Theses & Dissertations

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Open Access
AN INTERNAL ANALYSIS ON ADVOCATING FOR LATINO/A ACHIEVEMENT IN SCHOOL (ALAS)
(University of Oregon, 2024-05) Miki, Isabella; Doty, Jen; Mauro, Robert
Advocating for Latino Achievement in Schools (ALAS) is an afterschool program designed for Latino/a immigrant English Language Learners at Springfield High School. This program aims to prevent dropout, promote academic success, and promote college/career readiness through providing academic support and enhancing critical consciousness. After analyzing ALAS student survey responses and interviews with ALAS team members, I explore themes that are important to consider in the continuation of the ALAS program: language barriers, transportation barriers, community building, and commitments of higher priority. I suggest future goals for the ALAS program: continuing teacher coordination, and implementing formal critical consciousness lessons.
Embargo
SYSTEMIC IMMUNOMODULATION OF MYELOID-DERIVED SUPPRESSOR CELLS IN A MODEL OF MUSCULOSKELETAL TRAUMA USING ALL-TRANS RETINOIC ACID
(University of Oregon, 2024-05) Gill, Dylan; Guldberg, Bob; Guyer, Tyler; Munger, Lisa
Musculoskeletal trauma remains a significant challenge clinically, often leading to complications such as bone nonunion, infection, prolonged hospitalization, high treatment costs, and potential disabilities. The current standard treatment, autologous bone grafting, has limitations including donor site morbidity and limited bone availability, necessitating exploration of alternative approaches. Immune responses play a critical role in musculoskeletal healing, with distinct phases of inflammation and regenerative/anti-inflammatory processes. The transition from M1 to M2 macrophages is crucial for soft and hard callus formation during bone healing. However, dysregulated immune responses, characterized by prolonged elevation of pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators, can hinder healing and tissue repair. Recent research has focused on systemic immune responses following trauma, highlighting the balance between circulating pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory markers to prevent tissue damage and promote healing. Immune suppressor cells like myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) play a pivotal role in immune dysregulation post-trauma and may be a factor in poor healing. Targeting MDSCs presents a complex challenge due partly to their heterogeneity, necessitating innovative therapeutic strategies. Here, we tested several treatment methods for MDSC depletion previously developed for use in cancer models to examine their effects on MDSCs in vitro in blood sourced from a trauma model. All-Trans Retinoic Acid (ATRA) in particular showed promise in modulating MDSCs initially in vitro and in subsequent in vivo experiments. ATRA is also known to have effects on bone growth and may alter osteoclastogenesis, giving it further potential as a novel therapeutic intervention in musculoskeletal trauma. Further research into the intricate interplay of immune responses following trauma and particularly therapeutic modulation of aberrant cells such as MDSCs is essential for advancing treatment strategies and improving outcomes in musculoskeletal trauma patients.
Open Access
EARLY TRADE-OFFS OF ROOT TRAITS ON A MYCORRHIZAL COLLABORATION GRADIENT
(University of Oregon, 2023-06) Villano, Lindsay; Diez, Jeff
Aboveground plant traits exist on a spectrum defined by trade-offs between conservative and acquisitive resource uptake. However, belowground traits do not fit this axis because the uptake of soil nutrients can be outsourced to mycorrhizal mutualists. Thus, adding another axis in the root economic space that represents collaboration with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi increases our understanding of fundamental variation in root traits. Mature roots exhibit trade-offs between investing in longer root structures that travel farther, or thicker roots that can better support mycorrhizae. Here, I explore whether young roots display trade-offs in collaboration intensity and if so, how long after germination species will begin to reflect niches on this axis. I hypothesize a negative correlation between root growth rate and colonization rate of AM fungi and that the relationship between these variables increases over time as plants refine their resource uptake strategy. I grew five native forb species for twenty-five days and sampled plants at eight time points after germination. Upon sampling, I recorded root length by analyzing the root's structure and then quantified percent colonization by AM fungi. I found that despite variation in species ' root length and colonization rates, they did not fo1m a negative relationship. The con elation of length and percent colonization did increase over time with intraspecific variation in the degree and direction of this correlation. The results of this study provide further insight on young root trait variation and benefit our understanding of species interactions in the rhizosphere that contribute to community dynamics.
