Tag: Learning from the Environment

Stories of Decline: Narratives and Risk Framing of Glacier Retreat and Salmon in Washington, USA

Presenter: Jenna Travers – Marine Biology

Faculty Mentor(s): Mark Carey

Session: (In-Person) Oral Panel—Learning from the Environment

Climate change is threatening both glaciers and salmon in Washington with extinction, putting the state’s economy, culture, and ecosystems at risk. However, the overlapping crises are framed and understood differently throughout the state, affecting policy and climate action. This study analyzed 115 media sources from four main stakeholder categories to determine a) which narratives of glacier retreat and salmon declines are the most prevalent; b) how perceived risks change among stakeholders and cause narratives to diverge; c) how these narratives are shaped by stakeholder identity, geographic location, knowledge sources, and time; and d) how narratives of overlapping climate emergencies differ from narratives of a single crisis. Key narratives were identified by creating a qualitative codebook that was applied using Dedoose, and the presence of narratives was analyzed across the categories to evaluate trends. The study found that while a common narrative did exist, stakeholder identity, geographic location, and source of knowledge were all key factors in shaping narratives. It also found that narratives of overlapping climate emergencies were more likely to diverge than those of a single crisis. As climate change worsens and causes more overlapping crises, understanding how climate narratives are created and shaped will become increasingly important for understanding stakeholder conflicts, effective climate campaigns, and how people view themselves within these crises.

Promoting Pollinators at Whitewater Ranch

Presenter: Olivia Heller − Environmental Studies

Co-Presenter(s): Julia Nauman, Lindsey Nguyen, Fischer Kirk

Faculty Mentor(s): Peg Boulay, Gabby Altmire

Session: (In-Person) Oral Panel—Learning from the Environment

Native pollinators are beneficial in agroecosystems because they are more cost-efficient, resistant to disease, and more favorable to the larger ecosystem than imported honey bees. The Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) has been monitoring pollinators at Whitewater Ranch (WWR), an organic blueberry and timber farm in Leaburg, Oregon, since 2014. Here, the ELP has assisted WWR in its restoration of Goose Creek, a riparian zone that runs through the ranch. The goal of the project is to increase native pollinator abundance and diversity for the benefit of the ranch and greater ecosystem. To do so, we explored the potential of native riparian and forb plantings to increase native pollinator populations. First, we continued to monitor the effects of previous riparian plantings on current pollinator populations in blueberry fields. Second, we explored the role of floral enhancements in logged areas after the 2020 Holiday Farm Fire. Working with insect ecologist Lauren Ponisio, we are monitoring which native forbs are most successful in the previously burned areas of Whitewater Ranch. We expect pollinator numbers to remain relatively consistent with previous years.

Assessment of the Oregon White Oak Woodland and Prairie Restoration Project at Dorris Ranch

Presenter(s): Mya Ganzer — Environmental Science

Co-Presenter(s): Shane Kreger, Emma Peara, Olivia Holah

Faculty Mentor(s): Peg Boulay, Hannah Gershone

Session: (In-Person) Oral Panel—Learning from the Environment

The primary goal of the Birds & Blooms Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) team is to evaluate the effects of the 2016-2018 Oregon white oak and upland prairie restoration project at Dorris Ranch. The team will monitor showy wildflower species, invasive plant species, oak characteristics, and target bird species within the study site at Dorris Ranch. This will allow us to monitor and assess the health of the oaks and the response of the biotic communities dependent on oak woodland and prairie habitats at Dorris Ranch, which will indicate the success and impacts of the 2016-2018 restoration projects. Specifically, our group will conduct presence-absence surveys for target bird species, map wildflower and invasive species populations, create an evaluative census of the Oregon white oaks, and replicate photo points based on a set done in 2020. The data we collect will be compared to previous data that has been collected from Dorris Ranch. The relationships between the datasets, in addition to our new findings will further inform Willamalane Park and Recreations adaptive management decisions and strategies in order to continue the restoration of crucial Oregon white oak habitat and its associated species at Dorris Ranch.

