Category: Poster Presentation

Heavier Snowfall and Snow Distribution Patterns as a Result of Global Warming

Presenter(s): Isabella Cao − Journalism

Faculty Mentor(s): Dave Sutherland

Poster 144

Research Area: Natural/Physical Science

Low temperatures and the presence of moisture are conditions that allow for snowfall. When parcels of warm air containing moisture rise and cool, the water vapor condenses to form clouds. These clouds form precipitation, in the form of either water droplets or tiny ice crystals depending on surrounding air temperature. Precipitation and snowfall are a normal part of the hydrological cycle; however, global warming has changed the hydrological cycle and thus affects patterns of snowfall. A 4% increase in atmospheric moisture has been observed (warmer atmospheres holding 7% more moisture per 1°C). Many studies have been done on global warming’s contribution to dwindling snowpacks and high rates of snowmelt, however, few have studied heavy snowfall as an effect of climate change. Here I show patterns of decreased and increased snowfall in various regions. I found that warming of ocean surfaces and other water supplies can result in patterns of heavier snowfall. Japan predicts decreases in total winter snowfall, as well as an unusual heavy snowfall occurrence every 10 years. Further, I found that while most regions experience an overall decrease in snow, the distribution pattern changes significantly, with some places having much less or more more than usual. Climate change does not always result in immediate depletion of snow, but rather a continuous changing pattern that shows decreasing over time. This report could instigate more accurate portrayals of snowfall patterns, leading to more accurate studies. These findings will be useful in better utilizing water resources that rely on snowfall.

CO2 Emissions From France, Italy, Denmark, and the Netherlands Pre and Post Signing the Kyoto Protocol

Presenter(s): Johanna Boyers − Environmental Studies

Faculty Mentor(s): Ronald Mitchell

Poster 143

Research Area: Environmental Studies

The purpose of this research is to identify CO2 emission changes in countries before and after signing the Kyoto Protocol. Throughout this research I will be analyzing what the impact was of the Kyoto Protocol for pusher versus dragger countries in the European Union. I expect to find all countries having reduced CO2 emissions post signing the protocol, however based on France and Italys history of being draggers, I expect their emissions to be higher than Denmark’s and the Netherlands. I expect the change in CO2 emissions for France and Italy to be much smaller than those of Denmark and the Netherlands, based on their history of being pushers. By identifying the change, or lack thereof, in CO2 emissions post signing the Kyoto Protocol, we can see whether protocols like this one are useful in lowering CO2 emissions for future use.

A Just Transition: Renewable Energy and Indigenous Voices in the Nunavut Community

Presenter(s): Selena Blick − Environmental Studies

Faculty Mentor(s): Mark Carey

Poster 142

Research Area: Social Science

In order to combat climate change, renewable energy sources must replace fossil fuels, and quickly. However, just like fossil fuels, renewable energy projects can create other environmental harms, many of which are felt unfairly by Indigenous communities. The territory of Nunavut, located in Northeast Canada, has a population comprised of over 85% Indigenous People. This community is currently reliant on imported diesel and looking to make the transition to renewable energy, but is hesitant about the ways that renewable energy projects, especially hydroelectricity, might impact their natural environment. This research will explore these issues that the people of Nunavut currently face in terms of energy use and renewable energy production and how Indigenous People in other parts of Canada have worked to resolve these issues. While climate change is a pressing matter, urgency can not be an excuse to mistreat Indigenous People or their land. By exploring how these energy issue impact Indigenous People, this research seeks to provide a better understanding of why energy projects need to be approached in a way that is both just and sustainable.

Industrialization vs. Environmental Protection: The Intersection of a Growing Asian Economy and a Melting Himalayan Cryosphere

Presenter(s): Payton Becker − Economics, Political Science

Faculty Mentor(s): Dave Sutherland

Poster 141

Research Area: Natural/Physical Science

As a region of the world with great potential for economic growth, Southern Asia faces unprecedented levels of air pollution and snow melt. Darkening the Himalayan snow’s surface and increasing its ability to absorb sunlight, the presence of natural and man-made air particulates on ice trigger glacial melting that requires human response. Emission-creating practices in the industrial and agricultural sectors – such as those that originate from factories, long-distance transportation, and biomass burning (“slash and burn” farming) – combine with natural phenomena such as wind storms to spread Black Carbon and other aerosols. These contributors to air pollution lower the single-scattering albedo of snow after landing on it, leading to potential catastrophes and the need for human-initiated mitigation. As this region of the cryosphere continues to warm, countries such as Nepal and India must face the question of whether to formulate policies that pursue economic development or responsible climate practices. Here we show the effects of air particulates on glacial albedo using data collected over multiple years as well as society’s response to the symptoms of Himalayan melting. Actors working to prevent and reduce the severity of the problem take the form of governmental institutions implement policies, spanning from within Himalayan countries to the international community. At risk of facing destruction from a melting cryosphere, human lives and sacred places within the Asian continent rest in the hands of those with the power to regulate industrialization and raise albedo to levels that better reflect the sun’s rays.

