October 2014: Contests & Funding

Bioneers Conference Scholarship Deadline October 10
In an effort to make the Bioneers Conference accessible to a wider and more diverse group of people, UCSC's Common Ground Center is thrilled to continue the partnership with Bioneers to bring students, faculty, staff, and recent alumni to the conference at a reduced rate of $30 per person per day. The National Bioneers Conference in San Rafael, CA on October 17-19 is the original whole-systems forum of innovation and collaboration for achieving social, cultural and environmental justice. Serving the sustainability, environmental and social justice communities, BioCon speakers and presenters have included Van Jones, Jane Goodall, Gloria Steinem, Philippe Cousteau, Michael Pollan, Eve Ensler, and Paul Hawken, among many other luminaries. The conference also prides itself on introducing audiences to some of the most innovative voices yet to be discovered. Click here to apply now. More information about the conference is on the Common Ground Center website. Carpool options available. Deadline to apply for the scholarship is October 10!

Carbon Fund Info Session October 23

Have an idea for a project that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions on or off campus? The Carbon Fund is a student-passed fee measure that raises $3 per student per quarter totaling up to ~$100,000 per year to allocate to students, faculty, and staff for their project ideas! If you have ideas that will reduce the carbon footprint of UCSC, from energy and water conversation to more efficient composting and zero waste techniques, the Carbon Fund has money for your project. They will be hosting an info session on October 23 from 4-6 PM in the College 8 Red Room to review how to apply and what makes a strong application--pizza will be served! It is recommended that you attend the info session or email the Carbon Fund in advance to ask questions and receive feedback before applying. Abstracts are due November 14 for the 2014-15 funding cycle. Learn more on the website.

Get a Free Bike for the Quarter
Are you interested in having a bike this quarter? The Bike Library's mission is to make bikes accessible to students, faculty, and staff of UCSC to promote transportation sustainability and self-sufficiency. They believe that financial limitations should not be a barrier and provide our services free of charge. Applications have been open since October 1--apply soon! You can learn more about the program and apply here.

Got a Big Idea? Receive Funding and Support!
The 2014-2015 Big Ideas@Berkeley contest has launched with new categories and expanded eligibility to include graduate and undergraduate students across the entire UC system. This year there are four Big Ideas categories open to matriculated students from all 10 UC campuses: Food System Innovations, Global Health, Mobiles For Reading, IT for Society. Big Ideas is an annual student innovation contest aimed at providing funding, support, and encouragement to interdisciplinary teams of students who have creative solutions to important social challenges. Since its founding in 2006, Big Ideas has inspired innovative and high-impact student-led projects aimed at solving problems that matter to this generation. Up to $300,000 in prizes available to students with innovative ideas to improve society... So put on your thinking caps, break out your big ideas and do not miss this opportunity to have the support you need to get started!

Real Food Media Contest
Multimedia video submissions are now being accepted for the Real Food Media Contest. These videos should be between 30 seconds and 4 minutes, showcasing sustainable food and farming. The vides should feature underreported issues, innovative sustainability strategies, and compelling stories of food producers and workers. Make your submission by January 5, 2015. For more information, please visit the website.

Apply for the Campus Safety Health and Environmental Management Scholarship
CSHEMA is sponsoring the Scholarship Award Program to encourage the study of environmental and occupational health and safety. Currently, one $2,000 scholarship is awarded anually along with paid registration to attend the annual CSHEMA Conference. To be considered for the award, students must meet the following requirements: 1) submit an official transcript, 2) complete application form, 3) write and submit an essay. These items must be delivered in a sealed envelope with university seal and mailed by March 31, 2014. For more information contact April Anstey.