February 2017: Classes, Trainings, and Community

Climate Change and Carbon Survey

Conifr is a team of students in Santa Cruz and Brisbane working together to develop an app that tracks individual carbon emissions from transportation. Their idea won them first place at Startup Weekend Santa Cruz in November. Their goal is to facilitate tracking of CO2 emissions and offer transparent ways to offset, or counteract, those emissions. Please fill out this survey so that they can better understand their market and know how to make the app as useful to you as possible! You can use this survey link or use the QR code above.

SEC Blueprint Breakouts throughout Winter Quarter: February 1, 8, 15
You're invited to the Student Environmental Center's (SEC) annual creation of the Blueprint for a Sustainable Campus! Connect with students, staff, and faculty and share ideas on campus sustainability. Free vegetarian dinner will be provided each week. The events are on Wednesdays 5:30-7:30 PM. The dates and themes for each event are as follows: February 1: Waste Prevention and Land, Habitat & Watershed at Rachel Carson College Red Room. February 8: Green Building & Social and Environmental Justice at the Colleges 9&10 Namaste Lounge. February 15: Water & Green Purchasing at Rachel Carson College Red Room. For questions, please email seclead-group@ucsc.edu.

Zero Waste Campus Cleanups: February 4 & 26
The Sustainability Office's Zero Waste Team is hosting campus cleanups that are open for all to attend. Snacks and supplies are provided! The cleanups are happenings from 11 AM to 12 PM. Oakes & Rachel Carson Colleges' cleanup is on February 4, and Cowell & Stevenson Colleges' cleanup is on February 26. Each cleanup will meet in front of the respective dining halls. For questions or DRC accommodations, please email the Zero Waste Team at zerowasteucsc@gmail.com.

Labor Mobility & Precarity on a Global Scale Symposium: February 7
You are invited to attend this symposium on how global labor mobility and rising precarity affect and connect the experiences of citizens and non-citizens. Precarity, the experience of insecurity and constant risk of exclusion, is central to the experience of many labor migrants and citizen-workers in our time. Today’s labor migrants are new denizens—residents or inhabitants who are not quite full members of society. They are incorporated into societies that desire their labor, but reject their very presence. The event is on February 7, from 12-5:30 PM in the Stevenson Event Center. It is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to register before event.

Common Ground Center World Cafes: February 7 & 21
Kresge Common Ground Center is hosting World Cafes this Quarter at the Kresge Seminar Room 159. February 7th's discussion is called Arts and Activism and February 21st is on Media, News, and Influence. For more information, check out their website or Facebook page. Can’t wait to hear what actions emerge from these conversations!

Film Screening & Conversation with Ron Finley: February 8
Ron Finley is the renowned "guerrilla gardener of South Central L.A." and an advocate for urban gardens as a way to address poverty, alleviate food insecurity, and promote community cohesion. With the help of activists and community members, he was able to legalize curbside gardening in the city of L.A. for community use. Ron will give a short talk before the film, and participate in a Q&A session after the showing. The event is happening at 7 PM on Wednesday, February 8 at the Colleges 9&10 Multipurpose Room. Admission is free and seating may be limited. For information or accommodations, contact coco@ucsc.edu.

Democratizing the Green City Conference at UCSC: February 17-18
This conference examines a paradox: urban sustainability initiatives that are so vital in countering climate change can, through their improvements, contribute to driving up rents and driving out residents, and in the process, exacerbate sprawl, greenhouse gas emissions, and climate change itself. Our speakers examine this growing link between environmental improvement and social displacement and ask: How is it possible to break this link? What would it mean to include affordable housing and equity within sustainability efforts? And what are the consequences—socially and ecologically—if we don't? This conference is free and open to the public. Please register and find out more at their website.

Climate Science & Policy Conference - Changing Climate: Acting Now to Secure a Sustainable Future: February 24-25
The Divisions of Physical & Biological Sciences and Social Sciences are proud to announce the 4th Annual UC Santa Cruz Climate Science & Policy Conference. It will feature a keynote presentation by Veerbhadran Ramanathan on "Climate Change Morphing into an Existential Threat: Need for a New Approach," as well as panel discussions on Saturday covering a variety of topics. The closing panel Fred Keeley Lecture on Environmental Policy is titled, "Climate Change Science and Policy in a President Trump Administration." Learn more and register online here.

Campus Fun-Run with OPERS and Financial Aid on April 29 during Alumni Weekend
Fun run on campus in support of student scholarships! UCSC is hosting a challenging 5k on campus that covers all of our colleges and major nostalgic, picturesque areas on UC Santa Cruz. They’ll have water stations, photos stations, shuttle service just in case and lockers and refreshments at OPERS on the East Field. Register early for the family-friendly fun in the sun this Spring! Find out more at Alumni Weekend website.

Santa Cruz Fruit Tree Project: February 4
The Santa Cruz Fruit Tree Project, in collaboration with the City of Santa Cruz Parks Department, will be breaking ground on a community orchard, bringing dozens of volunteers to amend the soil and plant about 20 fruit trees. The event will be on Saturday, February 4th at Mike Fox Park, alongside the river levee by the Riverside Ave Bridge. Check out their website for more information.

UCSC Bioneers Conference, April 23-24

You are invited to attend the 2nd Annual UC Santa Cruz Bioneers Conference, a Bioneers Resilient Communities Network Event, on April 23-24 at Kresge College in Santa Cruz, California.

As you may already know, Bioneers is a national organization dedicated to social and environmental justice. They host an annual conference in Marin County that attracts more than 2000 scholars and activists.

