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Tuesday, December 4, 2018

December 2018: Contests & Funding

Sierra Club 2019 Scholarship Application: Due April 1st.
The Stanislaus County Sierra Club Yokut’s Group is seeking applications for the Donna Durham Memorial Scholarship for the 2018/19 academic school year. This $1000 scholarship is given to honor Donna Durham’s commitment to local environmental issues. Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to an environmental or conservation project, and or course of study through a degree program. Deadline to apply is April 1st. Interested students must complete application form and submit an essay of 200 words but no more than 500 words supporting their environmental work or study and how this scholarship will help further their goals.

Future Leaders in Coastal Science Award & the Kathryn D. Sullivan Award in Earth and Marine Scientists Due December 14th apply
This program supports graduate and undergraduate student research on the coastal zone (both land and sea), including studies of natural and human-impacted systems. Supervised by a faculty member or researcher, each team will be led by a graduate student who will mentor two undergraduate students working on the project.

Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program - Now Accepting Applications! Due February 8
A two-year conservation mentorship program that takes place over two summers for 20 students across the US, its territories and Native Nations, who are in their early-undergraduate career (freshmen, sophomore, junior) Scholars are exposed to the field of environmental conservation through field research, leadership and professional training. Scholars receive travel, lodging, support, and a $4,000 stipend each summer. Applications due February 8. See application and flyer attached for details.
APS/IBM Research Internship for Undergraduate Women and Underrepresented Minorities Deadline: January 31
Internship will be off campus and no citizenship restrictions apply!
The American Physical Society and IBM co-sponsor two undergraduate research internship programs: the APS/IBM Research Internship for Undergraduate Women, and the APS/IBM Research Internships for Underrepresented Minority Students. The goal of these internships is to encourage women and underrepresented minorities to pursue graduate studies in science and engineering. Any student who identifies as a woman and an underrepresented minority is eligible to apply to both internships.
The B.O.G. Pest Control Scholarship Fund Due date: March 15th, 2019
Eligibility: Open to Everyone
Submit - Official Application Form + Letter of intent which should describe the applicant’s passion and plans for their education, desired career, and any relevant experience in the field.
Scholarships through National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) & the American Academy of Sanitarians (AAS): Due date March 1
Undergraduate and graduate students who are enrolled in an accredited college or university with a dedicated and recognized curriculum in environmental health (EH) sciences, are eligible to apply for the NEHA/AAS Scholarship. The undergraduate scholarship is to be used toward the tuition and fees associated with either the junior or senior year of college studies. The graduate scholarship is to be used toward tuition and fees associated with graduate studies. All applicants must have at least one semester of coursework remaining to be eligible for this scholarship. Visit the website to learn more and apply.
Quarterly UCSC Environmental Studies Awards

The Environmental Studies Department offer awards and scholarships throughout the academic year. Visit the website for more information about upcoming application deadlines.

December Sustainability Profile: Mark Arenas


Each month, our newsletter features a person or group on campus that is working toward a more sustainable world. This month we had the privilege to interview Mark Arenas, a member of the Everett Program. The Everett Program empowers students to work in solidarity with community-based organizations. These UCSC students at the Everett Program promote social justice and sustainability across the globe. The Everett Program empowers students to use the technical, educational, and research resources of the university to work directly with communities, empowering people to design practical solutions to persistent problems

What does sustainability mean to you?
Mark Arenas
"A DinĂ© or Navajo man once told me that 'The land is a mirror. If we are not taking care of it, we are not taking care of ourselves.' I say this in the context of sustainability because it encourages us not only to focus on sustainable practices in nature, but to observe and interpret our own behavior. By thinking of sustainability beyond external practices, I have developed an awareness of myself through quiet reflection, and this has allowed me to notice my unsustainable behavior, which I can then improve. This internal sustainability has encouraged me to learn and understand more about how I can make a difference in my everyday life and the lives of others." 
What sustainable practices do you live by in your daily life and did working with the Everett inspire you in anyway?  
"I support businesses whose practices reflect my values, like buying locally. This is a big one for me because I like to know how my produce was grown. And when it is grown by huge corporations, I am not able to get that satisfaction. To be honest, from living in rural areas, I have become humbled in the way I live and dress. I am no longer inconvenienced when I wake up in the morning and have to choose my clothing for the day because I have realized that there people that do not have the privilege of wearing something different everyday. I’ll reuse clothing and feel confident because it no longer feels like an inconvenience to me to have a stain on my shirt; it is practical and will save you some laundry money. The Everett program has inspired me to look for sustainable solutions in my life and being around people who are doing the same, which only inspires me to find where I can be better."
Favorite Green Tips? 
"Get a reusable water bottle for sure. It makes your life easier because you do not have to haul packs of water bottles every week or consume BPA! Get a water filter like a BRITA or PUR if you are drinking tap water! It is a great investment and you’ll enjoy drinking water even more because the campus water is a bit metallic. My biggest pet peeve is when people leave the water running while washing dishes. Turn it off, because you’ll save so much water. Do you really need to have it running the whole time? It’s kind of inefficient."

