February 2017: Contests and Funding

Donald A. Strauss Scholarship: Deadline February 2
The Donald A. Strauss Scholarship Foundation allows students to pursue a public service project during their junior or senior year. The scholarship provides $10,000 for expenses of the public service project and for some tuition, fees, books, room and board. More information can be found on the Strauss Foundation website. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM on Thursday, February 2, 2017 to the second floor reception desk at Kerr Hall, attn: Strauss Campus Representative. If you have questions and for assistance with the application process, please email ugrdhnrs@ucsc.edu.

2017 CHESC Call for Presentations: Deadline February 10

CHESC (California Higher Education Sustainability Conference) is seeking speakers who have crossed silos within their institutions to create sustainable change, infused concepts of sustainability into curriculum, and/or pursued research questions related to sustainability. To see more information, check out their website here. If you are interested in applying, please visit the Proposal Collection System website.

Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund: Deadline February 10
The Davis-Putter Scholarship fund is pleased to announce that the online application is available for student activists who are organizing for social change and building progressive movements on campus and community. They are in a critical time of resistance with growing numbers on the frontlines of social change in movements for economic and racial justice, prison abolition, immigration struggles, indigenous rights, reproductive justice, climate justice, and LGBTQ rights. Find more information about the fund by visiting the Davis-Putter website.

2017 AASHE Conference & Expo Call: Deadline February 13

Join AASHE (Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education) as they focus on how the campus sustainability community can break down walls, build bridges and continue to make progress toward a healthy and equitable future for all with their conference theme, "Stronger in Solidarity". The call for proposals and reviewers closes on Monday, February 13, 2017. Submit your proposal on the AASHE website today!

RFP - A Research Roadmap for Transportation and Public Health, National Cooperative Research Program: Deadline February 28

The TRB (Transportation Research Board) is offering a fund up to $250,000 to researchers hoping to innovate the future of transportation. Research is needed to provide transportation agencies with the information and tools necessary for integrating public health considerations into transportation agency decision making and performance measurement at the policy, program, project, and operations levels. Visit the Research Roadmap application website.

2017 Fuller Challenge: Deadline March 31

Launched in 2007, the Fuller Challenge has defined an emerging field of practice: the whole systems approach on understanding and intervening in complex and interrelated crises for wide-scale social and environmental impact. The Buckminster Fuller Institute is now accepting applications for the Fuller Challenge - a $100,000 award for socially-responsible design. Visit the Fuller Challenge application site.

Danny Kennedy's California Clean Energy Fund: Deadline April 1 

Initiative (CalSEED) is a funding and professional development program for innovators and entrepreneurs working to bring early-stage clean energy concepts to market. CalSEED is a funding initiative of the California Energy Commission. CalSEED has begun taking applications for the $24MM California Sustainable Energy Entrepreneur Development (CalSEED) program. Visit the CalSEED website to apply.

February 2017 Sustainability Profile: Jeremy West

Name: Jeremy West

What is your title on campus? 
Assistant Professor of Economics

Where are you from? 
Austin, Texas, though I’ve lived in states at all four edges of the U.S.: California, Texas, Minnesota, and Massachusetts. 

What is your educational background? 
I have BSc and PhD degrees in Economics from Texas A&M. I did my post-doc at MIT before joining the faculty of UCSC in 2016.

What does “sustainability” mean to you? 
To me, sustainability means ensuring that future inhabitants of the Earth have at least as good opportunities and environment as inhabitants today, in every way possible.

How does sustainability relate to your role at UCSC? 
I practice (and preach) sustainability at UCSC in my research, teaching, and service. My work focuses on public policy and its role in society’s management of our scarce environmental resources. I apply scientific and statistical methods to study human behavior and facilitate smarter environmental policies with minimal undesirable side-effects. In addition to research in these areas, I teach environmental economics and public policy at undergraduate and graduate levels (for interested students: I’ll be teaching both during the spring 2017 quarter). I am also collaborating with faculty from disciplines across UCSC to design and teach a novel graduate program in Coastal Science and Policy.

What are your research interests?
I empirically study economics related to public policy, consumer behavior, resource conservation, energy, and the environment.

How do you practice sustainability in your own life? 
People readily think of the “big” ways to practice sustainability -- buying an electric car, for example. While these actions clearly matter, there are plenty of smaller ways to regularly practice sustainable behavior. Personally, I practice such “micro-sustainability” through choices such as commuting by bicycle to my UCSC office, minimizing my use of non-reusable household products, and supporting our country’s amazing parks and greenspace as often as possible!

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.

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.

Nine Campus Labs Receive Green Labs Certification

The UCSC Sustainability Office's Green Labs Program is pleased to announce new certifications for nine on-campus research laboratories. A Green Labs certification verifies a lab's commitment to energy efficiency, waste reduction, and green procurement of lab materials. With the addition of these labs, there are now 18 UCSC labs that have gone through the certification program.

The newly certified labs and their ranking within the certification program are Kellog Lab, receiving a copper certification; Gifford and Lockey Labs, receiving a silver certification; Boeger, Braslau, Habicht, Zihlman, and Galloway Labs receiving gold certifications; and the Strome Lab--a sustainability superstar--receiving the highest honors with a platinum certification.  Congratulations to all of our Green Labs certified labs on campus!

To learn more about the Green Labs Program, including how to get your research lab certified or become a member of the team, please visit the Green Labs website here.

