March 2017 Sustainability Profile: Angela Duong

Name:
Angela Duong

Title:
Zero Waste Team Coordinator

College Affiliation:
Crown

Major:
Environmental Studies with a double minor in Legal and Sustainability Studies

What does "sustainability" mean to you?
Sustainability means the world to me! Although there are official definitions for sustainability, I believe sustainability has many definitions. It can mean using a reusable water bottle or saving plastic containers for knick knack storage and snacks. Sustainability is a diverse term that can span across different spectrums of of culture, perspective and daily actions. By committing myself to sustainability, I have learned so much about reducing, reusing, refusing and conserving my actions and choices to more limited and sustainable choices. I believe sustainability can be more than economic choices; it can be simple behavioral changes or understanding the impact of our choices on the environment!

What projects are you working on?
Currently, I am working on creating more awareness for zero waste on our campus. As the Zero Waste Team Coordinator, I manage a team of five dedicated individuals towards the “Zero Waste by 2020” goal. I work with campus stakeholders to effectively communicate our commitment towards zero waste by supporting Zero Waste Events on and off campus, coordinating with student organizations or staff/faculty about making their organizations and departments more zero waste and creating material for the campus on becoming more zero waste. I would consider myself to be a great student resource for zero waste and am always willing to chat or answer any questions related to waste.

How does sustainability relate to your role at UCSC?
Sustainability relates to my role at UC Santa Cruz in my day to day life. I made the decision to major in Environmental Studies with a double minor in Legal and Sustainability Studies due to my passion for environmental policy and its importance in setting the stage for environmental regulations and legislations in our political world. My greater passion is within waste management and resource reclaim. I believe more focus needs to be on the where and how derived materials are extracted for the products we use rather than the eventual recyclability. 

How do you practice sustainability in your daily life?
I always carry around my love for reusables! My backpack holds my reusable water bottle, reusable coffee cup and sleeve, reusable cloth napkin, a glass straw, my spoon fork knife, reusable sandwich bags and tupperware for snacks. I am conscious of my economic choices and what I consume.  

Have you had a favorite sustainability moment at UCSC?
Inter-org is the best time ever. Inter-org is a place where sustainabilities are made! I love Inter-org because I met my best friends there and I have never been to a retreat where I had opened my perspectives so much than Inter-org!

Favorite Green Tip?
BYOE- Bring your own everything!

Each month, our newsletter features a person or group on campus that is working toward a more sustainable world. If you know of a person or group on campus that you think we should profile, or if you would like to be profiled, please send us an email.

February 2017: Internships, Employment, and Volunteering

Internships:

Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program: Deadline February 12
The Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program (2-year program, UCSC) is launching recruitment for its 2017 class of Scholars. Their goal is to recruit 20 freshman/sophomore students from underrepresented groups across disciplines with the highest potential to make sustained contributions as conservation innovators and leaders. The scholarship covers all program expenses and provides each Scholar with a $4000 stipend during each of their two summers. For more information, or to apply, please visit the Doris Duke scholarship's website. For questions, email Justin Cummings at jacummin[at]ucsc[dot]edu. The deadline to apply is February 12, 2017.

Chancellor's Undergraduate Internship Program: Deadline February 16 at 5:00pm
The Chancellor's Undergraduate Internship Program (CUIP) provides students with on-campus internships in programs and departments throughout the campus. Interns work with a mentor to develop personal and professional skills, and take a leading role in producing project in their internship. Enrollment in a two-unit leadership seminar class is required for fall, winter and spring quarters. A scholarship of $8,200 is paid towards the intern's registration fees for the academic year.  Application must include at least two letters of recommendation. Visit the CUIP webpage for full details or to apply.

UC Student Regent & UC Student Advisor to the Regents: Deadline February 26
The Board of Regents are looking for two students to represent UCSC. The Student Regent is a full voting member of the Board of Regents and attends all meetings of the Board and its Committees during their one-year term commencing July 1, 2018. The Student Advisor the the Regents is an experimental, non-voting position that advises the Regents on student issues. View the application for full details.

American Indian Resource Center Intern: Deadline June 16
The American Indian Resource Center is dedicated to supporting the needs of American Indian students and increasing Native visibility on campus by advocating students centered programs, cultural events, and tools for academic success. AIRC student interns gain leadership, facilitation, event planning, research, and project management skills as well as the opportunity to learn more about American Indian culture, history, and current issues.  10 hour-per-week commitment.  For more info, please contact AIRC Director Rebecca Rosser at rrosser[at]ucsc[dot]edu.

University of New Hampshire Sustainability Project Fellowships: Deadline February 17 
The University of New Hampshire is offering multiple paid, sustainability-related summer projects.  Projects range from monitoring sustainability metrics to mapping sea level rise.  All details can be found at UNH's website.  For questions, email Megan Carney at megan[dot]carney[at]unh[dot]edu.

Employment:

UCSC Sustainability Office Office Manager & Events Coordinator: Deadline February 5
Have strong opinions about the quality of this newsletter? Wish you were the editor? You can be!  The UCSC Sustainability Office is looking for an Office Manager and Events Coordinator (one position). Responsibilities include event planning, maintaining the office, and supervising student staff. Qualified applicants should have a thorough knowledge of sustainability issues and UC Santa Cruz' institutional structures. Applicants should also be highly skilled in leadership and communication. For full details, or to apply, visit the UCSC jobs site (#1706942).

