Wicked Problems
An Interdisciplinary Project
Fall 2025
Produced by Students in the Interdisciplinary Studies,
Individualized Degree Program (IDP) at Cal Poly Humboldt
Embedded Files
"Interdisciplinarity is a path to take when we are confronted with phenomena that cannot be understood from one discipline alone, and only yield their secrets and fascinations when approached with new tools and from new perspectives that derive their methods from more than one discipline."
(Rényi 2000: 41)
Image Credit: A completely destroyed coral reef is now rubble and sand in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. stock.adobe.com - ead72 #277766827. (Accessed December 10, 2025)
Welcome to the Wicked Problems Project!
Wicked problems are complex issues that resist straightforward solutions due to their interconnected nature, uncertainty, and ambiguity. Whether it's climate change, homelessness, mental health, or bias in artificial intelligence (AI), these problems defy simple solutions because they are shaped by countless variables and often lack clear boundaries.
No single discipline holds the key to addressing wicked problems. Instead, it requires a collaborative effort that draws on insights from various fields—science, humanities, social sciences, and more. By integrating diverse perspectives, knowledge, and methodologies, we can gain a more comprehensive understanding of wicked problems and develop holistic solutions that consider their interconnected nature.
Through this project, students in the Interdisciplinary Studies - Individualized Degree Program (IDP) at Cal Poly Humboldt explore a range of wicked problems, examining them from multiple disciplinary angles. The aim of the project is to expand understanding and showcase the power of interdisciplinary approaches in addressing the challenges of our time.
Click on the titles below to explore
Click on the titles below to explore
by Fernando Alcala
by Fernando Alcala
My project began with a simple question that slowly grew in depth. I wondered howliminal states could become deliberate engines for transformation rather than unpredictable periods of drifting uncertainty. Liminality often feels like standing in a doorway that belongs to neither room. I approached this not only as a student but as someone who has walked through my own threshold moments. To make sense of this problem, I turned to spatial studies, art therapy, technology and design, and sociology, realizing that each discipline adds its own shade of light to the larger picture.
by Irma Martinez
by Irma Martinez
The wicked problem I will introduce is the ethical challenge of examining human remains without the consent of the next of kin. No spouse, family member, or even close friend to look after a once living human being. In today’s world, it would be legal impossible to perform any action without consent to post mortem. Even if the decease has no known relatives, their file would have to go through various government departments before being declared “unclaimed.” This lengthy process has been established to protect the rights of the deceased and of their family members.
by Xavi Smith
by Xavi Smith
In this photo essay I explore the colonialism driven impacts of climate change as they impact the viability of traditional food and medicine plants for indigenous communities worldwide. I approach this from many disciplinary lenses, beginning with a brief historical overview of how the colonial era began the anthropogenic climate crisis that we are faced with in the modern day. I then provide specific examples of plants that are important to indigenous people and their health globally, and the various impacts that climate change and colonialism have had on the plant. Impacts include phytochemical changes driven by changes in the environment or pollutants, changes in foraging range due to climate change and habitat loss, and more. I have images that illustrate the historical and modern instances of loss of land and sovereignty of indigenous people due to climate change and colonial expansion, in many locations worldwide. Briefly mentioned are the statistically significant negative health implications associated with Indigenous people losing access to traditional medicines and foods. I also have examples of modern movements and activists that are working to redevelop and secure sovereignty and healthy food for their native communities. Specifically I delve into the Ojibwe people and their relationship with manoomin wild rice, and the golden rice story in the Philippines. I plan to conclude by talking about how experts from all fields have come to many similar conclusions; not only do native communities deserve to have their traditions preserved, the best chance we all have to create a livable planet for humanity is to learn everything we can from indigenous knowledge.
