All Presenters & Abstracts
Athletes Should Play More Sports : An Ecological Dynamics Perspective
Presentation Year:2026
Adam
Garrison,
Undergraduate Student,
School of Applied Health
This project looks at early sport specialization and its associated risks, including increased injury rates, burnout, and limited long-term athletic development. It highlights how repetitive, single-sport training can restrict adaptability and overall skill development in youth athletes. To combat this, the project explores ecological dynamics as an alternative approach. By emphasizing varied movement experiences, environmental learning, and adaptability, this approach promotes more holistic athlete development. The project ultimately argues that multi-sport participation naturally aligns with ecological dynamics and can help lessen the negative effects of early specialization.
Bat Species Richness Between Parks and Patch Size in Arcata, CA
Presentation Year:2026
Jesse
Campbell,
Undergraduate Student,
Wildlife
Bat species diversity can be influenced by landscape features in both urban and natural areas. Habitat fragmentation poses a great risk to bats, though due to their elusive nature, long-term monitoring strategies are difficult to maintain consistently. The main objective of this study is to determine if bat species richness varies according to different patch size, which will be observed across three parks in Arcata, California. We hypothesized that the largest park would have the most species richness, though should each park maintain the same species present, then patch size is not a major factor in influencing species richness. By setting up passive acoustic detectors (Audio Moth 1.2.0), we can collect recordings of the foraging or social calls bats use to navigate their terrain and analyze the frequency level and characteristics of each call to determine which species are in the area. If the number of species found at a particular site is higher than adjacent sites, or consists of species of special concern, then conservation efforts can be concentrated toward that site’s habitat maintenance for foraging and potential roosting grounds.
Bird Response to Dam Removal and Revegetation in the Klamath River Basin
Presentation Year:2026
Izzy
Harrison,
Undergraduate Student,
Wildlife
Monitoring wildlife species during ecological restoration can provide insight to ecosystem recovery. In 2023 and 2024 the four lower dams on the Klamath River were removed, marking the largest dam removal project in the US to date. Following the removals, restoration, led by Resource Environmental Solutions (RES), in the former reservoir footprints has been underway. Several restoration techniques were used, which provided the opportunity to examine the effect treatments have on ecosystem recovery. In May 2025, RES installed audio recording devices across sites in the footprints, allowing us to monitor birds, which are considered good indicators of ecosystem recovery. We compared species richness across sites in varying habitats and treatment types to look at how restoration influenced bird communities.
Black Humboldt
Presentation Year:2026
Bailey
Linares,
Undergraduate Student,
College Corp
This project explores my work as a College Corps fellow with Black Humboldt, a nonprofit supporting Black residents in Humboldt County. Through community events, outreach, and relationship-building, I contributed to creating safe, inclusive spaces in an underrepresented region. This work addresses issues of visibility, isolation, and access to culturally relevant resources. By translating concepts of equity and representation into practice, the project highlights how grassroots efforts can strengthen community connection, belonging, and support.
Blue Lake Rancheria Daluviwi’ Field Restoration Project
Presentation Year:2026
Bella
Evenson,
Undergraduate Student,
College Corp
Blue Lake Rancheria’s community garden, Daluviwi’, is dedicated to promoting Indigenous food sovereignty by providing a variety of produce to tribal communities across Humboldt County. Over the past two years, tribal employees and College Corps fellows at Daluviwi’ have worked to remediate an acre of field space, increasing crop production and expanding our ability to feed the community. The project has been completed by hand to promote long-term, sustainable, regenerative agriculture.