Program in Community Agroecology Events Coordinator: Open Until Filled
The Program in Community Agroecology is seeking an events coordinator. Responsibilities include event planning, logistical support, collaborating with campus organizations, record keeping, grant writing, and updating the PICA website. For more information, email PICA at pica[at]ucsc[dot]edu.  Visit the UCSC ERS site to apply.

Ecology Action Hiring Bike and Walk Youth Educator / Program Assistant
Ecology Action (based in Santa Cruz, CA) is seeking either one full time or two part-time Bike and Walk Youth Educator / Program Assistants. The position(s) will help build community, empower kids, improve their health and tackle climate change by training and encouraging youth to walk and bike safely to school. With primary delivery in Watsonville and Salinas, they would love to find a bilingual/bicultural staff person(s) from those communities to join their team and someone with teaching experience. For more information and to apply, visit their website.

UC Davis Student Farm is seeking a new director: Deadline February 21
The Student Farm at UC Davis (SF) is seeking a new director to lead the continued development of the SF as a learning community where students from many disciplines work to create, maintain and explore sustainable food systems on a 20+ acre farm. A key component of the Agricultural Sustainability Institute (ASI), the SF has served UC Davis students and faculty and the public with educational, research, and outreach opportunities focused on sustainable agriculture and food systems for 40 years. The SF Director provides intellectual, academic, and community leadership to the SF and has primary responsibility for overall vision and administration as well as the programs’ educational, research and public service functions. See a full job description and apply for the position on their website.

Bike San Luis Obispo County Executive Director: Open Until Filled
Bike SLO County, a bicycle advocacy group based out of San Luis Obispo, is looking to hire an Executive Director. Responsibilities of the Executive Director include implementing Bike SLO County's strategic plan, empowering staff, speaking with the media, and managing their budget. Qualified applicants should have a bachelor's degree (or commensurate education) management experience, strong communication and financial skills, and a passion for sustainable transportation! Full details avaliable on Bike SLO County's website. To apply, email a cover letter and resume to edsearch[at]bikeslocounty[dot]org. Please include “Executive Director – YOUR NAME” in the subject line.

Bioneers: Multiple Offerings: Open Until Filled
Bioneers is a nonprofit organization that serves as a hub of social and scientific innovators with practical and visionary solutions for the world's most pressing environmental and social challenges.  Their San Francisco offices are seeking an office manager, a communications director, and an Everywoman's Leadership program director. Visit the Bioneers jobs page for information. To apply, send a cover letter and curriculum vitae to careers[at]bioneers.org.

Sustainability Analyst at American University: Open Until Filled
Our sustainabilibuddies at American University's Office of Sustainability (Washington, D.C.) are seeking a Sustainability Analyst. The Sustainability Analyst parses sustainability-related data and ensures completion of  assessments and reports. Additionally, this position identifies opportunities for sustainability while benchmarking metrics related to sustainability in operations. A bachelor's degree in environmental studies, business, architecture, or a related area is required. Qualified applicants should advanced skills in communication, Microsoft Office, and sustainability-related metrics.  Full details avaliable on AU's job-posting site. One must create a login to apply.

San Francisco State University Energy Manager: Open Until Filled
San Francisco State University is looking to hire an energy manager. The energy manager promotes, supports, and provides strategic management oversight for San Francisco State's energy and utility systems. Qualified applicants should have through knowledge of energy systems and sustainability concerns, as well as a bachelor's degree in Engineering, Industrial Technology, Energy Management, or a utility, energy, or a sustainability-related field.  For full details and to apply, visit UCSF's online posting.

Fund for the Public Interest
Fund for the Public Interest is a national, non-profit organization that builds the people power for America’s leading environmental and social change organizations. They are hiring for a number of positions, including Canvass Director. Here in Santa Cruz the Fund is working with Environment California on our campaign to save the bees. The Fund advertises that one can make $450-$650 a week Canvassers are paid $10.50 per hour, with a bonus commission if one exceeds quota.  Full-time and part-time positions available, starting immediately. Visit the Fund's website for full details and to apply. For more information, email Hannah Furbush.

Volunteering:

UCSC Campus Clean-ups: February 4, 26
The Zero Waste Team invites you to their sister college cleanups this quarter! There will be two cleanups in February, the first at Rachel Carson/Oakes on Saturday, February 4th and the second at Cowell/Stevenson on Sunday, February 26th. For the first clean-up, meet at the RCC/Oakes Dining Hall at around 10:30am for a quick "trash talker" training about what items go into what streams. The cleanup will start at 11:00am and finish up at around 12:00pm to enjoy a snack, a raffle, and weigh the trash collected! View the Zero Waste Team's flyer for more information.

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Docent Training: February 4
The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary docent training program prepares volunteer docents to interpret the natural and cultural resources of the Sanctuary. A non-mandatory informational meeting will be held Feb 4 at 10:30 am at the Sanctuary Exploration Center, 35 Pacific Avenue. Visit the Sanctuary's website for more information or to apply.

