Spring 2023 Capstone Symposium: May 24 & May 31
The Program on the Environment will host the Spring 2023 Capstone Symposium on Wednesday, May 24, online AND on Wednesday, May 31, in person at the UW School of Aquatic Fisheries & Sciences. All are welcome to attend and support students as they present on the culmination of their hard work over three quarters.
The Capstone Course Series is a highlight for many students and serves to catapult some into their first jobs or even their dream careers. Through internships, research, and social media training, students come out of the experience well equipped to communicate about the problem they sought to solve, and to tie their academic learning with specific research questions.
This event is open to the public, and we encourage students interested in learning about the Capstone, as well as members of the community, to join us. Please also follow the event on Twitter #POEcap.
**The following links provide: Event program, video presentations, abstracts.
Spring 2023 Symposium Schedule
DAY 1: Online Poster Symposium (Wednesday, May 24)
4:30 PM – 4:40 PM Welcome & Session Overview
4:40 PM – 4:50 PM Session A Speaker Intros
4:50 PM – 5:50 PM Poster Session A –Agriculture & Food systems; Education & Outreach
Isabelle Arenson (Room #1) – THE INDIVIDUAL ADVOCATE: COPING WITH CLIMATE GRIEF AND WAYS WE CAN FIGHT BACK. Site Partner: UW Bothell and Cascadia College (Poster PDF) (Video) (Isabelle’s page)
Sarah E Butruille (Room #3) – LIKE, COMMENT, AND SUBSCRIBE: DEVELOPING ENGAGING ONLINE COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL NON-PROFITS. Site Partner: Sustainability Ambassadors (Poster PDF) (Video) (Sarah’s page)
Alex Cabebe (Room #4) – THE FUTURE OF OUR WATER: ADDRESSING WATER QUALITY, SUPPLY, AND DEMAND. Site Partner: Seattle Public Utilities (Poster PDF) (Video) (Alex’s page)
Nicholas Chappelear (Room #5) – LET’S TALK ABOUT FEELINGS: ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE OPTIMISM AND MANAGE ECO-ANXIETY IN THE NEXT GENERATION. Site Partner: Sustainability Ambassadors (Poster PDF) (Video) (Nicholas’s page)
Alina Doan (Room #6) – LEVELING UP THE WORKPLACE: HOW GAMIFICATION FOSTERS IDEAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PRACTICES. Site Partner: Port of Seattle (Poster PDF) (Video) (Alina’s page)
Madelyn Eder (Room #7) – REVOLUTIONIZING TRANSIT FOR THE NEXT GENERATION: YOUTH-INSPIRED OUTREACH STRATEGIES FROM TRANSIT EXPERTS. Site Partner: Seattle Subway Foundation (Poster PDF) (Video) (Madelyn’s page)
Alisha Foster (Room #8) – SUSTAINABILITY AND SOLIDARITY: CONNECTING THE US ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT WITH GLOBAL SOUTH STRUGGLES. Site Partner: Kabataan Alliance (Poster PDF) (Video) (Alisha’s page)
Michaela Fournier (Room #9) – COMPOSTING IN FASTER-FOOD RESTAURANTS: IDENTIFYING BARRIERS AND SOLUTIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE WASTE MANAGEMENT. Site Partner: Cedar Grove (Poster PDF) (Video) (Michaela’s page)
Kalani Gee (Room #10) – HOW SPECIFIC RECRUITING STRATEGIES CAN INCREASE WORKFORCE DIVERSITY THROUGH HIRING AND PRIORITIZE UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS. Site Partner: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Poster PDF) (Video) (Kalani’s page)
Makenzie Hallstrom (Room #11) – REEL STORIES FOR REAL CHANGE: STORYTELLING FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AT NOAA FISHERIES. Site Partner: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Alaska Fisheries Science Center (Poster PDF) (Video) (Makenzie’s page)
Ava Hays (Room #12) – SEEDS FOR SALMON: HOW YOUR GARDEN CAN HELP SALMON HABITAT. Site Partner: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Poster PDF) (Video) (Ava’s page)