The UCSC Bioneers Conference will take place in Kresge College at UCSC, and we expect 200 visitors each day to the event. In addition to tabling, inspiring workshops, delicious food, and dancing, the conference will feature 20-minute plenary presentations from visionary scholars, students, and regional community members.

UPDATE: The workshops and speakers have just been announced online here, and more details will be added in the coming weeks.

What is a Bioneer?
You are a change-maker, an innovator, a leader who is invested in creating a more just and sustainable world for the generations to come. You are inspired by the wisdom of nature’s design, you are motivated to make a difference in your community. You want to connect to others who are part of making the change. You are a Bioneer. Learn more about the National Bioneers organization at http://www.bioneers.org/.

Registration
UCSC Bioneers is free and open to the public. Register for your free ticket at http://tinyurl.com/registerucscbioneers16

Want to perform, sing, dance, or create an interactive art piece? 
Please fill out this form by April 8th.

Want to apply to table?
Please fill out this form by April 8th.

An agenda outlining the weekend is below. Please visit the UCSC Bioneers website and the Bioneers Facebook Page for updates and to spread the word about this conference.

Saturday, April 23rd:
9-10: Breakfast Social
10-11: Opening Plenary
11:00-11:15 - Break
11:15-12:45: Workshop
12:45-1:45: Lunch
2:00-3:30: Plenary
3:30-4:00: Break
4:00-5:30: Workshop
5:30-6:30: Dinner
7:00-9:30: Contra Dance! 

Sunday, April 24th:
9-10: Breakfast Social
10-11:30: 4 Workshops
11:30-11:45: Break
11:45-12:45: Plenary
12:45-1:45: Lunch
1:45-3:15: Workshop
3:30-4:20: Plenary
4:20-5: Ice Cream Social

Please email commonground[at]ucsc[dot]edu if you have any questions.

December 2015: Classes, Trainings and Community

Classes

Sustainability Minor
The minor will incorporate courses offered by College Eight and departments across campus, student-initiated classes through the Education for Sustainable Living Program, and an interdisciplinary capstone. The minor is open to ALL UCSC students. For more information, click here.

Winter Quarter Courses at Kresge

Kresge 64: Tools for World Changers
Wed 11:00am-1:40pm (2 units)
Develops life skills that support you and help you support others. Implement effective methods for personal productivity (managing your to-dos, calendar, and inbox), interpersonal communication, meeting facilitation, event hosting, collaboration, and regenerative community design.

Kresge 67: Transformative Justice Seminar
    Tu Th 9:30am-11:45am (2 units)
    Examines the principles and processes of restorative justice juxtaposed to current practices in the judicial and educational systems of contemporary society. Students study leading restorative justice practices and their implication for individual and community transformation. Click here to learn more about restorative justice at Kresge.

Spring Construction Classes at Cabrillo

If you are a UCSC student and are interested in enrolling in a Spring semester class 

in Cabrillo ’s Construction & Energy Management Program, please see the list of courses 

in the attachment, here. Then contact Ronnie Lipschutz (rlipsch [at] ucsc [dot] edu) for further information about enrolling and having your tuition paid by College Eight. The last day to register is January 24th.

Trainings

Higher Learning on Interior Lighting Webinar

Thu, Dec 10, 2015 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM PST

Come learn more about interior lighting, with a focus on troffers and how new technology can significantly reduce energy use in higher education spaces. Colleges and universities in the U.S. spend around $1.10 per square foot on electricity with lighting representing 31% of the energy usage. The presentation will cover Princeton University’s recent lighting and controls upgrades, the University Financing Foundation assistance to education and research organizations with planning, development, and financing of facilities and equipment at below-market costs, and an overview of the Interior Lighting Campaign. 

Community

Permaculture Film Series

Tuesdays 6:00-7:30pm 

During Winter Quarter: Jan 5 - Mar 8

Save the date! Common Ground Center is offering a permaculture film and discussion series during winter quarter. Stay tuned for a list of films in their next newsletter. The series is free & open to the public, and students enrolled in Kresge-161: Permaculture & Whole Systems Design are encouraged to attend the series to see examples of thriving, resilient and sustainable communities worldwide. 

The World Cafe: Food, Tea, Conversations that matter

Mondays 5-7pm in the Kresge Seminar Room 159.

The World Cafe is a weekly potluck of both food and ideas. It aims to bring a diversity of people together to explore whatever topics matter to them. Each night is focused on a different theme, often proposed by a student club or passionate individual wanting to develop their conversational leadership. Savor the inquiry as you savor the food and tea, connect deeply with one another, form friendships, move projects forward, and create actionable knowledge. The World Cafe is a process used around the globe to surface the collective intelligence of groups of all sizes.

Produce Stand in the Quarry Plaza
CASFS has just ended its apprenticeship program and farm stand for the year, but there is still a chance for to get fresh produce on campus! Currently, students from the Food Systems Working Group (FSWG) and the Global Food Initiative (GFI) are hosting a produce stand on Wednesdays from 2:30-5 in the Quarry Plaza! Come by to get fresh leafy greens from our on-campus farm and fresh fruit from our local farmers market! We look forward to seeing you there! If you would like more information please contact abillys [at] ucsc [dot] edu or ucscfswg [at] gmail [dot] com

Divestment Student Network People Of Color Caucus

The People of Color (POC) Caucus is a place for organizers of color in the divestment movement to meet, collaborate on shared projects, and support each other to build the Climate Justice movement the world needs. Check their Purpose, Principles and how to get involved here. Divestors of color who are interested in learning more, fill out this quick membership form to be shared on their listserve, membership contact page, and facebook group.

