The effects of virtual companion animals on human emotional health
Mika Maruyama, Clark College
In this CURE, we will be investigating the effects of virtual companion animals on human emotional health. Recent advances in the development of VR technology and content have brought about a rapid proliferation of VR devices that provide for realistic, life-like sensorimotor experiences of virtual environments. Although there are significant numbers of studies that have examined positive clinical outcomes using virtual reality (VR) in managing pain and psychological treatment, the effectiveness of virtual companion animals on human emotions to promote mental well-being has not been studied. In order to study whether technology (e.g., VR) can provide similar benefits that companion animals have been providing to humans, we must investigate how we could provide similar experiences of interacting with companion animals in the virtual worlds. The findings from the current study will contribute knowledge on the use of VR technology in the context of experimentation on individual emotional response in a healthy population. We expect that our study will provide evidence for the positive effects of immersive VR technology and content on indicators of physiological and emotional well-being. Our CURE will investigate the effects of virtual companion animals with different populations (students will choose a population group they will investigate) to examine the effects of virtual companion animals on various populations. Specifically, we will investigate therapeutic applications of personal VR technologies in the context of reducing loneliness, psychological disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety disorder), and in promoting quality of life.

Power of Place CURE - The POP CURE Boulder Apple Project
Lisa Corwin, University of Colorado at Boulder
Our CURE program combines CURE best practices with practices shown to build civic engagement through Place-Based Learning (PBL). Across several CURE courses, we investigate a local system, Boulder's Historic Apple Trees, which are a valued historic, cultural, and biological resource in Boulder and surrounding counties. Many apple trees in and around Boulder County originated from historic orchards and have potential to be rare cultivars that do not exist in modern apple production. In addition to their cultural and historic value, these cultivars, which have survived the harsh environmental conditions in central Colorado, could contain valued genetic resources that could be useful in agricultural practices. Research is needed to unlock the value of the Boulder Apples and allow both the local and scientific community to benefit from these resources. Specifically we need to: - Map where apple trees are located in and around Boulder (Project LOCATE) - Determine environmental influences along the urban-wildland gradient (Project GRADIENT) - Identify the genetic variety/cultivar of trees (Project CULTIVAR) - Compare tree growth and physiology across cultivars (Project TRAIT), and - Graft trees to preserve these genetic and cultural resources (Project PRESERVE). This CURE specifically aims to characterize the physiological responses of different historic apple tree cultivars to environmental stressors (Project TRAIT). For the first iteration of Project TRAIT, we are focusing on different cultivars' growth and physiological response to drought. Students will induce different levels drought stress across cultivars, using grafted and potted replicates of five cultivars to start. They will measure and compare the cultivars' growth and physiological responses to environmental drought manipulations. The second iteration of this CURE will characterize different cultivars' responses to fertilization. A similar approach will be taken to determine the effect of different levels of NPK fertilization. Results from these studies will not only inform the scientific literature in fruit production, but will also be useful to residents of central and northern Colorado, who have an interest in locally produced food and cider production and in Colorado history.

Aurora Connect: CItizen Science connecting students and community
Rhonda Hattar, Community College of Aurora