Open Access
Impact of Rhizobia Presence and Nitrogen Abundance on Competition Between Legumes and Non-Legumes
(University of Oregon, 2023-06) Patel, Macy; Diez, Jeff
The mutualism between legume species and rhizobia has long been acknowledged as a vital part of plant community dynamics in both natural and agricultural systems. Increasing anthropogenic nitrogen inputs can alter this mutualism and in tum plant commm1ity dynamics. Still, few studies have explored the dependencies of these resource-based mutualistic microbes, rhizobia, on ambient nitrogen levels, and how this may affect competition between hosts and neighboring plants. To test the potential nitrogen-dependent role of rhizobia in mediating coexistence between legumes and non-legumes, we conducted a competition experiment in the greenhouse replicated across rhizobial inoculation and nitrogen fe1tilization treatments. Here, we employ contempora1y ecological theo1y to assess how rhizobia and nitrogen fertilization influence niche differences and fitness inequalities determining competitive outcomes. We measured the fecundity of plants across a competition gradient to parameterize annual plant population models and to use these parameter estimates to predict the outcomes of competition between our plant species. We found that both nitrogen and rhizobia shift the probability of coexistence, and further that the effect of rhizobia was dependent on nitrogen concentration. We also found that these results differed when legumes were competing with either other legumes or non-legumes. These results suggest that these context-dependent mutualisms are impo1tant in dete1mining competitive outcomes. Further, this study sheds light on the ways anthropogenic nitrogen inputs are likely to shift community composition and diversity of native plants and microbial communities alike.
Open Access
OUT ON A LIMB: DO HAZELNUT ORCHARDS PROVIDE HABITAT FOR CAVITY NESTING BIRDS?
(University of Oregon, 2023-06) Clayton, Adam; Hallet, Lauren
Cavity nesting birds are a group of high conseivation concern in the U.S. They depend on areas with mature decaying trees in which cavities can be excavated, but few studies have examined the role of managed landscapes such as orchards in providing nesting habitat. This study assesses the suitability of hazelnut orchards for cavity nesting bird species in the Willamette Valley, where hazelnut farming is a major industry. Using field sUIVeys, I measured the density of suitable tree cavities and size of tree limbs in four commercial hazelnut orchards, three experiencing heavy fungal decay, and one with limited decay. I used observations of birds in the same orchards to determine the abundance of all cavity nesting species. When comparing between orchards, cavity density increased with average tree diameter, but was much lower in the orchard with low levels of fungal decay. Black-capped chickadees were the most abundant cavity nesting birds observed, a smaller species dependent on nest sites with soft wood. These results suggest that orchards with mature trees experiencing fungal decay may be the most valuable for cavity nesting birds, but these qualities also make orchards vulnerable to diseases that reduce crop yield. To control key diseases, many older orchards are being replaced with new blight resistant trees, altering habitat connectivity for Willamette Valley birds. A regional management strategy where some mature, decaying orchard are instead retained could benefit declining bird populations.
Open Access
Expanding the Synthetic Accessibility of Thiocarbamate (TCM) and Dithiocarbamate (DTCM) Donors for Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) and Carbon Disulfide (CS2) Delivery
(University of Oregon, 2024) Lutz, Rachel E.; Pluth, Michael D.
The goal of this thesis is to bridge the gap in the literature by developing a suite of thiocarbamate and dithiocarbamate donor synthesis with azide and tert-butyl ester triggers. Based on previous work with esterase-triggered TCM H2S donors, we have developed a library H2S donors both with and without the nitrogen of the payload methylated, and have installed various EWGs and EDGs on the payload. Furthermore, we have developed a new method for modular TCM synthesis that supports diversification of the alkyl group of the aniline. This method allows us to block an unproductive deprotonation-based side pathway to more clearly study the effect of changing the payload electron density on the self-immolation of this donor motif. Blocking deprotonation of the payload expands the synthetic utility of these donors, which make them less reactive under basic conditions and allowing for more harsh synthetic conditions. Due to the ease of synthetic variation of the TCM donors, it is natural to consider broadening their application beyond H2S release to another biologically relevant molecule, CS2. Our TCM donor motif can yield this small molecule by designing the compound to contain a dithiocarbamate. Rather than releasing COS upon self-immolation, the donor should release CS2. Thus, I synthesized N-methylated CS2 DTCM donors using the same synthetic scheme as with methylated S-alkyl TCM donors.