May 2015: Classes, Community and Training

The Homeslice CSA: Registration Now Open
The Pie Ranch in Pescadero is expanding their Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) to include Santa Cruz and Davenport. As a CSA member, you will receive a weekly delivery of organically grown produce. You can either sign up for half a season for $312 or a full season for $600. The boxes come with vegetables, leafy greens, herbs, wheat flour or berries, dry beans, seasonal fruit and eggs available on request. Register to be a CSA here.

2nd Annual Transportation Festival: May 8
The Student Environmental Center's Transportation Campaign is hosting the 2nd Annual Transportation Festival on May 8th from 1 to 4 P.M. at the College Eight Upper Lawn. There will be activities, an open mic, a panel, and a drawing at this event! This is a great opportunity for students to learn more about sustainable transportation on and off campus.

PICA Garden Workdays: All Spring Quarter
Every Saturday from 10 A.M. - 2 P.M. the Program in Community and Agroecology (PICA) hosts garden workdays. Free vegetarian lunch will be served. Meet in the A-quad of the village.

Student Garden Market Cart: May 11
The next Student Garden Market Cart will be held Friday, May 15 from 12-1:30 P.M. in front of Science & Engineering library. PICA and other campus gardens will be handing out free produce from their gardens.

IDEASS at the Crepe Place
Three IDEASS teams—rainwater catchment, graphene synthesis, and the use of graphene filters for desalination—will be participating in the WISE meeting for Science On Tap, which happens monthly at the Crepe Place. Stop by on May 27th to hear their presentations and learn about the future of green technology! Check out the event page here.

Want to Live at PICA next year?
At the Program in Community and Agroecology, students grow organic food, share in community meals and learn sustainable living skills. Through PICA, students from a variety of majors have the opportunity to study agroecology and apply their knowledge to everyday activities within their community. If you are interested in a sustainability-themed housing for the 2015-2016 school year, sign up for the Village and mark "strongly prefer" for involvement in PICA.

Upcoming Common Ground Events
The mission of the Kresge Common Ground Center is to create cultural change for social justice, environmental regeneration, and economic viability. They act as a catalyst and facilitator of systemic change through undergraduate action-education, research, advocacy, and civic engagement. Common Ground is hosting a speaker series this quarter through their Collaborative Learning class and other events this spring. To find out more about the events, click here.

5th Annual Intercambio this Feburary

by Adriana Murguia

                  After participating in Intercambio (Spanish for exchange) last spring in Veracruz, MX, I was really moved by the stories of many of the cooperative leaders and youth. I personally connected with all the individual stories because I grew up with immigrant parents and a migrant community many who were previously peasant farmers. While driving down from the community of Piedra Parada, our bus driver with his young family on board spoke about the one time he visited Monterrey, CA while he worked in the lettuce fields of the central coast. Many of the youth from Mexico spoke about having family in the U.S. and their fragmented relationships. Additionally, the youth from Nicaragua, shared with me their experience of being one of the first generation after the Sandinista revolution. For them, the revolution didn't follow up with all its promises, yet they are still revolutionaries at heart.

Intercambio 2014, Veracruz Mexico 

When I learned that Intercambio would be rotated to Santa Cruz, I was more than enthusiastic to be involved with the planning process because it would mean that I would get to see them again.  Intercambio is a platform to bring the voices of youth who are developing on the ground agricultural solutions by incorporating local knowledge, with agroecological training. Many of the youth hold ideals and visions of sustainability for their community and country that do not come across to larger decision making entities. For UCSC students interested in sustainability, learning from the youth network should bring to mind­ that the primary actors carrying out sustainable actions are always not called upon as decision makers. 

Intercambio Award Ceremony 

Intercambio Events for the Public: 

Join FoCAN as they welcome youth leaders from Mexico and Nicaragua to experience sustainable food systems in Santa Cruz! 

for more information email us at: focan [at] ucsc [dot] edu

December 2014: Classes, Training, and Community

Student Sustainability Advisors

Need another way to stay up to date with sustainability related information, news and events? The Student Sustainability Advisors are a resource to residential life staff in the colleges, as well as students, staff, and faculty who wish to learn more about sustainability at UCSC. They just got a new Facebook page--give the page a like to further connect with the sustainability community.

PICA Winter Garden Party: Saturday, December 6

Join PICA for the last garden workday of fall quarter! On Saturday, December 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., meet in the A-quad of the Village for a free garden grown lunch before Winter Break begins.

Second Harvest Food Drive

The UCSC Holiday Food Drive Team is dedicated to making a difference in our community by helping to provide healthy meals to our neighbors in need. In the holiday spirit of giving, the Second Harvest Food Drive has already begun to collect donations on campus. Every dollar donated provides four meals, and donations can be made here. Students can also donate meals or Flexi dollars at every Dining Hall. Every meal that is donated gives nine meals to people in our community. Canned food donations can also be made at Safeway on Mission Street and other areas around town. Please consider donating to those who would otherwise not have a meal this holiday season.

Free Docent-Led Arboretum Garden Tour: Saturday, December 6

Part of conservation is planting! In the past 50 years, the Arboretum has grown from a small field of Eucalyptus trees to 143 acres featuring plants from the World's Mediterranean climates and a large and growing collection of California Natives. These gardens support researchers from all over the world. Take a tour and come explore the world, learn about the collection and be inspired about the natural world! These gardens and plant material have supported research on native bees, swallows, genetic lineage of flowering plants, and helped conserve native succulents through-out California where they were once lost. For more information, visit the website.

