Breadcrumb
Past Luncheon Presentations & Grant Recipient Recordings
Grant Recipient Recordings
Sarah Lasley's Thank You for the 2023 ERFSA Small Grant (link to Panopto video)
Jennifer Marlow's Thank you for the 2023 ERFSA Grant (link to Panopto video)
Fall 2025 ERFSA Luncheon Presentations
September 11, 2025: Justin Luong, 2024 Grant Recipient, Assistant Professor, Forestry, Fire and Rangeland Management.
"The effect of local solar microgrids on rangeland vegetation and soils"
Solar microgrids may be an important production method to help meet growing clean energy demands but could impact rangeland ecosystems. We evaluated how solar microgrid developments affected the in situ plant communities and soil properties of three soil microgrids on coastal prairies in Humboldt county. Initial findings suggest that solar microgrids affected plant communities but did not strongly affect soil biogeochemistry.
Introduction by Jeffry Borgeld, Humboldt-ERFSA Membership Chair
https://justinluong.com/menu/currentresearch.html
October 9, 2025: Silvia E. Pavan, 2024 Grant Recipient, Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences.
"An exploratory expedition to Rio Abiseo National Park: revealing a mysterious new species of mammal and garnering genomic resources from a World Heritage Site"
I am broadly interested in biodiversity, and I work with fieldwork exploration and collections-based research to discover and describe species, and to understand small mammals diversity and evolution. I am going to share with you some of the results from an exploratory expedition to Rio Abiseo National Park in Peru. I am investigating the unknown diversity on this World Heritage Site, revealing high endemicity and several new species of small mammals. Publication: The one describing the new species of marsupial, and please follow this link for an outreach publication framing a new marsupial species, described as a result of the project (published last month!).
Introduction by Susan Dobie, Humboldt-ERFSA Program Chair
November 13, 2025 (sequential speakers):
Introductions by LouAnn Wieand, Humboldt-ERFSA Treasurer
12:00 - 12:30 PM
Amy K. Conley, 2022 Grant Recipient, Lecturer, Education.
"Building community and identity through local language practice"
We aimed to increase a sense of belonging at school, attendance, and connectedness to tribes for indigenous 8th graders by having tribal elders teach greetings and names for local fauna for three local indigenous languages and Spanish. We were successful in our efforts as well as increasing the number of indigenous and non-indigenous students planning to take an additional language as high school freshmen.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1gBEdnWcZKZIKbOrqkdseH-jP-Mxi4Bdb_4pdVA150SE/edit?usp=sharing
12:30 - 1:00 PM
Morgan Barker, 2023 Grant Recipient, Sustainability Librarian, University Library.
"Sustainable Librarianship - Sustainable Library Certification at Cal Poly Humboldt"
This Certification is helping to define a new and intentional dimension of librarianship. Over the past two years, all Library faculty and staff have been on a collaborative journey toward earning Sustainability Library Certification. Through this collective effort, we have demonstrated just how deeply library work is woven into the fabric of academics and curriculum, research, and community engagement.
https://libguides.humboldt.edu/sustainability/sustainable_library_certification
December 11, 2025: Amy Uyeki and Vicki Ozaki, Team HAPI Members.
"Under One Umbrella: Building and Empowering the Community of Humboldt's Asian and Pacific Islanders"
Since its inception in 2021, Humboldt Asians & Pacific Islanders in Solidarity (HAPI) have worked to empower the Asian American/PI community and amplify diverse voices and perspectives for a more engaged and inclusive future. Team HAPI members Amy Uyeki and Vicki Ozaki will provide an overview of HAPI with current and past projects. One focus will be the Eureka Chinatown Project (ECP) which is reclaiming the dark history of the Eureka Chinatown expulsion and its relevance in our lives today. Plans for the Eureka Chinatown monument will be shared as well as envisioning future projects for both ECP and HAPI.
Introduction by Kumi Watanabe-Schock, Humboldt-ERFSA Communication Chair
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Zu8sNjDtuQsVJk0rdxHeq6ApHcYLb27E/view?usp=drivesdk
Spring 2025 ERFSA Luncheon Presentations
February 13, 2025: Connie Stewart: Executive Director of Initiatives, University Advancement
“Health Initiatives in Rural Areas”
Connie has the honor of hosting the North Coast Health Leadership Team, a group of Health and Human Services Chief Executive Officers from Humboldt and Del Norte. She will give an update on some of the projects happening in the region, plus recruitment and retention of health care providers efforts in the community.
We can also have a brief discussion of some of the challenges health care is facing and ways to engage in advocacy to help. Connie can also touch on some of the other projects she's working on including Broadband access and Blue/Green workforce.
https://giving.humboldt.edu/content/forever-giving-feature-me-mini/living-learning-and-leaving-legacy-humboldt
https://president.humboldt.edu/content/college-matters-cal-poly-cr-work-address-nursing-shortage
March 13, 2025: Lisa E. Feldman, U.S. Department of Justice, United States Attorney’s Office, Assistant United States Attorney’s Office, Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section
”Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Feldman will be speaking about the latest sophisticated cybercrimes and how to avoid them. She will also discuss cases involving intellectual property crime.
