectives on International Social Work day 2024. The theme for this year's international social work day is "Buen Vivir: Shared Future for Transformative Change" with an emphasis to adopt innovative, community-led approaches that are grounded in indigenous wisdom and harmonious coexistence with nature. The video project interviewed social work students at both universities on their perspectives of what it means to be a social worker contributing to a shared future for transformative change. File too big to upload. https://drive.google.com/file/d/14Aj_VVYMtyfVcDTzoVMrscCPCSMUfRe0/view?usp=sharing

A meta-analysis of the variables affecting tick abundance

Curtis Cline, Wildlife Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

I looked the current literature on ticks to determine the different variables that could impact the abundance of ticks

A Picture Worth a Thousand Words: Factors Influencing Disability Accommodations

Alicia Martin, Psychology Staff

College of Professional Studies

Not all disabilities are apparent; you cannot identify a person with disabilities just by looking at them. This study aims to address whether professors’ disability-related attitudes, perceptions of accommodation reasonableness, and willingness to provide accommodations differ when a student’s disability is recognizable (student is pictured in a wheelchair), unrecognizable (student is pictured in a chair), or when no visual is present (standard documentation control) and whether the professor’s level of disability-related knowledge and perceptions of institutional support mediates this relationship.

A picture worth a thousand words: Factors influencing faculty in disability accommodations

Mari Sanchez, Psychology Faculty

College of Professional Studies

Not all disabilities are apparent; you cannot identify a person with disabilities just by looking at them. This study aims to address whether professors’ disability-related attitudes, perceptions of accommodation reasonableness, and willingness to provide accommodations differ when a student’s disability is recognizable (student is pictured in a wheelchair), unrecognizable (student is pictured in a chair), or when no visual is present (standard documentation control) and whether the professor’s level of disability-related knowledge and perceptions of institutional support mediates this relationship.

A Prediction Model of Nathan's Jacket Preferences

Nathan Boone, Psychology Graduate Student

College of Professional Studies

Despite the utility and ubiquity of statistical modeling in everyday life, many introductory statistics students struggle to connect their coursework to their interests. Predictive models can be applied to a broad range of topics, from the global scale to the individual. The current poster presents a model built to predict how highly the author will rate a new jacket, using ratings of 39 other jackets as reference points. Using jacket measurements, marked size, and price as predictors, the model was able to explain 77% of the variation in the author’s jacket preferences. This poster helps show students that they can apply statistical modeling to their own interests.

A Review and Possible Interventions of Hypertension Prevalence in the Filipino American Population

Jason Arcilla, School of Applied Health Undergraduate Student

College of Professional Studies

My project reviews the literature of hypertension prevalence within the Filipino American population.

A Survey of Shrew (Soricidae) and Mole (Talpidae) Mortality in Arcata, CA

Christina Giltzow, Wildlife Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

In the Arcata Community Forest, many moles (Talpidae) and shrews (Soricidae) have been found dead along walkways. I investigated starvation, cold temperatures, age and toxin exposure as possible causes for these mortalities. I performed necropsies on 12 specimens including Trowbridge’s shrew (Sorex trowbridgii), shrew mole (Neurotrichus gibbsii) and coast mole (Scapanus orarius). and sent tissues as well as 3 additional specimens to UC Davis for toxicological screening. Body condition, cold temperatures and age did not appear to be linked to mortalities. The toxicological screens were negative for tested organic chemical compounds. The mortalities of these insectivores is still a mystery.

Affects of Common Fishing and Recreational Beaches on Dead Seabird Abundance Found Onshore

Nikkie Villagrana, Wildlife Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

The objective of this study was to determine whether proximity to fishing communities has an affect whether or not I will find more dead seabirds on those beaches. There is evidence to suggest that one of the highest causes of plastic pollution is by commercial fishing litter. Plastic pollution has been one of the leading causes of seabird death and I aim to bridge the gap in knowledge by whether or not I find more dead seabirds onshore on the beaches that are linked to popular fishing communities in Humboldt County.