March 2016: Contests and Funding

Right Livelihood Award Nominations: Deadline March 1
Do you know any exceptional individual or organisation who deserves the recognition and support of the Right Livelihood Award? Then send us your proposal by 1 March 2016! Through the open nomination process, the Foundation gets a sense of what people around the world perceive as the most urgent problems - and who is developing the creative and effective solutions we need. Click on this link to learn more about the nomination process and procedures.

Energy Department Solar Funding Opportunity: Deadline March 8
The U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative released a new funding opportunity designed to increase foundational knowledge of solar technology evolution, reduce solar deployment barriers and improve state energy planning practices. A brief, mandatory concept paper is due March 8.

Ride with Zimride and Win! Deadline March 12
Headed out of town for Spring Break? Let Zimride help you find others traveling to the same destination. Already have a car on campus; why not share the seats with other UCSC Zimride members who don't have a car? Post a ride as a driver and split the costs of the trip. If you don't have a car, find a ride and make a new friend along the way. Simply click the Post a Ride button and share your ride today.
UCSC Zimride users who post a ride or a commute between February 12 and March 12 will have a chance to win one of two $25 prepaid MasterCard gift cards from Zimride by Enterprise.

Plate of the Union: A Call for Action on Food & Farms: Deadline March 21
Plate of the Union is a campus challenge for young people to leverage their political power. Through the challenge, Plate of the Union is seeking student groups to develop and execute organizing plans that drive engagement in the 2016 election cycle. Groups can win up to $5,000. Applications are due by March 21.

LEED Green Associate (GA) Training

When: April 21st 2016 – 6:00PM to 10:00 PM
Where: University of California, Santa Cruz – Room TBA 
- https://goo.gl/maps/yj38mSS7bpq
Registration: http://leadinggreen.ca/santacruz

Interested in getting involved in the Green Building Industry? Opportunities are plentiful in the field of sustainable design and LEED is at its forefront.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is simply a green-rating point system, or a scorecard. The more energy efficient and sustainable a building is, the more points it will earn. To date, this course and its materials have proven to be instrumental in helping over 5000 students pass their respective exam at a 100% pass rate. This course is offered at a quarter of the price allows students to graduate with the letters after their name!

Just as Buildings can be LEED certified, people in the sustainable construction industry can become LEED Professionals. The LEED Green Associate (GA) credential is the only entry level sustainability designation and shows employers and clients that you have certified knowledge in the green building industry.  A new LEED rating system (v4) was introduced last month and this training course is one of the few that has been updated to teach the current rating system. This course meets the exam’s eligibility requirements and the USGBC charges a $100 fee for the actual exam which can be taken at any time at your nearest Prometric center.

Cost: $300 ($200 for full time students)

To register for the class please visit: http://leadinggreen.ca/santacruz

You can register via PayPal or RSVP your attendance by registering at the bottom of the page

FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK HERE!

The Arboretum is partnering with Allterra Solar

The Arboretum is partnering with Allterra Solar to increase awareness about the Arboretum and the benefits of switching to solar and the urgency for doing it now. Tax credits are going away in 2016 plus the price for selling energy back to PG&E is decreasing next year, but if you sign up for solar soon you will be locked in to the higher rate of return for 20 years! There's great information on the urgency and current incentives here.

Allterra Solar will give every eligible person (must own house) a gift family membership (worth $65) to everyone who signs up with the promo code of "ARBOR" by the end of the calendar year. If someone is already a member, they can regift it.

Additionally, for everyone who goes solar, Allterra will donate $500 to the Arboretum.

This is a great example of private/public partnership, great town/gown relations, and community support.

Cool Campus Challenge update!

With week 5 kicking off for the Cool Campus Challenge, we’ve achieved a lot! Over 1,100 students, staff and faculty have signed up for a total of 2.3 million points earned. This adds up to 2.3 million pounds of CO2 saved from our pledged actions. It’s an awesome achievement, but we can do more. There are also plenty more PRIZES to be given out to people who sign up and more for top earners!

However, despite all we’ve achieved, UCSC fell from 3rd to 5th place since last month. We can move back to the top, but we need YOU! Invite your friends, professors, and co-workers to sign up and pledge actions to earn more points!

Did you know you can earn points for taking the bus, riding your bike, or ride sharing to campus? These simple actions, and so much more, are easy ways to lower your carbon impact and earn some points for UCSC. So how can we win this challenge and prove UCSC cares the most about lowering our collective footprint? If you haven’t signed up yet, please do! If you have, then continue to log in and complete pledges. You can even make your own actions that are not on the list. You also get more points if you add pictures. If you’d like to help spread the word and get your foot in the door to the sustainability office, contact fellows Jordi Vasquez (jpvasque [at] ucsc [dot] edu) or Jamison Czarnecki (jczarnec [at] ucsc [dot] edu).

Remember, this is MORE than a friendly competition! This is a chance for UCSC to show that we collectively care and support these initiatives. Every point earned is a statement to our regents that we want more actions like carbon neutrality! Thank you for working hard at this. We have 5 weeks left to show the other UCs that we really are the Coolest Campus!

Cool Campus Challenge

Launching Oct. 6 and running through Dec. 10, the first Cool Campus Challenge aims to get everyone across the UC campuses on board with the carbon neutrality effort with a bit of friendly competition to get things moving. Help prove that UCSC is the coolest campus!

During the 10-week contest, UC faculty, staff and students will be challenged to take steps to reduce their carbon footprints using an online tool to track their activity and earn points for their campus. Show how cool you can be all by yourself, or form teams among your friends, colleagues, and roommates. 