Embargo
IMPACT OF INCREASED WATER TEMPERATURE ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND SKELETOGENESIS OF THE ANTARCTIC BULLHEAD NOTOTHEN NOTOTHENIA CORIICEPS
(University of Oregon, 2024-03-05) Dixon, Griffin May; Desvignes, Thomas; Casimir, Ulrick; Postlethwait, John
The ocean surrounding Antarctica started to cool about 35 million years ago to reach freezing temperatures about 10-15 million years ago, which immensely impacted its fauna. Antarctic notothenioids adapted to these freezing temperatures but today face unprecedented challenges with projected climate-driven temperature increases. Temperature significantly influences the developmental rates of fish embryos, with higher temperatures accelerating development until a critical point is reached, causing deformities or mortality. The impact of temperature increases on Antarctic fish embryos, including the abundant bullhead notothen Notothenia coriiceps, remains unknown. Loss of adaptive traits, such as the inducible heat shock response, raises concerns for Antarctic fish in the context of global climate change. The hatching time of N. coriiceps and other Antarctic fishes, crucially linked to solar exposure and planktonic blooms, may shift earlier with rising temperatures, thus affecting the availability of essential food resources and potentially larval survival. Understanding the impact of temperature on N. coriiceps embryonic development is important for assessing their survival capacity in changing climates and contributes to broader insights into climate change effects on freezing ecosystems. This research addresses this knowledge gap, offering implications for ecosystem management policies, conservation, and broader scientific understanding of how organisms cope with environmental stressors in the Antarctic ecosystem. N. coriiceps embryos raised in heated conditions showed an increased developmental rate of about 44% compared to siblings raised at ambient temperature and hatched earlier. The temperature increase appeared to accelerate development uniformly at all stages and did not dramatically change the relative order of skeletal structure emergence in embryos. There was, however, a notable increase in the frequency of anatomical and skeletal malformations in heated embryos compared to ambient embryos, especially in the jaw and axial/caudal region. In addition, the measurement taken of the length from the snout to the anus (LS2N) was found to be a reliable parameter for comparison of the developmental stages across samples independent of age. If Antarctic water temperatures continue to rise at their current rate, N. coriiceps, among other Antarctic fish, will likely suffer immensely in their ability to survive and reproduce successfully.
Open Access
Red Blood Cell Abnormalities in White-Blooded Icefishes and Related Antarctic Species
(University of Oregon, 2023-11) Nunez, Zoe; Postlethwait, John; Raisanen, Elizabeth; Desvignes, Thomas
The process of cell differentiation is crucial for organism viability, especially the formation of red blood cells (RBCs) that contain hemoglobin and provide essential oxygen transportation to the tissues. Antarctic white-blooded icefishes are, however, evolutionary oddities that lack mature RBCs and hemoglobin. An outstanding question is if the loss of hemoglobin genes in the icefish ancestor could have led to the arrest of RBC maturation in icefishes, or inversely if the arrest of RBC maturation could have triggered the loss of hemoglobin genes. Here, we aimed to test these two conflicting hypotheses. The ‘genes-first hypothesis’ predicts that the icefish ancestors would start to lose hemoglobin genes while having normal blood cells, but the ‘cells-first’ hypothesis predicts that icefish ancestors would have damaged RBCs but normal hemoglobin genes. To test these predictions, we analyzed the blood cell composition and RBC morphology in 13 red-blooded Antarctic fish species and in seven icefishes by microscopy, semi-automated digital image analyses, and phylogenetic comparative analyses. My investigation revealed that some species closely related to icefishes display abnormal RBCs that are larger and rounder than in other red-blooded species and have off-centered nuclei. My results suggest that RBC maturation was likely already altered before the loss of hemoglobin genes in icefishes. Close analysis of cellular abnormalities arising in these Antarctic fish species may inform us on hereditary human diseases such as anemias arising from improper RBC formation.