Breaking the Chains of Oppression: Early Abolitionists, Public Protests, and the Quakers who Led the Way in Igniting the Fires of Freedom for All
Presentation Year:2026
William
Seniff,
Undergraduate Student,
History
When someone thinks of abolition, the first things that come to mind are Abraham Lincoln, Harriet Tubman, or the Underground Railroad. However, many of the early abolitionists in the North American colonies were, in fact, Quakers. Quakers were the first to lead the charge in the pursuit of abolition as early as the mid-seventeenth century. There is much more to Quakers and their history than the white-haired, stuffy-looking gentleman in a big hat on the box of your morning oatmeal. One of the main tenets in The Religious Society of Friends is a vow of pacifism, and many Quakers saw slavery as a major affront to this tenet. Early abolitionists brought the concept of anti-slavery to many people who had never even contemplated it before. Although abolition took the entire nation becoming embroiled in a bloody Civil War to become reality, it is only because these pioneers of social justice had led the way for over two hundred years. Clearly presenting these exceptional figures, their efforts to end slavery, and the major events that occurred in the colonies resulting from their actions, in chronological order, is key to understanding their significance in the history of the early abolitionist movement.
The list of Quakers who were early abolitionists included figures with such prominent names as George Fox, the founder of The Religious Society of Friends, more commonly known as the Quakers. Fox wrote a letter to England in 1657, titled To Friends Beyond Sea, that have Blacks and Indian Slaves, speaking out against slavery. Some of the key documents and events in this fight against slavery include the first written document in protest of slavery in the North American colonies in 1688, which is titled the Germantown Quaker Petition Against Slavery. An Exhortation and Caution to Friends Concerning Buying or Keeping of Negroes written in 1693, is the second anti-slavery protest document written by the Quakers and the very first ever printed.
Benjamin Lay was a very radical and vocal Quaker who was in loud opposition to the idea of slavery. He used what became known as “Guerrilla Theater” to protest slavery to the public. Some of these theatrical protest events would be known as the “Bloody Book Stabbing” as well as the “Sit-Down Strike.” He even went as far as kidnapping a local child in an attempt to show the slave owning parents the grief felt by enslaved parents who had their children forcibly taken from them. Benjamin Lay himself wrote a book in 1738 titled All Slave-Keepers That Keep the Innocent in Bondage, Apostates, where he posed many deep societal questions about the concept of slavery itself.
Anthony Benezet, an eighteenth-century Quaker who was a teacher, played a huge part in educating many young Black children and exposing all levels of society to the horrors of slavery by creating his educational pamphlets. Benezet took education very seriously and believed everyone had a right to be able to receive one. He fought very passionately to give as many people as possible the chance to better themselves through studying and hard work.
Another very prominent figure in the early years of abolitionism was the son of a very successful slave trader, but unlike many others discussed, he was not a Quaker; his name was John Laurens. In a letter to his father, Laurens talks about his disdain for the system of slavery so readily accepted in the Southern colonies. A very well-known South Carolina statesman and soldier, Laurens, even fought alongside George Washington and other historically notable figures during the American Revolution. He would go on to be a vocal advocate for the abolition of slavery, which was extremely rare in South Carolina at the time. Near the end of the war, Laurens proposed the amazing idea of recruiting over three thousand enslaved men from South Carolina and Georgia to create an entire regiment of enslaved soldiers. The idea was that they would be granted their freedom upon completion of their military service fighting against the British. Unfortunately, the Continental Congress shot down Laurens' idea in the end because many in the South feared arming the enslaved population would cause more harm than good.
Another notable non-Quaker figure in the early abolitionist movement, who was a former slave herself, is the remarkable woman named Elizabeth Freeman, also known as Mum Bett. She became the first Black enslaved woman to sue for her freedom in the state of Massachusetts and win. This was an extraordinary case and had massive repercussions throughout the colonies that set a precedent in the court of law for years to come.
To present these exceptional figures and events in the early years of the anti-slavery movement that took place in the North American colonies clearly and concisely, it needs to be done chronologically. All this is done in the hope that everyone will see that even when you are outnumbered by many people who oppose your deepest beliefs, if those beliefs are rooted in justice and liberty for all people, you can overcome even the greatest obstacles. Abolition was viewed as completely impossible by many people and even caused America to be split in half and cause the bloodiest war in U.S. history, but in the end, it was successful. All you need to have is determination, an iron will, to never give up hope, and a little luck never hurts either.