Land Trust Santa Cruz County Antonelli Pond Clean-up: February 12
Join the volunteers at Land Trust of Santa Cruz County and UCSC restore native plants by removing invasive English Ivy!  The clean-up will start at 10:00am at the kiosk off of the West-end Delaware entrance.  Volunteers should bring closed-toed shoes, water, a lunch, and gardening gloves if they have them.  Volunteers must be 18 or have their guardian sign a liability waiver before attending.  Please RSVP through Land Trust's website.  For questions, email volunteer[at]landtrustsantacruz[dot]org.  If you live on campus and are in need of transportation, email gcalvare[at]ucsc.edu.

December 2016: Internships, Employment, & Volunteering

Internships:

Zero Waste Team: Deadline January 9
The Sustainability Office's Zero Waste Team is looking for two dedicated for-credit interns that are interested in gaining professional experience and are passionate about waste reduction on the UCSC campus.  The first position is the   UC Office of the President (UCOP) Zero Waste Outreach Intern who will assist in the planning and rollout of the UCOP Zero Waste Communications Campaign.  The second position is the Campus Clean Up Intern who will assist in the facilitation of College Campus Clean Ups and the 3rd Annual campus-wide Campus Clean Up.  Full details available on the flyer.  For questions, or to apply (brief cover letter and resume required) email Angela Duong at antrduon[at]ucsc[dot]edu.

Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program: Deadline February 12
The Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program (2-year program, UCSC) is launching recruitment for its 2017 class of Scholars. Their goal is to recruit 20 freshman/sophomore students from underrepresented groups across disciplines with the highest potential to make sustained contributions as conservation innovators and leaders.  The scholarship covers all program expenses and provides each Scholar with a $4000 stipend during each of their two summers.  For more information, or to apply, please visit the Doris Duke scholarship's website.  For questions, email Justin Cummings at jacummin[at]ucsc[dot]edu. The deadline to apply is February 12, 2017.

Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems
CASFS is offering on-campus, lower division farm and garden internships.  5-unit applicants are preferred, but 2-unit applicants may also be accepted.  At least 80% of internship will consist of outdoor fieldwork.  Internship applicants need to be prepared and enthused to work outdoors in occasionally uncomfortable weather conditions. Internships will remain available until positions are filled, and the quarter's enrollment period allows.  Read the internship flyer here.  Email Damien Parr at dmparr[at]ucsc[dot]edu to apply.

Employment:

Green Labs Team: Deadline January 20
The Sustainability Office's Green Labs Team is looking to hire an Associate.  The Green Labs Team seeks to improve energy efficiency, increase green purchasing, and promote waste reduction practices.  Responsibilities will include organizing and consolidating data / files in Google drive, photographing walk-throughs, and writing articles for the Sustainability Office Newsletter.  Qualified applicants should have experience working in a lab, excellent writing and organizational skills, and a command of Google Apps.  Full details available on the UCSC Employee Request site for ER8321.  Applications will be accepted through January 20, or until the position is filled.  For questions, or to apply (cover letter and resume required) email Waleed Salemi at wsalemi[at]ucsc[dot]edu and Sarina Sylavong at ssylavong[at]ucsc[dot]edu.

Community Environmental Council
The Community Environmental Council the northern division of a 4-county partnership spearheaded by the LA Cleantech Incubator.  LACI helps grow green businesses by offering office space, mentoring, and access to capital. This partnership is looking for a regional director who will build, connect and support the clean energy entrepreneur ecosystem throughout Santa Barbara, Ventura.  Qualified applicants should have experience in green energy business.  Complete information is available on LACI's website. Apply for the regional director position here.

Active Transportation Manager at University of Utah: Deadline December 16th
The University of Utah Sustainability Office is looking for an Active Transportation Manager to support and grow initiatives in sustainable transportation. Well-qualified candidates will have strong expertise in active transportation, community engagement, communications skills (both written and oral), and an interest in working across disciplines to improve mobility on campus and in the community. Full details can be found on University of Utah's posting.  The deadline to apply is December 16th, 2016.

Volunteering:

SunWork Renewable Energy Projects
SunWork is a non-profit that installs rooftop PV systems on small-energy-footprint homes with the help of volunteers. SunWork is offering training sessions that cover the basics of solar, electricity, construction, and safety issues. Completion of this three-hour training qualifies volunteers to participate in SunWork's solar installations. Training sessions will be held on December 10th from 9am - Noon in San Jose, and December 17th from 2pm - 5pm in Berkeley. Santa Cruz training sessions are to-be-announced. Register for SunWork's training sessions at their volunteer training page For more information, email info[at]sunwork[dot]org.

Zero Waste & Sustainability Outreach Efforts in Action at OPERS Fest

UCSC's numerous sustainability organizations were well represented at OPERS Fest this year on September 20, with students tabling about topics such as sustainable food systems, water conservation, native plant restoration, natural history, seed saving, waste reduction, sustainable engineering, and more. 

