Nanopore sequencing is a “third-generation” sequencing approach in which a constant electric voltage is applied across a nanoscale pore and the changes in the ionic current flow through the pore are measured as single molecules such as RNA or DNA pass through it. It is our goal to expand and adapt this sensing technology to enable single-molecule proteomics. Specifically, being able to characterize protein post-translational modifications at the single-molecule level is important for quantifying protein complexity and understanding how different protein mod-forms contribute to cellular processes such as differentiation and the progression of disease states like cancer. In this project, we modified a model protein to contain a protein kinase A phosphorylation motif with the purpose of demonstrating the ability to discriminate the modified protein from the unmodified with the Oxford Nanopore MinION, a high-throughput nanopore sequencing device. We hypothesize that the observed ionic current pattern will change upon phosphorylation and enable direct quantification of modified peptides. Ultimately, these analyses will inform us of the general ionic current signature that phosphorylated residues generate, which can then be added to our growing library of nanopore signal signatures that are informative of protein sequence and structure at the single-molecule level.

Over the past several summers, Washington state has faced high levels of wildfire smoke exposure. Significant research has indicated that wildfire smoke is a public health hazard. Public health professionals require evidence-based communication and intervention methods for use in exposed communities. It is valuable for researchers to understand current practice-based risk communication and management challenges to inform their research strategy and priorities. In response, the University of Washington's School of Public Health faculty and students convened a wildfire smoke risk communication symposium on October 30th, 2018, to foster academic-practice partnerships among regional stakeholders, identify existing risk reduction and communication challenges, and identify research needs. We conducted pre and post symposium surveys to collect information on participants’ goals, demographic characteristics, and symposium satisfaction. Descriptive statistics were calculated and displayed on graphs and tables. The registration survey identified the most common participant goals for the symposium which were to learn about lessons learned from public health practitioners related to wildfire smoke and to identify collaboration opportunities. Participants had a variety of roles related to risk communication and research. The evaluation survey revealed that over half of participants reported knowledge increases on wildfire risk communication, the future of wildfires in the Pacific Northwest, and practice-based responses to wildfire smoke. Over three-quarters of participants reported developing new connections that could lead to new collaborations in the future. Our findings suggest that there is an interest in working collaboratively to improve risk communication during wildfire events to address knowledge gaps and challenges impacted communities may face. We recommend engaging stakeholders and participants to identify the best communication methods and work with multidisciplinary partnerships that will be crucial to prepare for future wildfire seasons.

This project looks to understand the role of women in the second rise of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s to understand why this manifestation has been categorized as the largest right-wing movement in the history of the United States. I argue that the addition of women as active participants in Klan activity, unlike the first rise during Reconstruction which was a strictly fraternal society, transformed the movement from a domestic terrorist organization into a political club with immense social influence on the white Protestant population in America. Primary sources used to build this argument came from Klan documents such as pamphlets and newsletters as well as local and national newspapers from across the U.S between 1918-1927. Women in this time period were emboldened to participate in politics after their victory with the suffrage movement, and those who employed racist and nativist ideology easily transitioned into the white supremacy of the Klan, who desperately sought to recruit blocs of voters. Using coded language such as "100% American" to describe themselves, the Women's Ku Klux Klan (WKKK) utilized issues such as poor education, alcoholism, and immigration as a silk screen to vilify their ever-growing list of "enemies" (a tool used to recruit membership from a larger base) among them Catholics, Jews, Bolsheviks, blacks, labor unions in the North, and immigrants. The addition of women allowed the Klan to become an organization that supported nuclear family structure and encouraged all to be involved, including children, which served to develop “Klan culture” to recruit and retain members by building community. While Klanswomen were different from their male counterparts, they worked within social networks that maintained consistent growth, starting chapters in almost every state and amassing political and social influence on a local and national level.

Universities are increasingly expected to integrate sustainability practices throughout their mission, strategic planning, operations and academics. Achieving institutional sustainability requires a comprehensive strategic plan which coordinates the efforts and resources of administration, facilities, faculty, and students by making progress toward measurable goals. How can universities use sustainability benchmarking standards to develop a comprehensive strategic plan that achieves institutional goals, while making progress toward global sustainability reporting standards? This project outlines a model for universities to develop a strategic sustainability plan utilizing the Sustainability Tracking Assessment and Rating System (STARS) as a foundation, to align institutional planning with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). The plan is comprised of seventeen sections or modules that aligns the categories of STARS, the GRI and the UN SDGs into a framework for benchmarking data of key performance indicators (KPIs). The data is visualized using Tableau software to create a campus sustainability map and data dashboard to track annual progress on the KPIs. The goal of this project is the creation of a generalizable and replicable model for aligning a university's strategic sustainability planning with global sustainability metrics. This model facilitates more efficient data driven decision making and resource allocation, while supporting globally focused sustainability research and funding.

