Fine Arts

Authors: Leif Ravnsen

Authors: Hunter Gordon. Mentors: Geoff Smith. Insitution: Utah Tech University. Precipitation and temperature represent two of the most critical and extensively studied abiotic factors that impact ectotherms. With climate change, regions already under stress are experiencing heightened heat and aridity, which is forcing populations to adapt or face extinction. Scalation patterns, which may vary in response to these abiotic factors, could hold valuable insights for predicting the future. This study focuses on Side-blotched lizards, specifically Uta stansburiana, sampled from various populations to assess the influence of local climatic factors on their scalation. Additionally, museum specimens are integrated into the analysis to discern how these patterns have evolved over time, possibly in response to shifting climatic conditions. Through the examination of multiple locations spanning different time periods, we aim to enhance our ability to forecast the adaptive responses of organisms in the face of the hotter and drier future predicted by climate models for the American Southwest.

Authors: Alyssa Taylor. Mentors: Dr. Marquez-Velarde . Insitution: Utah State University. Athletics United (AU) is a non-profit organization in Logan, Utah dedicated to using “sport to provide a supportive environment for new American families to integrate with local communities for personal, physical and social growth” (https://www.athleticsunited.us/). To this point, AU lacks meaningful research to measure its progress in meeting its mission statement. In order to qualify and quantify AU’s impact, this project investigates question: “Does Athletics United help families integrate into local communities and how?” Athletics United integrates families into the community by providing a space to build friendships, expand one’s world view, and access community resources. During Summer of 2023, nine families participating in AU were interviewed. A mix of American and new American families were recruited. Four interviewees required an interpreter. Interviews are being qualitatively analyzed using NVivo. The interview data confirms that Athletics United integrates families into the community by providing a space to build friendships, expand one’s world view, and access community resources. To further improve, AU can consider assigning volunteers to help new American families participate in events and access resources more consistently.

Authors: Amanda Kanno Davis. Mentors: Jerry Petersen. Insitution: Utah Valley University. In December of 1941, following the attack by the nation of Japan on Pearl Harbor, the United States experienced a period of anti-Japanese sentiment which was directed at both Japanese immigrants as well as Japanese-American citizens. The rhetorical theories of Aristotle, Lloyd Bitzer, Kenneth Burke, and Byron Hawke show that the United States government actively participated in the anti-Japanese hysteria of World War II through its use of propaganda, executive orders, and public proclamations. The result of this hysteria was the breach of civil liberties for over 120,000 Japanese people, approximately two-thirds of whom were American citizens. This research demonstrates the rhetorical methods employed by the U.S. government and examines modern-day concerns regarding the possibility of recurrence.

Authors: Kennley Cook. Mentors: Crystal Koenig. Insitution: Southern Utah University. This research examines a brief history of pornography and then the porn industry itself. Specifically what has been driving men and women to perform lewd acts in front of a camera. It explores the mental, emotional, and social impacts that porn stars face from their line of work. The early days of the porn industry were permissive with acts that are considered highly immoral by today’s standards. Early porn included bestiality, child sex abuse, and highly violent pornography. While such acts have been illegalized, the industry continues to be exploitative. The ease of exploitation in the industry is largely driven by the stigma which pornography carries. Those who perform in pornographic settings are often shamed so much that it drives them to stay in the industry long after they may have wished to depart. While porn has always been taboo, it’s become far more taboo in recent years which has left many workers in the industry unprotected and open to abuse. Despite many of the dangers of pornography, porn itself is not inherently evil. In proper settings, pornography can be helpful for individuals in coming to terms with their sexuality. It can also be used to help couples equalize libidos and form bonds. It can also be liberating for some performers, with some research even suggesting porn stars have higher self esteem than those not in the porn industry . The dangers of pornography come about due to lack of regulation and outside shaming forces. To truly minimize the harms of pornography (and maximize its benefits), it’s crucial that the stigmas surrounding it be reduced so that laws and regulations may be enforced to protect its performers and viewers.

Authors: Hunter Gordon, Jace Riley, McCade Larsen. Mentors: Aaron Davis. Insitution: Utah Tech University. Tracking animal populations is key to ensuring that populations are healthy and thriving. Current data collection methods, such as radio tagging, manned aerial flyovers, and camera traps, are not only time-consuming and expensive but also fail to provide accurate population estimates. This interdisciplinary research project aims to produce a more accurate and less expensive data collection system for large game populations that could potentially be used to monitor other animal populations. The planned procedure for data collection is to attach a thermal imaging device to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and perform aerial transects throughout the observation area. Using a thermal camera will allow the UAV to fly at a higher altitude, lessening the disturbance to the animals themselves. The imaging device will take images at a set time interval along transects that can be stitched into a complete data set for the area. By using image processing techniques and deep learning models, the images will be processed to show the location as well as population counts of the animals in the area. Results from similar experiments have shown that using UAVs to collect population data not only provides more accurate data but also requires less time overall to collect the data.[1] This experiment expands upon those findings by creating automatic image processing and analysis software to increase the ease of use, allowing for more data to be collected and analyzed in the same time period.

Presenter: Jayne Lee

Presenter: Hannah Brown

Presenter: Jordan Meyer

Presenter: Jordan Meyer

Presenter: M Cross

Presenter: Ashlyn Smith

Presenter: Jennifer Hanson

Presenter: Jessica Downs

Presenter: Ashly Barraclough

Presenter: taylor cherrington

Presenter: Jordan Smith

Presenter: Elsie Arias

Presenter: taylor cherrington

Presenters: Cassandra Brower ; Aidri Bailey ; LI Howard ; Sophie Kallas ; Sierra Robbins

Presenter: Breanne Burby

Presenter: taylar jensen

Presenter: Falynn Mackey

Presenter: Steven Ingram

Presenter: Blake Gneiting

Presenter: Blake Gneiting

Presenter: Keegan Borman

Presenters: Benjamin Varnell

Presenter: Zachary Nielsen

Presenter: Jayne Lee

Presenter: Sam Stoddard

Presenter: Blake Gneiting

Presenter: Hollie Anderson

Presenter: Nina Larsen

Presenter: Carly Duke

Presenter: Cassidy Johnson

Presenter: Keegan Borman

Presenter: Aïsha Lehmann

Presenter: taylar jensen

Presenter: Cassidy Blackham, School of the Arts, Dance

Presenter: Derek Stevens, College of Architecture and Engineering Design, Architecture

Presenter: McKelynn Barber, College of the Arts, Dance

Presenter: Hunter Huffman, College of Engineering and Technology, Architecture and Engineering

Presenter: Lane Swenson, University College, Student Leadership and Success Studies

Presenter: Hyrum Kohler, College of Fine Arts and Communications, Music

Presenter: Alan Chavez, College of Fine Arts, Department of Music

Presenter: Sophie Stephens, School of the Arts, Art and Design

Presenter: Gianna Patchett, Caine College of the Arts, Music

Presenter: Paige Stephenson, College of Fine Arts, Music

Presenter: Francesca DeMartino, School of the Arts, Dance Department