Behind the scenes, our very own Zero Waste Team and OPERS student staff were hard at work ensuring that waste from the event was disposed of properly. The Zero Waste Team projected before the event that as much as 98% of waste from OPERS Fest could be diverted from landfills. The survey conducted after the event revealed that actual waste diversion was near that goal, with 97% of waste diverted into compost or recycling instead of the landfill!

These UCSC students took a sustainability pledge to reduce their plastic waste by always using a reusable water bottle. The purpose of the sustainability pledge is to get people thinking about ways they can further incorporate sustainability into their daily lives. It's a pledge to make one small change, which can inspire others so that collectively, we're changing the world. You can check out more pledges and pictures from OPERS Fest on Facebook.

Active zero waste efforts like the monitored 4-part waste station at OPERS Fest are instrumental in driving UCSC towards its goal of campuswide zero waste by 2020. Thanks to everyone who stopped by the Sustainability Tent, composted their food scraps, and helped host this fantastic, annual zero waste event!

#CleanupUCSC

This post was written by Sustainability Office Zero Waste Team Associate Bella Montez. 

My project this year with the UCSC Sustainability Office’s Zero Waste Team was to plan the Second Annual UCSC Campus Cleanup. My first thought was “I need some help.” I gathered help from the Sustainability Office, my fellow Zero Waste Team members, some Student Sustainability advisors and some gracious volunteers I found on facebook. We formed a committee and met every week starting in the winter quarter to plan two winter cleanups and the big spring cleanup. 

For the two winter cleanups, we used the Student Sustainability Advisors home turf. We did our first  “Cleanup Hour” at College 9/10 and another at College 8/Oakes which drew in about 10-20 students for each cleanup. The two smaller cleanups were really helpful because they allowed us to understand how we could improve, expand, and plan a successful spring cleanup. 

To plan for the big cleanup, we contacted Grounds Services who helped us with waste management, Environmental Health and Safety who gave us helpful tips on how to keep everyone safe, and Save our Shores who donated buckets and grabbers that made the cleanup possible. In total, we were able to recruit 155 volunteers from all the colleges on campus through facebook and flyering in dorms & at bus stops. 

On May 1, 2016, the Campus Cleanup Committee gathered supplies and brought them to Quarry Plaza at around 9:30AM. At 10AM, volunteers began to gather at the Quarry plaza for bagels, fruit, and other snacks, and everyone was given a t-shirt with the Campus Cleanup logo. At around 10:30AM, I thanked our sponsors and introduced our volunteers to the crowd. We then split everyone into cleanup crews and dispersed to various locations around campus! By the end of the day, we collected 255 pounds of trash including 5.6 pounds of cigarettes. The trash, recyclables and compost were all sorted to the correct bins and the cigarettes were sent to TerraCycle to be made into recycled products. It was a huge success and everyone left with a cookie from the Pacific Cookie Company in their hands, feeling very tired but accomplished! Overall, it was so amazing to see how much spirit people had to keep our campus beautiful. 

Follow Campus Clean up on Facebook!

Volunteer as "Trash-Talker" at Commencement 2016

Want to support efforts to make Commencement 2016 a zero-waste event? Join us as a volunteer the weekend of June 10-12!

The Sustainability Office Zero Waste Team is coordinating a team of "trash talkers" for Commencement weekend. These "trash talkers" will interact with families and friends of graduates to educate them about how to properly dispose of waste in correct bins--compost, recycling, and landfill.

Volunteers will sign up for 4-hour shifts and training will be provided in advance. All volunteers will receive a free sustainability t-shirt.

To sign up, please email Alexis at anroney[at]ucsc[dot]edu.

Zero Waste Team Internship - Deadline March 11

UCSC Sustainability Office’s Zero Waste Team Internship
Website: http://sustainability.ucsc.edu/get-involved/student-projects/zerowaste/index.html 
Organization/Agency: UCSC Sustainability Office
Sponsor: Elida Erickson, Interim Sustainability Office Director
Supervisor: Christian Monzon, Zero Waste Team Coordinator
Number of interns needed: 3-4 Interns, 2 units each
Email: zerowasteucsc@gmail.com
Needed for: Spring Quarter 2016

Who Are We?
We are a group of dedicated students who work diligently on encouraging and inspiring UCSC to reach the UC Office of the President's appointed goal of Zero Waste by 2020. Through campuswide projects and outreach involving students, staff, and faculty alike, we seek to kindle awareness of waste reducing efforts across campus. While fostering this relatively new education of UCSC's waste stream, we can succeed in reaching our Zero Waste by 2020 Goal.

Internship
The Zero Waste Team is seeking three dedicated interns that are interested in gaining professional experience and are passionate about waste reduction on the UCSC campus. Interns will be assigned to one of the following three projects based on interest: Assisting in planning and facilitating Zero Waste Events, planning and facilitating 2nd Annual Campus Clean Up, or standardizing waste infrastructure across campus. Each of these projects will grant interns a level of creative autonomy but will also provide structure, guidance and relevant training to be an effective asset to the Zero Waste Team.