What is your role/position at the Everett Program? 
"My role at the Everett Program involves teaching and developing curriculum. As a fellow of the program, I have the opportunity to teach sections on leadership to help students of Sociology 30A become effective social activists. We teach tools like active listening to improve communication skills because if we want to create change, we must be able to connect and relate to other people. At the same time, I am developing a curriculum to teach a video editing lab in the winter for Sociology 107A to prepare students to use technology as a means to address social and environmental issues."
Tell me about your background and how you became part of UCSC? 
"I am from North Country San Diego and I officially became a part of UCSC when I joined the Everett Program in the fall of 2017. Before, I was a wandering student with little sense of direction and community. Being with this program, I was able to explore many fields like leadership, non-profit work, technology, and social/environmental issues. As a student helping run this non-profit organization on campus, I started to walk a path where I felt empowered to be at UCSC and that I could help create change alongside communities. With the teaching and practical skills I have learned here, I am preparing myself to be a leader that can empower others to be leaders in underrepresented groups." 

What is your long-term vision for sustainability at UCSC? 

"Wow, well my long-term vision for sustainability at UCSC will involve more people walking on campus. I see so many self-made problems created by people waiting to take the bus from one stop to the other. On the one hand, you may be preventing someone that really needs to be on that bus from doing so, and you are missing out on some beautiful walks. Small things like this are where change starts. A change in perception is what you can do to lead into bigger picture ideas. Another issue would be food waste. Now, I do not know exactly how much food waste we produce or how much gets composted, but I think there is some system that could be implemented in regards to help students facing food insecurity. And if I were to come together with a bunch of students, I’m sure we could come up with more, but at the moment that is all I have, so hit me up and let’s talk." 
 What are your thoughts on environmental justice?  

"My thoughts on environmental justice are that we need people on the frontlines of communities facing injustices, trying to bring awareness, and the means to a solution. From my experience, I know that there are communities in the Navajo Nation with contaminated water supplies because the U.S. government exploited the uranium on their land to create weapons during the Cold War and for nuclear energy. What is being done about it now? Little on the part of the government responsible. There’s no aid. Laughable remediation and reclamation work. Looking at it from a bigger picture, we have to start thinking about it as a system, that is, the institutions that exist that allow all of this to happen. Have indigenous people had been continually subjugated for centuries? Does the U.S. have governmental bodies and infrastructure rooted in colonialism? What we need are more visionaries and people who are not afraid to tell it how it is. What we need is transparency. "
Is there a message you would like UCSC students to know?  
"What we have to do if we are going to make a difference is clear heads. Sometimes people make assumptions and think they know what you need when in fact, you do don’t. The best thing we can do for communities that need help is to ask what they need help with, and not to come in with our preconceived notions and savior complexes; we have enough of that. If you are interested in learning the tools essential to going out and creating change, stop by the Everett office in Social Sciences II.  It’s on the first floor with the sign saying 'this way to change the world.' You can’t miss it."

What are some projects that you and the Everett program are proud of, or that you believe are the most inspiring to others and yourself?  
"Wow, let’s see. What I can say is that we have so many projects that we are proud of. As an organization that guides students through the process of designing, funding, and implementing a project with a partner organization, the number of projects we are proud of is high, even when the success rate isn’t because students learn so much in the process. From empowering high school girls, to empowering people abroad in places like Haiti, we have much to be proud of, and at the same time, we have much more work to do. Along with our peer-to-peer learning environment, where we get to teach other students, and with the power to have a say in the hiring of faculty, we are a space for students to reach goals."
 What are the Everett Program Goals?
Everette office Program
"The Everett program aims at creating resourceful leaders ready to make a difference in the world. Resourceful in the sense that we have the inner capacity to be ready for the kind of work this requires us. We must be able to connect, relate, and have empathy with others if we want to collaborate. We must be able to actually listen, stand by our values, and create inclusive spaces. Resourceful in the sense that we must be strategic, and practical, and bring a positive impact. More importantly, it is to teach students that all of this is possible for them to do."
What are Future Events the Everett Program will be hosting?
"We currently do not have any events coming up but be on the lookout for our workshops. Recently, we had a diversity workshop where my friend Raine helped students learn a graphic design software to create inclusive posters in response to the white supremacy going around campus."

