May 3, 2024 | Digital Showcase | Humboldt Library
All Presenters & Abstracts
Strength and Agility Training Could Reduce the Likelihood of ACL Injuries in Women's Soccer
Presentation Year: 2025
Nevaeh
Batrez
School of Applied Health
ACL injuries are on the rise in women's soccer. I looked into determining the effect of strength and agility training on ACL injury prevention in female player's.
Study of the Dietary Preferences of Collared-Doves Within an Expanded Range of Choices
Presentation Year: 2025
Daniel
Francois
Wildlife
The Eurasian collared-dove (Streptopelia decaocto) is an invasive columbiform that has spread across the continent of North America in under thirty years since its first introduction (Smith 1987, Romagosa and McEneaney 1999). Since then, it has competed with and dominated a variety of native passerines (Romagosa and McEneaney 1999, Romagosa and Labisky 2000). Our goal was to further discover its feeding habits and dietary preferences in order to gain a better understanding of its impact on native birds such as the mourning dove (Zenaida macroura). We hypothesized that collared-doves would prefer corn over millet seeds, and millet seeds over oats and sunflower seeds.
Temporal Habitat Usage of Columbian Black-tailed Deer Across Urban-wildland Interfaces in Arcata, California
Presentation Year: 2025
Jaret
Cross
Wildlife
In this study, we used motion-sensing camera traps to track deer’s habitat use in and out of urban areas, measuring key explanatory abiotic factors influencing their occurrence. The study took place in the public parks and community forest in Arcata, California.
Temporal Patterns and Anatomical Locations of Hamstring Injuries in Track and Field Athletes: Identifying the High-Risk Phases of Sprinting Related Hamstring Injuries in Track and Field Athletes
Presentation Year: 2025
Lucas
Garin
School of Applied Health
N/A
Terror at Home
Presentation Year: 2025
Starsong
Brittain
Dance, Music & Theatre
An original 10 minute play. The play explores the lived experience of urban residences in Soviet Union during the 1930s. A time known as the Great Purge or the Great Terror. This is time of suspicion and government policing on the citizens. A police unit called the "ravens" were feared. The story is told through the corse of one evening showing how quickly peoples lives were upended. The characters are depicted as endemic species to the Soviet Union, and the play is framed as a nature documentary meets Twilight Zone narrative. Aids in the audience being able too fully grasp the emotional experience for people in the past. The play is based on historical first hand sources.
Terror at Home: A 10 Minute Play Exploring History in an Intersectional Method
Presentation Year: 2025
Starsong
Brittain
Other
The original 10 minute play was inspired by historical research on the early decades of the Soviet Union. Specifically the "Great Terror" of the 1930s. The play tells experience of real people but portrayed as a a nature documentary.
The Baby Stress Paradigm: A Preliminary Analysis of Stress Responses to Baby Doll Crying
Presentation Year: 2025
Enza
Zeppegno-Mendonca
Psychology
Stress-inducing paradigms in research allow for a comprehensive understanding of the physiological and psychological effects of stress. Research consistently shows that infant crying triggers negative emotional responses, including heightened stress and negative affect in parents and women. Thus, we seek to develop a stress-inducing paradigm that uses baby crying sounds (with or without baby doll cues) to elicit both stress and cortisol responses in a broader population. To support this framework, we conduct a preliminary analysis comparing the self-report perceived stress responses before and after expose to a baby doll crying.
The Case for Ungraded
Presentation Year: 2025
Alexandria
Rumbel
Education
We use grades to categorize student achievement and provide feedback, but is this really the best way to foster accountability, prompt meta-cognition, and instill students with an intrinsic love of learning? Despite the near ubiquitous acceptance of grading as a standard feature of secondary and post-secondary education, educational philosophers and educational practitioners have had reservations about grading–practically since its inception. If grading does not lead to the best outcomes for our students, what shall we do instead?