Desired Qualifications:

• Enthusiasm and interest in waste reduction
• Basic knowledge of campus waste streams and infrastructure
• Strong and professional written and spoken communication skills 
• Willingness/ability to work independently/unsupervised and in a team environment 
• Willingness to participate in waste audits 

To apply please email your resume and a brief cover letter to Christian Monzon (cmonzon[at]ucsc[dot]edu) by March 11th stating your interest in the internship and the project that you would be interested in working on. We will be conducting interviews between February 9th and March 11th. Feel free to email Christian with any questions.

June 2015: Internships, Employment & Volunteering

EMPLOYMENT

University of Southern California Seeking Sustainability Coordinator
USC Auxiliary Services is seeking a Sustainability Coordinator to join its USC Housing Team. This individual would be responsible for creating sustainable activities geared towards achieving buy-in and habit transformation, coordinate program services and activities, and assist the Director of Housing in defining goals, performance metrics and long range plans for sustainability, to name a few. Applicant must have a Bachelor's degree, 1 year combined education/experience, and experience with administrative support services. For more information, please click here.

UC Riverside Hiring Energy & Sustainability Manager
This is a full-time position located in Riverside, CA. The Energy & Sustainability Manager works to decrease energy cost, examines mechanical, electrical, water and gas systems to make sure they are functioning at the highest level possible. For more information about position requirements, and to apply, click here.

Conservation Corps Seeking College Students and Recent Graduates
Conservation Corps North Bay currently has three open positions: 1) Community Education and Event Associate (20-30 hours/week, flexible schedule, $11/hour). 2) Community Recycling Crew Staff Driver (M-F, 7:00am-3:30pm, scheduled weekend dates, $13/hour). 3) Natural Resource Crew Seasonal Corpsmember (M-F, 7:00-3:30pm, $10/hour). To see the full descriptions and to apply, click here.

Bike Santa Cruz is Seeking Part-time Bookkeeper/Membership Coordinator
Bike Santa Cruz is looking for an awesome, enthusiastic individual to work 5 hours/week tracking Bike Santa Cruz finances, handling member correspondence, and maintaining their membership database. Please read posting for more information.

Seeking Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center Program Assistant
This individual will open and close the center, troubleshoot computer equipment, greet and receive visitors, assist in tours, assist Volunteer Coordinator, data entry and management, and much more. Please send a cover letter, resume and three professional references to explorationcenter [at] noaa [dot] gov and indicate SEC Program Assistant Job in subject line.

Alliance to Save Energy Seeking Programs Associate
The Alliance to Save Energy is seeking a full-time Program Associate to assist with implementing PowerSave Campus. Applicant must have a Bachelor's degree in environmental studies, energy, education and 1-2 years of work experience is preferred. For more information, click here.

University of Utah Hiring Sustainability Communication and Outreach Coordinator
The Sustainability Office at U of Utah is seeking a Communication and Outreach Coordinator. This individual will support the campus mission by acting as a resource to faculty and staff within the Sustainability Office and coordinating internal and external communications with other public outreach efforts. For more information and to apply, click here.

INTERNSHIPS

IDEASS Internship Program Accepting Applications for 2015-16

Impact Designs Engineering and Sustainability through Student Service is a 9-month upper division service-learning class that fulfills the ENVS (and other majors) senior exit/thesis requirement by allowing entrepreneurial students to work on experimental sustainable designs and keep on the cusp of innovation. The potential projects span a cornucopia of topics, including: energy, water, food, transportation, and waste. IDEASS encourages students of all disciplines to apply. Applications are now being accepted for the 2015-2016 year. To apply, visit the application page here. 

Food Systems Internships Available

The Food Systems Working Group has an exciting new cadre of student leaders working across their partnerships with Dining, the Farm, and Garden efforts. Are you looking for an internship to join them? Email ucscfswg [at] gmail [dot] com if you'd like to find out more!

CASFS Farm Seeking Interns for Summer
If you're interested in working on the farm this summer, and supporting ongoing student engagement efforts in agroecology and ecological horticulture please email Damian Parr at dmparr [at] ucsc [dot] edu for more details. 

FSWG Leadership and Recruitment Seeking Interns 
Are you a continuing student who is passionate about food and farming systems? Look no further than an intership with FSWG (Food Systems Working Group). Please email Crystal and Alyssa at ucscfswg [at] gmail [dot] com to find out more. Or, join in during a weekly meeting, which takes place on Fridays from 11am-12pm in Oakes Room 220. 

Summer Bike Advocacy Internships Available
Bike Santa Cruz County is looking for summer interns to help with bicycle advocacy, event planning, and outreach. Bike Santa Cruz County advocates for better bicycling around the county, plans fun bike events, and participates in local planning for bike projects and policies. For more information, contact Amelia Conlen at director [at] bikesantacruzcounty [dot] org.

Writers & Social Media Interns Wanted for Hilltromper
Hilltromper, the one-stop outdoor recreation web resource for Santa Cruz County, is looking for an intern to help run the calendar, write about recreation and the environment and contribute to social media. Tromping strongly encouraged! If interested, please email Traci [at] hilltromper [dot] com.

Coastal Watershed Council Internships Available
The Coastal Watershed Council (CWC) has many great internship opportunities to learn about local watersheds, build your resume, and contribute to cleaner, healthier watersheds in Santa Cruz. They're looking for motivated college and high school students. For more information, call (831) 464-9200 and view a full list of internship opportunities here.