April 10, 2025: Sarah Lasley, Cal Poly Humboldt Art & Film Professor
“No-budget Independent Filmmaking for Change”
Grant recipient Professor Sarah Lasley will discuss her latest no-budget film "Welcome to the Enclave", an experimental short that screened at 27 international film festivals, 4 of them Oscar-qualifying, won multiple awards, and was reviewed in major media publications. She will also present her upcoming film "Climate Control" which was created in close collaboration with her Cal Poly Humboldt Film students. Two of these students traveled to Germany with her, with the generous support of her 2023 ERFSA grant, to shoot the documentary portion of the film.
https://now.humboldt.edu/news/slamdance-film-festival-gives-professor-lessons-share-students
https://now.humboldt.edu/news/humboldt-film-tool-advocacy
May 8, 2025: Maxwell Schnurer: Communication Department Chair and Transformative Restorative Education Center (TREC); Mark Taylor, MSW, Project Rebound; Steve Ladwig, TREC; Sidney Asfrzadeh, TREC
“Cal Poly Humboldt BA at Pelican Bay State Prison”
Cal Poly Humboldt currently offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication at Pelican Bay State Prison. The presenters will discuss what is it like to teach university level courses to students at the highest security prison in California.
https://www.ijpr.org/show/the-jefferson-exchange/2024-11-25/tues-9-25-california-colleges-provide-pathways-for-inmates-to-earn-college-degrees
https://now.humboldt.edu/news/ba-program-pelican-bay-state-prison-first-its-kind-california
Fall 2024 ERFSA Luncheon Presentations
September 12, 2024: Cyril Oberlander, Dean of the University Library, Cal Poly Humboldt
"The University Library SimTable & Hall of Simulation"
Cyril Oberlander, Dean of the University Library, will highlight the SimTable, an augmented reality 3D interactive simulator in the library showing wildland fires, emergency management, evacuation and floods. Dean Oberlander will also provide updates on the Hall of Simulation, which includes the new FAA Flight Simulator, digital wall, and 3D Digital Herbarium - which won the American Library Association's Best Emerging Technology Award 2024.
https://library.humboldt.edu/3d-digital-herbarium
https://now.humboldt.edu/news/3d-digital-herbarium-recognized-innovation
October 10, 2024: Jennifer Marlow, Environmental Science and Management
"Managing Risk from Sea-Level Rise and Coastal Hazards to Humboldt Bay’s Spent Nuclear Fuel Site"
In this talk, Associate Professor Jennifer Marlow (JD) will discuss plausible future scenarios for Humboldt Bay's spent nuclear fuel site and share recommendations for assuring public and environmental safety. Read Jennifer’s faculty profile and learn more about her work on Humboldt Now. Project information is available at 44feetproject.com. Also see Brown, A., Marlow, J., and Sorfleet, J. (2024). Crafting Effective Oversight for the Long-Term Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel on Sites at Risk of Climate and Coastal Hazards. Frontiers in Climate: Climate Law and Policy. Vol. 6. doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2024.1356724
November 14, 2024: Cliff VanCott, McKinleyville Emergency Response Team Leader
Cliff VanCott (Team Leader for McKinleyville CERT) will discuss the history and organization of CERT in the Humboldt County, describe the various activities CERT members have accomplished in the past and also explore how we can be better prepared for disasters which may occur here. The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. CERT offers a nationwide approach to the organization and training of local volunteers, your friends and neighbors, that professional responders can rely on during disaster situations, allowing them to focus on more complex tasks. Their skills and knowledge will assist professional First Responders in times of overwhelming need.
December 12, 2024: Jacqueline Dandeneau, Executive/Artistic Director - Playhouse Arts
"The Arts and Wellness in Rural Spaces"
Playhouse Arts as the Local Arts Agency for the City of Arcata, provides art engagement opportunities for all ages. Playhouse Arts provides youth programming in partnership with the Humboldt County Office of Education. We support a community arts center, Our Space, for the houseless and housing insecure. The Agency also provides The Wonder Wagon to rural communities and events, runs the Arcata Playhouse, as well as engages in advocacy for our rural community.
https://www.playhousearts.org/
Spring 2024 ERFSA Luncheon Presentations
February 15, 2024: Aldaron Laird, Retired Sea Level Rise Planner
"Sea Level Rise and the Humboldt Bay Region”
Our area has the highest rate of relative sea level rise on the west coast of the U.S., tides are rising faster here. Due to a historical legacy or two sea level rise will have a significant and possibly a devastating impacts to our Humboldt Bay region. We explore the past, present, and future of Humboldt Bay region.
https://arcata1.com/aldaron-laird-sea-level-rise-consequences-mind-boggling-mru/, https://www.madriverunion.com/articles/understanding-climate-change-means-seeing-the-world-with-new-eyes/
March 14, 2024: Tiana Williams-Claussen, Director, Yurok Tribe Wildlife Department
"Releasing California Condors into the Wild”
California Condors, known as the “Prey-go-neesh” in the Yurok language, are being released as part of the Northern California Condor Restoration Program. Director Tiana Williams-Claussen will explain the nature of release management and give us an update on the current success of the program.
https://www.times-standard.com/2023/07/29/prey-go-neesh-returns-1-year-since-california-condors-reintroduced-in-northern-california
https://www.northcoastjournal.com/news/reclaiming-their-ancestral-lands-28124204
April 11, 2024: Alison O’Dowd, Environmental Science & Management at Cal Poly Humboldt
"River Undammed: Exploring biological responses to Klamath dam removal"
The removal of four large hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River will be the largest dam removal project in history. Dr. O'Dowd will provide information about the Klamath dams and her research project that is exploring the impacts of dam removal on downstream ecosystems.
https://now.humboldt.edu/magazine/fall2023/2-1_klamath-dam-removal.html
May 9, 2024: Canceled
Fall 2023 ERFSA Luncheon Presentations
Spring 2023 ERFSA Luncheon Presentations
Fall 2022 ERFSA Luncheon Presentations
Spring 2022 ERFSA Luncheon Presentations
Fall 2021 ERFSA Luncheon Presentations
Spring 2021 ERFSA Luncheon Presentations
Fall 2020 ERFSA Luncheon Presentations
Spring 2020 ERFSA Luncheon Presentations
Fall 2019 ERFSA Luncheon Presentations