Monday, December 3, 2018

December 2018: UCSC Vanpool Program



Traffic Woes?
Low monthly subsidized rates, good company, and relaxing experiences keep affiliates in our 14 UCSC vanpools.  We have available seats on our Aptos, San Jose, Monterey, Watsonville, SLV/Scotts Valley, and Salinas/Prunedale vanpools.  

Contact Julie Munnerlyn, Transportation Coordinator at (831) 459-4289, or visit our website https://taps.ucsc.edu for more vanpool information. There is a place for you in one of our vans!




December 2018: Rachel Carson College Sustainability Studies Students Visit Google’s REWS offices


On Wednesday, November 11 a group of students affiliated with the Rachel Carson College Sustainability Studies Minor, the Sustainability Lab and Engineers Without Borders were invited to visit and take a guided tour of the office space that houses Google’s Real Estate and Workplace Services (REWS) - the group responsible for operating Google's worldwide office spaces. The building at 1212 Bordeaux in Sunnyvale represents Google's first ground-up construction in the Bay Area and is a showcase for many of the green-building design features and operations that Google hopes to implement at other locations.


The visiting students were joined by Patrick Testoni, UCSC’s campus energy manager and hosted by UCSC’s IDEASS-LEED LAB mentors Dan Ackerstein and Peter Ouzts.  Dan (far left in the photo) is a consultant working with Google’s Sustainable Operations team and is principal of Ackerstein Sustainability, a consulting firm in Santa Cruz. Ackerstein Sustainability collaborates with building operators, property managers, ownership groups, facility engineers, and corporate leadership to implement and manage programs to reduce the impacts of the built environment and to document their successes via sustainability certification programs such as the US Green Building Council’s LEED certification program. Peter Ouzts is a licensed mechanical engineer who develops and applies building energy simulation models to enable design and operation of industry leading energy efficient buildings.



Students and instructors met with staff members of the REWS Sustainable Operations team, including Program Manager Rich Navarro and discussed how the team proposes and implements workplace campaigns to reduce impacts on the environment while improving the quality of the working environment for Google employees.  Students were impressed with the space, practices and amenities offered to Google employees and were inspired by the personal career trajectories of the staff members they interacted with on site. The visit was particularly applicable to students preparing to conduct feasibility studies on UCSC buildings and making recommendations to UCSC leadership for pursuing future LEED Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance certifications. Opportunities for UCSC undergraduates in the Rachel Carson College Sustainability Studies Minor to partner on future projects with the REWS Sustainable Operations team were also entertained and follow-up discussions are being planned.  


Here is what students were saying about the visit:


“The field trip to the Google campus was phenomenal. Their Sustainable Operations team was welcoming and passionate about what they did. They taught us how they actively seek to help employees limit compostables and recyclables entering their waste streams, conserve on energy, and limit water usage on a day-to-day basis. Never have I seen a group of people so enthusiastic about pursuing a sustainable workplace while still aiming to provide an efficient and comfortable workplace for their employees. The building we toured is a glimpse into the near future of sustainable building, and gave my classmates and I a vision of what we can build on when we leave UCSC”.


“It was refreshing to see the same Bay Area ingenuity that has bolstered California to the 5th largest economy in the world, is not only cognizant about wicked sustainability problems in our built environment, but practicing practical solutions for our future”.


“I was so glad I went on the trip to Google. We need more of these kinds of experiences in our education. The opportunity to interact with true professionals and hear first-hand how they ended up in the positions they have now helps put the rest of what I am doing in my classes into perspective. It was inspiring to say the least.”

For more information on the Sustainability Minor or if you are interested in joining a project team contact Tamara Ball at ideass@ucsc.edu or tball@ucsc.edu. For information on how to get involved in the S-LAB or Engineers Without Borders contact Tela Favaoloro at tfavalor@ucsc.edu.  The Sustainability Studies Minor is open to students from ALL majors we encourage you to try out one of our classes!



December 2018: Sustainability Office Students attend a Zero Waste Conference



Elyse and Sana here from the Zero Waste Team! 

Earlier this month we were given the opportunity to both attend and present a workshop at the Post Landfill Action Network’s Students for Zero Waste Conference in Philadelphia, PA. This conference brought together 500 students, activists, and community leaders who are working towards Zero Waste in their respective universities and communities. Our weekend was filled with a key note address by Melissa Miles, a grassroots activists and organizer living in an Environmental Justice Community in Newark, New Jersey, and a variety of engaging workshops and panels! These workshops covered an array of topics, such as: food recovery, anti-oppression/ liberation in the Zero Waste movement, and community engagement.  