Jayce Knerr (Room #13) – MANAGE THE METAVERSE: PRIORITIZING SOCIAL MEDIA FOR ENVIRONMENTAL OUTREACH. Site Partner: United States Fish and Wildlife Service (Poster PDF) (Video) (Jayce’s page)
Mia Lawson-Henze (Room #14) – WASTE NOT, WANT NOT: A DOWN-TO-EARTH ANALYSIS OF COMPOSTING PROGRAMS IN K-12 SCHOOLS. Site Partner: Cedar Grove (Poster PDF) (Video) (Mia’s page)
Vanessa Martinez (Room #15) – BREAKING BARRIERS: SCIENCE COMMUNICATION FOR GOVERNMENT SOCIAL OUTREACH. Site Partner: NOAA Fisheries (Poster PDF) (Video) (Vanessa’s page)
Blake Mason (Room #16) – POLLINATORS AND COMMUNITY-BASED SOCIAL MARKETING: PAVING A PATH FOR POLLINATOR PROSPERITY. Site Partner: Pollinator Pathway NW, 21 Acres Center (Poster PDF) (Video) (Blake’s page)
Ashlyn Mcgarrah (Room #17) – FROM AWARENESS TO ACTION: HOW COMMUNITY-BASED SOCIAL MARKETING CAN ENHANCE STORM DRAIN MARKERS AND ENGAGE COMMUNITIES. Site Partner: Seattle Public Utilities (Poster PDF) (Video) (Ashlyn’s page)
Kayley Pingeon (Room #19) – UNDERSTANDING FOOD SOVERIGNTY AND IMPROVING WAYS TO ENHANCE INDIGENOUS TRADITIONAL FOOD ACCESS ON STATE MANAGED LANDS. Site Partner: Washington Department of Natural Resources (Poster PDF) (Video) (Kayley’s page)
Vanessa Reyes (Room #20) – ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE EDUCATION: HOW WE CAN CHANGE OUR PLANET AND SOCIETY ONE CLASSROOM AT A TIME. Site Partner: University of Washington, Bothell and Cascadia College (Poster PDF) (Video) (Vanessa’s page)
Gian Rosario (Room #21) – HISTORY V. MILLER FREEMAN: WAYS ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNICATION CAN BETTER ENGAGE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. Site Partner: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Poster PDF) (Video) (Gian’s page)
Risa Suho (Room #22) – TALKING TRASH: EVALUATING EFFECTIVENESS OF PUBLIC OUTREACH IN SOLID WASTE. Site Partner: Seattle Public Utilities, Solid Waste Division (Poster PDF) (Video) (Risa’s page)
Gia-Bao Tang (Room#23) – THE SURVIVAL OF FOOD RECOVERY PROGRAMS: UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS. Site Partner: FareStart (Poster PDF) (Video) (Gia-Bao’s page)
Taylor Thao (Room #24) – FRUIT PRODUCTION WITHIN SEATTLE: CLIMATE CHANGE & ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. Site Partner: City Fruit (Poster PDF) (Video) (Taylor’s page)
Christian Vargas (Room #25) – STORMWATER AWARENESS: THE IMPACT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS. Site Partner: Seattle Public Utilities, Pollution Prevention Community Engagement (Poster PDF) (Video) (Christian’s page)
Emma Lee Ward (Room #26) – DECOLONIZING STRUCTURAL RACISM IN THE US FOOD SYSTEM: CENTERING BIPOC VOICES. Site Partner: FareStart (Poster PDF) (Video) (Emma’s page)
Madison Warnock (Room #27) – TRANSIT AT YOUR FINGERTIPS: LINKING SOCIAL MEDIA TO ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION. Site Partner: Seattle Subway Foundation (Poster PDF) (Video) (Madison’s page)
Gulsima Young (Room #28) – EMPHASIZING IMPACT: EXPLORING EFFECTIVE PROJECT REPORTING STRATEGIES FOR GRANT-FUNDED SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES. Site Partner: Campus Sustainability Fund (Poster PDF) (Video) (Gulsima’s page)
5:50 PM – 6:00 PM BREAK
6:00 PM – 6:05 PM Session B Overview
6:05 PM – 6:15 PM Session B Speaker Intros
6:15 PM – 7:15 PM Poster Session B –Natural Science & Restoration; Policy & Regulation; Sustainability
Margaux Clarke (Room #1) – EUROPEAN ORIGINS OF SILVICULTURE AND ITS EFFECT ON PACIFIC NORTHWEST FORESTRY. Site Partner: Northwest Natural Resource Group (Poster PDF) (Video) (Margaux’s page)
Kate Connelly (Room #2) – SAVING THE SEA LIONS ONE CLICK AT A TIME: USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO TRACK STELLER SEA LION POPULATIONS. Site Partner: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Poster PDF) (Video) (Kate’s page)