Here’s what you can do to be an important part of the Cool Campus Challenge (#UCool):

• Sign up and take the Challenge: http://www.coolcampuschallenge.org. Then invite your colleagues to do the same.
• Better yet, create a team so you can earn points together.
• Share this email with staff, students and colleagues.
• Send an announcement to campus listservs you’re on.
• Share your profile, the sign-up link, pledge you’re taking, etc., online with the Challenge hashtag: #UCool.
• Faculty, have your students take the Challenge as extra credit.

Once you sign up you will be given a variety of ways to learn more about your carbon footprint and to pledge to numerous actions that have a direct impact on reducing energy use. Each week, there will be a highlight for important theme along with suggested actions (or pledges) you can take that will either directly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and/or increase education and awareness about climate disruption.

For every action you take, you’ll earn valuable points for our campus that will enter you in a raffle to win cool, energy efficient prizes. You can also earn “bonus points” for completing the action within a specified time period or for taking new and creative actions that aren’t yet on the pledge list.

Find out more and sign up to compete on the Cool Campus Challenge website.

To help spread the word, share this article. We have 10 years to be carbon neutral and we can’t be carbon neutral without you.

City of Santa Cruz & UC Santa Cruz Install Solar Streetlamp Research Pilot at Wharf

As part of the award-winning GreenWharf partnership, the City of Santa Cruz and UC Santa Cruz have installed an innovative solar streetlamp at the end of the Wharf as a research pilot project.

Provided by Mira Bella Energy of Peoria, Arizona, the solar streetlamp mirrors the gooseneck style of the existing streetlamps at the Wharf, which were upgraded to LED technology over the past two years. This design is intended to outperform other conventional panel technologies through a bifacial solar cell capturing scattered light on both sides of the cell array, even in overcast sunlight conditions. The vertically oriented panel design also reduces the potential for seagull excrement fouling which has limited the effectiveness of previously installed solar technologies at the Wharf. The solar streetlamp is outfitted with a battery pack inside the lamp pole, yet is also tied to the electrical grid for backup to the solar-battery system. The solar streetlamp’s performance will be monitored and timing and intensity can be adjusted via an online dashboard. Research will focus on the impact of an overwater installation on energy production and performance in a harsh marine environment.

“In addition to the vertical axis wind turbine in operation since 2011, the solar streetlamp is an innovative technology being piloted at the Wharf. Its real-time, web-based performance monitoring creates many research opportunities for students and faculty” said Dr. Michael Isaacson, Director of UCSC’s Center for Sustainable Energy Power Systems and principal investigator on the project.

It is a goal of the project to provide the public and other researchers access to the solar streetlamp’s performance data. UCSC researchers currently collect data on wind speed, solar irradiance and energy generation from the wind turbine and solar panel at the Wharf Headquarters. Access to the data sets and more information on the GreenWharf partnership is at www.greenwharf.org.

Wharf Supervisor Jon Bombaci adds “The solar streetlamp research pilot is another successful public-private project launched through the City-UCSC partnership, providing valuable research opportunities, educational experiences and helping to make the Wharf green.”

For more information on the GreenWharf partnership, please contact Ross Clark at (831) 420-5113 or rclark [at] cityofsantacruz [dot] com.

On-Campus Housing Survey informs UCSC’s Climate and Energy Strategy Study

In the spring quarter of 2015, undergraduate residents living in on-campus housing were requested to complete a survey to provide input on heating, cooling, and lighting in their residential housing units. Over the summer, Sustainability Office interns assigned to support the Climate and Energy Strategy (CES) study worked with one of the project’s consultants, Ecoshift, to compile a summary of the survey results. One hundred and eighteen students completed the survey, which represents only a small fraction (1.5 percent) of the total population of undergraduate residents living in on-campus housing. It is important to note that this summary is framed within the context of this small sample. The CES interns are working to increase participation in the survey by launching another round of surveys this fall.

The majority of heating and cooling issues are skewed towards Porter College and Stevenson College, with these residential housing units representing 57 percent of the survey responses. Generally and as expected, respondents agreed that their residences were too hot during the spring, fall, and summer quarters and too cold during the winter quarters. The following graph represents the general thermal comfort of the residences on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being extremely cold and 10 being extremely hot.

The graph displays the majority of survey respondent’s experience thermal comfort. Similarly, the survey found 88 percent of campus has adequate hot water in sinks around campus and showers.

Surprisingly, many students are either unaware that they can adjust the temperatures in their rooms with the thermostats provided in the residences or simply do not use them. CES interns hope to be able conduct outreach to new residents about how they can adjust their room temperatures. As for lighting, a majority of the students agreed that they found unoccupied spaces with lights left on more times than not. Many residents indicated that occupancy sensors did not work or they weren’t sure what occupancy sensors do. By adding occupancy sensors and educational outreach on how they work, wasted energy from leaving lights on in unoccupied spaces can be minimized.

The survey has given the CES interns and consulting team good insight into energy issues that residents face on-campus. This knowledge can enable planning of concrete steps to improve thermal and lighting issues in on-campus residential housing while ensuring that comfort is maximized with the least amount of energy consumed.

As mentioned above, there is another round of the survey happening this fall. Complete this survey for a chance to win the grand prize $100 gift certificate, or one of four $50 certificates to the Bay Tree Bookstore. Please spread the word to your on-campus friends about this opportunity. More survey participation means more invaluable information our campus has for solving energy issues, making students more comfortable, and reaching carbon neutrality! Look out for upcoming emails and flyers about the survey.