The Methow Valley is a community located in Okanogan County, WA that has experienced wildfires in 4 of the past 5 years. The Methow Valley Clean Air Project (MVCAP) is a local volunteer group that promotes air quality awareness through outreach and programming. MVCAP’s Purple Air Network was designed to provide access to spatial air quality information to help community members make decisions about protective actions, to identify relatively clean air spaces, and to serve as a public health invervention for wildfire smoke. In collaboration with MVCAP, we worked to install a network of 20 purple air monitors in the summer of 2018. The monitors were placed in homes of “Clean Air Ambassadors” who committed to maintain and promote the monitor. For calibration, each monitor was placed according to federal guidelines and two were collocated with nephelometers maintained by Washington Department of Ecology. During the summer of 2018, two wildfires burned nearby which allowed the monitors to be utilized in a wildfire smoke event. The data from the monitors was downloaded and compared to the nephelometer data using linear regression. I worked to establish a correction factor by analyzing the data and found that the Purple Air monitor over reported the PM2.5 concentration by a factor of 0.53 and even more at high concentrations. The network proved the importance of high spatial concentration monitoring by capturing the air quality variation. In some areas, the air quality was good while in others it was hazardous. Having the network is a tool for individuals to know what the air quality is near their homes and other places in their community. It allowed individuals to access local air quality data and make choices about poor air quality. The next step for MVCAP is designing an online interface that applies the correction factor directly to accurately communicate risk.

Clallam County has recently been experiencing concerning air quality conditions due to smoke drift from wildfire events in nearby areas. The objective of this study was to assess the wildfire smoke health-risk communication needs of organizations that serve the public in Clallam County. Communication needs were assessed by surveying 10 organizations that serve sensitive populations. Surveys were conducted in person or over the phone, and summary statistics were calculated. In addition, a low-cost air monitor was installed to track summer time air quality. The low-cost air monitor was installed adjacent to a nephelometer administered by the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA). This was done to determine the accuracy of the low-cost air monitor by comparing air quality values registered from both devices. The majority (60%) of organizations responding to the survey reported that they had not received information about the health risks of wildfire smoke. Nearly all organizations (90%) reported that they have the capacity and are willing to communicate the health-risks of wildfire smoke to the people they serve in Clallam County. Analysis of air quality data shows the low-cost monitor may be a useful device in determining air quality conditions. The correlation coefficient for the daily averages (from July 12 to August 24) between the ORCAA nephelometer and the low-cost air monitor was determined to be 0.98, but closer examination of data for hourly averages show a correlation coefficient as low as 0.82. Future wildfire smoke events in Clallam County require public health interventions to address health-risk communication needs of sensitive populations. Implementation of a low-cost air monitor network accessible by the public is a promising prospect to protect sensitive populations in Clallam County.

The Pacific Northwest has always been distinct from other regions because of its diverse environments, histories, and cultures. Seattle is widely regarded for its punk and grunge music scene; however, Seattle’s punk and grunge overshadows music from other genres in the region. The purpose of this project is to tell the story of musicians in the Pacific Northwest, specifically black musicians, exploring their successes and struggles during a time when gentrification is rapidly changing the demographic make-up of Seattle at an unprecedented rate. Because music is an auditory experience best expressed and understood through the ears, this story will be told through a series of podcast episodes. Each episode features interviews and discussions about musicians and their craft to create an overarching narrative of Seattle’s music scene from the perspective of black musicians and their music to give audiences a greater understanding of Seattle music. Academia from University of Washington’s American Ethnic Studies will be incorporated into the research process and preparatory work for the podcast. This podcast aims at preserving the stories of African-American musicians during a time where communities of color are weakened by the effects of gentrification while also highlighting the successes of emerging local musicians. Link to podcast: http://uwpodcast.com/category/let-the-record-play/

Encouraging creativity among children is important, especially during their adolescence. As children age, their interests shift, however, some activities provide consistent excitement throughout their childhood. Learning how to ride a bike has remained a cultural norm in countries across the world for decades, providing children and adults with function and fun alike. Using this concept as a foundation, further research was done to see how biking can become a learning experience on top of the existing purposes. Aimed to spark STEM-based interests within children of the biking community, I have created a kit where adolescent children are able to build their own electric pocket bike. With the frame template made out of high-grade marine plywood and aluminum reinforcements, the kit will instruct the builder how to assemble the product. In addition to the written instructions, illustrations will be provided to assist visual learners. Through hands-on work, these children will have the opportunity to build their own “invention”, along with building self-confidence, accomplishment, and improved relationships.