Embargo
Work With, Not In: Six Bioethics Recommendations to Promote Anti-Colonial Community Engagement in Population-Based Global Health Research
(University of Oregon, 2023-11-20) Getz, Madeleine; Snodgrass, Josh; Gallagher, Daphne
Global health survey research regularly confers benefits to NGOs, scholars, governments, and aid organizations and while it is intended to improve population health, the direct benefits to individuals and communities are often excluded from published works and/or not considered in study designs and approaches. This exclusion, which is particularly pernicious for Indigenous peoples and marginalized groups, is increasingly being recognized as the ongoing legacy of global health’s historically colonial practices, and actively hinders the pursuit of global health equity. Collaboration and community engagement are potential avenues for addressing this injustice, yet these approaches require planning and strategic intention. We draw on our collective research experience and the ongoing dialogue in the field of human biology to propose the following six recommendations to increase future studies’ community engagement and investment: 1) include local specialists and community members at every level of project leadership; 2) apply culturally informed bioethics frameworks; 3) recognize the study’s responsibility to return health information to participants, and to do so in a way that builds individual and community strengths and affirms and strengthens existing care and support, including Indigenous and traditional healing systems; 4) invest in local healthcare, research, and community infrastructure; 5) make study results and deidentified data available to both participants and community researchers; and, 6) work within data frameworks that respect community sovereignty. We then undertook a review of global health surveys using our recommendations as evaluation criteria; here, we present an overview of six surveys to illustrate challenges and opportunities. This paper demonstrates an ongoing need to address community rights and benefits, as well as contributes to a growing body of work within global health and allied fields to decolonize research. The framework presented here serves as a starting point for elaboration and critique. Global health’s pursuit of health equity and decolonization as both an academic and service-based discipline relies on implementation of a critical, culturally informed bioethics framework that centers community engagement. This thesis includes co-authored material.
Open Access
W.R.B. Willcox: The Architect as Social Critic
(University of Oregon, 1971-08) Smith, Nancy Kimball Morris
The American architect at the turn of the century faced the prodigious task of reconciling his traditional role as the servant of privilege with the exigencies of technological revolution, burgeoning cities, and a rapidly expanding industrial society. Capitalists needed factories and office buildings that would use expensive land with a maximum efficiency and a minimum waste. The use of steel and the availability of free vertical space suggested the skyscraper as the most expedient form the buildings should take. Most architects looked at these new structures, shuddered at their ugly crudeness, and, turning to Europe for their precedents, copied the buildings they found there. Engineers could have helped develop the relationship between technology and architecture. Instead, the architect regarded the engineer as a barbarian, and alienating himself from his time, took refuge in the classics.
Open Access
A Survey of Community Recreation in Gresham, Oregon
(University of Oregon, 1952-06) Adams, Frederick C.
Leisure time for most people has increased tremendously in recent years. The whole economy of our life today has meant fewer hours at work and more leisure for all who toil. What is being done with this leisure time? We have been so busy increasing our technological efficiency that we, as people, do not know how to employ leisure time profitably. Not knowing how to play, we have substituted commercial amusement and entertainment for self-expression in recreational activities. Recreation authorities emphasize the idea that mere entertainment, while it has its place, cannot alone solve the problem of what to do during leisure. We must not spend all our leisure time being entertained. Real satisfaction and complete happiness come from doing, not watching. People need to do for themselves rather than having everything done for them, as is the case when they are merely spectators. Until a person has done something himself, with his head and hands, for the sheer love of doing, he has missed one of the most valuable experiences in life. To create and build is life, and this means self-expression.
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Eternal Hunger: A Qualitative Analysis of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and its Role as a Driver of the New Nuclear Arms Race
(University of Oregon, 2024) Zupo, Dominic; Cramer, Jane
The emergence of a new Cold War and the arms racing it brings has captured the attention of the globe. To understand the drivers of the new global tension the current discourse has overwhelmingly looked to great power politics for explanations. A dominant narrative has emerged that frames the United States as a superpower in decline currently facing increasingly aggressive challenges from China. This study directly challenges that narrative by investigating the role of nuclear weapons laboratories as the possible key driver of this new era of nuclear arms racing and proliferation. Specifically, this thesis uses process tracing and organization theory to explain how Lawrence Livermore National laboratories developed an organizational ethos that sought to master its resource dependence by pursuing influence over the policy that controls the distribution of the resources it seeks. This thesis argues that in doing so Lawrence Livermore acts as a driver of arms racing and in turn the new Cold War.
