SOAR 2018: Full Schedule

1:30pm PDT

SOU Sustainability Tour

Take a walking sustainability tour of the SOU campus. Tour highlights will include a close up look at rooftop solar, pollinator gardens, discussion of SOU power sources, LEED buildings, SOU's recycling center, and more!

Speakers

Roxane Beigel-Coryell

Tuesday May 15, 2018 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
SU Courtyard Stevenson Union

Demonstration, Tour

Host Organization Campus Life
Majors & Minors Environmental Science & Policy
Student Organizations Bee Team Club, Environmental Education Club, OSPIRG
Topics Local Interest, Sustainability, Environment, Science, Agriculture, Nature

3:30pm PDT

Green House Symposium

Do medical waste, burial practices, and the fashion industry impact the environment? Should we be concerned about GMOs, coral health, and ocean microplastics? Should we support nuclear and solar energy? What is the role of the individual and the UN in working toward a more sustainable future?

Through individual presentations, Green House first-year students provide research-based answers to these and other questions regarding human impacts on the environment and progress in sustainability.

Moderators

Ellen Siem

Senior Instructor of USEM, Southern Oregon University

Southern Oregon University

Speakers
Sponsors

USEM

Tuesday May 15, 2018 3:30pm - 6:00pm PDT
SU 319 Stevenson Union

Symposium

Host Organization USEM
Majors & Minors Environmental Science & Policy, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Social Science
Student Organizations Bee Team Club, Environmental Education Club, OSPIRG
Campus Organizations Center for Sustainability
Topics Environment, Sustainability, Public Policy

9:30am PDT

Environmental Science & Policy Capstone Presentations

A symposium presenting research and applied projects in environmental science and policy by SOU students, faculty and collaborators.

Moderators

John Gutrich

Associate Professor, Environmental Studies

Speakers
Sponsors

Environmental Science & Policy

Wednesday May 16, 2018 9:30am - 3:30pm PDT
SU 319 Stevenson Union

Symposium

Host Organization Environmental Science & Policy
Majors & Minors Environmental Science & Policy
Student Organizations Bee Team Club, Environmental Education Club, OSPIRG
Campus Organizations Center for Sustainability
Topics Environment, Sustainability, Public Policy

10:00am PDT

Sustainability in the Campus Urban Forest

Come learn more about the life of the SOU Urban Forest ecosystem and some of the exciting wildlife habitats on campus. We will visit habitat trees, bee hives, pollinator gardens, and an arboretum. Led by Mike Oxendine the SOU Landscape Supervisor

Speakers

Mike Oxendine

Landscape Supervisor, Southern Oregon University

Mike has called Oregon home since 1985 and prefers the pronouns he, his, him. He is a professional certified International Society of Arboriculture Arborist and also a licensed Oregon Landscape Professional. He serves on the City of Ashland Tree Commission, the Post Growth Institute... Read More →

Wednesday May 16, 2018 10:00am - 12:00pm PDT
SU Courtyard Spirit Rock Stevenson Union

Demonstration, Tour

Majors & Minors Environmental Science & Policy
Student Organizations Bee Team Club, Environmental Education Club, OSPIRG
Campus Organizations Center for Sustainability
Topics Nature, Sustainability, Environment

10:00am PDT

Diverse USem FUSE Presentations

USem 103 students will present their FUSE research on diverse topics addressing current critical issues, policies, and challenges, including topics addressing sustainability, social justice, LGBTQ+, racism, privacy, economics, media, crime, policing, consumerism, and education.

Wednesday May 16, 2018 10:00am - 3:30pm PDT
SU Diversions Stevenson Union

Symposium

Host Organization USEM
Majors & Minors Environmental Science & Policy, Social Justice, Ethics, Economics, Digital Journalism, EMDA, Criminal Justice, Education, Social Media & Public Engagement, GSWS
Student Organizations Economics Club, Bee Team Club, Environmental Education Club, OSPIRG, Queer Student Union, Criminology Club
Campus Organizations Multicultural Resource Center, Queer Resource Center
Topics Business, Environment, Sustainability, Social Science, Social Justice, Public Policy, Queer

2:00pm PDT

Equitable Practices in Urban Farming

Presenting group meets at SU Courtyard at 2 p.m. and then heads over to SOU Community Garden for demonstration.