VOLUNTEERING

Volunteer at a Campus Garden

Want to get your hands dirty and nurture the plants in our campus gardens? Visit the calendar to find out when garden work days are happening here.

Green Building Student Alliance

Have you ever wondered what goes into making a building energy, water, and waste efficient? How can UCSC support sustainability in building designs and retrofits? Tatiana Gefter (Green Building Campaign Coordinator for the Student Environmental Center), Grant Waldron (Provost's Sustainability Intern for Climate Action), and other students are collaborating to create a Green Building Student Alliance. This group will serve as a student advising resource to campus architects and project managers with a goal of increasing student participation in campus infrastructure design to keep the environment in mind. Email Tatiana at tgefter[at]ucsc[dot]edu for more information and to join!

Get Involved with UC Global Food Initiative

The UC Global Food Initiative aims to address global issues in the food system. All 10 UCs are working collectively towards this effort to support sustainable agriculture, healthy eating, and food security. UCSC is playing a critical role in this effort with the support of the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems. Join a subcommittee and get involved by contacting ucscfswg [at] ucsc [dot] edu.

Get Involved with Integrated Climate & Energy Study

Interested in climate and energy sustainability? Want to get hands-on experience exploring these topics in relation to our campus? Chrissy Thomure, Climate Action Manager in the Sustainability Office, is coordinating an Integrated Climate & Energy Study with key stakeholders and a consultant. The study launches this year, and students are encouraged to participate! Email Chrissy at cthomure [at] ucsc [dot] edu to find out more information.

Volunteer at the Homeless Garden Project Downtown Store
Volunteer in the store, on the register, for merchandising, and providing customer service. New volunteers receive orientation during their first shift. Click here to see the schedule, then contact Jes at jesw [at] homelessgardenproject [dot] org to sign-up. 

Call for Students! Conduct Free Local Business Energy Audits

Interested in greening offices and energy conservation? The Green Impact Campaign is a national student-powered movement working to raise awareness of energy consumption. Become part of the movement today and join Green Impact Campaign, here.

Global Student Embassy Seeking Garden Leader
Global Student Embassy (GSE) Santa Cruz initiates and runs several high school garden projects here in Santa Cruz county. GSE is seeking a Garden Leader who will commit to meeting one to two times/month, plan community workdays, lead after school workdays, and facilitate discussion-based workshops. Contact Wyeth Wunderlich at wyeth [at] globalstudent embassy [dot] org to participate in this awesome program.

Sprout Up Environmental Education Opportunity

Sprout Up Santa Cruz is seeking college student-instructors instructors to deliver free environmental education to 1st and 2nd graders in the Santa Cruz community, cultivating the next generation of passionate caretakers of the earth. Commitment is maximum 3 hours/week for 8 weeks, by UCSC academic quarter. For more information, please contact directorsc[at]sproutup[dot]org, and visit their website at www.SproutUp.org.

The Bike Church Community Repair Shop Seeking Volunteers
Have a knack for cycling, biking and learning to maintain bikes? Interested in learning to divert bike parts from the waste stream? Then this is the opportunity for you! Click here for more information. 

Community Engagement with San Lorenzo River Alliance
Help the San Lorenzo River Alliance have more positive attention on and more positive engagement with the San Lorenzo River by signing up to be a community engagement volunteer. To learn more or volunteer, email Laurie Egan at legan [at] coastal-watershed [dot] org. Also, check out their website here.

Teach K-12 Watershed Conservation Lessons
Coastal Watershed Council presents lessons to K-12 grade students at public schools throughout the county. Volunteer to present lessons on the link between watersheds and our water supply, recycling and composting, water pollution prevention, how to pack a trash free lunch, wise energy use, and many other topics related to climate change and wise resource use. To learn more and sign up, email Stew Jenkins at sjenkins [at] coastal-watershed [dot] org or call him at (831) 464-9200. Learn more here.

Carneros Creek Winter Monitoring
Want to gain field experience in beautiful wetland areas? Volunteer with the Carneros Creek Water Quality Monitoring Program to help monitor seasonal Carneros Creek, a primary freshwater tributary to Elkhorn Slough. You'll be professionally trained to test for field measurements and flow, including how to collect water samples that will be analyzed at a certified lab for bacteria, nutrients, total suspended solids, and pesticides. Contact Debie Chirco-Macdonald at djchirco [at] coastal-watershed [dot] org or (831) 464-9200 to get involved. Learn more here.

The Successes of Campus Clean-Up Day!

Amidst Alumni weekend and 50th Anniversary events, students were working hard to maintain the aesthetic beauty and ecosystem health of our unique campus. Almost 100 volunteers from Greek life, the Sustainability Office, the Student Union Assembly, and other student organizations turned up early Sunday morning for the first Annual Campus Cleanup Day. Volunteers broke up into teams all throughout campus to collect over 200 pounds of litter - this was all material that hadn't made it into a nearby trash can or dumpster!