Environmental Leadership Program: Youth Climate Science/Climate Justice Education and Discovery

Presenter: Max Arquilevich − Environmental Studies

Co-Presenter(s): Kira Domzalski, Naomi Meyer, Sydney Aston

Faculty Mentor(s): Katie Lynch

(In-Person) Oral Panel—Learning from the Environment

Immersed among ancient trees deep in the Cascades lay the teachings of climate science and justice. The Climate Team in the Environmental Leadership Program introduced environmental education to middle school students by facilitating hands-on outdoor experiences in H.J Andrews, a world-renowned experimental old-growth forest. We discussed and showcased climate change evidence via four lessons: Phenology, Forest Plots, Microclimates, and Climate Justice. Through these lessons, students developed an understanding of the intersectional ways in which they can study climate change, and participate in solutions. As the seventh graders gained knowledge on plant identification, data collection/analysis, environmental inequity, and impacts on microclimates, we acquired experience in teaching, lesson planning, communication, and teamwork. By conducting hands-on research in the Forest, the middle schoolers gained applied science skills and basic climate change literacy, all while working as a team to analyze scientific data, graph, and draw conclusions about climate change’s impact on the forest and the world around them. By empowering young students with these skills and knowledge, the Climate Team paved the way for future environmental stewardship, taking action against climate change one student at a time as they grow to become tomorrow’s leaders.

Demystifying the Tracker Workflow: How exactly WAS video game music made?

Presenter: Kobe Anthony − Music Technology

Faculty Mentor(s): Jon Bellona

(In-Person) Creative Work—Learning from the Environment

Music trackers are instruments that artists leverage to compose videogame soundtracks. My goal is to understand how this music tracking software works in an effort to demystify the barrier between contemporary music and videogame music.

Trackers are unique from modern music sequencers. However, since the music recording industry relies primarily on digital audio workstations (DAW),The music tracker medium is underrepresented in creative research.

I have incorporated one such tracker, the Polyend Tracker, into a music EP by playing sound material directly from the tracker. Samples for the Polyend tracker will be based upon previous music I have created.

I have found throughout this research that the tracker workflow both strengthens and weakens aspects of the creative process, explaining both the reason early video game music has its characteristic sound, as well as the expertise that has gone into video game music production over the years.

From this research, I have determined Trackers are immensely powerful pieces of hardware that transcend the implications of their age, however, trackers are clearly much better suited for sample manipulation and sequencing than things like sound design and synthesis.

The creation of a 3-song EP using a Polyend hardware music tracker extends digital audio creative research and supports vital music industry practice, both of which further prepares me for work in the digital gaming and music-for-media industries.

Environmental Leadership Program—Aves Compartidas 2022

Presenter: Abby Andrews − Environmental Studies

Co-Presenter(s): Jenna Burns, Lucy Trapp, Sequoia Shand

Faculty Mentor(s): Russel Lynch

Session: (In-Person) Oral Panel—Learning from the Environment

Eugene, Oregon and Guanajuato, Mexico have more things in common than you might think, including 25 shared migratory birds that we introduced to students during our time at El Camino del Rio/River Road Dual Immersion Elementary. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, outdoor education has become evermore important. As participants in the Environmental Leadership Program, we strive to rekindle youth’s bond with nature that was neglected during the pandemic. This year, the Aves Compartidas Program taught elementary students about migratory birds through an environmental education lens, and fostered students’ connection to their environment and to Guanajuato, Mexico. Our pedagogical approach focuses on the importance of connecting students with the local environment through the use of auditory, visual, and artistic group learning. Within six weeks, our team taught 42 classes, educating 128 students on migratory birds and related environmental issues, focusing on creating safe migration conditions. We incorporated the observation of World Migratory Bird Day, and highlighted this year’s theme, “dim the lights for birds at night,” in reference to the effect of light pollution on bird flight patterns. The materials created from the program include lesson plans, a project management plan, and an informational website. This will allow continued collaboration between Oregon and Mexico, to nurture the next generation of environmental stewards.