Bird Diversity and Habitat Preferences: A Comparative Analysis of Humboldt Campus and Arcata Community Forest

Edwin Ramirez, Wildlife Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

This study will look at the abundance and richness of birds on the Cal Poly Humboldt campus and in the Arcata Community Forest. The primary objective is to understand how various environmental factors could influence bird population in these two locations. Studying the abundance and richness of birds in urban environments, forest edges, and forest interiors could provide important insights into conservation and management strategies.

BLACK HUMBOLDT An Impactful Mission

Nauselle Gleglaud, Business Undergraduate Student

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

As a College Corps Fellow, I supported Black Humboldt, a nonprofit uplifting Black and Brown communities in Humboldt County. I focused on behind-the-scenes work designing flyers, managing outreach, organizing files, and tracking expenses which gave me insight into the thoughtful planning behind inclusive, community-rooted spaces. This experience showed me that even administrative tasks can meaningfully support grassroots work. Black Humboldt’s mission highlights how intentional care fosters belonging, amplifies underrepresented voices, and redefines solidarity in rural areas.

Bridging Gaps in Rural Diabetes Care

Ashley Sciple Cron, School of Applied Health Undergraduate Student

College of Professional Studies

This quality improvement project aims to reduce disparities in diabetes care by improving access to Tirzepatide through individual, community, and policy-level interventions. Set in a rural clinic, the project focuses on providing culturally tailored telehealth education, peer mentorship, and advocacy for expanded medication coverage. The goal is to improve patient outcomes by increasing diabetes knowledge, medication adherence, and access to evidence-based treatment. Guided by the Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice, this approach supports safe, equitable care and long-term sustainability through data-driven evaluation and community engagement.

Brown Pelican Relative Abundance and Predation Frequency in Humboldt County Habitats

Gavin Lahr, Wildlife Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

I conducted point-count surveys for Brown Pelicans in three different Humboldt County Habitats: Beaches, Bays, and Lagoons. Across nine survey sites I compared Brown Pelican relative abundance and predation frequency to determine what habitat type in Humboldt County was more important to Brown Pelican survival and conservation. Since 2009 Brown Pelicans were delisted from the Endangered Species Act, a momentous achievement for Brown Pelicans and conservationists. However, I believe it is important to continue monitoring species that have been delisted to ensure they remain healthy.

Building Community Through Academic Support: My College Corps Experience

Leighanna Jake, College Corp Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

This work highlights my experience as a College Corps Fellow serving at Arcata High School. Being present in an academic setting allowed me to reflect on the importance of community support and mentorship. Through this experience, I gained a deeper understanding of how showing up for students, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, can create a sense of belonging and motivation. Inspired by this, I plan to support my tribal community and Native students interested in higher education.

Cal Poly Humboldt GIS Data Archive

Luis Gomez, Other Undergraduate Student

Library

The Geospatial Data Archive is a collection of useful GIS datasets, with an emphasis on Humboldt and Arcata, meant for students and community members as a whole to preserve and simplify the access of important geospatial data. We are also aiming to archive and display student and faculty projects. Data submission will be open to anyone with a registered account, once proper metadata has been filled out. Creating and maintaining useful metadata is another focus of the archive, as many datasets available online lack the necessary information to contact creators or to be fully understood by the average viewer

California at a Crossroads: Saving the Trinity's Water Future

Chris Koier, Other Undergraduate Student

Other

California’s Trinity River faces rising threats from outdated infrastructure, federal overreach, and climate change. This poster distills key findings from the California in the Crosshairs public policy series, analyzing infrastructure failures, collapsing salmon runs, and misguided federal water releases. It proposes local solutions—groundwater recharge, urban water independence, and Sites reform—to secure California’s rivers, ecosystems, and tribal rights before irreversible damage occurs.

Can Changes in Daily Routines Reduce the Risk of Periprosthetic Joint Infection?

Madolin O'Rourke, School of Applied Health Undergraduate Student

College of Professional Studies

Exploring reduction of periprosthetic joint infection through small changes in daily routines and cost-effective strategies.

Cannabis Use and Mental Health: A Double-Edged Leaf

Lanna Moore, Psychology Undergraduate Student

College of Professional Studies

Our project entails researching the effects of cannabis on various mental illnesses. We are investigating whether cannabis use impacts mental health disorders—exacerbating them, providing relief, or having no effect—aiming to better understand its role and clinical implications. Using OneSearch through Cal Poly Humboldt Library, we reviewed 12 papers utilizing keywords like “mental illness,” “cannabis,” “anxiety,” and “depression.” Findings show cannabis may worsen symptoms depending on usage patterns and individual conditions, suggesting the need for caution and increased research in clinical use and mental health policy.

Change in Snowmelt Timing and its Effects on the Green-up Timing of Mixed Conifer Forests

Tully Leonard, Computer Science Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Shifts in the timing of snow-pack melt influences the phenological cycles of evergreen forest in the Sierra Nevada mountain range; this can lead to potential alterations in the timing and duration of green-up in these forests. This can affect the forest’s resilience to ecological disturbances, like wildfires or insect outbreaks. In order to investigate these patterns this study uses data from the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON), which monitors the green-up of the forest and the snow depth. In addition, the snow water equivalent (SWE) data from the National Water and Climate Center (NWCC) was used to approximate the amount of snow-pack water available to the vegetation.