UCOP seeks an Associate Vice President of Energy & Sustainability

Associate Vice President of Energy & Sustainability
The University of California, Office of the President invites qualified candidates to apply for a newly created leadership opportunity: Associate Vice President- Energy & Sustainability. The University of California is the state’s premier public research university and one of its largest employers. Our campuses are routinely ranked among the best in the world. The Office of the President is the systemwide headquarters of the University of California, managing its fiscal and business operations, supporting the academic and research missions across its ten campuses, labs and five medical centers.

Reporting to the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, the successful individual serves as a visionary leader and executive-level ambassador who will continue and expand the University of California's leadership role in energy and sustainability. The AVP creates collaborative opportunities among UC campus and medical center representatives from capital programs, sustainability offices, real estate, planning, facilities services, transportation, procurement, finance and other constituencies, including representatives and experts among the University’s faculty and researchers, to engage in cross-functional planning, problem-solving and innovation. 

Responsibilities include: 

• Collaborative Leadership: Leverage the robust and leading-edge programs and practices at campuses and medical centers. Convene operational experts, researchers and key stakeholders to further UC’s progress toward aggressive sustainability and energy goals 
• Lead and Oversee UC’s Carbon Neutrality Strategy: Oversee the refinement and implementation of the strategy and milestones needed to achieve carbon neutrality goals established by UC leadership. Oversee development of potential funding strategies and sources to effect carbon mitigation. Oversee the development and execution of a long term renewable energy strategy. Oversee work to support campuses and medical centers with resources for planning deep energy efficiency programs, zero net energy building projects and other renewable energy efficiency efforts. 
• Develop Energy Procurement & Hedging Strategy: Oversee the development and management of the procurement and hedging strategy for the University. Plan, budget, and manage commodity price risk mitigation procedures and metrics. Oversee commodity and UC equity position contract development, negotiation and execution. 
• Sustainability Program: Provide oversight and support to UCOP’s Office of Sustainability, which collaboratively develops, coordinates, and supports campus sustainability efforts throughout the UC system across the full range of sustainability areas. 
• Advocacy: In consultation with UC’s government relations leadership, represent UC’s interests and strategies with Federal and State government and regulatory agencies. Monitor regulatory actions and plans in greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction, carbon mitigation, water efficiency, waste management, and other areas of utility and sustainability services. 
• People Management: Manage a team charged with implementing the University’s strategy and achieving the strategic goals. 

Qualifications for this role include: 

• Demonstrated understanding the interlocking roles that energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy infrastructure, energy utilities, sustainability, climate action, energy contracting and wholesale electricity markets play 
• Demonstrated knowledge of a wide variety of sustainable practices and programs including renewable energy and other non-carbon sources of electricity. Knowledge of regulatory environment and risks facing UC as an Energy Service Provider 
• Strong technical utility/ energy background regarding the use commodities markets and futures to hedge UC’s fuel and energy needs, including working knowledge of the regulatory agencies such as FERC, CAISO, CEC and CPUC          
• Sound financial management expertise and oversight of matters including developing financing scenarios for energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy infrastructure and related infrastructure maintenance initiatives 
• Ability to drive and implement energy and fuel acquisition strategies across the system 
• Carbon compliance experience including: full understanding of CARB and carbon allowance and off-set markets, a pulse on future direction of applicable regulations and facilitation of campus carbon market positions 
• Knowledge of real estate development, design, construction and facility operations, contracting related to design, construction, biogas development and operations, and strong negotiations skills Working knowledge of applicable laws, regulations and UC policies 

Knowledge/Experience and Education: 

• Bachelor’s Degree required; MBA or Master’s Degree preferred 
• Engineering, Sciences, Business and/or Management desired 
• Sustainability emphasis desired (i.e., sustainability-oriented degree programs) 
• Past experience with natural gas procurement preferred 
• 10+ years’ experience in energy 
• 10+ years’ experience in sustainable practices/policies 
• 5+ years in an energy sales and or commodity product structuring role desirable 
• 5+ years’ people management and/or account management experience 

For details on how to apply, please visit: http://tinyurl.com/owmjkzq and search for the position title above.

May 2015: Contests & Funding

CSC Request for Proposals Deadline May 8
The Campus Sustainability Council (CSC) would like to fund your student organization’s sustainability projects or events in the upcoming year. Proposals adhering to the criteria for student organizations and relevance to the Blueprint for a Sustainable Campus are eligible for funding. Here is the Request for Proposal (RFP), which outlines all requirements and mandatory steps to apply for funding from CSC. Please fill out the CSC Proposal Form to RSVP for the mandatory grant trainings.

UCSC Residential Housing Survey on Energy Deadline May 27
PowerSave is supporting the overall campus Climate and Energy Strategy project by collecting data related to energy use in residential housing units. Please take the short 3 minute survey here and be sure to enter your UCSC email address to be entered into a raffle for one $100 and 4 $50 bookstore gift certificates! The information collected in this survey will used to help prioritize investment in energy conservation projects and programs. Deadline to participate in May 27 at midnight.

Sustainability Film & Art Contest Deadline July 13
Calling all filmmakers and artists! Are you interested in having your short film or artwork displayed at a film festival series this fall? The Sustainability Office invites you to create a sustainability-related short film or poster. The winner(s) of the competition will have their films and posters shown at the Sustainability Film Festival to celebrate the campus’s 50th Anniversary! Learn more here.