Many of these items weren't even destined for the landfill, but were able to be recycled or composted. Even more shocking - and a credit to the diligence of our participants - were the 3 pounds worth of cigarette butts, amounting to roughly 1.5% of the total litter collected. We hope to make Campus Cleanup Days a recurring event, so if you have a passion for getting wasted and staying trashy, look out for future newsletters to get involved!

March 2015 Sustainability Profile: Caitlin Jetter

Each month, our newsletter features a person or group on campus that is working toward a more sustainable world. This month features Caitlin Jetter, UCSC alumna and former Zero Waste Team member in the Sustainability Office, who now works at the Watershed Stewards Program.

Education
I attended UCSC all four years, I was associated with Stevenson College, I majored in Environmental Studies and minored in Politics, and I graduated in June 2014.

How were you involved with sustainability at UCSC?
I was directly involved with sustainability at UCSC in my work with the Zero Waste and Green Labs teams. Two of the larger projects I helped coordinate were the Campus Waste Assessment/Report and the Kimberly-Clark Glove Recycling Program. I was also involved with the Stevenson Student Council, which could lend a hand in supporting student-lead sustainability projects or events.

Did you have a favorite sustainability moment at UCSC?
A favorite moment was the first time I checked one of my Kimberly-Clark Recycling boxes and found a bunch of correctly disposed gloves! That may sound lame but it really meant a lot after all the time putting the program in place. Also, all the moments I got to spend with my zero waste teammates could be labeled my favorite. You can't sort trash without these fantastic individuals!

What are you doing now?
Right now I'm working for the Watershed Stewards Program. The program's goal is to conserve, restore, and enhance anadromous watersheds by linking education with scientific field practices. I'm stationed in Fresno where I have been working with the local Conservation Trust and Dept. of Fish and Wildlife to improve the habitat and study the Chinook salmon which used to run the full extent of the San Joaquin River. The position has been a great experience and I've already learned so much!

Did your sustainability experiences at UCSC prepare you for life after college?
Definitely! Being part of the Sustainability Office was one of the best experiences that prepared me for work after college. I learned so much about outreach, education, project management, and coordination. And I must say the zero waste team offered a special set of skills, in that I've never been so prepared to get dirty and handle the smelly (which happens more often than not in my current position!) Overall, I will always remember the amazing people and time spent with sustainability at UCSC.

Sustainability Office's Zero Waste Team is Coordinating the First Annual Campus Clean-Up Day!

The Student Union Assembly and the Sustainability Office's Zero Waste Team have teamed up to coordinate the First Annual Campus Clean-Up Day on April 25th! The vision for this event is to bring students and campus users together to clean up our beautiful campus and shed light on littering issues and improper cigarette butt disposal. They hope to create an event that motivates campus users to properly dispose of waste and encourages campus stewardship. Stay tuned for more information about this incredible event!

McHenry Library Goes Zero Waste

Just this month, the largest library on campus took a huge step toward furthering their sustainability. As part of a collaborative pilot program between Grounds, the Sustainability Office, Custodial Services, and the Library, more than 40 four-stream waste stations will be set up throughout McHenry Library for trash, paper, contained recyclables, and compostable waste. McHenry is demonstrating the first comprehensive zero waste collection system on campus, which can set the example for the rest of our campus buildings.

McHenry Library has made reducing waste more accessible throughout the building. An announcement in the University Library News reads, “Collection containers will be provided throughout the library to accept all recyclables, trash as well as compostable materials. Desk side collection bins have been modified to accept compostable materials and recyclable paper. This change is a crucial step toward meeting the UC Office of the President’s goal of reaching 'Zero Waste' by the year 2020.”

Christian Monzon (above), a junior double majoring in Environmental Studies and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, has worked in the Sustainability Office since last year. He is the McHenry Zero Waste Pilot Project Coordinator and hopes UCSC will become the first zero waste campus in California, setting an example for other UCs.

"I am excited about this project because it is an essential step in moving towards our Zero Waste Goal by 2020. I think that students and campus users have the desire to properly sort and dispose of their waste but it can often be confusing, especially since our waste collection is fairly inconsistent across campus,” shares Monzon.

In addition to improperly sorted waste and recycling on campus, one of the largest pieces of the waste pie at UCSC is compostable material, such as food scraps, used paper towels, and Bioware cups, plates, and utensils. These items shouldn’t be going to the landfill in the first place, but there currently isn’t a campuswide solution for composting. This is why the McHenry Library pilot is integrating compost into the waste stream, and the goal is to eventually phase composting into more and more locations on campus.

“Ideally, this project will begin setting the standard for waste collection on campus and will facilitate waste disposal for all students and campus users. This project has a lot of potential to create positive change on this campus and I am excited to be involved in refining our waste management system,” says Monzon.

He assures us that a more detailed update on the project will be released through the Zero Waste Team in the near future.

April 2014 Waste Data

This waste data demonstrates only the materials found in trash dumpsters on campus; it does not include recycling or compost containers. Notice that only 30% of what was actually in the dumpster on its way to the landfill was actually trash--everything else could have been diverted as compost or recycling! 