Embargo
ASK, DON’T TELL: A CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS OF POST-COLONIALITY IN DEVELOPMENT THEORY AND PRACTICE
(University of Oregon, 2024) Yousaf, Miriam; Chari, Anita
This thesis investigates the paradigm shift in development discourse catalyzed by postcolonialism and the contrasting positions of postcolonial theory and modernization theory. Through the works of Edward Said, Homi Bhabha, and Dipesh Chakrabarty, this study philosophically, economically, and socially contextualizes the postcolonial response to development as a disruption of the status quo. By analyzing their theories in relation to each other, I explore the landscape of the debate sparked by postcolonialism within linear Modernization theory. Additionally, I explore two methodologies in international development which perpetuate modernization theory and those that align with the postcolonial critique. Case studies in India and Pakistan exemplify differing approaches to development projects, offering insights into the practical application of development discourse in these contexts. This research aims to provide a nuanced understanding of postcolonial theory in relation to development practices and international development cases within the South Asian Subcontinent, specifically contextualizing the discourse around development theory. Through exploration of key questions, including the critique of development practices by postcolonial theories, the theoretical underpinnings of coloniality, and the framing of development discourse by Orientalism, Hybridity, and Historical Difference, this thesis contributes to the ongoing dialogue on decolonizing development practices.
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Peace and Empowerment in Historical and Modern Women’s Cooperatives: A Comparative Case Study
(University of Oregon, 2024) Wesson, Lucy; Johnson, Will
As cooperatives, both the Women’s Cooperative Guild and the Nyamirambo Women’s Center share commonalities in their dedication to promoting women’s rights, fostering economic empowerment, and advancing positive peace. Despite operating in distinct historical and cultural contexts, the organizations exemplify the transformative potential of women-led cooperatives in challenging traditional gender norms and addressing socio-economic disparities in conflict environments. As such, NWC and the Guild are best understood together as peacebuilding organizations that utilize the tenets of cooperation to directly account for the needs and aspirations of women. Within these organizations, women engage in peace processes, build community, and gain a degree of economic independence, resulting in greater empowerment. This empowerment enables cooperative members to occupy dual cultural expectations as domestic workers and participants in the formal labor force during and after conflict. Although they promote women’s empowerment, cooperatives operate under the pressures of nation-building and longstanding patriarchal structures in conflict environments. These organizations thus exist within the dichotomy of patriarchal social and cultural expectations while simultaneously promoting women’s agency and equity through the cooperative model.
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Inner Peace for Sale: The Commercialization of Yoga in the Western Wellness Industry
(University of Oregon, 2024) Wellington, Neive; Chávez, Christopher
Yoga is an ancient spiritual and philosophical system originating in what is now India that aims to create union within the individual self and with a higher consciousness. Now, yoga is practiced all over the world, especially among Western countries. However, the commodification of yoga in the West has distorted its true purpose, leading to a largely incomplete perception of what it is and an exclusionary perception of who it is for. The first part of this project addresses this gap by examining the messaging of yoga-related advertisements in Western media with a critical eye, and providing best practices for brands and organizations to use in order to prevent misrepresenting it. These findings are distilled and presented in a visually appealing slide deck for professionals in the advertising/wellness industry as well as the public at large to easily understand this complex subject. The second part of this project is a public service campaign that created with the goal of countering western narratives about what yoga is and who it is for. Ultimately, this project aims to raise awareness about the lesser-known components of yoga and encourage more people to participate in it by changing the way it is advertised in the media.
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Youth Preferences for Wildfire Resilience Involvement: Piloting A Stated Choice Experiment in Oregon and California
(University of Oregon, 2024) Trefny, Kyle; Mullen, Kathleen
The western United States has a tumultuous relationship with wildfire, exacerbated by a fire workforce with high turnover rates and substantial disparities in gender and racial representation. As wildfire disasters intensify, and the costs on lives and livelihoods grow, solutions depend on restructuring the fire field to foster and sustain higher levels of involvement. The need for greater involvement applies to wildland firefighting, but also to sectors that reduce community risk, restore ecosystems, and increase public familiarity with fire. Restructuring these sectors requires addressing the exclusion of high-involvement Indigenous fire cultures and transforming the field to be accessible for more people. Despite the need for new involvement, most workforce studies focus only on established personnel. Little previous research examines the pathways and job configurations that would encourage more young people to get involved. The following thesis details the creation and pilot distribution of a discrete choice experiment survey focused on young peoples’ preferences and needs for engagement in fire resilience and land stewardship work and activities. Survey development took place in partnership with a youth and Indigenous-led fire organization and was guided by over three dozen representatives of stakeholder groups, including public officials, fire program managers, fire practitioners, wildland firefighters, researchers, and students. The survey was then pilot tested to more than 600 young people between the ages of 16 and 30. Pilot distribution took place in 24 classes across high school, community college, and university settings in Lane County, Oregon and San Francisco County, California. This outreach generated high response rates and numerous substantive and significant results. As a pilot study, these results are not generalizable. However, they reflect a compelling potential for this method to examine ways that current fire job structures aggravate low involvement and exacerbate racial and gender interest gaps. Even more promisingly, the initial results underscore the method’s ability to suggest alternative architecture for fire pathways and jobs that could foster increased participation and representation in the field.