Second Nature Climate Leadership Awards Deadline May 8
Second Nature invites applications for the 6th Annual Climate Leadership Awards (CLA) which recognizes innovative and advanced leadership in sustainability, climate mitigation, and resilience at signatory campuses of the American College & University Presidents' Climate Committee. Nominations are now being accepted. Nominees will be considered based on their commitment to climate neutrality, sustainability education, and innovative leadership. Applications are due May 8, 2015 For questions please contact gboscio[at]secondnature[dot]org.

Future Organic Farmer Grant Fund Deadline May 15
The Future Organic Farmer Grant Fund vocational and higher education grants are available for students enrolled in educational programs that will benefit their future careers in organic production or in becoming an organic professional. Applications are due by May 15th.

Brower Youth Awards Deadline May 18
The Earth Island Institute established The Brower Youth Award for Environmental Leadership to recognize the outstanding leadership efforts of young people who are working for the protection the planet. If you have created, organized or implemented a project or campaign that applies solutions and approaches to relevant environmental challenges, apply before May 18th. To be eligible to apply, you must be 13 to 22 years old.

Energy Dept. $2.5M for Collegiate Clean Energy Tech: Deadline June 7
The newly announced $2.5 million in funding for the Cleantech University Prize (Cleantech UP) aims to support the commercialization of promising technologies for sectors such as solar and wind that reduce carbon pollution and grow the clean energy economy. The Cleantech UP Collegiate Competitions will provide prizes for eight individual university-focused competitions that will equip students with business skills to move clean energy technologies from the discovery phase to the marketplace.

AASHE Sustainability Awards Deadline June 11
Applications for the Tenth Annual AASHE Sustainability Awards are now being accepted for outstanding ideas and initiatives that are furthering the higher education sustainability transformation. Award winners will receive one complimentary AASHE 2015 Conference & Expo pass, one invitation to a special reception during the 2015 conference, an opportunity to present submissions at the 2015 conference, and featured in Sustainability: The Journal of Record. Deadline to apply is June 11, 2015.

Tools of Change Landmark Designation: Deadline June 12
Tools of Change is now soliciting nominations for its 2015 Landmark behavior change case studies in two topic areas - (1) home / building energy conservation and (2) sustainable transportation. If you know of anyone working on a particularly effective, innovative or impactful approach for changing energy or transportation behaviors, please consider nominating them - or yourself. All nominations must include measured impact results. The Nominations Form must be submitted by June 12, 2015. Designations will be announced by October 2015, and case study webinars will be presented between February and May 2016.

Biomimicry Global Design Challenge: Deadline August 3
The Biomimicry Institute and the Ray C. Anderson Foundation announced the opening of the Biomimicry Global Design Challenge. Students are invited to submit commercially viable, nature-inspired solutions to global food system challenges. All participants get access to the Design Challenge Toolbox and supporting resources, including sessions with mentors and biomimicry professionals. The grand prize, to be awarded in 2016, is $100,000. The deadline for submissions is August 3rd.

Want to Help Prioritize Energy Conservation on Campus?

Attention UCSC undergrads living in an on-campus residential housing unit! PowerSave Campus would like your input on energy use in your housing unit. Please take the short 3 minute survey here and be sure to include your UCSC email address to be entered into a raffle for one $100 and 4 $50 bookstore gift certificates! The information collected in this survey will be used to help prioritize investment in energy conservation projects and programs. The deadline to participate is May 27th at midnight.

Innovative Approaches to Sustainability at Other Campuses

Here are a few selections of the innovative approaches to sustainability taking place on other college campuses. Each of these examples was chosen because they represent ideas that UCSC could potentially implement in some form, or in some cases, already has begun to. If you see something here that you want to make a reality at UCSC, contact the Sustainability Office at sustain.education [at] ucsc [dot] edu and we will help you direct your ideas toward fruition!

Food

Six Vermont Schools Participate in Food System Tour
As part of an effort to study local and global food systems, students from around the U.S. will visit Green Mountain College, Middlebury College, Sterling College, University of Vermont, Vermont Law School, and Vermont Technical College. The 21-day tour explores urban food systems, the local dairy industry and carbon economy, food system advocacy in the context of genetically-modified food, conservation, and climate change and its impacts on global food system.

Transportation

GMR Institute of Tech Imposes Vehicle Restrictions on Campus (India)
In an effort to curb noise and air pollution at the institution, the university recently banned vehicles on campus every Thursday whereby all faculty, staff and students park their motorized vehicles in assigned locations and reach campus by foot.

USA Today: Campus Bike Reuse Programs
The recently released article points out some universities and colleges that are collecting unwanted bikes, repairing them to working order, and lending them to students who might not otherwise be able to afford a bicycle.

Nashville, TN Walk Bike University Free Public Bike Classes
Walk/Bike Nashville's Walk Bike University (WBU) seeks to grow the number of Nashvillians biking and walking through education, raising awareness, and cultivating bicycle and pedestrian leaders. They host workshops on bicycle skills, bicycle maintenance, pedestrian advocacy, and various other bicycle and pedestrian issues. Classes are fun, informative, and open to the public.Some classes include: Adult Learn to Ride a Bike; Bicycling 123 refresher course; Basic Bike Skills on off-street (parking-lot) skills course; and City Cycling.

Ohio State U Enters Negotiations with Bike Sharing Company 
The recent negotiations, if agreed upon, will bring Zagster, a bicycle-sharing system, to campus with 115 bicycles including tandem, hand cycle, electric assist, heavy duty, and three-wheeled cargo bikes.

