RSS 1.02024 Research and Creative Activity Day Posters
Recent Submissions
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H&H Exhibition: Bunnyson (2024)Bunnyson is a charm worn as a necklace or an insignia. It is crafted in 14k gold and holds a 0.35 ct diamond with grey coloration and a pearl cut. The jewel was designed in Blender, a free and open-source software. I then printed the sculpture with the help of the 3D printers in the UAF Makers Space, using Polycast filament. A new plastic filament designed to burn without residue was meant to replace wax in the traditional casting process. I created my 14k gold alloy by mixing gold with copper, following the old Spanish jewelry tradition. This gives the gold a slight pinkish hue. The design features two bunnies facing each other, holding the diamond together with their paws. They sit on top of a heart shape and have wings on the side. I wanted the jewel to look like a coat of arms inspired by royal and religious insignias. A symbol of status and wealth. It is a soft and whimsical design, almost like it was from a fairytale. The rabbits make a consistent apparition in my BFA thesis show as I use them as a euphemism for sexuality and devotion. With this piece, I wanted to create an heirloom jewel that would hold my BFA show in a nutshell, a insignia for reaching my commencement as a professional artist.
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Cognitive Cryogenics: Visual Metaphors for Human-Environment RelationshipsCognitive Cryogenics: Visual Metaphors for Human-Environment Relationships focuses on gathering information on Alaskan glaciers, and the tendencies of local people to create a visual metaphor between the land and its inhabitants. This project highlights analogies which allow the audience to experience greater awareness and understanding of relationships to their environment.
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Winter Conditions of Happy Creek following RestorationFollowing a restoration project of Cripple Creek, we are still learning about the impacts it had on the creek ecosystem. Using water quality and water sample data, this poster offers insight into the current winter conditions of Happy Creek, and what these conditions imply for fish survival under the ice.
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How does a permafrost lake influence downstream carbon cycling?The Arctic is warming at nearly twice the rate of the mid-latitudes. Due to this warming, there are drastic changes in the environment, including in waterways. Permafrost releases ancient organic carbon (OC) into the modern environment as it thaws in warming Arctic temperatures. This permafrost has been found to be highly available for microbes to decompose into CO2 and CH4 representing a positive climate feedback. By measuring the rate of biodegradable dissolved organic carbon (BDOC) consumption by microbes in lakes and streams around the Fairbanks area, we can assess the impact of seasonal changes and permafrost thaw on BDOC.
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Extracting Ancient DNA From the North SlopeEight samples of ancient spruce DNA were found frozen on the North Slope. The samples are about 80,000-130,000 years old. 50,000 years ago, the North Slope was glaciated. We have successfully extracted DNA from 1 sample. We will conduct future extractions on the remaining samples and identify their species.
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Invasive Plant Seedbank Development After Wildfire in Alaska’s Boreal ForestWildfire and invasive species are increasing across Alaska as the climate changes. My study focuses on the development of an invasive species seedbank in soils from burns in Interior Alaska. What species of seeds are there and what does this mean for the vulnerability of Alaska in the future?
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Macroinvertebrates Across Various Vegetation Sites Along the Chatanika RiverOur project was to look at the salmon fry diet and see what was present in the Chatanika River. We wanted to see if erosion of the rivers would be a problem to the salmon fry diet. To better understand how well the salmon population is doing regarding climate change.
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The contribution of source materials to the dissolved organic matter of Smith LakeEvaluation of the sources of biodegradable dissolved organic matter in Smith Lake in the context of a changing climate and hydrologic cycle.
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A new look at the mammalian fauna of the Prince Creek Formation, North Slope, AKThe Prince Creek Formation is famous for polar dinosaurs, but it also contains ancient mammals, four species of which were previously known from studying teeth. However, we have found a greater diversity and identified nine morphotypes of mammals from jaws and skeletal material, more than doubling the previous known number.
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Grasshoppers in Wood River: A relic population of the presumed extinct Rocky Mountain Locust?Investigation into the taxonomy of a grasshopper outbreak in rural Alaska.
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Assessing Salmon Habitats on the Banks of the Chena River in Fairbanks, AlaskaUAF student and Tanana Valley Watershed Association investigate different types of riverbanks including natural, bioengineered, and riprap banks in order to assess the extent to which they contribute to or detract from macroinvertebrate abundance and salmon habitation on the Chena River after river break up.
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Geo Learning Community: Student Community and BelongingThe Geo Learning Community (Geo LC) provides support for geoscience majors who are from typically underrepresented groups in STEM education. We support these students by offering tutoring, contact with faculty and opportunities at UAF, and social activities that provide a chance for students to build community outside of the classroom.
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Functional Gene Abundance among Boreal Forest SitesI will be measuring the abundance of functional genes associated with the microbial production of methane and carbon dioxide. Digital polymerase chain reaction will be utilized to obtain complete quantification of these genes.
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The Influence of Geologically Derived Nitrogen on Stream Nitrate Concentrations in Interior AlaskaThe high concentration of nitrate in Fairbanks drinking water cannot be explained by anthropogenic or environmental factors. I am examining the possibility of geologically sourced nitrogen through analysis of nitrogen content and isotopic composition in rock and how it spatially correlates to stream nitrate concentrations.
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The Influence of Ground Cover and Soil Conditions on Blueberry ProductivityA study of the effects of ground cover and soil conditions on Blueberry productivity at Bonanza Creek Long Term Ecological Research Station.
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Phylogeography and Ploidy of Alaskan Labrador Tea (Rhododendron tomentosum and R. groenlandicum)Our goal is to detect if there is a historical signature of gene flow in the sympatric area. Additionally, we will investigate if these two species are unable to interbreed due to ploidal differences in the populations where they coexist. In the future, the generated sequence data can be used to address demographic history of Rhododendron tomentosum and R. groenlandicum.
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Do bulk nitrogen isotope ratios capture declines in captive muskox body condition?We were interested in studying muskox bulk nitrogen isotope ratios to see if these values capture declines in body condition. We were particularly interested in using archived serum from muskox at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Large Animal Research Station from 2009-2010 when there was a decline in the body condition of some individuals due to deficiency in trace minerals. Nitrogen isotope ratios can be analyzed to assess protein balance in animals. Since the lighter isotope of nitrogen (14N) is preferentially excreted in urine, the heavier isotope of nitrogen (15N) is enriched in tissues. As a result, we expect to see a decrease in N15 ratios when an animal is in a state of emaciation.
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Developing techniques to date young volcanics in AlaskaDetermining the timing of past eruptions is a crucial aspect of studying volcanic activity. This project aims to develop techniques to date past eruptions using 40Ar/39Ar dating of the Camille and Lost Jim flows in Alaska via the use of a mass spectrometer.
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Mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase enzyme activity in hibernating black bearsStudying mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase enzyme activity in hibernating black bears in liver, cardiac and kidney tissue.
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Effects of Hypoxia on Blood Osmolarity in Antarctic Fish SpeciesTemperature is increasing in the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica and as a result, oxygen levels are also decreasing, potentially affecting native fish species. I am measuring blood osmolarity to determine if hypoxia affects the ability of Antarctic fish to regulate blood osmolarity.