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How the Kidney Transplant System Violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
(University of Oregon, 2024) Stone, David; Gash, Alison
This thesis is an examination of two ongoing civil cases regarding racial discrimination in kidney transplant waitlists. While these cases take place on opposite sides of the country, one in California and one in New York, they address the same issue. Both plaintiffs were men seeking kidney transplants and hoping to be put on the waitlist but have instead found themselves being discriminated against for being Black. Lawsuits have been filed against hospitals for violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, among other charges. It is the goal of this thesis to examine the validity of these claims and how the current kidney testing and waitlist process is disproportionately harming Black Americans. Various pieces of case law will be analyzed and applied to the cases at issue and additional relevant principles and guidelines will be reviewed. It is the contention of this author that both cases should be found in favor of the plaintiff, and there are sufficient facts and evidence to justify this ruling.
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Investigating The Role of Area X in Adult Canary Song
(University of Oregon, 2024) Sova, Ellen; Gardner, Timothy
The basal ganglia nucleus Area X in the avian song system has been previously implicated in the sensory and sensorimotor phases of vocal development in juvenile songbirds. A foundational study in birdsong research found that unilateral lesioning of Area X in canaries did not affect song structure. However, subsequent bilateral Area X lesioning studies in adult Bengalese finches and zebra finches showed increased syllable repeats or ‘stuttering’ behavior following Area X lesioning. This thesis covers a pilot study investigating the effect of bilateral chemical lesioning of Area X on song structure in adult canaries. Specifically, this thesis focuses on the development of protocols for histological analysis of neural tissue and training and validating data analysis tools. This thesis discusses preliminary observational results of stuttering behavior in adult canaries following bilateral Area X lesioning. With further validation, this result could indicate the continued importance of Area X in adult song, in addition to its role in juvenile song learning. The pilot study discussed in this thesis will continue, focusing on automating the identification of specific syllable types to quantify changes in syllable duration, order, repeats, and presence before and after Area X lesioning.
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Coexistence with AI: Japanese Literary Translation
(University of Oregon, 2024) Shima, Emily; Walley, Glynne
For many, artificial intelligence is a concern as it can perform tasks efficiently and with frightening accuracy. As time goes by, it will most likely improve. Hence, many people are concerned about what this means for humans. In the field of translation, AI can translate quickly, but it is not always the best translation, particularly when it comes to literature. Even more so when it is literature from another culture, such as Japan. There are cultural differences that a human translator would be needed to decipher for readers. AI translations of Japanese literature are flawed, as they diminish the meaning of the characters and themes of the story. AI should and will most likely be used going forward as a tool, rather than the end result.
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Not Just an Individual Problem: Shifting Climate Communications to Address a Collective Responsibility and Motivate True Climate Action
(University of Oregon, 2024) Pressler, Maya; Mundy, Dean
For four decades, scientific consensus on the existence and threat of anthropogenic climate change has been ubiquitous. As climate scientists have done the research and provided the facts, they and the news media have made consistent attempts to communicate this threat and have regularly reported about climate disasters. Despite these continued warnings and frightening predictions, however, little actual progress has been made to mitigate the damage. In response to inaction among world leaders in addressing the climate crisis, citizens and climate activist groups have organized in an attempt to spread public awareness and motivate cooperation. But the nuances between individual action and collective action require further study and are the central topic of this thesis. This research seeks to identify what can be changed to address this inaction. I aimed to discover what might be lacking in messaging and what shifts could motivate large-scale change. Through surveys and interviews, I confirm that people have been getting the message that significant changes are necessary. Participant discourse suggests, however, that a gap still exists between what people know needs to be done and what actions they are actually taking.

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