Big Idea: $1 To Save Bicycling on Campus
A graduate student studying urban planning at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign successfully lead a campaign on campus to institute a $1 semesterly fee for bicycle programs and infrastructure. The fee not only passed, but it sailed through a vote with 73% of students in support.

Awareness, Education, and Engagement

California State U Monterey Bay Opens New Sustainable Degree
The new bachelor of science in sustainable hospitality management provides students with local, regional and global perspectives on current and pressing sustainability issues and problems within the hospitality industry. Concentrations exist in sustainable hotel, resort and event management, and sustainable ecotourism management.

Portland State U Launches Graduate Certificate in Public Design
The university's School of Architecture's new certificate in Public Interest Design aims to prepare students in sustainability, community development and architecture to aid underserved populations through sustainable, human-centered design methods via in-classroom studies and hands-on field experience, working directly with communities in need.

U Virginia Begins Employee Sustainability Program
Seeking to reduce its environmental impact by building more efficient spaces, the university's sustainability committee has started its new, self-reporting Green Workplace Program, which uses a checklist of 60 actions that workplaces can implement to improve operations and reduce cost, and includes eight categories: energy, transportation, purchasing, zero waste, community, health, food and bonus credits. If UCSC held sustainability trainings for employees, would you attend? Comment below!

Maharishi U Offers Masters Program in Sustainable Living
During the first year of the program, beginning fall 2015, students will spend half their time in class and half in the community addressing challenges. The second year will be entirely devoted to a major community project, with one option being a 25-month hitch in the Peace Corps.

U North Carolina Chapel Hill Announces Campus Climate Dialogues 
Inspired by the rising level of national and local discourse surrounding events and issues of equity and inclusion related to race, intellectual diversity, religion, identity and culture, the university recently began Carolina Conversations, a coordinated effort that gives the campus community an avenue to share thoughts and opinions with the administration. The campaign includes an interactive website, a calendar of all campus events related to diversity, equity and inclusion, and a series of ongoing events to encourage dialogue.

Waste

Fitchburg State U Removes Drinking Straw Option
In an attempt to improve waste reduction, recycling and composting, the university removed the straws, which are hard to spot when conducting post-consumer, dish room garbage separation.

University of Washington Students Hold Trashion Show
The first annual UW "Trashion" Show was hosted by EcoReps to celebrate Earth Day and beckon audience members to reimagine and critically think about "waste."All clothing made through upcycling scavenged materials. Something like this would be a great opportunity for the Theater and Art and Environmental Studies departments to collaborate on something environmentally creative.

Energy

Cambridge U Studies Plant-Powered Bus Shelter (U.K.)
The prototype hub at the university's botanical garden has walls of plants in pockets made of carbon fiber that receive electrons, produced as a byproduct of photosynthesis, that power a light in the shelter.

Climate Change

Stanford U Students Hold Panel on Climate Change Education
Students for a Sustainable Stanford and the Stanford School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences recently held a panel to raise public awareness of the interdisciplinary importance of global climate change.

March 2015 Green Tip: Go Green For Your Spring Clean

It's just about time to open your windows and let in the fresh spring air. These green spring cleaning tips will help you shoo off cobwebs and sweep up dust bunnies without the guilt of using harsh chemicals contributing to the landfill.

Green Cleaning Products: According to the EPA, the air inside of a home is two to five times more polluted than the air outside, mainly because of household cleaners and pesticides. Many common cleaning products can be made from nontoxic ingredients that you already have in your home and work just as well. Making your own cleaning solutions will also help reduce the amount of plastic packaging you buy. Check out this nontoxic solutions site for ideas and recipes.

Trash to treasure: When going through your old notes, don't just toss them in the closest trash bin, save the unused paper and use them for scratch paper and recycle the others.

If you have unwanted and slightly worn clothes, you can donate or sell them. Santa Cruz GOODWILL and the Homeless Service Center are always accepting donations. Also, UCSC has several Facebook groups where you can sell your unwanted items. Check out and join the Free & For Sell and Clothing and Accessories Exchange Facebook groups.

End the Cycle: You can save water and energy by washing full loads of laundry with cold water.

"Phantom trips" Hamper Low-Carbon Communities

UCSC's Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Adam Millard-Ball's latest article examines how standard practices in urban planning and traffic engineering cater to phantom trips that never materialize, and hamper efforts to create walkable, low-carbon communities. See the video below and read the coverage of the article at The Atlantic's CityLab.

Oakes Provost's House Retrofit

The following report is by Robert Jones, a member of the PowerSave Campus team as well as the Carbon Fund Student Facilitator within the Sustainability Office. The PowerSave Team retrofitted the Oakes Provost's House by replacing old, inefficient lightbulbs with new LED lights. 

"My team and I finished up the LED retrofit at the Oakes Provost house last week, and I, for one, am very happy with the results! The process of the retrofit didn’t go without a small hiccup, as expected with any project, but was nonetheless completed in only a couple of hours. Lesson learned; playing with light fixtures can cause faulty wires to trip the circuit breaker. If you’re going to work with lamps and electronics, make sure to be safe!

We ended up replacing a mixture of 17 fluorescents and incandescents with more efficient LEDs. The total expected savings over the LED’s lifetime is about 4,700 kWh. This is equivalent to saving about 1 ton of CO2 from going into the atmosphere. I highly recommend taking advantage of the simplicity and practicality of an LED retrofit. Minimal planning, installation time, and experience required to accomplish a LED retrofit make it one of the most effective ways to reduce energy consumption in a residential building.