Breast Cancer Disparity in Women in Wisconsin
Presentation Year:2026
Jacob
Lewis,
Undergraduate Student,
Mathematics & Data Science
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women. About 25% of cancer cases world-wide are breast cancer cases. People in Wisconsin are 'allegedly' more likely to develop breast cancer. We are going to compare cancer rates in the US to cancer rates in Wisconsin. This will lead to further research into the causes of such a disparity. Driving research questions:
How does the distribution of tumor characteristics in Wisconsin compare to national averages? Are tumors in the Wisconsin data set more irregular, more aggressive, etc. Are Wisconsin malignancy rates similar to U.S. malignancy rates? What proportion of cases are malignant in the Wisconsin dataset? What features most strongly distinguish malignant from benign tumors? What kind of cluster characteristics are there? To answer these questions, we will compare various features of our two datasets, such as: radius (mean of distances from center to points on the perimeter) texture (standard deviation of gray-scale values) perimeter area This analysis will provide insight into why the distribution of cancer in Wisconsin is irregular, which in turn will be able to help researchers discover more about breast cancer.
Bridging the Gap in Prediabetes Care: Improving Outcomes Among Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Adults
Presentation Year:2026
Becca
Gilbride,
Undergraduate Student,
Nursing
Prediabetes disproportionately affects low-income adults, yet many remain unaware or untreated due to limited time and resources in community health care settings. Addressing prediabetes is a critical window of opportunity to prevent type 2 diabetes and is essential to reducing disparities and long-term complications. Guided by the Evidence-Based Practice Change model, this project implements multi-level interventions, including motivational interviewing, community education, and clinical decision support tools. Outcomes focus on improving self-efficacy and engagement and achieving at least a 0.5% A1C reduction within one year. These improvements are expected to enhance quality of life, lower the risk of serious complications, and reduce the healthcare burden.
Bridging the Gap: Improving Access to Specialty Care for Adults with Type 2 Diabetes in Rural Communities
Presentation Year:2026
Sydney
Castil,
Undergraduate Student,
Nursing
Rural communities experience significant disparities in the management of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), often due to limited access to specialized care, resulting in poor glycemic control, increased complications, and higher hospitalization rates. In areas such as rural Northern California, shortages of endocrinologists and diabetes-focused providers create barriers to timely, evidence-based care for adults with T2DM. This quality improvement project proposes the integration of a diabetes nurse specialist within a local hospital setting to address gaps in care delivery. The diabetes nurse specialist will provide patient education, medication management support, care coordination with the interdisciplinary team, and ongoing monitoring to improve clinical outcomes. The primary goal is to enhance glycemic control, reduce diabetes-related complications, and decrease preventable hospital admissions among the target population. Outcome measures will include changes in HbA1c levels, hospital readmission rates, and patient self-management behaviors. Process measures will assess program implementation, including patient engagement and adherence to follow-up care. By embedding a specialized nursing role within the rural healthcare system, this intervention aims to improve access to high-quality diabetes care, promote patient-centered management, and reduce health disparities in underserved populations.
