All Presenters & Abstracts
Moving For Two: Understanding the Physiological Effects of Prenatal Exercise
Presentation Year:2026
Jasmine
Torres,
Undergraduate Student,
School of Applied Health
Pregnancy is a complex physiological condition characterized by significant cardiovascular, metabolic, and hormonal adaptations necessary to support fetal growth and maintain maternal–fetal homeostasis. Despite historical misconceptions that pregnancy should limit physical exertion, current scientific evidence strongly supports that exercise in uncomplicated pregnancies is both safe and beneficial. However, exercise remains underutilized, with up to 90% of pregnant women failing to meet recommended physical activity guidelines. This project examines how maternal and fetal physiology adapt to exercise during pregnancy and how these adaptations influence health outcomes.
During pregnancy, the maternal body undergoes substantial physiological changes. Cardiovascular adaptations include increased blood volume, elevated cardiac output, and a higher resting heart rate to ensure adequate oxygen and nutrient delivery to the fetus. Blood pressure may decrease slightly in early pregnancy due to vasodilation. Metabolically, pregnancy induces progressive insulin resistance, particularly in the second and third trimesters, which helps prioritize glucose availability for fetal development but also increases the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Additionally, normal gestational weight gain reflects fetal growth, placental development, and maternal energy storage, though excessive weight gain can lead to long-term complications such as obesity and pelvic floor dysfunction.
Exercise introduces an additional physiological stimulus that interacts with these baseline adaptations. Acute physical activity increases maternal oxygen consumption, cardiac output, and heat production. Early concerns suggested that these demands might compromise fetal oxygenation; however, research consistently demonstrates that in healthy pregnancies, exercise does not negatively affect fetal oxygen supply. Instead, maternal systems adapt efficiently, maintaining a stable intrauterine environment.
Chronic participation in prenatal exercise provides several maternal health benefits. Regular aerobic and resistance training improves cardiovascular efficiency, enhances glucose regulation, and supports appropriate gestational weight gain. These adaptations significantly reduce the risk of pregnancy-related complications, including gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, and excessive fetal growth (macrosomia). Evidence from randomized controlled trials shows that structured exercise programs can improve maternal health perception and overall well-being, while meta-analytic findings suggest that even higher-intensity exercise, when properly supervised, does not increase adverse outcomes in low-risk pregnancies.
Exercise also plays a critical preventative role. For example, high-intensity physical activity has been shown to significantly reduce the prevalence of gestational diabetes, with research indicating a notable decrease in risk among physically active pregnant individuals. Improved insulin sensitivity and metabolic control are key mechanisms underlying this protective effect. Similarly, exercise contributes to better blood pressure regulation, reducing the likelihood of gestational hypertension and associated complications.
Fetal physiology also responds positively to maternal exercise. Although exercise creates a temporary increase in maternal metabolic demand, fetal adaptive mechanisms maintain stable growth and development. Research suggests that maternal exercise may enhance placental efficiency, improving the transfer of oxygen and nutrients. Additionally, exercise is associated with healthier birth weights and a reduced risk of macrosomia, indicating improved regulation of fetal growth. Rather than restricting development, physical activity appears to promote optimal fetal outcomes in uncomplicated pregnancies.
Importantly, exercise during pregnancy also provides psychological benefits. Regular physical activity is associated with improved mood, reduced stress and anxiety, and better overall mental health. These benefits contribute to a more positive pregnancy experience and may reduce the risk of postpartum depression. Despite these advantages, adherence to exercise guidelines remains low due to cultural beliefs, safety concerns, and limited education from healthcare providers.
This project utilized a review of peer-reviewed literature, including randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and review articles published within the past two decades. Sources were selected based on their relevance to cardiovascular, metabolic, and fetal outcomes, with a focus on understanding both physiological mechanisms and clinical implications. Search terms included “exercise during pregnancy,” “maternal physiological adaptations,” and “fetal response to maternal exercise.”