As I look back on my experience working with Regina at her residence, the Oakes Provost house, I realize I have learned a lot. I will use what I’ve learned for future retrofits at other Provost residence homes, I hope! I now know what exactly to tell the Provosts what to expect in terms of timing, logistics, and how the actual retrofit will work. I’m looking forward to speaking with other UCSC Provosts that have homes on campus to see if they will be interested in having our team complete a retrofit at their home!"

March 2015: Internships, Employment & Volunteering

INTERNSHIPS

Provost Sustainability Internship - $1500 + 12 units! Deadline April 28

Are you interested in working to make our campus operations, infrastructure, and physical environment more environmentally and socially sustainable? The 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. Environmental Studies Senior Exit can be fulfilled with this program. Student applications are due April 28th. Mentor applications for departments to host an intern are due April 10. Share this opportunity on Facebook here.

Transportation Internships with Student Environmental Center

Want to help plan and implement the second Annual Transportation & Social Justice Festival this spring? Interested in promoting sustainable and active transportation at UCSC? The Student Environmental Center Transportation Campaign is seeking 2- and 5-units interns for spring. Contact Jordan Le at jsle [at] ucsc [dot] edu for more information. Learn more about the Campaign on the SEC website.

Santa Cruz Bike Party Internships

Get internship credit to promote sustainable, active, community-building, awesome parties--Santa Cruz Bike Party! Held on the second Friday of each month, Bike Party creates a safe and cooperative roadway environment for all road users. Riding together builds strong community! If you're interested in getting Environmental Studies internship credit to support this community event, please email Tawn at tawn.kennedy [at] gmail [dot] com. Visit the website here.

UC Santa Cruz Bike Library Seeking Intern 
Did you know we have a bike library at UCSC? Are you looking to earn 2-units through a hands-on, biketastic internship? Look no further than the UCSC Bike Library. Contact bikelibrary [at] ucsc [dot] edu to apply and for more information. 

Environmental Studies Internships Open to All Majors

The Environmental Studies has many different internship opportunities available for spring. These 2 and 5-unit internships are open to all majors. Review some of the internships and learn how to apply on the Environmental Studies website here. Contact Chris Krohn for more information and additional internship listings at ckrohn [at] ucsc [dot] edu.

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!

Student Seeking Successor to Carry On Renewable Energy Project
Interested in increasing student awareness about renewable energy and looking to complete a graduation requirement? A UCSC student is graduating and looking for a motivated, responsible, and environmentally engaged individual to take over her project, which consists of grant writing for various projects, including a recharging solar station on the UCSC campus. The project continues through 2016. Please contact Jazmin Orozco, at jorozco3 [at] uscsc [dot] edu for more information.

Santa Cruz Fruit Tree Project Seeking Interns
Santa Cruz Fruit Tree Project are seeking interns to help plan community harvest events, as well as organizing other aspects of operations. For more information, visit Fruit Tree Projects website here and contact Steve at steve [at] santacruzhub [dot] org.

Internship Interviewing Farmers about Climate Change
Interested in the impact that climate change is having on crops and other aspects of our local community? Contact Roland Saher if you're interested in obtaining internship credit to explore this topic by emailing rolandsaher [at] gmail [dot] com.

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.

Become a Santa Cruz Sierra Club Intern
Want to be informed about issues and decisions about Santa Cruz county? Want to explore, enjoy and protect the environment- all for academic credit? The Santa Cruz Sierra Club is seeking interns for spring 2015 through the Environmental Studies department. Positions are open to all majors. Email Melissa Ott at melissa.ott [at] sierraclub [dot] org, or visit the website, Facebook, and MeetUp page for more information.

PowerSave Campus Seeking Interns
UCSC PowerSave Campus is hiring for-credit interns! Looking for two units and an opportunity to learn energy efficiency awesomeness through hands-on work? Need a course that covers the PR general education requirement? If so, this internship is for you! Send a resume to powersave [at] googlegroups [dot] com with you interest. Space is limited, so apply now!

Green Drinks Seeking Coordination Support
Green Drinks is an informal networking event where environmentally-minded people meet over drunks. Green Drinks are seeking coordination support and aims to better serve the Santa Cruz community. Contact hannahjoyhodgson [at] gmail [dot] if you are interested. For more information, visit the Green Drinks website.

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.

The Offset Project is Seeking Sustainability Program Intern

The Offset Project, located in Monterey, California, works to implement sound waste policies and environmental stewardship, is seeking a Sustainability Program Intern. The intern would start immediately and must commit to a minimum of 6 months and 5-10 hours per work for credit (unpaid). If you are interested, please e-mail a resume and cover letter to Kristin: kristin [at] the offsetproject [dot] org

CSSC Field Organizer Program Internships Available
The California Student Sustainability Coalition (CSSC) Field Organizer Program is a series of paid, unpaid volunteer, and unpaid course credit positions that allow students and recent alumni to get real, on-the-ground organizing experience in the climate justice movement. For more information and to apply, visit the website.

myActions on Campus is Seeking Smart, Savvy Student Leaders

myActions on Campus has recognized UC Santa Cruz's commitment to develop next generation leaders and is inviting our students to for two paid internships! Last year 75 campuses across the nation participated, driving over 100,000 sustainable projects and actions in a plethora of communities. These internship roles include Sustainability Campus Intern and Community Service Campus Intern. Don't wait, create change now. For more information visit myActions on Campus page.