Winter Quarter: Collaborative Learning for Sustainable Communities & Reclaiming the Commons
The second quarter in the Collaborative Learning course series focuses on intergenerational learning in service of building thriving, just, and sustainable communities locally and globally. The class will discuss Sustainable Communities, Ecovillages and Reclaiming the Commons through guest lectures, intergenerational dialogue, and engagement with long-term projects. Enrollment is now open! To learn more, please contact instructor Christine King at chlking [at] ucsc [dot] edu.

Winter Quarter: Transformative Action
Do you want to learn more about yourself and how you can engage -- in a positive way -- with the world around you? Are you looking for a different type of experiential course? Transformative Action focuses on key skills for effective transformation agents including: creativity and innovation; transformative communication; servant leadership; optimism and resilience, risk taking, initiative; luck; failure; and relationship building. Students create their own portfolio and commit to weekly civic engagement projects. Enrollment is now open!

Agroecology, A Global Movement: Tracing Our Roots and Looking Forward

The 16th Annual Agroecology Shortcourse will explore the roots of agroecology as a global movement as well as a science and a practice from July 12-25, 2015. Santa Cruz offers the ideal context to examine historical and current issues of social and environmental equity and sustainability that agroecology movements confront all over the world. The course aims to introduce agroecology and strategically connect the diverse and powerful agroecology experiences and movements active worldwide and create a collective overarching view of the current global situation. The course will end with a vision of how to better facilitate cross-fertilization across agroecology movements and overcome obstacles to convergence. For more information, contact can.shortcourse [at] gmail [dot] com or visit the website.

Free Phenology Workshop - Nature's Calendar: December 13
Juliet Oshiro, UC Santa Cruz Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Ecology and Evolution, is hosting workshops designed to introduce participants to the science of phenology--the study of seasonal cycles of plants and animals--and how it's used to track the effects of climate change on diverse landscapes. If you want to help researchers gather data on climate change, come to this workshop and learn how to observe/collect data on native plants through the seasons for a national database that is used by researchers to study climate change. This is important research as it will teach us how plants behavior are impacted by climate change and will help inform future land management practices. For more information about phenology, visit the Arboretum website. This workshop will take place December 13 at 2 p.m. in Horticulture II. Event details here.

"Cultivating a Daily Revolution" Winter Course
Friends of Community Agroecology Network's "Cultivating a Daily Revolution" is a discussion-based class with internship opportunities, hands-on activities, and guest speakers. Winter quarter speakers include Andrew Szazs for "Grassroot Organizing" and Jeff Bury "Research in Indigenous Communities." The course is recommended for anyone interested in furthering their understanding of sustainable food systems and social movements. For more information, contact FoCAN [at] ucsc [dot] edu or visit the website.

Not Busy Enough? Learn with SDSN!

22 units and 3 organizations aren't enough for you? Consider taking FREE classes on Climate Change and Sustainable Development online. Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), is a free online education platform created to advance the field of sustainable development in all regions of the world. Questions? Email edu [at] unsdsn [dot] org or visit their website.

International University & College Campus Sustainability Listserv
Inspired by the Making Universities Sustainable Conference in Copenhagen 2014, this list is for the international university community to discuss sustainability issues and solutions. The aim is to provide a global network for sharing best practices in the field of sustainability and its application to university operations.

Maui Wowi: Food Systems, Agriculture, and Outdoor Adventure Spring Break Trip
Though this is fall quarter, registration is open (and will fill) for the annual experiential learning and food system engagement spring break trip. Join the Food Systems Working Group & Rec Department on Maui to explore traditional food and farming sites, explore different aspects of culture, and adventure into bamboo forests, ranch lands, and marine sanctuaries to explore the ecological aspects of the island. This trip will also include a 2 unit Environmental Studies internship in winter quarter to prepare the group for different concepts and frameworks of food system engagement they will explore in March. Sign up on the OPERS Recreation website this quarter to reserve your spot!

Fall 2015 Natural History Course: applications open Monday, December 1 

A new program launching in fall 2015 will immerse students from across the UC system in the outdoor classrooms of the UC Natural Reserve System. The NRS Field Quarter Program will give students opportunities to closely observe California habitats, practice hands-on field research, and gain a deeper understanding of the natural world. California Ecology and Conservation will be the only course students enroll in for the term, and it yields a full complement of quarter units. As they visit up to six of the 39 reserves in the NRS, students will master standard field techniques and get to know a broad range of California habitats, climate regimes, and species. The deadline is February 2, 2015 and instruction begins in the Fall. Visit the website for more information.

PICA Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop
PICA will be hosting a fruit tree pruning workshop with Orin Martin of the Alan Chadwick Garden sometime soon. The date hasn't been set yet, but if you're interested in learning more, please email PICA Outreach Coordinator Kelsey Jones at kemjones [at] ucsc [dot] edu for more information.

Higher Education Food Summit: Friday, January 16th – Sunday, January 18th

This gathering will invite student government and organization leadership, staff program coordinators and directors, faculty and administrators as well as community food agency leadership to UC Santa Barbara to strengthen partnerships and share best practices to inform action steps toward fostering access, equity, and justice for all. The three day summit will include workshops, speakers, and activities of all levels for individuals to engage with critical issues while building skills and relationships to implement change on college campuses and in the surrounding communities. For more information about the Summit, visit cafoodsummit.as.ucsb.edu or contact Crystal Owings at cowings [at[ ucsc [dot] edu.

PICA Garden Workdays - Saturdays

The Program in Community and Agroecology welcomes all UCSC students, staff and faculty to their Saturday Garden Workdays. You can learn how to grow your own food and enjoy fun and a fabulous garden fresh lunch. In the winter, the workdays will be Saturdays January 17, 24 and 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Meet in the A-quad of the Village. Come learn how to garden and share in a communal garden grown lunch!