In conclusion, current evidence demonstrates that regular, moderate exercise during pregnancy is a safe and effective strategy for improving both maternal and fetal health outcomes. By supporting cardiovascular function, metabolic regulation, and musculoskeletal stability, exercise helps mitigate common pregnancy complications while promoting optimal fetal development. Additionally, its positive effects on mental health further enhance overall well-being. Increasing awareness, education, and adherence to exercise guidelines is essential to ensure that more pregnant individuals can benefit from physical activity. Ultimately, exercise should be viewed not as a risk, but as a vital component of a healthy pregnancy.
2025 World AIDS Remembrance
Presentation Year:2026
Paul Michael
Atienza,
Faculty,
Critical Race, Gender & Sexuality Studies
The 2025 World AIDS Remembrance was a two-week program of events and displays that brought awareness and learning opportunities about the ongoing HIV/AIDS crisis around the world. It was one of several Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Grant Program recipients for the 2025-2026 academic year. Lead organizer, Dr. Paul Michael L. Atienza, collaborated with on and off campus partners to provide a variety presentations from public health professionals, community organizers, film screenings, and the Eureka Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Over 100 community members participated and experienced the events.
2026 MCM Problem A: Modeling Smartphone Battery Drain
Presentation Year:2026
Jonathan David
Juarez,
Undergraduate Student,
Mathematics & Data Science
This study develops a continuous-time model of smartphone battery discharge incorporating activity-dependent current demand and temperature-driven degradation. Simulations evaluate battery performance under common usage scenarios and varying states of health. Results indicate that high-energy activities significantly accelerate depletion, while battery aging and elevated temperatures reduce overall runtime. Model predictions align with benchmark data and observed usage patterns, demonstrating the framework’s ability to replicate realistic discharge behavior. The model provides a practical approach for estimating battery life and assessing the impact of user behavior and thermal conditions.
A Breath of Fresh Dust: Health Costs of California’s Shrinking Salton Sea
Presentation Year:2026
Brendan
Yoder,
Undergraduate Student,
School of Applied Health
Literature review investigating the adverse health effects of the continued drying of the Salton Sea in Southern California.
A Comparative Study of the Presence of Omnivores in Suburban Spaces
Presentation Year:2026
Jazmine
Busteed,
Undergraduate Student,
Wildlife
This study will test the daily/nightly presence/absence of raccoons (Procyon Lotor), striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis), gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), black bears (Ursus americanus), and Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana), and compare it to human presence (an aggregate of cars, humans, and domesticated animals) and temperature. Camera traps will be deployed at 7 sites in suburban neighborhoods in Arcata, CA, with data collection spanning 5 weeks in February and March. The implications include a better understanding of the suburban gradient as a suitable habitat for mammalian species
Abiotic Factors Influences in Marine Mammal Strandings
Presentation Year:2026
Lisa
Leen,
Undergraduate Student,
Wildlife
A study on how abiotic factors such as beach aspect, driftwood coverage, sediment size, and beach shape can influence the amount of marine mammal carcasses stranded per beach per year. With stranding data provided by the Maine Mammal Research and Education Program for 2025 along the Humboldt coastline of pinnipeds and cetaceans. This study can help allocate the effort based beach surveys performed by the Marine Mammal Reseach and Education Program (MMERP).
Abiotic Factors of Marsh Water Affecting Habitat Use of American Wigeons
Presentation Year:2026
Mandy
Garcia,
Undergraduate Student,
Wildlife
My research project is on how the abiotic factors of water at the arcana marsh affect habitat use of American wigeons. This was done by testing water quality for pH, salinity, and temperature and conducting bird counts from several stations around 10 water features at the marsh.
