March 2019: Sustainability Profile: Juan Castañon

Juan Casta

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 Juan Castañon, a Student Sustainability Advisor, (SSA) for colleges 9 and 10. His role consists of engaging and informing students (colleges 9 and 10) about sustainability, this serves as big conversation starters who aren’t aware of a more sustainable future. His Team develops quarterly programs aimed at teaching students how to properly recycle. 

1.   What does Sustainability mean to you? 

“Sustainability to me means, being able to co-exist with one another on this planet. Not only learn to live together but try to reduce the amount of damage we are producing to the places we physically inhabit.”  

2.   What sustainable practices do you live by in your daily life?

“I do try to implement simple everyday practices: using a reusable water bottle, recycling and trying to reduce my food waste.”

3.   Favorite Green Tips?

“Try taking shorter showers!” 

4.   Tell me about your background and how you became part of UCSC?

“I am originally from Los Angeles; however, I transferred here, UCSC, very recently. The reason why I picked UCSC is that I wanted to become part of a school and organization that was passionate about combating environmental issues like myself.”

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

“My long-term vision is to develop and maintain practical programs that not only educate students on sustainable practices but also empowers them to want to continue to co-exist within our natural surroundings.”

6.   What are your thoughts on Environmental Justice? 

“I believe Environmental Justice should be the forefront of discussions dealing with climate change, clean air, and water. If we do not tackle these issues that deal with environmental justice we cannot and will not reach our goal of becoming zero waste. We need to confront barriers that historically and currently have affected people of color. When dealing with environmental justice arises we should always remember those who suffer the most.”

7.   How was your experience at Inter-org?

“Inter-org was a great experience! It was amazing to meet and work with other organizations on campus. It gave me a bigger perspective on why we, the Sustainability Office, do what we do to promote sustainability. The fact that I go to see countless of other people feeling equally passionate about their work here at UCSC. This gave more energy and motivation to continue working to create a more sustainable campus." 

8.   How would you describe your experience at the Sustainability office?

“Up to this point, my experience at the office has been inspiring, uplifting and rewarding. I love everyone I work with, and I love the common goals we all share in wanting to create a more sustainable campus for the future.”

March 2019: Internships, Employment, and Volunteering

DUE 3/31 - Northern California Botanists Research Program

Northern California Botanists is accepting applications for the Botany Research Scholarship Program for the 2019-2020 academic year. All materials should be submitted to ncbotanists@gmail.com or by mail to Northern California Botanists, P.O. Box 8042, Chico, CA 95927-8042 by midnight March 31, 2019. Details and application packet at www.norcalbotanists.org/scholarships.htm

2019 Governing Board Summer Internship Program

Online applications are now being accepted for South Coast Air Quality Management District’s 2019 Governing Board Summer Internship Program. Learn more at

http://www.aqmd.gov/careers/governing-board-summer-internship

Green Office Certification Program The Green Office Certification Program (GOCP) is pleased to announce the opening of a GOCP position. We are seeking undergraduate students of all majors and backgrounds who have an interest in Sustainability. Please apply on the ER system under the ER number 6682 . For additional information on this opportunity visit our website. Please direct your questions regarding this matter to the GOCP Coordinator Jennifer Perez at greenoff@ucsc.edu

Environmental Studies Undergraduate Department Peer Adviser

Reporting to the Undergraduate Program Coordinator, the peer adviser will be working in a team-oriented setting to ensure the holistic success of all students in the ENVS department and at UCSC. The Peer Adviser will develop strong interpersonal communication and leadership skills, deepen their understanding of departmental and institutional policies and procedures, and establish positive working relationships with students, staff, faculty and campus partners. Click here to apply and be sure to complete all required fields in the application. If you have any questions, please direct them to Jenny Duong at envsugpc@ucsc.edu.

3/27 & 3/31 - Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center

Share your love for the ocean and become a docent at the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center. There will be an informational meeting Wednesday, March 27th at 5:30PM and Sunday, March 31st at 10:00AM. Docent training begins April 10th - May 15th on Wednesdays from 6:00-9:00PM. For more information and to apply, email Brijonnay Madrigal at brijonnay.madrigal@noaa.gov. Or call (831) 425-4182.

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.