Inaugural Kresge Collaborative Learning Course Offered Again this Winter

by Kristin Carlson, Provost's Sustainability Intern for Common Ground Center

This Fall Quarter, Kresge's Common Ground Center has been busy hosting visionary speakers and heart centered dialogue around cultivating a relationship with nature during this time of great turning. Our Collaborative Learning class, hosting 120 students plus community members, has been ripe with transformative ideas and authentic connections. 

Our class book Active Hope, by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone, shined the theme of "The Great Turning" which helped us examine our active role in how the future plays out. Anne Symens-Bucher and Adelaja Simon, who work closely with Joanna Macy, led one of our classes in the Work That Reconnects, a blue print for change by being in gratitude, honoring your pain, seeing with new eyes and going forth.

Later in the quarter we welcomed Jon Young, of the 8 Shields Culture Mentoring program, to speak about how to repair our culture through nature connection and the importance of the human/nature relationship that humans relied on and thrived within before our technological age of disconnection. We had many chances to head outside together, into the beautiful nature that UCSC is embedded in, and practice some of these nature connection techniques. Palika Benton, trained in the work of Bill Plotkin and The Animas Institute, sent us out on a nature walk, in search of a connection imbued in our DNA, but long forgotten by modern humans. 

In taking the 5-unit version of the course, there was the opportunity to participate in a Community Action Team (CAT), which allowed for the opportunity to get hands-on experience in a meaningful subject related to the course. Examples of Fall quarters' CATs were: Nature Mentoring for Children with the Riekes Center at the UCSC Arboretum; Sustainable Community and Conscious Living with the Kresge EcoVillage; Food & Water Watch Hub (Take Back the Tap, Anti-Fracking and Anti-GMO); Santa Cruz Sierra Club; The World Café, The Art of Hosting Conversations that Matter; Transition Towns with Transition Santa Cruz; People Power of Santa Cruz County; and World View Transformation through Meditation and Neuroscience.

As one example of opportunities available to students in the course, students from the UCSC Food & Water Watch Hub Community Action Team joined the Santa Cruz Sierra Club for a trip to Hollister, CA to canvas in support of Measure J, which bans fracking, cyclic steam injection, and acidizing in San Benito County. After a brief training at the Measure J headquarters, students set out for the neighborhoods with organizers from the campaign and an employee of the Food & Water Watch Organization. They spoke with community members, passed out information and lawn signs, and encouraged the community to protect their air, land, and quality of life by voting yes on Measure J. On November 4, the San Benito Community overwhelmingly voted in support of the ban on fracking.

One student shared: "This class has given me a hope that we have the power to change the world. I have started thinking that I really want to do something meaningful with my life. I learned that there are other individuals and organizations out there that I can connect with and make a difference."

All of these experiences, with the potential to be so profound and meaningful, are offered here, on our campus, at the Kresge Town Hall with the Common Ground Center. If you are called to add another layer of depth to your education at UCSC, we highly recommend that you join us for our next class in Winter and/or Spring quarters. 

Our theme for Winter Quarter is sustainable communities, with a focus on social justice, economic viability, and ecological sustainability. Spring will take us outside, hands in the dirt, as we learn to envision and create through the eyes of permaculture. 

Videos from class this Fall quarter are available on our YouTube page and our Common Ground Page; check it out to see an example of what is in store for next quarter! Our Collaborative Learning class time has changed for those of you who participated this fall. In Winter Quarter, it will be offered Tue/Thu 2:00 - 3:45 PM (tentatively), and it can be taken as a 2-unit course (Kresge-73) or a 5-unit course (Kresge-173).

Learn more about the course here.

We will be accepting 120 students each quarter, and in addition, are looking for 12-16 course assistants to help in leading the class. To apply as a course assistant or find out more information please email the Common Ground Center. We can also be found on Facebook and NING, for continued dialogue and community participation. We hope to see you all where our Common Ground meets.

April 2014: Internships, Employment, & Volunteering

Provost's Sustainability Internship - $1500 Scholarship!

Are you interested in working to make our campus operations, infrastructure, and physical environment more sustainable? The Provost's Sustainability Internship (PSI) program is a great way to get involved! We pair students with staff mentors to plan and implement a year-long campus sustainability project. Students receive internship credit for the fall, winter, and spring quarters and a $1500 scholarship upon completion of the program in spring quarter. Student applications are due by 5pm on April 25th.

Generation Waking Up Leadership Training
GenUp is holding a leadership training in Santa Cruz April 25 - 27 that will bring together a diverse group of young people from around the region who are committed to transforming our world at the intersection of environmental sustainability, social justice, and human thriving. If you're interested in attending, apply here before the deadline of April 15th. For more information about lodging, scholarships, and other event details check out their website here.

IDEASS Internship Opportunity
Do you have an idea for a sustainability project at UCSC or in Santa Cruz? IDEASS is a green-tech service learning program at UCSC that is accepting early bird applications for next fall! If you're curious about getting invaluable hands-on experience with sustainability next year, please fill out our application here. IDEASS can fulfill senior exit credit for some majors- including ENVS. Many alumni have been offered jobs that relate to their projects upon completion of the program and graduation. Students that apply earlier have the opportunity to be a part of the planning process for projects next year. For more info, see this link.