Built by Community: How Serving Others Has Inspired My Future
Presentation Year:2026
Naomi
Garcia,
Undergraduate Student,
College Corp
As a College Corps Fellow, I served at Centro Del Pueblo (CDP) and the projects and work I was a part of allowed me to serve Indigenous, Migrant, and Latinx families and communities throughout Humboldt. Through advocacy and cultural preservation, I was able to experience the elements of creating and collaborating on community-led initiatives, as well as learn how to be in service of others as an aid, translator, educator, organizer, and human. I was able to be a part of structuring CDP’s & the City of Arcata's first CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Farm— a farm that exists as a Sanctuary for all and a space for cultivating community, while also combating local fresh produce insecurity. The Sanctuary Farm is now an active space for permaculture, collaborative food growing and distribution efforts, as well as volunteer and communal events. I have had the experience of leading and working alongside a team, to facilitate a handful of events at the Sanctuary Farm. Everything ranging from land preparation and harvesting, to cultural arts, recreation, and restoration projects. Additionally I have been able to be a part of CDP’s Youth Council and RRN (Rapid Response Network). Serving in these positions has equipped me in being critical in my speech and proud of my presenting skills, to listen and let others lead me to new truths and perspectives, as well as to think more compassionately, nuancedly, and personally in the ways I can contribute to uplifting the communities I am part of. I have been equipped with the knowledge of my rights and what to do in instances where it may be needed, whether for myself or in service of another, as well as how to use storytelling as a tool to share complex or discomforting issues/topics. The projects/work I was able to be a part of at CDP matters because it all fostered community connectivity, actualization,preservation, collective and self identities, and most importantly continues to help make the lives of many individuals and families easier, further enriched, and enjoyable. In a time when many people suffer silently under systematic and algorithmic smog, CDP stands center in the City of Arcata as an organization for those very people and communities.
But What If I Hate It? The Intersection of Collegiate and Career Pathways in Kinesiology
Presentation Year:2026
Tyler
Yeo,
Undergraduate Student,
Other
The Progression of Kinesiology Degrees and the Career Opportunities Presented Post Grad: The Evolving Identity of the Study of the Body in Motion. Many students can enter the field without a full understanding of professional opportunities or required qualifications. Inconsistencies in degree structure, professional identity, and career pathways create challenges for student recruitment, workforce development, and professional recognition. Therefore, this literature review examines how kinesiology education aligns with workforce demands, professional identity, and future opportunities.
CA State Libraries Queer Elders Archive
Presentation Year:2026
Sol
McJimsey,
Undergraduate Student,
College Corp
At Queer Humboldt this spring, us College Corps interns have been working on the Youth-Led Queer Elder Library Archive project, where we lead interviews on the stories of local 2S/LGBTQIA+ older adults and senior citizens, and edit them into interview videos.
One of the biggest challenges in the queer community is the generational divide – older 2S/LGBTQIA+ members lose touch with the younger community’s goals, and youths don’t know how to find predecessors or role models. While not as robust as in big cities, the queer community in Humboldt County has a rich history. This project aims to build bridges between the generations, and to record the history and experiences of queer people here.
Cal Poly Humboldt GIS Archive
Presentation Year:2026
Sahian
Tapia,
Graduate Student,
Geography, Environment & Spatial Analysis
The GIS Data Archive was created from the need to preserve GIS projects, as well as to make them accessible. Our main objective is to have an organized space for easy access to GIS works of all types for research, student projects, and general use, and to provide a persistent location to the data and scholarship.
Cal Poly Parkless, Critically Examining Commutes in Humboldt County
Presentation Year:2026
Liam
Blackburn,
Undergraduate Student,
Geography, Environment & Spatial Analysis
Cal Poly Humboldt is experiencing a significant parking shortage. With a clear intent to increase enrollment and expand the campus, demand for transportation infrastructure will continue to grow. While expanding existing parking options may seem like a popular solution to address the issue, studies have shown that it may only further exacerbate parking-related problems. My research project aims to analyze the current public transit system and model students' daily commutes to the Cal Poly Humboldt campus if they didn't have a personal vehicle. With this study, I aim to provide an overview of the public transport situation in Humboldt County, uncover the true extent of the transit crisis, explain why building more parking lots isn't a good long-term solution, and share my own insights from my studies about how Cal Poly Humboldt can travel into the future instead of getting stuck driving in circles.
California's Salmon River - History of Whitewater Paddling Short Film
Presentation Year:2026
Will
Ross,
Undergraduate Student,
School of Applied Health
My project is a short film that will provide information about the history of private and commercial whitewater rafting and kayaking on California’s Salmon River. It will consist of recorded interviews from people who live in the area, have guided commercially in the area, and who have a long history of paddling in the area. Additionally, I will have historic footage of whitewater paddling on the Salmon River and will record modern footage of people paddling on the Salmon River. It will be at least five minutes long and will include interviews and knowledge from at least five people.