The Effect of Climate Change on Coastal versus Inland Snow: The Expected, the Counter- Intuitive and their Connection

Presenter(s): Adriann Bechtle − Architecture

Faculty Mentor(s): Dave Sutherland

Poster 140

Research Area: Earth Science

Although the impact climate change has on the cryosphere as a whole is generally understood, the way it plays out in different regions varies and may sometimes seem counter-intuitive. The west coast and midwestern United States are two regions that exemplify the dichotomy between familiar and surprising effects of climate change because their weather is affected by different things and their cryospheres take on nuanced forms. On the west coast the snow is largely limited to high altitudes and it accumulates there to create glaciers. In the midwest, on the other hand, the vast majority of snow
is annual and is highly dependent upon weather patterns. The observable trends in both regions is a decline in snowpack, whether that is annual or accumulative snowpack. Both trends appear to be a direct products of global warming. What differentiates these regions is the change in precipitation and the ways these changes affect the environment and human populations. The west coast is largely suffering from a decline in precipitation and is losing snowpack as a result. This creates a drought because the snowpack is a significant water source. Meanwhile the midwest is actually having an increase in severe winter precipitation, this has its own catastrophic consequences. The question is how these phenomena are connected and if they share an underlying cause. By comparing and contrasting trends in winter precipitation and snowpack from both regions we can see what aspects of climate change are universal versus regional and potentially answer our question.

Sami Sovereignty and International Climate Change Mitigation

Presenter(s): Augustine Beard − History, Environmental Studies

Faculty Mentor(s): Mark Carey

Poster 139

Research Area: Social Science

This paper seeks to understand the intersection of climate change and geopolitical challenges to the sovereignty and self-determination of Sami people in Sápmi, the artic region of modern-day Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. While much of previous research on climate change and Sami people has focused on traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and management for reindeer herding or other natural resources within single states, fewer scholars have engaged the linkages between the challenges to sovereignty posed by the partition of Sami territory. This research will situate intergovernmental climate discourse within a longer narrative that includes colonization, partition, European integration, and globalization. Further, I will examine the impacts of inter-state approaches (or lack of such approaches) to climate mitigation and adaptation on local communities and cultures. There are two major areas of interest/questions for this research: (1) How do inter- European and international conversations about climate change compound or complicate the geopolitical challenges that the Sami face in self-determination? (2) How do the impacts of climate change on reindeer herding and Sami natural resource management impact their capacity to assert sovereignty to multiple state actors? In sum, this paper will demonstrate how international agreements and organizations such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the Paris Accords have perpetuated a pattern of marginalization and exclusion seen in previous geopolitical challenges to Sami sovereignty and natural resource management.

Creating A Language Audit To Avoid Ableism For Bark Organization

Presenter(s): Ege Akinci − Environmental Studies

Faculty Mentor(s): Sarah Wald

Poster 138

Research Area: Humanities

Inclusive language can easily be ignored in most media sources like web pages or Facebook pages and include such words that carry colonialist, racist, sexist or ableist language without intentions. To avoid such language, this project will create a language audit and I will be focusing on ableism and accessibility in language, which is to make sure that the language used is including people with disabilities as this aspect can be easily ignored in writings. Through creating the language audit, I will use different previously created language audits and scholar papers written on ableism and how to avoid ableist language. This language will be created for the Bark-Out’s website and Facebook account. Bark-out’s mission is to transform Mt. Hood National Forest to a place where wildlife can be protected and local communities can have a social, economic and cultural investment in its preservation. Creating a language audit is particularly important to include each and every person in Barks mission, to preserve the natural, social and cultural aspects of Mt. Hood Natural Forest.