One of our biggest take aways from the conference was the reminder about how intersectional the Zero Waste movement is and how our efforts in the movement must be purposeful and inclusive. The issue of waste is an issue of justice both for our environment and most importantly for our communities. Low income communities and communities of color are disproportionately impacted by waste and the systems in place that allow for the waste to be created in the first place. This intersectionality also extends to the efforts that are already being made by so many communities who are fighting for environmental justice. Here at UC Santa Cruz, The Zero Waste Team is committed to recognizing the work that is currently being done by so many UCSC community members towards a more zero waste and just world. Your efforts fire us up and we are ready to work with the community on these efforts!


Sunday, December 2, 2018

December 2018: Classes, Trainings, and Community

Education for Sustainable Living Program Spring Lecture Series
Host a Workshop with Education for Sustainable Living Program's Spring Lecture Series! Every year Education for Sustainable Living Program hosts a Spring Course, CRSN 61/161. This is made up of Monday Night Lectures and Action Research Teams. This year’s theme is Narratives of Hope for a Sustainable Future. ESLP invites campus groups and other relevant organizations to hosts workshops to complement their Monday Night Lectures. They invite you to speak on any subject that relates to our Blueprint for a Sustainable Campus. Find more details and apply at https://www.eslp-enviroslug.org/hostworkshop/

Join DROPS IDEASS project in Winter Quarter
Interested in joining a team of passionate and motivated students? Join, DROPS, an interdisciplinary team of students in the IDEASS program that are working to find municipal solutions for rainwater catchment and stormwater management. Students will have the opportunity to work with local experts, including MADI architects and a professional mechanical engineer. Students will work on redesigning the layout for the Bay View Elementary Life Lab space to accommodate two new rainwater tanks and irrigated garden beds as well as develop and test relevant Life Lab curriculum. Additionally, students will be working on installing rainwater catchment systems and LID landscape features (rain gardens, bioswales) to mitigate the impacts of stormwater run-off. This is a great opportunity to gain professional hands-on experience. Interested students will be starting in Winter Quarter 2019 and will have the choice to enroll in either the 5-unit ENVS or 2-unit CRSN 152. Contact ideass@ucsc.edu for more information.

Forest Ecology Research Plot (FERP)
The UCSC Campus Natural Reserve is offering a wide variety of field ecology research, monitoring and stewardship internships this winter. Join a project on the Forest Ecology Research Plot (FERP), help assess fuel load and wildfire risk, help monitor small mammal populations, steward campus natural lands, or monitor the regeneration of coastal prairie and northern maritime chaparral following prescribed fire management. For more information, visit their website at https://ucsccampusreserve.ucsc.edu/internships-and-classes/internships-folder/index.html

DUE 2/5/19: Summer 2019 California Ecology and Conservation Supercourse
Applications for the Summer 2019 offering of the UC Natural Reserve System field course, California Ecology and Conservation are now being accepted. Applications can be found here and are due on February 5, 2019. Students from across the UC system have gained strong independent scientific research skills while immersed in the training grounds of the UC natural reserves, from Big Sur to the Mojave Desert, from coastal redwoods to California grasslands to high altitude bristlecone pines.

LEED Accreditation Courses
LEED is a globally recognized rating system devised by the United States Green Building Council to evaluate the environmental performance of a building and encourage market transformation towards sustainable design.The UCSC Carbon Fund provided a grant to the the campus to support the purchase of a Gold Membership through July 2019. This provides unlimited access to the LEED Online platform for all staff, faculty and students (a $1,500 value per person)! The platform offers 200+ LEED Green Associate (GA) + Accredited Professional (AP) prep courses - which are certifications students can obtain to demonstrate knowledge of green building principles and understanding of the LEED rating systems and is a great professional development opportunity for students; study guides & other support materials; access to over 2000+ on-demand web-based courses that all count towards continuing education credits, access to all LEED web based reference guide access and an online credit tutorial. Essentially, all staff, faculty and students have all resources needed to support the pursuit of either a LEED GA or LEED AP (or both) accreditation through this online portal. Having at least a LEED GA accreditation is viewed as a minimum qualification for most jobs within the green building industry.
So how does one get access to this great resource?

Step 1) To access the Campus Subscription Resources, start by viewing these brief video tutorials:
Video Transcripts may be downloaded here.
Step 2)  Once you've registered, peruse the links below to check out a wide variety of tutorials, webinars and information based on your interest.

Faculty:
Staff:

Questions? Email education@usgbc.org.