Demonstrations inspired by Washington-Oregon Higher Education Sustainability Conference speakers. Help plant the SOU Food Pantry which provides free food to SOU students with food insecurities. University farms support students and local economy. We will discuss how SOU is using similar practices at The Farm at SOU. Our compost builds soil and is a renewable resource. Learn about the composition of the SOU community garden's compost.

Moderators

Case Wiseman

Speakers

Kayla Bondoc

Michael Jones

Jordan Porter

Corbin Toye

Wednesday May 16, 2018 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Meet at SU Courtyard SOU Community Garden

Demonstration, Demonstration

Host Organization Environmental Science & Policy
Majors & Minors Environmental Science & Policy, Social Justice
Student Organizations Bee Team Club, Environmental Education Club, OSPIRG
Topics Agriculture, Environment, Sustainability, Social Justice, Public Policy, Public Health

12:00pm PDT

Benefits of Recycling

My Capstone project was to teach preschool age students about the importance of recycling. This concept of sustainability was taught through creative games, lessons, and multiple reusable art projects. The students walked away with an understanding of recycling, its importance, and the benefits of reusing "trash" or giving it another life through recycling. The students also learned about patience, sharing, and compassion towards others and the earth.

Speakers

Halle Brandenburg

Thursday May 17, 2018 12:00pm - 1:30pm PDT
SU Rogue River Room Stevenson Union

Poster

Host Organization Education
Majors & Minors Education
Student Organizations Council for Exceptional Children, Environmental Education Club, OSPIRG
Topics Sustainability, Education

12:00pm PDT

EL Camp Rogue

El Camp Rogue is committed to engaging Latino youth in the outdoors, connecting with nature, explore storytelling, supporting our community,while developing personal growth.

Speakers

Eduardo Tovar

Thursday May 17, 2018 12:00pm - 1:30pm PDT
SU Rogue River Room Stevenson Union

Poster

Host Organization Education
Majors & Minors Education, Environmental Science & Policy, Spanish
Student Organizations Latino Student Union, Bee Team Club, Environmental Education Club, OSPIRG
Topics Education, Sustainability, Environment

12:00pm PDT

QuEChERS-Based HPLC-MS Analysis of Beeswax Pesticide Content

As bees forage for pollen, they inadvertently collect pesticides that are returned to the hive and incorporated in hive products including honey and beeswax. Elevated pesticide content in beehives poses risks for human consumers of bee products, and has been implicated as a contributing factor of colony collapse disorder. The purpose of this research is to correlate the identity and amount of pesticides applied within the bee foraging radius to the pesticide content of the hives beeswax.

Speakers

Benjamin Barnes

Thursday May 17, 2018 12:00pm - 1:30pm PDT
SU Rogue River Room Stevenson Union

Poster

Host Organization Chemistry
Majors & Minors Chemistry, Environmental Science & Policy
Student Organizations Chemistry Club, Bee Team Club, Environmental Education Club, OSPIRG
Topics Nature, Environment, Science

12:00pm PDT

Reconnecting Isolated Fisher Populations in Southern Oregon

The Pacific Fisher is found in two genetically isolated populations in Southern Oregon. One native and one reintroduced population. Interstate 5 creates habitat fragmentation across these two populations. We created a series of maps using GIS to determine whether or not I-5 might be the determining factor prohibiting interbreeding between these two populations. The results indicate that there are no natural barriers inhibiting gene flow and imply that the only significant barrier is the I-5.

