The Effects of Outdoor Physical Therapy Sessions on Depression and Overall Recovery Rate in Elderly Patients

Elizabeth Cameron, School of Applied Health Undergraduate Student

College of Professional Studies

This research explores how integrating outdoor environments into elderly rehabilitation programs may improve patient outcomes. Traditional rehabilitation often occurs in clinical indoor settings, but growing evidence suggests natural environments can enhance physical recovery and mental health. This study investigates whether outdoor therapy positively influences mobility, endurance, mood, and stress levels in elderly patients, aiming to highlight the potential for nature-based rehabilitation practices.

The Effects of Social Media Usage on Mental Health in Adolescents and Young Adults

Melanie Aguilar, Psychology Undergraduate Student

College of Professional Studies

This research explores the effects of social media and smartphone usage on the mental health of adolescents and young adults. It examines how factors such as screen time, social comparison, cyberbullying, and digital connectivity influence psychological well-being, including anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and sleep quality. This study aims to provide insights into both the risks and potential benefits of digital engagement among youth, contributing to strategies for healthier technology use.

The Gut Microbiome and the Influences on Emotional State

Sophia Hummel, Psychology Undergraduate Student

College of Professional Studies

We reviewed current research articles examining the complex relationship between gut microbiome and mood regulation in people. In order to collect our data, we completed a literature review on this topic. We found that there is a very strong relationship between the gut microbiome and mood in people. We observed mental health factors in relationship to mood such as stress, anxiety, and depression. As a result, worsened gut microbiome led to worsened mood factors. This topic has high importance due to how new the topic and research is, and how it affects human health, leading to future implications of treating gut microbiome issues more efficiently with the new knowledge on the topic.

The Impact of Autistic Traits on Student Evaluations of Professors of Different Genders

Kauyumari Sanchez, Psychology Faculty

College of Professional Studies

Instructor evaluations are critical to the tenure process but are known to be biased with respect to gender (e.g. males are rated higher than females) and other identities (e.g. autism). This study aims to address the following question: Are male and female professors evaluated differently by male and female students when the professor’s autism identity is revealed compared to not revealed? This research highlights the impact of disclosing or failing to disclose one’s autism identity and its impact on student evaluations.

The Impacts of Personal Narratives, Statistics Data, and Images on Attitudes and Actions

Kauyumari Sanchez, Psychology Faculty

College of Professional Studies

Personal narratives are powerful in garnering interest, empathy, and may improve attitudes on issues as compared to statistically oriented information, but have primarily been investigated in text-only formats. Little is known about the effects of visual information on individuals' attitudes. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of presenting data, narrative information, or a combination of information through verbal or visual channels on individuals' attitudes. The implications of this study enables us to understand the most effective information presentation methods when influencing individuals' attitudes and actions on controversial and emotionally charged topics.

The Redwood Curtain: How Humboldt's Geography Affects Junior College Athletics

Nathan Jensen, Department of Geography, Environment & Spatial Analysis Undergraduate Student

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Due to Humboldt County’s geographical location, it is uniquely isolated from the rest of the country. This isolation can make recruiting new athletes for the College of the Redwoods Cross Country and Track and Field teams difficult. This research project will investigate which factors in Humboldt County lead to difficulty in recruiting, in the hope of gaining a better understanding of this area. My goal is to study and analyze what aspects of the area may impact the recruitment and retention of Track and Field athletes at CR.

The Sound of Coastal Grove

Jaelyn Flores, College Corp Undergraduate Student

Other

For our creative project, the Coastal Grove Charter School fellows presented a 2025 Pitchfest proposal in collaboration with Coastal Grove, the Cal Poly Humboldt Music Department, and the broader school community. Our pitch aimed to support a more equitable and engaging learning environment for students in the music program. We proposed acquiring additional classroom supplies, organizing a dedicated classroom setup day, and fostering community involvement to help shape the future of music education at the school. The Coastal Grove staff and administration expressed deep gratitude for our support, noting how these efforts meaningfully enhance the music program and benefit the community.

Touch the Tides

Ashley Bowers, Other Undergraduate Student

College of Professional Studies

Touch the Tides is a free educational seminar developed to educate people on tidepool safety, etiquette, locations, and how to use them, rooted in connecting people with nature and making recreation accessible for all people.

Toward Automated Thesis Classification: Open-Sourced AI Foundations for Libraries

Courtney Rowe, Computer Science Undergraduate Student

Library

University libraries often face challenges in making student research more accessible. Manual tagging of theses is time-consuming, while commercial AI tools can be costly and limit institutional control. This project, in collaboration with the Cal Poly Humboldt Press and the TIDE computing cluster, fine-tuned an open-source AI model, ModernBERT, to automatically classify theses using the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The model performed well, demonstrating a promising, cost-effective approach for libraries to enhance research discoverability while retaining ownership and flexibility.

Using Deep Learning Models to Map Homeless Encampments in Eureka, CA

Nicholas Perdue, Department of Geography, Environment & Spatial Analysis Faculty

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

This project explores the use of deep learning models to map homeless encampments in Eureka, CA, with a particular focus on areas within flood zones that may potentially impact the coastal ecosystem of Humboldt Bay. The project critically examines the ethical implications of using artificial intelligence in this context, particularly with respect to the privacy and dignity of homeless individuals. The study balances technological advancements in geospatial data analysis with the need for responsible and humane applications of AI, ensuring that the potential environmental impacts of encampments are addressed without stigmatizing vulnerable communities.