Practicing Agroecology and Social Awareness - 2 unit internship
Wouldn't you love to spend this spring quarter outside of the classroom? CAN is hosting a 2-unit internship through the Environmental Studies Department called Cultivating a Daily Revolution. The internship is for up to 10 students and includes a weekly interactive lecture series and service learning project. Participants will have the opportunity to network with various community partners, meet new people, share weekly meals, and gain experience working on hands on projects in agroecology, indigenous Knowledge, community activism, and sustainable living. To sign-up send an email to focan [at] canunite [dot] org and visit the ENVS Internship Website to find out more information about how to get credit. The deadline to sign up for Spring Quarter is April 16th. Or if you cannot commit, anyone is welcome to attend the class.

PowerSave Spring Internships
Every quarter the PowerSave UCSC team looks to hire new four-credit interns! These interns will be given two units of credit through the ENVS Internship Office and will work closely with their project coordinator and the rest of the team to accomplish one (or more) energy-saving project(s) that will make a difference on our campus. Along with working on their projects, interns will also be able to represent the PowerSave team at the many awesome campus sustainability events that occur in Spring at UCSC. To apply, send your resume to the PowerSave Team at powersave [at] googlegroups [dot] com.

Common Ground Center Spring Internship
Interested in an Internship with Common Ground Center? We are currently looking for new 2-unit interns to help support the media team (newsletter, posters/flyers, and videography) for spring. Please fill out the application as soon as possible to be considered. Applications accepted until position filled. Apply here!

Naturalist Internship 2013-14
Create a rich and rewarding experience for sixth graders during their week of outdoor education. Foster a greater connection to nature for all students. Develop and teach hands-on science curriculum in a fun, engaging way. Sing, dance and laugh with students during evening activities. Play, learn and live with our community of dedicated and passionate naturalists and staff. If you would like to learn more about the program, send UCSC Alumni Darya Soofi, a current FHOS intern, an email at dsoofi74 [at] gmail [dot] com.

Volunteer for Sea Slugs!
Sea Slugs are a UCSC student-based organization built around environmental activism and community evolvement. We have ties with many local organizations including the Save the Waves Coalition and the Surfrider Foundation. All those interested in environmental stewardship can attend our April 10th meeting. For information about the April meeting, stewardship opportunities, or any other oceanic shenanigans, contact seaslug.ucsc [at] gmail [dot] com or visit our website.

Sierra Club's Search for Next Generation Leaders
Sierra Club is looking for the next generation of environmental leaders! Today, more young organizers than ever are running savvy campaigns and changing policies at the local, state and national level. This summer, hundreds will take part in our award-winning grassroots leadership training program to learn the skills they need to launch campaigns. These five week long trainings are run by, and for, young movement leaders. Does this sound like someone you know? Nominate a young leader to gain the skills and confidence they need to launch and win real campaigns for sustainability, climate, and justice.

April 2014: Classes, Training, & Community

World Cafe: Changing UCSC's Water Inputs & Outputs
Concerned about water consumption? Interested in collective action? Take Back the Tap invites you to a World Cafe conversation about the next steps in changing UCSC's water inputs and outputs. Please join us Monday, April 7th from 5-7 PM in the Kresge Seminar Room. Pu-erh tea and meaningful discussion will be provided!

Practicing Agroecology and Social Awareness - 2 unit internship
Wouldn't you love to spend this spring quarter outside of the classroom? CAN is hosting a 2-unit internship again through the Environmental Studies Department called Cultivating a Daily Revolution. The internship is for up to 10 students and includes a weekly interactive lecture series and service learning project. Participants will have the opportunity to network with various community partners, meet new people, share weekly meals, and experience hands on projects in agroecology, indigenous knowledge, community activism, and sustainable living. To sign-up send an email to focan [at] canunite [dot] org and visit the ENVS Internship Website to find out more information about how to get credit. Deadline to sign up for Spring Quarter is April 16th.  Or if you cannot commit, anyone is welcome to attend the class.

Waste Not: Consumption and Waste at UCSC with Annie Leonard

On the morning of Wednesday, February 12, the Permaculture and Whole Systems Design class in Kresge College welcomed Annie Leonard, the creator of The Story of Stuff, to campus for a lively class period, including tales from her travels to waste sites around the world, information about impactful environmental work being done to solve waste issues, and some inspiring advice to students on making change. Students engaged in asking questions and discussion and left feeling entertained, informed, and inspired.

That afternoon, Annie Leonard and students, faculty, and staff attended a zero waste luncheon hosted by the Program in Community & Agroecology. There, they filled themselves with delicious homegrown and homemade spring rolls and salads as they casually conversed about various topics such as composting and renewable energy.

That evening, Annie's Story of Stuff video was shown, and following this, Annie Leonard spoke with panelists from the UCSC sustainability community about the "stuff" that enters and leaves our campus and how we can be more conscious about consumption and waste. Panelists included Ben Crow (Sociology Professor), Kathryn Cunningham (a Buyer with Procurement Services), Brad Angell (Planned Maintenance Coordinator with Physical Plant), and Gabi Kirk (Alumna, Environmental Studies 2012, Former student sustainability organizer).

More than 120 people attended this discussion and gained insight on global inequality, sustainable procurement, and grounds services. Attendees were encouraged to ask questions and get involved with an interactive Q&A.

At the end of the day, there was a reception and book signing, where people socialized and connected over appetizing hors d'oeuvres.

Thank you to all who came to the event. And thank you to the UCSC Sustainability Office, Common Ground Center, Education for Sustainable Living Program, and the Student Environmental Center for hosting this event!

March 2014: Classes, Training, and Community

Earth Summit 2014
Earth Summit is an opportunity for students, staff, faculty, and the community to unite over passion for environmental sustainability, social justice, education and food. Join us to engage in learning and get involved! This event will feature inspiring keynote speakers, educational workshops, interactive tabling, delicious local food and spoken word entertainment! Earth Summit will be on March 6th, from 10am-4pm in the College 9/10 Multipurpose Room.