Friday, November 30, 2018

December 2018: Internships, Employment, and Volunteering

Food Systems Working Group Produce Pop-Up Internship
The Food Systems Working Group, anchored within the Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems (CASFS) is looking for two driven individuals to assist with our academic year organic Produce Pop-Up, which takes place once a week at the Quarry Plaza. In efforts to improve issues of food access and healthy food purchasing on campus, the Produce Pop-Up provides a space for students to purchase affordable produce sourced from the CASFS Farm and local Santa Cruz farmers’ markets. For more information, contact Margaret Bishop at mlbishop@ucsc.edu.

Education for Sustainable Living Program
ESLP is a collaborative and interdisciplinary effort to reshape the way we learn, effectively mentor students, and engage in projects that support the sustainable development of the University of California at Santa Cruz community. Please check out eslp.enviroslug.org for more information, and reach out to eslp@ucsc.edu with any questions or to set up an interview.

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center
The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center is looking for a weekly intern who will assist in the coordination and delivery of the Preschool Storytime program. Duties will include assisting in the coordination of a weekly preschool activity time at the Sanctuary Exploration Center, helping set up and leading weekly crafts and show-and-tell demonstrations, and assisting in program advertising. For more information, please contact Chelsea Prindle at chelsea.prindle@noaa.gov.

DUE 1/4/19: Seymour Center Visitor Programs Docent Training Intern
Interns work with the Visitor Programs staff and volunteers to develop teaching materials for the docent training course held at the Seymour Center. Interns assist with interpreting research exhibits, seawater touch tank, and aquarium displays to visitors. Interns also help with basic support and background research that is essential to program operation. For more information, visit the Seymour Center website.

UCSC Plant Science Symposium
The 9th Biennial UCSC Plant Symposium will be held Saturday, January 26th, 2019! The symposium consists of presentations followed by a poster session and happy hour. There is no fee to attend and lunch is provided. If you are interested in attending, please register by filling out this google form. Undergraduate doing research are invited to present a poster on their research, which gives you an excellent opportunity to talk with graduate students and faculty about your research.

Wolf Ridge Naturalist Training Program
Each week you might teach six classes, participate in workshops/field trips/seminars covering education and natural history, serve as a liaison for a visiting group, go on an adventure with other naturalists, and more. Though the schedule will be filled, if you enjoy a little chaos and love the outdoors, Wolf Ridge might be worth looking into. For more information or to apply, contact Joe Walewski at joe.walewski@wolf-ridge.org

Montana Farm Jobs and Internships
The 2019 farm season will be here before you know it! Get your hands dirty learning the ins-and-outs of farming or ranching and get exposure to a variety of local and sustainable food systems amid the rugged, breathtakingly beautiful landscape of Montana!  Farm Link Montana Is a free, searchable database of current listings for jobs, internships, and land opportunities in Montana. It features a searchable map of farms and ranches across the state hiring for the upcoming season. Learn about each operation and apply to multiple jobs at once with just one application.

Improving Student Food Security at UCSC - Research Study
Earn $50 for participating in a research study examining food access at UCSC. You will be asked to share your experiences in a confidential small group setting with other students at the Blum Center. If you are interested, contact Desiree Ryan at daryan@ucsc.edu to sign up.

DUE 2/8/19: Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program
A two-year conservation mentorship that takes place over two summers for 20 students across the US, its territories, and Native Nations, who are in their early-undergraduate career (freshmen, sophomores, juniors). Scholars are exposed to the field of environmental conservation through field research, leadership, and professional training. Scholars receive travel, lodging, support, and a $4,000 stipend each summer. For more information, visit conservationscholars.ucsc.edu or email the Program Director, Dr. Justin Cummings at jacummin@ucsc.edu.


December 2018: Green Tips

Tips for a more sustainable holiday:

Reuse or recycle gift packing materials.
Bubble wrap can be reused or recycled. Cardboard boxes can be reused or
opened flat and recycled.

Find alternatives to wrapping paper.
Gifts can be wrapped without using traditional wrapping paper - try using old
posters, maps, calendars, or scrap fabric. Avoid buying glossy foil or metallic
wrapping paper. This kind of “paper” is difficult to recycle and has no value for
use as mulch due to the heavy metals used in the foil paper. Use tape sparingly,
or not at all. By not using tape, more of the wrapping paper can be reclaimed
and recycled.
Whitegift Box Lot

Lower the impact of holiday lighting.
Use LED lights for decorating. LED holiday lights use up to 95% less energy than
larger, traditional holiday bulbs and can last up to 100,000 hours when used indoors.
Yellow String Lights