Speakers

Alec Bayarsky

Neil Clayton

Thursday May 17, 2018 12:00pm - 1:30pm PDT
SU Rogue River Room Stevenson Union

Poster

Host Organization Environmental Science & Policy
Majors & Minors Environmental Science & Policy
Student Organizations Bee Team Club, Environmental Education Club, OSPIRG
Topics Local Interest, Nature, Environment, Science, Sustainability

12:00pm PDT

Student Power for Renewable Energy : Investing in Solar

A poster highlighting ASSOU's new approach to investing in solar on university campuses by leveraging student fee dollars. SOU students are modeling a novel approach to expand solar generation on campus while ensuring a revenue stream back into the student Green Fund.

Speakers

Roxane Beigel-Coryell

Lindsay Swanson

Thursday May 17, 2018 12:00pm - 1:30pm PDT
SU Rogue River Room Stevenson Union

Poster

Host Organization Campus Life
Majors & Minors Environmental Science & Policy, Economics
Student Organizations Bee Team Club, Environmental Education Club, OSPIRG, Economics Club
Campus Organizations Center for Sustainability
Topics Sustainability, Environment, Economics

12:00pm PDT

The Causes of Beach Erosion and How it Can Be Stoped

Beach Erosion has reached dangerous levels in the costal lands through the U.S. With a rise degrading factors, the natural balance of beach replenishment has been thrown off. Government intervention in the matter has proved fruitless. Immediate, effective action is needed to maintain our beaches.

Speakers

Jack Giacobetti

Thursday May 17, 2018 12:00pm - 1:30pm PDT
SU Rogue River Room Stevenson Union

Poster

Host Organization USEM
Majors & Minors USEM, Environmental Science & Policy, Ethics
Student Organizations Environmental Education Club, OSPIRG
Topics Science

12:00pm PDT

The Economic Benefit of Source Water Protection

This presentation explores how investing in protecting and restoring watersheds can improve the quality of the water flowing into drinking water treatment plants. In doing so, we can reduce drinking water treatment costs.

Speakers

Turtle McCloskey-Potter

Thursday May 17, 2018 12:00pm - 1:30pm PDT
SU Rogue River Room Stevenson Union

Poster

Host Organization Environmental Science & Policy
Majors & Minors Environmental Science & Policy, Economics
Student Organizations Bee Team Club, Environmental Education Club, OSPIRG, Economics Club
Topics Environment, Sustainability

1:30pm PDT

Diverse USem FUSE Presentations

Moderators

Jamie Hickner

Speakers

Allison Arnold

Annie Feser

Gabriel Fitzpatrick

Zoe Flach

Brianna Forsyth

Sawyer Jackson

Deziree McKee

Kyle Peterson

Baylin Stich

Lucas Wagar

Kathryn Yee

Sponsors

USEM

Thursday May 17, 2018 1:30pm - 4:30pm PDT
SU Diversions Stevenson Union

Symposium

Host Organization USEM
Majors & Minors Environmental Science & Policy, Social Justice, Ethics, Economics, Digital Journalism, EMDA, Criminal Justice, Education, Social Media & Public Engagement, GSWS
Student Organizations Economics Club, Bee Team Club, Environmental Education Club, OSPIRG, Queer Student Union, Criminology Club
Campus Organizations Multicultural Resource Center, Queer Resource Center
Topics Business, Environment, Sustainability, Social Science, Social Justice, Public Policy, Queer

3:00pm PDT

Plastic Eating Microbes: A Review of Plastic Biodegradation

Learn about the exciting potentials of utilizing microbial communities to transform plastic waste into living organisms, soil carbon, and useful products. This review discusses biodegradation of several types of polymers, with a special focus on polyethylene - the most ubiquitous plastic waste. Plastic waste is rapidly accumulating in the environment and damaging ecosystems, meanwhile plastic production is increasing. Facilitated biodegradation of existing plastics is possible and paramount.

Speakers

Nelson Wedin

Sponsors

Biology

Thursday May 17, 2018 3:00pm - 3:20pm PDT
SU 313 Stevenson Union

Presentation

Host Organization Biology
Majors & Minors Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science & Policy
Student Organizations Bee Team Club, Environmental Education Club, OSPIRG, Biology Club, Chemistry Club
Topics Biochemistry, Nature, STEM, Sustainability, Environment