UCSC Campus Natural Reserve Internships - Spring 2019

An average of 6 hours per week of internship work (field and lab) will earn you 2-credits through the ENVS Internship Office (see their website for other internship requirements beyond the 6-hour requirement). Our internships require a sense of adventure and willingness and ability to work off-trail in sometimes challenging terrain. To apply for the internships, send an email to cnr@ucsc.edu describing your interest and ranking your choices. Please include your Spring 2019 course schedule. For more information and the list of internships, please visit https://ucsccampusreserve.ucsc.edu/internships-and-classes/internships-folder/index.html

Montana Farm Jobs and Internships

Learn 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. Learn more at https://www.farmlinkmontana.org/

Part-time & Full-time Positions for Environmental Campaigns

Fund for the Public Interest is looking for passionate and dedicated students to join our grassroots campaign office in downtown Santa Cruz, as campaign staff to make real change during this school year. Currently, we are working to protect our coast and wildlife by banning single-use polystyrene (styrofoam) on a statewide level. Learn more at www.fundjobs.org

California Native Plant Society

CNPS is hiring two botanists in the Vegetation Program. The positions are full time for five months, with the possibility of more work in the summer depending on funding. It involves field work in some really cool places around the state! Learn more at https://www.cnps.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/job-asst-veg-ecologist-20181211.pdf

CDFW Biodiversity Coordinator Job Announcement
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife Science Institute is hiring a Biodiversity Coordinator. Under the direction of the Science Institute Environmental Program Manager, this position consults and works across the Department of Fish and Wildlife, with state and federal agencies and other partners on issues related to preserving, managing, and restoring CA ecosystems for resiliency in order to protect the state’s biodiversity from climate change and other pressures. Learn more at https://jobs.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Jobs/JobPosting.aspx?JobControlId=137615

March 2019: Classes, Trainings, and Community

CRSN 61 / 161 Class Info

Each Monday night from 5:20-7:50PM at Kresge Town Hall there will be speakers that discuss topics related to sustainability and social justice as well as workshops from student organizations on campus. Can be taken for 2 or 5 units of credit and satisfies requirements for upper division Sociology major credit and the Breadth requirement for the Sustainability minor.

Student Environmental Center

The Student Environmental Center (SEC) is a student-run, student lead activist organization on campus dedicated to institutionalizing sustainability and environmental justice at UCSC through projects and events that educate and empower students. Reach out to sec-group@ucsc.edu for questions, inquires, and ways to get involved.

Corre la Voz Spring 2019 — OAKS 151A/B

Corre la Voz is an after-school mentoring program at Bay View Elementary School and will be accepting applications for interview to join the Spring Seminar and Field Study Class, Oakes 151A/B ("Community Literacies: Curriculum Design, Observation & Team Teaching").

DUE 4/6 - Alaska Wrangell Mountains Summer Field Studies Program 2019

Looking for wilderness immersion experience within the heart of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park? The Alaska Wrangell Mountains Summer Field Studies Program accepting applications for summer 2019 to the university-level Field Studies Program, and invite students at least one year into their undergraduate education to apply due April 6th. Learn more at https://www.wrangells.org/fieldstudies/

Environmental Studies Senior Seminar

Looking for a Senior Exit this Spring? There are seats available for ENVS 196, Senior Seminar: Data Science for the Environment (Environmental Informatics) with Professor Kai Zhu. The class will include environmental-related modules such as climate change, biodiversity loss, population growth, forest dynamics, and overfishing. Each module will introduce new datasets and questions, leading to new hands-on skills. Students will use these skills to find an environmental-related topic, write a proposal, search for data, perform analyses, summarize results, and complete a final paper. Click here to apply!

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/

LEED Accreditation Courses

Opportunity for UCSC faculty, staff students to access hundreds of hours of FREE online training and webinars through the US Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Online platform through October 2019. The campus is looking for strong user engagement in this pilot year in order to identify the need for future years. Having at least a LEED-GA accreditation is viewed as a minimum qualification for most jobs within the green building industry. The platform includes access to learning modules that can be incorporated into existing course curricula, training resources for students seeking to pursue a LEED credential, and ongoing education materials for staff and faculty seeking to maintain their existing LEED credential. Questions can be emailed to education@usgbc.org. Educational Facilities Planner Chrissy Thomure at cthomure@ucsc.edu is the campus' official LEED liaison, and can also help point you in the right direction as needed. Learn more about the courses here.

March 2019: Green Tips

With spring break coming up, here are a few tips to be more sustainable while traveling!

1. If you are planning to fly to get to your travel destination, before booking a flight, look into airlines that have carbon offset programs (https://thepointsguy.com/guide/a-guide-to-airline-carbon-offset-programs/)

2. Look for a sustainably certified hotel or hostel to reduce your carbon footprint while traveling. Book Different is a great way to find sustainable places to stay during your trip. When traveling in the U.S., check to see if the hotel has LEED Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The program judges hotels on sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, material selection, indoor environmental quality, and innovation in design.

3. Buy locally sourced food for a more sustainable meal and support local business. Keep an eye out for local markets and don’t forget to bring a reusable bag. Supporting local business while you are traveling can help the economy and sustainability!