"The Case for Ungraded" is a poster created and presented by Alexandria Rumbel, a graduate student in the Master’s of Education program at Cal Poly Humboldt.
The Clarke Museum
Presentation Year: 2025
Josue
Bermudez
College Corp
This year, I had the opportunity to work with the Clarke Historical Museum, one of the largest in Humboldt County. I helped set up exhibits, worked on projects, and participated in community events. I learned how a small community preserves and shares its history through this. Balancing this with college was challenging, but the support from Josh and the Clarke staff made it manageable. This experience deepened my appreciation for public history and inspired me to pursue future work that connects education, culture, and community engagement.
The Effect of Dynamic Balance & Muscular Strength on Fall Prevention in the Elderly
Presentation Year: 2025
Tatum
Carlin
School of Applied Health
Falls are a major risk for older adults, leading to injury and loss of independence. This research explores how age-related declines in dynamic balance and muscular strength increase fall risk. Evidence shows that combining balance and strength training significantly reduces falls, offering an effective strategy to support mobility and safety in the aging population.
The Effectiveness of Artificial Intelligence in Fall Risk Assessment for Older Adults
Presentation Year: 2025
Ian
Church
School of Applied Health
Falls in older adults are a leading cause of injury, hospitalization, and reduced independence, with significant healthcare costs and impacts on quality of life. Traditional fall risk assessments (e.g., clinical tests) are time-consuming, subjective, and may lack predictive accuracy. Advances in wearable sensors, AI, and machine learning offer real-time, objective, and scalable solutions for fall risk prediction and prevention. The purpose of this review is to synthesize current evidence on Artificial Intelligence-driven fall risk assessment tools and highlight gaps for future research.
The Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Preventing Ischemic Strokes in Postmenopausal Women
Presentation Year: 2025
Riley
Shopp
School of Applied Health
This research project examines the effects of aerobic exercise in reducing the risk of ischemic strokes among postmenopausal women. Across several studies, consistent moderate-intensity cardiovascular activity—such as walking, cycling, and swimming—was associated with improved blood pressure, lipid profiles, and overall heart health. Findings support aerobic exercise as an effective preventive strategy.
The Effects of an External Focus of Attention on Reaction Time and Execution of the 100m Dash
Presentation Year: 2025
Ryan
Castro
Other
This research project investigates how an external focus of attention influences both reaction time and overall performance in the 100-meter dash. By analyzing and synthesizing findings from recent peer-reviewed studies, the project aims to clarify whether directing an athlete’s attention toward external outcomes, rather than internal body mechanics, leads to more effective sprint execution and faster start times. The goal is to provide practical insights that can inform coaching strategies and improve competitive sprint performance.
The Effects of Microalbuminuria Testing for Providing Recommendations for Potential Treatments in Diabetic Patients with Kidney Damage
Presentation Year: 2025
Danielle
Lositzki
School of Applied Health
Microalbuminuria testing is crucial for early detection of kidney damage in diabetic patients, as it identifies levels of albumin in the urine, signaling potential nephropathy. Early identification enables timely interventions such as lifestyle modifications, blood sugar control, and the use of medications like ACE inhibitors or ARBs to slow disease progression and protect kidney function. Regular monitoring of microalbuminuria helps guide treatment adjustments, improving patient outcomes and preventing further kidney deterioration.
The Effects of Outdoor Physical Therapy Sessions on Depression and Overall Recovery Rate in Elderly Patients
Presentation Year: 2025
Elizabeth
Cameron
School of Applied Health
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
Presentation Year: 2025
Melanie
Aguilar
Psychology
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
Presentation Year: 2025
Sophia
Hummel
Psychology
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
Presentation Year: 2025
Kauyumari
Sanchez
Psychology
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
Presentation Year: 2025
Kauyumari
Sanchez
Psychology
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
Presentation Year: 2025
Nathan
Jensen
Geography, Environment & Spatial Analysis
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.