EMPLOYMENT

Walk to Class Challenge Marketing Paid Internship: Deadline March 6

Transportation & Parking Services is currently looking for two marketing interns to help promote this year’s Walk To Class Challenge, taking place on April 28! The Walk to Class Challenge is a student-led, campus-wide movement to lessen our dependency on fossil fuels through the most primal form of human-powered transportation--walking! Marketing interns will support the event coordinator in managing social media outlets, tabling, outreach, and helping the day of the event. Position is from March-early May, 3-5 hours/week, with a stipend of $250. Contact Laura Gracia at lgracia [at] ucsc [dot] edu to apply. Applications (available here) will be accepted through March 6.

CSSC Hiring Fossil Fuel Divestment Campaign Director: Deadline March 27

California Student Sustainability Coalition is seeking someone to support and provide guidance to divestment campaigns on campuses across the state of California, help cultivate new student leaders, engage with coalition partners, and support CSSC’s internal functions and development. This position is hired at 32 hours/week. The Campaign Director’s position may work remotely (within the state of California), requires ability and willingness to travel for work, maintain active communication via conference calls and emails, and have a strong aptitude for time management and self-discipline. If interested, please view the job description for more information on the position. Applicants should email (1) a résumé, (2) a cover letter expressing interest, and (3) 2-3 references to the CSSC Board of Directors Chair, Lauren Jabusch at lauren[at]sustainabilitycoalition[dot]org. Questions regarding the position and application may also be submitted to Lauren. Materials must be received by Friday, March 27th by 5PM.

VOLUNTEERING

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.

Volunteer or Lead a Workshop at the Student Environmental Center's 2015 Earth Summit

Volunteer or lead a workshop at the SEC's 14th annual Campus Earth Summit Event on Friday, April 24th in the College 9/10 Multipurpose room. There will be fresh local food, tabling, keynote speakers, student art, entertainment and much more. To lead a workshop or contribute to the art gallery, contact Tatiane gefter at tgefter [at] ucsc [dot] edu. To table or volunteer, contact Lucia Calderon at lecalder [at] ucsc [dot] edu. Visit the Facebook event here.

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. Drop in info session will be held Tuesday 3/3 12pm-3pm at the Thimann Greenhouses (top floor of Thimann Labs)!

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. 

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!

Support Campus Clean-Up Day April 25

The Student Union Assembly and the Sustainability Office's Zero Waste Team are teaming up to coordinate the First Annual Campus Clean-Up Day on April 25th! They hope to create an event that motivates campus users to properly dispose of waste and encourages campus stewardship. Contact Christian at cmonzon [at] ucsc [dot] edu for more information.

Help Plan a 50th Anniversary Sustainability Film Festival

Do you have a love for organization and planning? Interested in sustainability and have a passion for cinema? Then this is the opportunity for you! Join the Sustainability Office in planning a Sustainability themed Film Festival in celebration of UCSC's 50th Anniversary! To partake or for more information, email Meghan Neureither at mneureit [at] ucsc [dot] edu.

Join Central Zone Waste Reduction Team for Conservation Carnival 
The Central Zone Waste Reduction team is planning an on-campus event with games, crafts, music and prizes all focused around water conservation and sustainable living practices and are searching for volunteers to help with the event. The event will take place on Saturday, April 18th time TBA. If you are interested stay tuned for more information or contact Madeline Halluin at mhalluin [at] ucsc [dot] edu.

College 8 Earth Week Facilitation Opportunity

Interested in facilitating an event? College Eight Earth Week planners are looking to collaborate with various organizations for Earth Week 2015, the week of April 22. This year's theme is "Your Plate: The effect your food choices have on you and the world around you." Contact Derek Dean at drdean [at] ucsc [dot] edu for more information.

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. Would you or someone you know be interested in engaging in GSE projects as a core team member? A commitment would involve some combination of meeting one to two times/month, planning for community workdays, leading after school workdays, and facilitating discussion-based workshops. Contact Wyeth Wunderlich at wyeth [at] globalstudent embassy [dot] org to participate in this awesome program.

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.

Become a Student Blogger for CSSC
Interested in sharing your campus' work with a broad statewide coalition? CSSC is currently seeking new student bloggers! Email info [at] sustainabilitycoalition [dot] org for more details. Learn more about CSSC on the blog here.

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. Learn more here.

Teach K-12 Watershed Conservation Lessons
Council 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.

Volunteers Sought for March for Climate Leadership: February 7
On February 7, thousands of Californians are gathering in Governor Jerry Brown’s longtime home of Oakland to say that we need real climate leadership in the face of the drought. Across the state wells are drying up, more than a dozen cities are in real danger of running out of water, and there’s no question it’s being made worse by climate change. Volunteers are needed to make the march happen, so volunteer online here. Find out more about the March and how you can participate here.

Arboretum Volunteer Gardening Opportunities

The Arboretum has volunteer gardening hours throughout the week. Visit their website for details. 

Volunteer with Sea Slugs, an Ocean Conservation Org

Sea Slugs is an ocean-minded campus organization dedicated to environmental stewardship. It is an excellent opportunity for students (both undergrad and grad) to engage in the greater community through public service while making a positive impact on the local environment. For information about meeting times and opportunities, contact Sea Slugs at seaslug.ucsc [at] gmail [dot] com or visit their website.

Join Banana Slugs for Animals

Banana Slugs for Animals welcomes all to their weekly meetings. During the meetings they discuss Animal rights and plan events! They will be having a film screening of "Earthlings" (Date and time TBD). If you would like to know more please email slugsforanimals [at] gmail [dot] com. 

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.

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.