Education for Sustainable Living Program Seeks Interns
ESLP is looking for 2 and 5 unit Interns for next quarter! They need: 

• General interns to help with the organizing process of producing a successful student led class and lecture series
• Food Sourcing Interns who are responsible for the sustainable shopping and cooking of meals for our honored guest speakers next quarter
• Media Interns to take part in filming and editing a creative ESLP informational video.

Email eslp [at] ucsc [dot] edu if you are interested in setting up an interview or have any questions.

People Power Bike Commuting Workshops Every 3rd Monday
People Power of Santa Cruz County is partnering with two interns from the UC Santa Cruz Impact Designs: Engineering and Sustainability through Student Service (IDEASS) program to create and host bicycle commuting workshops throughout Santa Cruz County. They seek ten local businesses that would like to provide lunchtime workshops to their employees, available between March and July of 2014. There will also be free community workshops offered monthly, starting March 17th from 6-7 PM at the People Power office, 703 Pacific Avenue in Santa Cruz. The workshops will include rules of the road, basic skills and maintenance and how to choose the best route. To learn more, click here.

Sustainable Transportation Lectures & Activities Every Friday

People Power: Engaging Sustainable Transportation Solutions meets every Friday from 8 - 10:40 AM in the Kresge Seminar Room. This 2-unit course is being co-taught by two undergrad students and is open to all, even if you aren't enrolled or can only attend one meeting. Each week features a different theme, ranging from the local community to bicycles to walking to feminism & social justice to public transportation, and much more! Speakers are lined up throughout the quarter, including Mark Lakeman of the City Repair Project, a representative from Tesla Motors, TAPS Director, a representative from the Regional Transportation Commission, and many more! The class blog can be found here, and the syllabus with week-by-week details and speaker information is available for viewing here. For more information email Melissa Ott at mott [at] ucsc [dot] edu.

U.S.-Denmark Summer Workshop on Renewable Energy

The four-week workshop takes place annually, in California and Denmark, with the 2014 edition in California. It starts with one week of online preparation and continues with three weeks of lectures, seminars and field trips in California. Participants will learn about the economics, politics, science, and technology behind renewable energy implementation from leading experts, while exploring communities and relevant energy sites where such technology is in place or currently being implemented. The faculty is composed of U.S. and Danish professors, as well as, external professionals and researchers with proven experience in their field. Students will work on team-based projects related to renewable energy solutions to specific problems. The interdisciplinary approach and holistic perspective allows students with various academic backgrounds to interact and develop concrete final project ideas, while targeting today’s energy problems from different angles. For more information click here.

IDEASS Student Project Presentations at New Tech MeetUp: March 5

Do you want to work in the green economy? Don't miss the Impact Designs: Engineering and Sustainability through Student Service (IDEASS) presentations at the New Tech MeetUp downtown at 6 PM on Wednesday, March 5. Come support your fellow slugs and take advantage of this amazing networking opportunity and connect with some of the leading entrepreneurs of CA. A lot of top talent from Silicon Valley attend these events and are looking to support creativity on this side of the hill. Make sure to be on time to get a spot! More information about new Tech MeetUp is here.

CAN Announces the XV International Agroecology Shortcourse Nicaragua

The Community Agroecology Network (CAN) and the Social Development Organization of Nicaragua (ASDENIC), along with an interdisciplinary coordinating committee, announce the XV International Agroecology Shortcourse, which will be held in the Parque de las Ciencias Estelimar, located near the city of Estelí in the north of Nicaragua from July 6-18, 2014. The main topic of the course is Agroecology and Social Transformation: transdisciplinarity, health, and human development. Applications are due April 15, 2014. See the announcement and event poster for full information.

Seymour Center Behind-the-Scenes Tours

Learn more about exciting marine research behind the scenes and experience the spectacular surroundings of the Seymour Center at one of the tours offered each week, including Marine Mammal Research Tours, Younger Lagoon Reserve Tours, and Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf Tours. For details, please visit the website.

TAPS seeks to connect with Electric Vehicle (EV) drivers

Interested in learning more about electric vehicle charging developments planned for UCSC? Want to know of potential electrical shutdowns at Core West? Transportation and Parking Services is wanting to be in better touch with our electric vehicle user community at UCSC – please send an email to Teresa at tabuika [at] ucsc [dot] edu to be added to the list of current electric vehicle users. Learn more about UCSC's current EV accomodations on the TAPS website.

Garden Workdays with the Program in Community and Agroecology (PICA)

Join PICA to help with planting veggies, digging garden beds, building compost, and sowing seeds! A free garden grown lunch will be served. Meet in A-Quad in The Village every Saturday from 10 AM to 2 PM (Winter Quarter: January 18th to March 8th). For more info check out: ucscpica.org

December 2013: Internships, Employment, & Volunteering

Winter Quarter Internships with the Common Ground Center
The Common Ground Center is currently seeking 2- and 5-unit interns for winter quarter! They are seeking students with skills and/or interest in videography, social media, newsletter and press release writing, and event planning and hosting support. If you are interested in getting involved with the Center in any of these or in other ways, please email them at commonground [at] ucsc [dot] edu. The Center also has a number of courses that provide internship opportunities as part of the class (read more about classes here).

Opportunity for Students Interested in Sustainable Transportation
The Student Environmental Center's Transportation Campaign is seeking a coordinator and 2- or 5- unit interns for winter and spring quarters. The Campaign promotes sustainable transportation at UCSC, including walking, biking, busing, etc. They collaborate with the Bike Library to rent bikes to students each quarter, manage the "Rock the Bike" bike generators, and the possibility of future projects is as expansive as your imagination can explore! For more information, please contact Melissa Ott at mott [at] ucsc [dot] edu or visit the website.