Isabel Corona-Campiz (Room #3) – RETHINKING ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS: UNLOCKING THEIR POTENTIAL WITH ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. Site Partner: Washington State Department of Natural Resources (Poster PDF) (Video) (Isabel’s page)
Jessica Day (Room #4) – PLASTIC POLLUTION POLICY: HOW CERTAIN PERSPECTIVES CAN PLAY A LARGE ROLE. Site Partner: Oceana (Poster PDF) (Video) (Jessica’s page)
Sofia Dreessen (Room #5) – WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAMS: HOW MUNICIPALITIES CAN SAVE MONEY, WATER, AND SALMON. Site Partner: Chehalis Basin Partnership (Poster PDF) (Video) (Sofia’s page)
Emery Edwards (Room #6) – REGULATING THE UNKNOWN: A REVIEW OF WHALE AND VESSEL COLLISIONS AND THEIR POLICY IMPLICATIONS. Site Partner: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Poster PDF) (Video) (Emery’s page)
Quinn Friang (Room #7) -ENSURING THE SUCCESS OF RESTORATION PROJECTS: THE IMPORTANCE OF RESTORATION TECHNIQUES & MONITORING. Site Partner: City of Sammamish Parks and Recreation (Poster PDF) (Video) (Quinn’s page)
Nicole Garces (Room #8) – THE RISE OF MACHINE LEARNING IN MARINE ECOLOGY RESEARCH. Site Partner: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Poster PDF) (Video) (Nicole’s page)
Casey Gilson (Room #9) – EVALUATING THE FEASIBILITY OF EXPANDING RECYCLING IN THE SOUTHWEST US AND ITS IMPACTS ON PUBLIC LANDS. Site Partner: Human Eco Consulting, LLC (Poster PDF) (Video) (Casey’s page)
Karena Iliakis (Room #10) – A HISTORY OF HEAVY HARVESTING: THE EFFECTS OF LOGGING ON RIPARIAN ZONE FORESTS. Site Partner: Washington State Department of Natural Resources (Poster PDF) (Video) (Karena’s page)
(Henry) Tsz Him Lau (Room #11) – PEDESTRIANIZE PIKE PLACE MARKET. Site Partner: Seattle Neighborhood Greenways (Poster PDF) (Video) (Henry’s page)
Arlo Liddell (Room #12) – ETHICAL ECOLOGY: RESTORATION AND TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY. Site Partner: Green Seattle Partnership (Poster PDF) (Video) (Arlo’s page)
Katherine Lykins (Room #13) – ACCESSIBILITY, EQUITY, AND PROMOTING PEDESTRIANIZATION WITHIN CITIES. Site Partner: Seattle Neighborhood Greenways (Poster PDF) (Video) (Katherine’s page)
Sandy Reyes Tena (Room #14) – EXPLORING WAYS TO ACHIEVE ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION GOALS WHILE PROMOTING EQUITY AND JUSTICE. Site Partner: City of Sammamish Parks and Recreation (Poster PDF) (Video) (Sandy’s page)
Caity Rigg (Room #15) – USING UNDERWATER VIDEO ANALYSIS TO UNDERSTAND FISH RESPONSES TO BOTTOM TRAWL GEAR AND REDUCE BYCATCH OF THREATENED GREEN STURGEON. Site Partner: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Poster PDF) (Video) (Caity’s page)
Sundus Sabbah (Room #16) – COLLABORATING WITH TRIBES AND INTEGRATING INDIGENOUS ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE INTO PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT OF KELP AND EELGRASS CONSERVATION. Site Partner: Washington State Department of Natural Resources (Poster PDF) (Video) (Sundus’ page)
Katelyn Saechao (Room #17) – HOW ALTERING TRAWL DURATIONS CAN SAVE NONTARGET SPECIES. Site Partner: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Poster PDF) (Video) (Katelyn’s page)
Yun Seo (Room #18) – TEMPERATURE CHANGES DURING THE PREGNANCY OF THE STELLER SEA LIONS ON THE WEIGHT OF THE PUPS. Site Partner: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Poster PDF) (Video) (Yun’s page)
Emily Sheppard (Room #19) – EVALUATING CLIMATE CHANGE: INCREASING SURVIVAL RATES OF CHINOOK SALMON THROUGH FUNCTIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL RELATIONSHIPS. Site Partner: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Poster PDF) (Video) (Emily’s page)
