Tag: Poster 151

Conservation Efforts in the Progressive Era: A Timeline

Presenter(s): Amanda Ganje − Environmental Science

Faculty Mentor(s): Sarah Wald, Paul Guernsey

Poster 151

Research Area: Humanities

Attempts to conserve and preserve the environment in the United States have been around for over hundred years with roots in the Progressive Era. This time period, from 1890-1920s, saw notable figures like John Muir and Theodore Roosevelt rise up to speak out on the importance of preserving the environment, and under Roosevelt’s presidency came the formation of national parks and monuments. I’ve made a timeline capturing the most significant events from this time period to show the foundation of the conservation movement. This timeline is being used as a part of BARK’s, the watchdog organization for Mt. Hood National Forest, efforts to teach the community on the history of conservation. BARK’s mission is making Mt. Hood National Forest a place where local communities have social, cultural, and economic investment in its restoration and preservation which this timeline hopes to help accomplish this by engaging the community more with the natural environment through learning about the background of its management. The events included in this timeline were found using relevant scholarly journals and books. This information is significant as it is an essential part of the United States conservation history, and educational for the general public.

Assessing the Nutritional and Physical Needs of Students Outlined in Oregon Wellness Policies

Presenter(s): Christine Pons

Faculty Mentor(s): Elizabeth Budd & Elinor Sullivan

Poster 151

Session: Social Sciences & Humanities

The prevalence of childhood obesity continues to increase in the United States. To prevent this rate from increasing, schools have been identified as an effective setting to address obesity. Specifically, school-based interventions that focus on changing dietary intake and physical activity levels lead to decreased prevalence of obesity in students. In addition to obesity, physical activity and nutrition have direct impacts on one’s risk for chronic diseases and many types of cancer. Thus, the aims of the project include identifying gaps in Oregon school district wellness policies, as well as determining social and environmental factors (i.e.., racial/ethnic makeup of the school, % receiving free/reduced-price lunch at the school, rurality of school setting, walkability of area surrounding school) associated with the strength and comprehensiveness of district school wellness policies across the state. The research question is answered through the location and evaluation of each school district’s wellness policy. These policies are evaluated based on the Wellness School Assessment Tool (WellSAT: 2.0), which assesses how each policy addresses 78 policy items. Based on the assessment, areas of improvement are identified and suggested to the specific school district. The overall assessment shows the strength of each wellness policy in addressing the nutritional and physical needs of Oregon students. Combined with the demographics of each district, these results indicate how a community influences the services provided for student’s nutritional and physical health and attempts to prevent obesity.