Poster Presentations
Undergraduate Posters
Sophia Reyes, CSU Northridge
The US census is used to determine the number of congressional members in each state and how to allocate federal expenditures. Thus, it is critical for the political power and financial opportunities for each area. This research examines redlining and census response rates in several US cities. Redlining has played a major role in limiting social mobility within urban areas and historical data has shown that redlined areas tend to rank high on the social vulnerability index, with concomitant health related issues. Using the latest census tract self-response rates data, this research examines each of the aforementioned factors in multiple US cities to determine the efficacy of the elimination of fair housing practices, including redlining, 50 years after their introduction. This study’s future results can be utilized towards the understanding of redlining and the major implications it still has for institutional power gaps, social vulnerability, and widening economic disparities.
Graduate Posters
Case Study Monitoring Soil and Vegetation Moisture Variations at Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa in the Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area
Zoila Campos and Jonathan Urrutia, CSU Northridge
This study aims to measure the duration of soil moisture availability for native chaparral and coastal sage scrub vegetation found in Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa, an area belonging to the Santa Monica Mountains, National Recreation Area during the fall of 2020 to spring of 2021. Data loggers and hand-held devices were used to record soil and leaf moisture and tree sap flow. Data collection took place at six research locations; two were located at a nursery, one at a restoration site and the rest were placed at varying elevations. This study will be considering factors such as air temperature, precipitation, and relative humidity to help indicate higher soil moisture content in the study area vegetations. Statistical regression analysis and a t-test will be used to determine those environmental factors. The findings from this study can aid ecological forecasting efforts used in conservation and restoration planning.
John Crowell, University of North Alabama
Recent media reports have suggested that members of the Millennial Generation (born 1981-1997) and Generation Z (born after 1997) are less inclined to visit national parks, compared to older generations. I used three methods to examine the validity of these media statements: Qualtrics-based social media surveys (on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram), face to face semi-structured interviews with park rangers at four Pacific coast national parks—Redwood, Crater Lake, Mount Rainier, and Olympic—and on-site visitor counts at visitor centers and on trails. I compared these observations with the limited historical data on visitor ages available from the National Park Service.
A Spatial Analysis of the Relationship Between Remittances and Household Food Security in Zacatecas, Mexico*
Talar Katoromian et al., CSU Northridge
Mexico is the largest recipient of financial remittances from the United States. Migrant households that receive financial remittances are more likely to have better overall health outcomes, including improved food security (Flores, Sunil, Palencia, and Hernandez 2012). The purpose of this pilot study is to examine the determinants of food security in Mexican households that receive remittances from individuals living in the United States. Household food security will be examined at the municipality level and regions within the municipality within the state of Zacatecas for the year 2015. The proposed pilot study will leverage the resources and partnership between CSUN’s Center for Geospatial Science and Technology and the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México’s (UNAM) Geotechnology in Infrastructure, Transportation, and Sustainability unit.
Sipan Kiremidjian, CSU Northridge
This poster depicts an analysis of adequate polling place coverage concerning the populace of Los Angeles County, with a choropleth map indicating the median household income and the distance from polling stations. Additionally, a choropleth map constructed with Thiessen polygons indicates the area of coverage of the nearest polling station is used to compare the impact of different polling place locations.
* Research or Activism in Social or Environmental Justice