As part of its continuing commitment to intellectual community, the Â鶹APP Research Colloquium (UMARC) series is a venue for UMA faculty, staff, and sponsored students to present completed scholarly works to their peers. The series provides a forum for the presentation of all UMA research (as defined by the Faculty Senate in 2010) including scientific investigations, innovations in education, creative works, and theoretical considerations.

The effects of human interaction on Canada jay (Perisoreus canadensis) behavior and nest predation

Two professors from the Â鶹APP (UMA) presented their research on the effects of human interaction on Canada jay (Perisoreus canadensis) behavior and nest predation on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at the UMA Augusta campus.

Marielle Postava-Davignon and Jennifer Long, both UMA assistant professors of biology, compared jay behavior and nest predation levels in New Hampshire and Maine between sites where little human interaction has been documented, and sites located at popular recreation areas where feeding has been well documented. They captured, banded, tracked and recorded the birds’ behavior to determine if human interaction impacts important behaviors such as predation and breeding.

The Canada jay, when living near humans, can be a friendly little songbird that seems to enjoy engaging with humans and the free food we provide, whether in a feeder or out of a trash can at a scenic overlook. Known by several other names such as the gray jay, whiskey jack, and even camp robber, they might steal food from your picnic table and even eat right out of your hand. It was this bold behavior that caught the attention of Postava-Davignon, an avid hiker. “One tried to steal my lunch when I was hiking and was rather pesky about it,” she quipped. She then wondered if it was or wasn’t okay to feed them, and if doing so caused them to be so audacious. Back home and after a thorough search for information, she found nothing definitive on the subject. She invited Long to join the project, and so it began. Through their research, Drs. Long and Postava-Davignon observed that Canada jays living in more remote areas often behave differently from their more urban-dwelling counterparts.

Visit uma.edu/umarc for more information and a schedule of future presentations.

This year’s sessions featured high-quality research by UMA students and consistent engagement in collegial discussion. Following a convening address by UMA Provost and Interim President Joseph Szakas, over 90 registered participants attended 12 sessions throughout the day, with over 30 presentations were made by students. Presentation topics ranged in scale from the micro-movements of planarians in the laboratory to macro-structural aspects of architectural, media, military, and transportation systems. A consistent theme that emerged across students’ research presentation was the concern for the circumstances and characterization of individuals within environments.

During the day, conference attendees were invited to nominate presentations they felt were especially effective or engaging, and at the end of the conference, the executive committee of organizers and moderators reviewed the work of all presenters to curate their own selection of awards. We congratulate this year’s winners for their ingenuity, their tenacity, and their contribution to knowledge.

Conference Executive Committee Selection: Top Disability Research Presentation

• Paola Wilson, Lack of Library Services for Disabled Users and Disabled Library Staff

Attendees’ Choice: Best Academic Theme Research

• Paola Wilson, Lack of Library Services for Disabled Users and Disabled Library Staff

Attendees’ Choice: Best Data Visualization

• Alicia Bell, Graph and data illustration of the number of murdered and missing indigenous women and girls in America compared to the number of murdered and missing non-native women and girls in America

Attendees’ Choice: Best Poster

• Alicia Bell, Graph and data illustration of the number of murdered and missing indigenous women and girls in America compared to the number of murdered and missing non-native women and girls in America

Attendees’ Choice: Best Potential for Impactful Application

• Alicia Bell, Graph and data illustration of the number of murdered and missing indigenous women and girls in America compared to the number of murdered and missing non-native women and girls in America

Attendees’ Choice: Most Ambitious Research

• Emily Fox, Amy Heiderscheidt, Kaylee McGowan, Teanna Woodman, & Katie York, Animal Assisted Therapy and Adolescent Mental Health

• Garvey Blackwell, Disinformation and Misinformation in News

Attendees’ Choice: Most Creative Research

• Jayne Whiteside, Using Fiction and Technology toward an Understanding of Race, Social, and Disability Justice Issues

• Logan Tourtillote, Truth in Photography

Attendees’ Choice: Most Enjoyable Presentation

• Fraser MacDonald, Self-Affirmation: Is It Effective in Improving Outlook?

Conference Executive Committee Selections: Top Poster

• Alicia Bell, Graph and data illustration of the number of murdered and missing indigenous women and girls in America compared to the number of murdered and missing non-native women and girls in America

• Emily Fox, Amy Heiderscheidt, Kaylee McGowan, Teanna Woodman, & Katie York, Animal Assisted Therapy and Adolescent Mental Health

Conference Executive Committee Selections: Top Presentation Award

• Fraser MacDonald, Self-Affirmation: Is It Effective in Improving Outlook?

• Shannon McNamara, The Female Nude and its Influence on Modern Rape Culture

Conference Executive Committee Selections: Top Qualitative Research

• Cathy Lake, Air Rage: Insights from the Traveling Public

• Shannon McNamara, The Female Nude and its Influence on Modern Rape Culture

Conference Executive Committee Selection: Top Quantitative Research

• Fraser MacDonald, Self-Affirmation: Is It Effective in Improving Outlook?

Conference Executive Committee Selections: Top Research Methods

• Cathy Lake, Air Rage: Insights from the Traveling Public

• Derek Libby, Transportation Issues in Mental Health

The UMA Student Research Conference is an opportunity for students, faculty, staff, and community members to come together to share our work across disciplines and programs and to learn more about a variety of topics, including this year’s academic theme, Disability Visibility.

Students may choose to submit a proposal in multiple formats (papers, posters, roundtables/panels, or creative performances, and more). Some of these formats involve only an individual submission, but some require collaboration and pre-planning. Students are encouraged to seek guidance from faculty members and/or staff to develop their title and abstract before submitting their proposal.

Conference Proposals are due by April 1! Late proposals cannot be considered.

Proposals will need a title, a format, and an abstract/description. The title and description provided will appear in the conference program. Participants will also be asked about their real-time availability on Friday, April 21st, when the synchronous (real-time) student presentations will take place. Asynchronous (pre-recorded) presentation proposals will be considered in extraordinary circumstances.

. (Registration is required, but there is no cost).

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Lorien Lake-Corral or Dr. Robert Kellerman, and students: don’t forget to ask your professors, Library or Writing Center staff, or Honors students for help!