This is an exciting step toward reaching our sustainability goals because if the pilot project goes well, it is possible that we’ll see zero waste collection streams throughout campus. Besides McHenry Library, you can also find compost bins in the Humanities 1 building, all dining halls, and the Owl’s Nest. Slowly but surely, we’re making composting more accessible on campus!

Email zerowasteucsc [at] gmail [dot] com with any questions, suggestions, or comments about the new collection program, and stay tuned for updates.

Read this week's Tuesday Newsday article about this project here: "Composting bins promote a handy diversion toward 2020 zero-waste goal."

UCSC 2014 Waste Assessment

In continuing efforts to be a leading institution in sustainable practices, Chancellor Blumenthal initiated the Chancellor's Sustainability Challenge this year to students, staff, and faculty to reduce campus waste, in hopes of reaching the official UC-wide goal of Zero Waste by 2020. Part of realizing that goal is tracking all material flowing from campus, including the material we produce, the categories of these materials, and whether or not each material type is being disposed of appropriately. To accomplish this the Sustainability Office and Ground Services partnered to conduct a campus-wide assessment.

The assessment was conducted at the university’s 2300 Delaware location, headed and organized by students and staff from the Sustainability Office and Ground Services. This committee planned and coordinated the manual sorting of 10,463 pounds of material, from 50 randomly selected university dumpsters, over the course of two days. The material was delivered to the site in loads from campus kitchens, lab/office areas, and housing, and analyzed separately by location. With the help of temporarily hired workers, the dumpster contents was sorted into categories, including clean recyclable paper, mixed recycle containers, food scraps, soiled paper towels, other compostables, cardboard, plastic bags, styrofoam, and unsalvageable waste. Each category was weighed, and their percentage in the overall material composition calculated.

We were amazed at the amounts of compostable and recyclable materials that were ending up in the dumpster, all of whose contents are regularly transported to the landfill. With a majority of the items in the dumpster being recyclable or compostable, we predict that reaching Zero Waste by 2020 could be feasible! Our intentions now are to use this information to educate and outreach to university members, as well as reassess campus facilities, so that we can properly redirect the campus’s material stream. If you are interested in more detailed information regarding the campus-wide waste assessment, the official results will be shared by the Chancellor at the Sustainability Spring Fest event to be held at the Stevenson Event Center on May 22nd.

If you have not already, help our campus reach its Zero Waste Goal by 2020 and 

take the Chancellor's Sustainability Pledge! 

It only takes a couple minutes.

December 2013: Classes, Training, and Community

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 15th, 2014. See the announcement and event poster for full information.

Demeter Seed Library
At Demeter Seed Library, it is the time of year to plant peas, fava beans, artichokes, radishes, garlic and lettuce! They will be hosting office hours at Oakes 307 on Wednesdays from 2pm-3pm so you can come by to pick up seeds, and talk to them about backyard gardening and sustainable agriculture. They would love to assist any of you in starting a garden so that you can have access to fresh produce and your own seeds! So go connect with them!

Maui Wowie: Alternative Spring Break to Hawaii
Step into spring break to engage and explore the island food system of Maui from production, research, and education to alternative market sites. Bridging service learning on island agriculture-education sites with hands-on tours of coffee farms and native gardens, participants will be immersed in a land rich with historical struggles and ripe with culture and community efforts to foster sustainability. Learn more here.

Common Ground Center Courses: Winter 2014
This Winter, Common Ground Center is pleased to offer four courses through Kresge College. Permaculture and Whole Systems Design (Kresge 161) is a new course that focuses on concepts, principles, and practices of permaculture and whole systems design. Transformative Action (Kresge 62) is a course on personal and societal transformation. Starting with the self, students examine past experiences, personal growth, passions, and the desire to make a difference in the world and participate in a civic engagement project for four hours per week. Tools for World Changers (Kresge 64) is a 2-unit course for developing life skills that benefit you in college and beyond through studying the most commonly used and effective methods for personal productivity, project management, interpersonal communication, event hosting, and regenerative community design. 2 and 5 unit internships are also available. A fourth course offering is a 2-unit internship with People Power of Santa Cruz County paired with a weekly class focused on transportation and its relationship to social justice, sustainability, and community. Email commonground [at] ucsc [dot] edu for more information, or check out their newsletter. 

Waste Awareness
Where does your dining hall weigh in this quarter? Check out the results from recent Waste Awareness events conducted by Dining, Sustainability Office's Zero Waste Team, and volunteers from the Student Environmental Center.

• College 8/Oakes: 2.1oz per person
• Cowell/Stevenson: 2.0oz per person
• Crown/Merrill: 1.6oz per person

Thank you students we are getting better at wasting less food! One plate at a time! Look out for the final two Waste Awareness Events of the quarter at Colleges 9 &10 and Porter/Kresge! If you'd like to get involved with food waste efforts and become a Waste Warrior on campus email Crystal Owings, Dining's Sustainability Intern, at cowings [at] ucsc [dot] edu.

Winter People Power Bike Ride through OPERS
If you like riding bikes for fun or for commute, want to find new routes, and enjoy making friends while riding along, be on the lookout for a bike ride opportunity through the Recreation guide this winter! The winter Rec guide will be posted here December 15 and registration begins on January 9 at 9 AM.

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.