Career Development Through College Corps
Presentation Year:2026
Gia
Gruenhagen,
Undergraduate Student,
College Corp
As a College Corps Fellow, I served at Coastal Grove for three years. I have assisted in the handwork class for all three years. While working there I have learned many new skills like knitting, and leather work. I have also got to hone my skills in crocheting and sewing. I had the opportunity to work with the second grade class for my final year, and before that worked, with the previous second grade class as well. From this I have learned the basic office skills like printing, and organization. I have gained a compassion for teachers, and admire their work deeply. This work matters because having an extra set of hand and a voice in the classroom is always helpful when trying to manage twenty-five students everyday. It is also important for the students to be able to have another person to help with their learning needs, and someone to lean on and hear them, if they are having a tough day. Through this experience, I have gotten very familiar with patience, empathy and adaptability. These skills will help in my future career and daily life.
Cattle Pastures as High Tide Refugia for Shorebirds in Humboldt Bay
Presentation Year:2026
Colby
Gagnebin,
Undergraduate Student,
Wildlife
Shorebirds displaced from intertidal mudflats during high tide inundation often utilize nearby grasslands as alternative foraging and roosting habitats. I hypothesize that shorebird abundance and species richness are higher in pastures located near their primary habitats, and are similarly positively correlated with moist soil, standing water, and cattle presence. To test this, I will conduct surveys during high tides across various pastures in the Arcata Bottoms, measuring shorebird abundance, species richness, and key habitat features such as soil moisture, surface water presence, cattle presence, and proximity to the nearest tidal flat. The relationships between these habitat characteristics and shorebird response variables will be analyzed using multiple linear regression. The findings from this study could contribute to a better understanding of shorebird habitat selection, especially regarding their use of agricultural lands and how these areas serve as supplemental habitats. This information can inform conservation strategies in coastal regions where wetland habitats are declining.
Celebrating Black Excellence: The Impact of the High School Sash Ceremony
Presentation Year:2026
LaTasha
Amos,
Undergraduate Student,
College Corp
The High School Sash Ceremony significantly enhances Black graduates’ cultural identity, community belonging, and educational aspirations. In a study using surveys, interviews, and focus groups with 87 participants, 94% reported increased cultural pride, 89% felt stronger connection to the Black community, and 78% noted positive impacts on their educational goals. These findings highlight the ceremony’s role in fostering belonging, addressing systemic inequities, and promoting educational equity in predominantly white institutions, suggesting that expanding and integrating such culturally affirming celebrations can strengthen support for Black students and their families.
Characterization of Seal and Sea Lion ID Tag Durability by Scanning Electron Microscopy
Presentation Year:2026
Brodie
Lyons,
Undergraduate Student,
Biological Sciences
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration deploys seal and sea lion ID tags to track movements, monitor health, and research behavior. In this study, three environmental stress tests were designed to evaluate the durability of injection-molded tags compared with 3D-printed tags made at Cal Poly Humboldt. Ultraviolet rays, mechanical abrasion, and biofouling (ammonia and urea) were the three stressors measured and analyzed with scanning electron microscopy. Injection-molded tags are more resistant to all three treatments. Our results will aid wildlife scientists in reducing tag failure and improving both material selection and reliability of ID tags in harsh field conditions.
Clarke Historical Museum
Presentation Year:2026
Bo
Bacon,
Undergraduate Student,
History
I served at the Clarke Historical Museum in Eureka. I helped to assess, photograph, and catalog over 600 maps, documents, and photographs donated to the museum by Oscar Larson & Associates, a local engineering/consulting firm. This work matters because while the museum recieved these pieces in 2022, they have been understaffed and unable to deal with them until now. Also, these pieces would have been thrown away if not taken in by the museum, leading to the loss of a ton of valuable history. Through this experience, I have learned a great deal about Humboldt County and its infrastructure.