4. Consider alternative transportation. Instead of driving or taking a taxi, consider taking public transportation, walking, or biking instead. Biking can be a great option to reduce your carbon footprint while enjoying the local scenery!

5. Find eco-friendly tourist options. While vacationing, try to do activities that are enjoyable and don’t strain the environment, such as biking or swimming.

March 2019: Contest and Funding

Chicana Latina Foundation Scholarship: Due by March 8th

Meet past scholarship recipients and learn about the $1500 scholarship offered to Chicanx/Latinx undergraduate students. To see more information  click here! 

Workshop on March 6th from 6:30-7:30PM in the Muwekma Ohlone Conference Room (3rd Floor Bay Tree Building

B.O.G. Pest Control Scholarship Fund Due date: March 15th, 2019

Eligibility: Open to Everyone. Submit your 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. See more information here!

Global Engagement Photo Contest: Due March 24^th, 2019

Global Engagement’s annual photo contest is now open for submission! This year's contest theme is, "Defy Imagination." Students, faculty, staff, and alumni are welcome to submit photos in the categories of Photos from Abroad and Photos from the Unites States. Each photo must include a brief narrative describing its cultural significance to the photographer, and how it’s related to the theme. To see more information click here!

Contest submissions are open February 19-March 24

Northern California Botanists 2019-2020 Research Scholarship: Due midnight March 31, 2019

Northern California Botanists is accepting applications for our Botany Research Scholarship Program for the 2019-2020 academic year. All materials should be submitted to ncbotanists@gmail.com or by mail to Northern California Botanists, P. O. Box 8042, Chico, CA 95927-8042 by midnight March 31, 2019. See the application packet for more details on application guidelines and requirements. Please post the flyer at your school, workplace, or other venues for students to see! There is a $1,000 award!  To see more information click here!

Davis-Putter Fund 2019, $10,000 Scholarship: Due April 1st, 2019 

They will be awarding an undergraduate and or graduate student who is actively involved in social justice movements a 10,000 scholarship will be awarded to an undergrad ir a grad student. The deadline to apply is April 1, 2019! To see more information click here! 

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 the 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. To see more information click here!

Fall 2019 California Ecology and Conservation: Due on April 12, 2019

UCSC is now accepting applications for the Fall 2019 offering of the UC Natural Reserve System field course, California Ecology, and Conservation. For more information click here! 

2019 Save Water Video Contest: Due 12:00 am (midnight) on Tuesday, April 17, 2019 

The 5th Annual Save Water Video Contest is here. Inspire others to save water or prevent water pollution by making a short newscast, skit, animation, commercial or even a music video. The winning films will earn $500 and be broadcast on TV and online! Your goal is to create a high-quality video that convinces people to save and protect water by learning more about this year’s theme, Water Wise Gardening. For mor einformation click here! 

March 2019: Cool Campus Challenge

We're excited to announce the upcoming launch of a UC-wide sustainability competition: Cool Campus Challenge! Read on to learn more about the challenge and how you can participate. And remember to sign up and start taking sustainable pledges on April 1st!

What is the Cool Campus Challenge?

A friendly 4-week online challenge designed to educate and motivate the University of California campus community to take simple energy-saving, waste reducing and sustainability-focused actions to lower their carbon footprint. Prizes will be awarded for highest participation and point-earning teams and individuals!

Who can participate in the challenge?

University of California staff, faculty & students. Undergraduate students are encouraged to sign up on a team with their affiliated college. Grad students, staff, and faculty are encouraged to sign up on a team with a department they identify with. The top point earners on the top 5 teams will win extra prizes including solar phone chargers and gift cards! 

Where will it take place?

Participants pledge to take sustainable actions online at all 10 University of California campuses and University of California Office of the President.

When is it?

April 1st through April 26th, 2019

Why is this occurring?

To help rally support to meet the University of California Carbon Neutrality Initiative 2025 goal and educate participants

Where can we sign-up?

Sign-up and learn more starting in mid-March at www.CoolCampusChallenge.org.

Please bring your own mug and cutlery to help us be sustainable.

#ZeroWaste

February 2019: New Sustainability Projects

Cool Campus Challenge

Sustainability Office Lunch and Learn: Cool Campus Challenge
Thursday, March 7 @ 1 - 2:30pm in the College Nine Namaste Lounge

Come learn about the Cool Campus Challenge, a UC-wide online sustainability challenge in April where students, staff, and faculty pledge to take simple, sustainable actions. We'll also discuss how to best inspire sustainable behavior change. Free lunch from Pacific Thai will be provided! And remember to sign up for Cool Campus Challenge on April 1st at coolcampuschallenge.org.