Activity Budgets of Belted Kingfishers in Humboldt County
Presentation Year:2026
Thomas
Pietrowicz,
Undergraduate Student,
Wildlife
This study investigated belted kingfisher behaviors in order to understand how they manage their time within the coastal wetland habitats at the the Arcata Marsh. I recorded the total length of time (in seconds) that an individual kingfisher spent perched, preening, and foraging across various wetland habitat types at the Arcata Marsh, in multiple 30-minute observation periods. The number of individual foraging attempts (defined as a dive into the water) and the outcome of each attempt was also recorded during each observation period. The data was used to calculate activity budgets and evaluate their foraging efficiency. A statistical analysis of the data was used to compare behavior durations, and differences across multiple times throughout the day. Overall, the study will provide baseline insights into belted kingfisher behavior, and how it is influenced by environmental conditions.
American College Theatre Festival - Scenic Design
Presentation Year:2026
Amanda
Coorey,
Undergraduate Student,
Dance, Music & Theatre
I traveled to Pasco, Washington to attend the American College Theatre Festival in Region 7 in February, 2026. While there I attended workshops, regional productions and participated in the Design, Technology, and Stage Management Expo where I was awarded the "National Design Excellence Honorable Mention for Scenic Design".
Analyzing Red Panda Behavior as an Indicator of Welfare
Presentation Year:2026
Megan
Kollias,
Undergraduate Student,
Wildlife
My project examines the daily activity budget of a singular red panda at the Sequoia Park Zoo, quantifying how behavior compare to wild red panda datasets as an indicator of animal welfare. Using an ethogram and systematic observations, I analyze how closely these patterns align and identify husbandry features that may influence the expression of natural behavior.
Another Look at the ~950 Year Old Glass Mountain Rhyolite Tephra: New Insights Into Volume, Eruption Column Height, and Geochemistry
Presentation Year:2026
Bodhi
Merrill,
Undergraduate Student,
Geology
This study examines the ~950-year-old Glass Mountain rhyolite tephra at Medicine Lake Volcano (MLV) in northeastern California. I use field observations and mapping of the dispersal of erupted material to estimate the total volume of tephra erupted, the maximum height of the eruption column during the explosive phase, and how the eruption evolved over time in terms of mass flux, vent erosion, and magma supply. In addition, I use the petrologic and geochemical properties of samples to offer insights into the pre-eruptive storage conditions of the erupting magmas. MLV is designated as a "high-threat volcano" by the USGS highlighting the importance of understanding its recent eruptions.
Aquatic Invertebrate Diversity Across Ponds in the Arcata Marsh
Presentation Year:2026
Bree
Gentil-Guijosa ,
Undergraduate Student,
Wildlife
I am collecting samples across different ponds in the Arcata Marsh to compare aquatic invertebrate biodiversity and abundance. Each pond is selected due to the ponds having different management goals and different reasons for their restoration/creation in the marsh back when the city marsh was being created. I will be presenting what invertebrate orders I found, if their presence and diversity was affected based on what pond they were collected in, and what this research can be applied to in the future.
Are You Safe from Tsunami, in a Worst Case Scenario, Magnitude 9 Subduction Zone Earthquake in Humboldt County?
Presentation Year:2026
Melanie
Michalak,
Faculty,
Geology
Humboldt County is located above a major plate boundary called the Cascadia Subduction Zone. Every several hundred years, the plate interface ruptures, causing a magnitude 8-9 earthquake, and disrupts the seafloor and water column, resulting in tsunami waves that will surge onshore in low-lying coastal areas. This interactive poster visually explains how tsunamis form, tests participants' understanding about tsunamis, and presents up-to-date tsunami hazard maps in Humboldt County. We seek to debunk common myths and misconceptions, and educate and empower our community to prepare for a local tsunami event.
Assembly of a Saturation Spectroscopy System
Presentation Year:2026
Rodney
Eckler,
Undergraduate Student,
Physics & Astronomy
The Humboldt Gravitational Research Laboratory has partnered with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center to assemble a saturated absorption spectroscopy system at Cal Poly Humboldt. The goal with the assembly is to stabilize a laser's frequency to a high level precision in a process called laser locking. Both saturated absorption spectroscopy and laser locking are important skills in many fields of physics from gravitational wave detection to development of atomic clocks.
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.
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.
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.
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.