Comparing Language Exposure Measures in Dual Language Contexts

Comparing Language Exposure Measures in Dual Language Contexts

Brandon Zuel − Communication Disorders & Sciences

Co Presenter(s): Melanie Bethancourt

Faculty Mentor(s): Stephanie De Anda, Lauren Cycyk

Poster 130

Research Area: Social Science

Parent report is a common method for quantifying language exposure in bilingual children however it is not always reliable. A less studied method is analyzing real-world language input. The present study seeks to fill the gap of quantifying language exposure by examining the amount of language input in each language through real-world audio recording in the everyday lives of bilingual toddlers. This preliminary study presents data on 2 participants from Spanish-speaking homes (Participant A: 18;0, male; Participant B: 18;25, female). Audio recordings were captured using the Language Environment Analysis device (Ford, Baer, Xu, Yapanel & Gray, 2009). 16 hours of language input data were collected over three days. The data was then analyzed in 5-minute increments to quantify exposure to English and Spanish. We calculated exposure during periods when the child had the highest amount of (a) adult words in the environment, (b) linguistically meaningful interactions, and (c) child-directed speech. Results indicated that full-day audio recordings and all discrete segments demonstrated comparable calculations of language exposure. That is, language exposure captured in the three afromentioned methods demonstrated similar measurements, and these mirrored parent estimates as well. Together these results show that several methods of calculating language exposure within language samples yield relatively similar estimates. However, this is based on two participants with relatively stable exposure to Spanish. We plan to provide data on an additional 6 participants at the time of the poster presentation to ask whether children with more exposure to English demonstrate a similar pattern of results.

Fit In & Fit Out: Promoting Women’s Belongingness in STEM Majors

Presenter(s): Zige Zhao − Educational Foundations

Co Presenter(s): Mengfan Zhai

Faculty Mentor(s): Jenefer Husman

Poster 105

Research Area: Motivation on Learning: Gender/Belongingness/STEM

In 2013, the gender gap in STEM was nearly the same as it was in the 1960s (Hill et al., 2010) (As cite by Crenshaw, 2017). We argue social belongingness (SB) – a basic human emotional and psychological need for perceiving acceptance in some social group or setting (Baumeister & Leary, 1995; Leary & Baumeister, 2000) – is essential to understand these persistent gender disparities and make the change with tested and potential solutions. We conducted a systematic online review of the research on Social Belongingness Theory (SBT) and women in STEM for the purpose of addressing gender equity by searching the keywords “gender”, “belonging”, “STEM”, and “stereotype” on Web of Science and Google Scholar. We categorized 20 articles into “Why” SBT is important and “How” increase SB promotes female participation in STEM. We found social belongingness affects women’s persistence in STEM (Lewis, 2017), and women’s STEM interests (Dustin, 2013). We also found that lower belongingness among women is due to: generally feeling unwelcome in STEM (Settles, 2006); lack of early exposure to STEM experiences (Cheryan, 2017); and lack of female representation (Hill, 2010). Several articles provide data-based solutions and suggestions on improving belongingness of women in STEM, including: Having female peer mentors during the early college years (Dennehy, 2017); increased positive feedback from male authorities (Park, 2017); greater emphasis on effort as expected and normal to achieve success enhancing female’s feeling of belonging (Smith, 2013); improving perceived identity compatibility (London, 2011); and receiving support from equity sources (Rosenthal, 2011).

Thin-Slice Socioeconomic Status: Comparing Thin-Slice and Longer Judgments of SES and the Cues That Inform Them

Presenter(s): Arianna Zarosinski − Psychology

Faculty Mentor(s): Sanjay Srivastava, Bradley Hughes

Poster 104

Research Area: Social Science – Social Psychology

Thin-slice perceptions, or perceptions made of others prior to interaction or after a brief interaction, have been widely studied in personality trait domains. The thin-slice approach has also been used to examine perceptions of social class. Socioeconomic status is an important factor in this discussion, as perceived SES can influence overall perceptions of others. However, few studies on socioeconomic status have been conducted using the thin-slice approach. In this study, we examine whether thin-slice judgements of SES are as accurate as predictions formed from longer observations by comparing thin-slice ratings of 60 second videos with ratings made after a 20-min interaction. We also examine whether observed cues used to express and make judgements of socioeconomic status differ between thin-slice observations (1-minute) and longer (20 minute) observations using a Brunswik lens analysis. This study is preregistered through the Open Science Framework, and a sample of 750 thin-slice ratings of SES and 750 ratings of observed cues are being collected from the University of Oregon Psychology and Linguistics human subject pool. *This is an ongoing study and results will be included in the presentation. It will also be altered to refer to the study in the past tense.