Amy Velasco (Room #20) – THE OPPORTUNITIES AND OBSTACLES OF LIFE CYCLE MODELS: PERSPECTIVES FROM SALMON ECOLOGISTS. Site Partner: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Poster PDF) (Video) (Amy’s page)
Tia Vontver (Room #21) – HOW BLUE CARBON CAN INCREASE THE CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION OF EELGRASS. Site Partner: Washington State Department of Natural Resources (Poster PDF) (Video) (Tia’s page)
Elise Wilson-Leedy (Room #22) – WHO DO YOU TRUST?: OPPORTUNITIES FOR INCREASING RESILIENCY IN NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. Site Partner: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Poster PDF) (Video) (Elise’s page)
Aubrey Wisdom (Room #23) – ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE FOR AIRPORT COMMUNITIES: REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING IN A POST-JET AGE. Site Partner: South Seattle Climate Action Network (Poster PDF) (Video) (Aubrey’s page)
Aria Yang (Room #24) – UNDERSTANDING THE PAST TO SAVE OUR FUTURE: A CASE STUDY OF STELLER SEA LION MANAGEMENT. Site Partner: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Poster PDF) (Video) (Aria’s page)
Qianchao (Eric) Zhao (Room #25) – USING REMOTE ACOUSTIC MONITORING TO ASSESS AVIAN COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO FOREST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON GREAT PENINSULA CONSERVANCY PRESERVES. Site Partner: Great Peninsula Conservancy (Poster PDF) (Video) (Qianchao’s page)
Yunchen (Emily) Zhang (Room #26) – Importance of Green Stormwater Infrastructure/Rain Garden in the Pacific Northwest. Site Partner: Homegrown Organic (Poster PDF) (Video) (Yunchen’s page)
Christopher Li (Room #27) – EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON HUMANS AND SOLUTIONS.
7:15 PM – 7:30 PM Closing
DAY 2: Oral Presentation Symposium & Celebration (Wednesday, May 31)
5:00 PM – 5:10 PM Welcome & Housekeeping
5:10 PM – 5:40 PM Poster Highlights** & Refreshments
5:40 PM – 5:50 PM BREAK
5:50 PM – 5:55 PM Session Introduction
5:55 PM Sylas Kasten –GEOCACHING FAUX GRANITE: HOW A ROCK IN THE WOODS IS BETTER AT TEACHING THAN YOU ARE. Site Partner: Friends of Lincoln Park (Video) (Sylas’ page)
6:05 PM Jordan Williams – Riding the Feels Train: HOW EMOTIONAL APPEALS STEER CLIMATE CENTERED VOTERSHIP. Site Partner: Seattle Subway Foundation (Video) (Jordan’s page)
6:15 PM Charlie Sikes – DEFENDING NORTH SEATAC PARK: THE KEY ROLE OF EFFECTIVE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH COMMUNICATION. Site Partner: South Seattle Climate Action Network (Video) (Charlie’s page)
6:25 PM Lillian Williamson – TALKING TRASH: INTERSECTIONS BETWEEN TECHNOLOGY, WASTE MANAGEMENT & THE TRANSITION TO A ZERO WASTE ECONOMY. Site Partner: Perennial Zero Consulting (Video) (Lillian’s page)
6:35 PM Annabella Hillyer – NOT EVERYONE IS AN ENVIRONMENTALIST: NEGOTIATION STRATEGIES FOR PASSING PLASTICS POLICY. Site Partner: Oceana (Video) (Annabella’s page)
6:45 PM Will Feury – URBAN FORESTRY: ENABLING CONDITIONS FOR EQUITABLE MUNICIPAL TREE CANOPY. Site Partner: The Nature Conservancy (Video) (Will’s page)
6:55 PM Shay Steeves – MOVING PLANTS MOVING MINDSETS: HOW ASSISTED PLANT MIGRATION CAN HELP COMBAT THE CLIMATE CRISIS. Site Partner: Northwest Natural Resource Group (Video) (Shay’s page)
7:05 PM Nicole Saho Okimoto Wentworth – COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PERCEPTIONS IN SEAWEED AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT: LESSONS FROM VASHON ISLAND, WA. Site Partner: Washington Sea Grant (Video) (Nicole’s page)
7:15 PM – 8:30 PM Symposium ends & celebration continues in Lobby
**Note: the Judges will choose 10 posters from Day 1, which will be printed out and displayed during Day 2. Those poster authors will be invited to present their posters during the reception.