by Kate Turner
by Kate Turner
This photo essay examines human disconnection from the natural world as a wicked problem rooted in colonial histories, economic systems, and cultural worldviews that separate humans from land. Drawing on interdisciplinary research from environmental science, Indigenous studies, environmental psychology, and public health, the project frames “forgetting our wildness” as both an ecological and relational crisis. Through twenty images and accompanying narrative, the essay traces how humans once lived within Earth’s rhythms, how those relationships were disrupted through urbanization, colonial land regimes, and extractive conservation practices, and the consequences this disconnection has for ecosystems, human health, and cultural continuity. Central to this analysis is the role of Indigenous relational land practices, which offer alternative frameworks grounded in reciprocity, responsibility, and kinship with the more-than-human world. Rather than proposing a single solution, this project argues that reconnection is an ongoing relational practice that must be lived, supported, and protected through systemic change. By integrating multiple disciplinary perspectives, the essay reveals patterns and connections that single-discipline approaches often overlook and invites readers to reflect on their own relationships with land, responsibility, and belonging. This expanded discussion emphasizes how each layer of disconnection—psychological, cultural, and ecological—intersects, demonstrating the wicked nature of the problem.
by Lily Linz
by Lily Linz
My project is a podcast exploring failure and embarrassment. I speak from the perspective of an artist and collected sources from artists and psychologists. As an artist in this world who struggles with perfectionism, it was important for me to study the importance of failure and embarrassment when it comes to making creative work. Even if you are not an artist, I hope this podcast speaks to you. I have learned that perfectionism is a tenant of our American culture and how capitalism shapes our view of success. Listen to this podcast if you want to understand how necessary vulnerability is in our creative lives. Even if you are not an artist, I hope that this podcast reveals to you how important it is to learn from our failures and use it as information instead of engaging in a shame spiral. I learned that embarrassment happens when we are making our best work, if you are not embarrassed by your creative work, then it is very likely no one will be touched by it.
by Kayla Thompson
by Kayla Thompson
Landscape fragmentation is perhaps the leading cause of habitat connectivity loss, and its effects are varied and many. From disruptions in migratory or wildlife movement patterns, reduced genetic diversity, and increased mortality risk related to developed infrastructure (such as roads), this problem affects our ecosystems in both the small scale to the large scale. With no one solution, this wicked problem requires an interdisciplinary approach that facilitates collaboration, patience, and the ability to balance depth vs. breadth across a variety of domains. In this essay I examine landscape fragmentation through the disciplinary perspectives of environmental science, sociology, and urban planning and put forward potential solutions that integrate all three toward minimizing the effects.
by Steve Power
by Steve Power
In a world transformed by artificial intelligence, this podcast begins by turning to Neil Postman’s provocative guiding questions—tools that challenge us to examine what each new technology gives, takes away, and ultimately reshapes within society. Using Postman’s lens, the episode explores the rapidly evolving relationship between humans and AI, moving from emotional connection to economic disruption. It also examines how the business models behind these systems are intentionally designed to maximize engagement—keeping users interacting longer, deepening attachment, and shaping behavior in subtle yet powerful ways. It explores how AI systems reshape our sense of companionship and alter the psychological terrain we now move through. The conversation then shifts to the workplace, highlighting concerns from both employees and employers as automation accelerates. Workers fear job displacement, unstable income, and the erosion of meaningful labor, while employers grapple with ethical responsibility and the pressure to implement AI without undermining human dignity. Throughout the episode, critical questions invite listeners to reflect on how AI will transform daily life and the broader social and economic systems we depend on. Yet even as these shifts unfold, the episode offers hope: for every transformative AI advancement, there are thoughtful leaders striving to guide society through the transition. Listeners are encouraged to “tune in and drop in a comment,” joining the conversation about shaping a humane future in the age of AI.
by Douglas Hartling
by Douglas Hartling
The aim of this project was to explore my own chronic pain in relation to the type of career path suitable for me going forward. Through my return to college, my aim is to pursue my passion for art and making things in conjunction with my construction and drafting skills, through the lens of a wholistic approach to dealing with chronic pain and the physical limitations that I experience as a result of the underlying causes of that pain. Through my research, I was opened to the reality that chronic pain is a large problem that affects people globally and brings along a variety of connected mental health issues as well. It is likely that the fields most affected by chronic pain are also those that are least likely to address them wholistically. The hardest labor sectors are known for being gruff and not very open to vulnerability. Through my work I hope not only to juxtapose the health and wellness mantras that I find helpful with a medium that is not known for embracing such things, but also to hopefully have some of these messages reach people who will be comforted or helped by hearing them.
by Wendy DeWitt
by Wendy DeWitt
Most writings, films and other media on the history of American Blues either mention a very few women, or none at all. Inherent challenges exist in addressing this, since much of the information needed to bring this history to light has been sidelined, ignored or never compiled.