People of Color Sustainability Collective Survey

The People of Color Sustainability Collective would like to invite all undergraduates to participate in the UCSC Survey on Environmental Sustainability. This survey seeks to better understand student perceptions of and participation in the environmental sustainability movement on campus. Your feedback is important and will help us create programming, resources, and opportunities to strive towards the vision of our Campus Sustainability Plan. Complete the survey here! For any questions contact pocsc@ucsc.edu.

Survey closes at midnight on April 19.

February 2019: "Slugs Go Solar"

Beginning March 1, the campus’ long-planned solar panel installation will begin in the East Remote parking lot and is scheduled to continue through December, 2019.  During construction, parking availability in the East Remote parking lot will be directly affected. Daily and Quarterly R permit sales during the Spring quarter will be closely monitored and likely reduced.

Solar Power Installation - East Remote Parking Structure:

• A 2MW array producing 3 million  kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean electricity, enough to power more than 330 houses for a year 
• The panels will last at least 20-years and save the campus an estimated $6 million on its energy bill
• UCSC plans to add an accompanying 1.2 megawatts (MW) battery storage which will reduce peak demand and shift load to times of day when electricity is less costly
• UCSC has an existing 250 kilowatt photovoltaic array on the McHenry Library, which provides 25 percent of the annual electrical energy needed for that build

“Slugs Go Solar” marks another step toward UCSC’s efforts to attain a sustainable carbon footprint by generating clean, reliable electricity for the campus. In an effort to minimize transportation- and parking-related impacts during this improvement project, TAPS will be working diligently to offer alternative options, especially for R permit holders. Projects of this magnitude require campus-wide collaboration and we are confident in our ability as Slugs to work together throughout the installation period, especially considering what we will all gain at the completion of the project.  

The work will be conducted in phases, each requiring closures of various amounts of parking spaces. Throughout the Spring Quarter, we anticipate approximately upwards of one-third of the parking in East Remote will be unavailable at any given time, and throughout the Summer Quarter approximately half of East Remote will be unavailable.  However, no construction will take place during Commencement and Move-In weekends in order to optimize East Remote during those events.

In addition, our campus will welcome hundreds of prospective students during the annual Spring Tours in April, which will further impact on-campus parking during that month.

Signs will be posted prior to, and during, each closure in specifically affected areas in the East Remote lot.  Special “Slugs Go Solar” messaging will be posted in shuttle buses and at shuttle stops to further increase awareness. Follow TAPS on Twitter for the most up to date information on this project and any related traffic updates.  Finally, the TAPS website will soon incorporate a special section where updated project status and other helpful information will be provided.

To proactively mitigate potential impacts, the following measures have already been undertaken:

• Approximately 200 Remote spaces were added just north of the East Remote lot, within Overflow 5.
• TAPS has expanded our daily parking lot surveys to identify additional parking efficiencies and availability.
• In anticipation of this project, TAPS reduced the available quantity of Academic and Annual R permits prior to Fall Quarter, 2018.

*** TAPS will be offering the following special options to current Annual, Academic or Quarterly R permit holders for Spring Quarter (Please note - Quarterly R permit holders who received their permit via an appeal must successfully renew their appeal before becoming eligible).

• Shared C Permits:  Effective immediately, current R permit holders may return, for a refund, their R permits and purchase a shared C permit.  Groups of 2-4 may qualify for this exchange for Spring Quarter. This offer is limited to the first 20 groups only. If interested, your group must visit the TAPS Sales Office together during business hours with your R permits and ID.
• Complimentary Zipcar Membership and Monthly Driving Credit:  Beginning March 4, students who are current R permit holders may return, for a refund, their R permits and receive a complimentary Zipcar Membership and $25 driving credit per month during the Spring Quarter. Memberships are limited, so if you’re interested, please email TAPS for more details.
• ...additional special options may be coming soon, so stay tuned!

TAPS always encourages the use of alternate transportation methods to avoid parking-related delays. This is the perfect time to take advantage of these great resources:

• Bikes: Click here for UCSC Bike Program services / safety information and click here for Santa Cruz JUMP bike information
• Vanpooling or Ridesharing: Click here for information about other UCSC Commute Options, including our Vanpool, Carpool and more.
• Santa Cruz Metro

We look forward to being a part of this campus-wide effort to bring efficient and positive solar energy to UCSC. We encourage the campus community to adjust commuting and / or parking routines in support of this exciting sustainability project. Your contribution to this goal will be an everyday effort and we appreciate and acknowledge your commitment to keeping UCSC one of the top sustainable campuses in the country. Thank you for your patience and cooperation, and please let us know if you require additional information.  

By: Dan Henderson, Interim Director of Transportation and Parking Services