Stevenson Garden Internships
Do you have a passion for gardening and farming? Are you looking for a hands-on rewarding internship? Stevenson Garden is accepting applications for prospective interns for next quarter. For details about the internships offered, please email bredding [at] ucsc [dot] edu.


Arboretum Volunteer Gardening Opportunities
Have an interest in gardening, but don't have time for a gardening internship? The Arboretum has volunteer gardening hours throughout the week. Visit their website for details.

Green Labs Certification Program Seeks New Labs
In the coming weeks, the Green Labs program is outreaching to laboratories on campus that may be interested in becoming a certified Green Lab. The Green Labs committee is asking any representatives from labs that would like to learn more about the certification process to contact them at greenlabs [at] ucsc [dot] edu. The certification process has become more efficient and is a highly rewarding undertaking for laboratories interested in being recognized for their commitment to sustainability. Learn more about the program here.

Environmental Studies Internship Office
Internships are a great way to dip your toes in the water of a field that interests you. Apply beginning winter quarter for internships with the Environmental Studies Internships Office. Email the office at ckrohn [at] ucsc [dot] edu to find an internship that's right for you! Any majors are welcome to get an Environmental Studies Internship. They placed students in more than 400 internships this past year, so there is probably one waiting for you!

Implement Student-Led Sustainable Projects with IDEASS
Do you want professional experience or an opportunity to fulfill senior exit credit through an innovative sustainable design project? Impact Designs: Engineering and Sustainability through Student Service (IDEASS) is looking for a few more passionate and hardworking student leaders to join project teams that are already working to implement projects related to waste reduction, water systems, renewable energy, life cycle analysis, urban planning and more!  Winter admissions to IDEASS requires a winter - spring (2 quarter) commitment. Students can expect to work in interdisciplinary teams with a professional mentor. For more information, or to apply email ideass [at] ucsc [dot] edu and check out the IDEASS website.

Recycling Specialist Position in Livermore, CA
The City of Livermore, California, is seeking a full-time Recycling Specialist who can assist in the development, monitoring, and implementation of the City’s recycling and waste diversion program; research, gather, and interpret data; conduct program outreach; perform inter-disciplinary policy related research; prepare written and verbal reports; represent the City to citizens’ advisory committees or governmental agencies; and more! Learn more and apply online here.

Gaia Environmental Magazine Looking for Interns and Volunteers
Interested in putting together UCSC's environmentally focused magazine next year? The UCSC Environmental Media Project (EMP) offers many quarterly internship and volunteer opportunities. Volunteers help with fundraising, outreach, and the creation of Gaia magazine. Interns take on positions like photographer, editor, and graphic designer for 2 units. For more information about applying, email the team at environmentalmediaproject [at] gmail [dot] com and check out their Facebook page and website.

Volunteer with Take Back the Tap
Water is the life-source and scarcity is our reality. Take Back the Tap (TBtT) is an educational campaign with the goal of removing all single use plastic water bottles from UCSC as a way to combat the commodification of water! Like their Facebook page and learn how you can get involved by emailing takebackthetapucsc [at] gmail [dot] com.

Bike Smart! Youth Bicycle Safety Program Volunteering Opportunity
Bike Smart! encourages youth to bicycle for fun, transportation and health through hands-on bicycle education at local schools. Bike Smart’s bicycle skills "rodeos" (obstacle courses) inspire and empower kids to hop on a bike and leave mom and dad's car at home. Youth of all ages learn essential bicycling knowledge and skills, such as helmet fit, traffic laws, being visible and riding predictably. If you're interested in volunteering with this program for the quarter, please contact Elise at eehrheart [at] ecoact [dot] org.

Apply to Volunteer with Sprout Up
Sprout Up is a non-profit program that looks for undergraduate volunteers to help bring lessons of environmental science and sustainability to local elementary school classrooms. They are college student founded and operated non-profit that is always seeking new instructors. For more information about potential volunteering opportunities with them check out their website.

Internships with WaterLab Research Facility
The WaterLab Research Facility studies wastewater recycling and how to use recycled water to conserve unused water reserves. Though still in progress of becoming a full-fledged research facility, internship opportunities exist and will be expanding as the facility grows. UCSC students can learn more about WaterLab and internships by contacting Eli Weintraub at etweintr [at] ucsc [dot] edu and via the Center for Integrated Water Research website.

Participate in a Field Study with California State University Monterey Bay Wildlands Program
The Wildlands Studies Program offers a series of environmental and cultural ecology field studies this winter/spring. You can choose among six wildlife, wildland and cultural ecology field studies searching for solutions to environmental and cultural challenges. Each program grants 12 upper division transferable units credit. Field studies take place in wildland locations throughout Hawaii, Peru, Thailand, Chile, New Zealand and Costa Rica. All of their programs are described at their website, or their catalog can be sent in the mail. If you have questions about any of their programs, please feel free to email them at wildlands [at] wildlandsstudies [dot] com.

Find or Upload Projects to Sustainability Project Clearinghouse
Interested in getting involved in a campus sustainability project, but don't know how? Are you looking for partners for your current project? Have you completed a project that you would like others to learn from? Visit the Sustainability Project Clearinghouse, a centralized database of UCSC sustainability projects, today! You can view published projects or upload your own projects and ideas. For training on how to upload a project, please contact Shauna Casey at scasey [at] ucsc [dot] edu.