A comprehensive understanding of the forces at play in recording the history of women in blues is of importance, as that will be a guide for where to look and how to incorporate various approaches in putting together the missing pieces.
American social and economic history, music research, understanding media, and culture are all studies that will provide clues and context in researching women in blues. Accessing archival collections and first-hand historical items such as handbills and newspapers, and connecting with experienced researchers will be valuable in going beyond the easily known names.
Historical accuracy is important for representation, and how later generations are affected. Visibility gives underrepresented groups confidence, and allows society to enjoy the creative products of those who have not yet been properly illuminated.
by Nova Ashby
by Nova Ashby
The United States has long been known as a nation of immigrants and the land of the free, but with recent social and political changes nationwide, those sentiments seem to have changed drastically, and not for the better. Immigration has always been an issue in the U.S., but it has become an intensified issue in extreme and harmful ways since the new Trump presidency and administration has been put in place this year. With the opening of dozens of new detention facilities, passing of new immigration related legislation, and the increased presence of ICE across the country, it is clear that this is a problem that requires immediate and interdisciplinary attention.
by Trevor Davis
by Trevor Davis
Due to the lack of urgency surrounding the inhuman exploitation of non-human animals, I decided to create my project around the lack of animal rights, and the detriments of ignoring their suffering and using their bodies like objects. The torturous methods we subject animals to are more than barbaric, it is the antithesis of human compassion. Animals raped on an unprecedented scale, bred and used as experiments, stripped of any freedoms or comfort, abused by workers, and slaughtered as babies in a myriad of confusingly cruel ways. It is all so you can enjoy the gustatory pleasure of unnecessarily eating their genetically modified, fattened flesh; wearing their skin, and using their fat and sinews for cosmetics and soaps that you use on your body. Not only is this morally deplorable in every way one can imagine (and gross), it is one of the worst practices for the environment and human health. Monoculture crops, inefficient calorie transfer, pollution on every level, greenhouse gas emissions, premature death from preventable disease, moral desensitization, upholding oppressive (for humans too) corporations, superbug propagation, extreme loss of biodiversity, water contamination, fresh water depletion, and the main driver of deforestation in the world today. If there was any one problem people should care about on the same level as other forms of oppression and climate urgency, this is objectively the worst for humans and animals alike. We slaughter and test on animals in the double-digit billions every year, and all of that goes to the people who need it the least, the privileged like us. Many claim to abhor animal agriculture/testing practices, while not doing a thing to stop it, advocate against it, or even just refuse to participate in eating/wearing/using these animals' bodies that were not ours to use in the first place. Those who eat animal products, wear skins, or buy items which are not cruelty-free, knowing the consequences of their actions, are absolute slaves to pleasure and ignorance, willing to participate in the killing and torture of animals all to get what they want. I guess we really are what we eat, slaves. Ignorance is not a valid excuse, inconvenience is not a valid excuse. It is more than possible to live your life without supporting such insidious companies and practices. If you are still using and eating animal products, you can't lie to yourself, you are directly part of the problem, and we need to recognize that. For us in such a privileged position in life, we have a responsibility to do better for ourselves and the oppressed. I'm sure no one wants to imagine themselves as the humans from WALL-E, but that is exactly how we are acting and defending our actions that we don’t want to recognize. It’s time to recognize the hypocritical and morally inconsistent excuses we tell ourselves. It is possible to lead a plant-based life, it does help, it is healthier for your body, and the world. I have selected some of the more tame images to include in this project, so please do not look away or ignore this reality, the things we choose to support with our money every single day. If you can’t look at or confront the things we do to animals, you shouldn’t be content exploiting them in such an inhumane way. I have still yet to find my voice on this topic, the one that can rationally and calmly explain these issues and solutions. I am still shocked and angry and scared for the future. For this reason, I set aside my perfectionism, and created found-word poems based on my content outline, before I even made it into my first draft. Here is a video that I think is a good introduction to a better way of understanding yourself and the implications of our inaction. “there is no right way to do the wrong thing” - You Will Never Look at Your Life in the Same Way Again
by Brett Copeland
by Brett Copeland
This opening episode sets the stage for the entire series by introducing a central question: How can creatives sustain mental health in an industry defined by burnout, financial instability, and the growing pressure of AI and automation?
