Research

If you’ve walked around the physical sciences buildings at Cal Poly Humboldt, there’s a good chance you’ve seen the sperm whale skull that sits on the plaza in front of Science C.

The berries have long been hailed as a superfood—while they’re known for a plethora of health benefits, new research proves this superfruit could help burn fat during exercise. 

While Californians face increased fire risk, air pollution, and aging energy infrastructure, Tribal and rural communities remain especially vulnerable. The SAFE project—Smoke, Air, Fire, Energy—is a collaboration between Tribes and Schatz Energy Research Center to develop solutions to these challenges.

When wildfire strikes a community, it can leave a path of destruction, and a chance for renewal. During the fire and in the immediate aftermath, residents and officials focus on protection and stabilization efforts. However, the availability of resources to support community recovery and promote resilience to future fires over the longer-term is less certain. Three Cal Poly Humboldt professors are studying how communities recover from wildfires over time.

Cal Poly Humboldt researchers found that redwoods have varying sensitivity to drought, and that rising temperatures may affect tree performance in unexpected ways—results that are both concerning and hopeful.

A Cal Poly Humboldt professor and alumna have been awarded a California State University Agricultural Research Institute grant to study how a new eco-label being developed for cannabis farms can benefit wildlife.

The trees in Northern California’s Klamath Mountains are not keeping up with climate change. Instead, many tree species are in decline, losing the race due to climate warming and decades of fire suppression.

Underground fiber optic cables are being installed across Humboldt county and a community of federal and state scientists, including Cal Poly Humboldt researchers, think they may be able to use this technology for valuable feedback about earthquakes, and perhaps enhance the early warning system and a means to detect faults that may produce future earthquakes.

Cal Poly Humboldt students took home three second-place awards at the 36th Annual California State University Student Research Competition held virtually at San Francisco State this year.

Cal Poly Humboldt’s annual research and project showcase, ideaFest, which will feature more than 400 student, staff, and faculty activities from the past year.

The awards honor President Alistair McCrone and recognize the accomplishments of Humboldt’s excellent newer faculty members and students.

Cal Poly Humboldt’s student media teams from bilingual monthly El Leñador, Osprey magazine, and The Lumberjack student newspaper raked in several state college media awards at the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP) statewide collegiate journalism conference this month.

Ten students were chosen as the 2022 outstanding student researchers, following competitive review of their written summaries by the Planning Committee for Research, Scholarly and Creative Activities.

The systemic effects of aversive racism––characterized as racist tendencies despite the endorsement of egalitarian values––is prevalent in academic medicine, impeding diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. This is according to new research by Cal Poly Humboldt Psychology Professor Gregg Gold and physicians at UCLA and UC San Francisco medical schools.

The Humboldt State Office of Research and Sponsored Programs is encouraging students to participate in the 2022 CSU Student Research Competition.

An 84-foot white fir harvested from Six Rivers National Forest will light up the U.S. Capitol this holiday season after making the cross-country trek from Northern California to Washington D.C. In preparation, Humboldt State University students have helped create interpretative and educational materials to accompany the tree on its journey east.

Researchers at UC Davis’ Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute, in collaboration with Humboldt State University and UC Santa Cruz, will research how ecological restoration of kelp forests might incorporate future impacts of climate change.

Humboldt State faculty, staff, and student researchers were awarded $30 million in new grant funding secured by HSU’s Sponsored Programs Foundation (SPF) last year. SPF currently manages 630 active projects with a total award value of $113 million.

The Cascadia Coastlines and Peoples Hazards Research Hub, or Cascadia CoPes Hub, will coordinate research in Pacific Northwest coastal communities between numerous academic and government organizations to inform and enable integrated hazard assessment, mitigation, and adaptation.

Humboldt State University’s distinguished CIRM Bridges Program has once again been awarded with generous grant funding from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). Led by Biology Professor Amy Sprowles, HSU’s CIRM Bridges is designed to support students from diverse backgrounds committed to improving human health through stem cell research and gene therapy.

Humboldt State University is expanding and diversifying its seaweed research farm in Humboldt Bay to include bull kelp. With the help of HSU students, researchers aim to inform future decisions about commercial aquaculture and conservation efforts.

The Redwood Coast Airport Microgrid’s (RCAM) community partners announced construction activities on what will be the first 100% renewable, multi-customer microgrid in California.

North Coast Otters Public Arts Initiative is a community “treasure hunt” tour of more than 100 sculptures painted by local artists, with an aim to celebrate life, water, and otters, support local businesses, and raise funds for student projects. Visit the North Coast Otters Public Arts Initiative website for more information.

California Governor Gavin Newsom and the State Legislature have agreed on a new state budget with a historic $458 million investment in Humboldt State University’s effort to become Northern California’s first polytechnic institution.

Drawing on its strengths in STEM, environmental and social responsibility, and experiential learning, Humboldt State University has submitted documentation of its intent to launch several new and innovative undergraduate and graduate degree programs as soon as Fall 2022 and Fall 2023.