Through personal narrative, original music, and research across five disciplines — Psychology, Music & Performance, Economics, Media & Technology, and Education/Mentorship — this episode explores why mental health challenges in the arts are not just personal struggles but systemic issues rooted in how the modern creative economy is built.
Using the metaphor of a mixing console, each “fader” represents a force artists must learn to balance:
Pressure vs. Passion
Burnout vs. Breakthrough
Isolation vs. Community
Creativity vs. Survival
This episode serves as both a personal story and an academic inquiry — bridging memoir, mental health research, and interdisciplinary analysis to ask:
What does it really take to keep creating — and stay human — in today’s creative industry landscape?
by Lyndze Reynolds
by Lyndze Reynolds
Right to Nourish is a narrative-driven podcast that examines food insecurity in the United States through the combined lenses of communication and legal reform. Using personal storytelling, the episode begins with a firsthand account of navigating the Department of Health and Human Services while homeless, revealing the emotional and structural barriers that prevent many individuals from accessing food assistance. The podcast investigates the limitations of current SNAP guidelines, the persistence of food deserts, and the lack of effective policy surrounding food waste, issues that collectively sustain food insecurity for nearly 50 million Americans. I argue that outdated federal poverty standards, insufficient rural and tribal food resources, and the absence of meaningful accountability in food donation laws undermine access to nutrition. The episode also explores how media narratives and the stigmatization of assistance recipients distort public perception, shaping harmful stereotypes and discouraging people in need from seeking help. By integrating legal analysis with communication strategies, Right to Nourish demonstrates how policy change and narrative reframing can work together to treat food access as a human right, reduce stigma, and inspire collective responsibility. Ultimately, the podcast calls for structural reform and more compassionate public discussion to ensure food access for all.
by Sarah Brown
by Sarah Brown
Human systems- especially modern agriculture- have become increasingly maladapted, resulting in environmental degradation and declining well being. Industrialized agriculture prioritizes profit over ecological and social health, contributing to soil degradation and loss, water contamination, disrupted hydrological cycles, and innumerable environmental injustices, particularly affecting marginalized and indigenous people.
Because food systems are both global and deeply personal, addressing these issues requires interdisciplinary analysis. Using corn as a pivot point for addressing this Wicked Problem, this essay explores some of these perspectives. Philosophy helps interrogate the human motivations, values, and cultural norms that perpetuate harmful systems, while environmental sciences illuminate the ecological consequences of our actions. Together, these approaches can help realign human systems with sustainability, resilience, and long-term wellbeing.
by Cortney Miller
by Cortney Miller
The Wicked problem I am discussing is regarding our global marketing and the effects it has on our children's health and Wellness due to the advertisements of unhealthy foods and beverages that are targeted at young kids. There is overwhelming evidence that leads to their childhood development poor nutrition Along with significant long term health issues for example childhood obesity being one of the highest rates it has ever seen. This is due to our inconsistency of international regulations, our socioeconomic inequalities to be able to have effective solutions to keeping our kids safe and healthy. The disciplinary perspectives that will be integrated throughout this topic our marketing, early childhood education and health and Wellness.
by Addison Prentiss
by Addison Prentiss
Description coming soon!
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