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.

December 2016: Contests and Funding

“I am a UC Entrepreneur” Campaign: Deadline December 31
UC students, faculty, staff, postdocs, and alumni are invited to submit a 30-second video sharing what makes them an entrepreneur to: bit.ly/2h3qotL . Everyone who submits a video will receive a "UC Entrepreneur" T-shirt. In addition, one eligible student from each campus will be selected at random to attend a special lunch with UC President Janet Napolitano. Learn more here.

Submit to Chinquapin's 39th Publication: Deadline January 31
Chinquapin is UCSC's longest-running student-run literary magazine, annually publishing student submissions of poetry, fiction, prose, photography and visual art. We offer students a space to learn about editing, graphic design and publishing. Email the Chinquapin team for more information at chinquapin@gmail.com or visit their website for application instructions.

Campus Sustainability Council Winter Funding: Deadline February 17
The Campus Sustainability Council (CSC) at UCSC is soliciting proposals for Winter 2017 sustainable project grants. Applications are due on Friday, February 17, 2017 before 4 PM, and all applicants must attend mandatory training workshops outlined here. For more information, feel free to contact Campus Sustainability Council by email or visit the website: csc.enviroslug.org.

Beardsley-Kuper Field Camp Scholarship Fund: Deadline February 1
Grants from the AEG Foundation Beardsley-Kuper Geology Field Camp Scholarship Fund are intended to support geology field camp costs with applied environmental and engineering geology that will be useful to the student's future profession as an engineering or environmental geologist. Learn more and apply online here.

November 2016: Contests and Funding

Carbon Fund: Deadline November 7
The UCSC Carbon Fund is currently accepting applications for the 2016-17 funding cycle until 11:59 PM on Monday, November 7. This student fee granting body funds student, staff, faculty, and community projects that reduce our carbon footprint, conduct relevant research, or carry out educational programs. Learn more and apply on the website.

Giving Day: Early deadline November 3
Do you have a project that needs funding? On March 8, 2017, the campus will play its second annual Giving Day game. Giving Day is a 24-hour online fundraising drive to support UC Santa Cruz students, faculty, and campus programs. In 2016 UCSC held our first Giving Day and it was a huge success. We raised $339,276 in just 24 hours, benefitting 60 UC Santa Cruz programs. The sooner you sign up, the greater your chances to connect with a donor who might be willing to support your project with matching funds. You’ll also have a chance to win $100 in our early-entry raffle. The deadline for the raffle is November 3rd. Sign up today to play the Giving Day game and get your project funded.

SeedMoney: Deadline November 12
SeedMoney is a Maine-based 501c3 nonprofit that is helping public food gardens around the country to start and thrive by offering them grants, access to crowdfunding and technical assistance with garden planning. Their mission is to help more people, especially disadvantaged populations, to grow and access more of their own healthy food. They do this through crowdgranting, a new way for nonprofit causes to access funds for their work. It combines crowdfunding with challenge grants. In the case of SeedMoney, participating projects use the possibility of securing a challenge grant of $400 from them to motivate local donors in their area to contribute to their project. Find out more on their website and apply by November 12.

Big Ideas: Deadline November 16
Big Ideas, one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious social impact contests, is accepting pre-proposals for this year’s competition. Big Ideas provides up to $300,000 directly to students each year for their groundbreaking initiatives. Armed with the training and seed funding provided by Big Ideas, student teams have gone on to secure over $150 million in additional funding for their for-profit, nonprofit, or hybrid ventures. Learn more here.

October 2016: Contests and Funding

Bioneers Conference Scholarship: Deadline October 7
In an effort to make the Bioneers Conference accessible to a wider and more diverse group of people, the Kresge Common Ground Center at UC Santa Cruz has partnered with Bioneers to bring students, faculty, staff, and recent alumni to the conference at a reduced rate of $45 per person per day (or $125 for the entire 3-day conference). You will not find more affordable tickets for Bioneers than this! Regular price is $420 for 3-days. Click here to learn more and apply!

Carbon Fund Info Session October 26
Do you need funding for a green project? The UCSC Carbon Fund is a granting body that funds students, staff, and community sustainability projects. If you have a project geared towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions on campus or in the community, consider applying for a Carbon Fund grant! The application info session is on Wednesday, October 26th. Check their website as the date approaches for the time and location.

Air Expressions-Grants for Clean Air Projects: Deadline October 28
The Air District invites students and teachers in Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties to apply for grants that use creativity and imagination, to help the District improve air quality and build a better future with informed and motivated young people. College and university students are eligible up for to $5,000. To apply for funding, each applicant must submit a completed application to the District. Click here for more information.

Project Green Challenge 
Project Green Challenge is a 30-day contest, from October 1-30, for high school and college students who are interested in health, wellness, the environment and eco-conscious living. Join folks from around the U.S. who are competing for prizes. Sign up 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.

February 2016: Contests and Funding

Write to Change the World: Deadline to Apply February 1
The “Write to Change the World” program is an opportunity for UC faculty that will build capacity to translate their research for the public and to engage in debate at a national level based on their areas of
 expertise. Invitational priorities for applicants include: 1) sustainability and the environment 2) social justice and inequality 3) big data and digital humanities 4) public health and medical humanities 5) arts and public life. After the 1-day workshop, fellows will have access to a yearlong mentorship with media mentors through the OpEd Project. This program provides extraordinary resources, access and support, including cutting edge game-based, research-driven programming, and access to a prestigious network of fellows at peer institutions nationwide. Learn more here.

Campus Sustainability Council Funding Applications: Deadline February 12
Apply for funding through the Campus Sustainability Council (CSC)! Proposals adhering to the criteria for student organizations and relevance to the Blueprint for a Sustainable Campus are eligible for funding. Review the Request for Proposal, which outlines all requirements and mandatory steps to apply for funding from CSC. For more information, visit the CSC website.

Grad Slam: Deadline March 4
Grad Slam is a competition that challenges graduate students to present years' worth of academic research in a concise, compelling, three-minute talk to a non-expert audience. Doctoral students who have advanced to candidacy and are enrolled in winter and spring 2016 are eligible to compete in Grad Slam. The contest begins with a video round of competition, during which 10 finalists will be selected for our campus live event to be held on Wednesday, April 6. The winner from that event will take home $3,000 and go on to compete in the UC-wide Grad Slam in San Francisco on April 22. UCSC's runner-up receives $1,500, and the people's choice winner receives $750. Check out the online instructions for all the details.

Zero Waste Youth USA Convergence: Deadline February 1
Organized by youth, for youth, the Zero Waste Youth USA Convergence will include a full day of visioning, organizing and celebrating zero waste and will empower youth to bring the zero waste message back to their schools and communities. The day will feature a keynote address, hands-on activities, and presentations on exciting zero waste topics both from the youth as well as from exceptional leaders from the community. If you are interested in speaking or performing at the event on March 26, 2016 at the Ocean Campus of City College of San Francisco, please fill out this form.

8th Annual International Sustainable Campus Network Award: Deadline February 1
The International Sustainable Campus Excellence Awards recognize sustainable campus projects that demonstrate leadership, creativity, effectiveness and outstanding performance. The award categories have been modified this year to reflect the evolution of campus sustainability. Campus projects can be submitted for one of the following categories: Buildings and Innovative Infrastructure, Campus Planning and Management Systems, Innovative Collaboration, or Student Leadership. Click here to apply.

Get Loud (About Climate Change) Challenge
ACE and NextGen Climate America just launched a new initiative, the Get Loud Challenge, an innovative climate competition that will engage young people across the country to turn up the volume on climate change. The Get Loud Challenge will motivate young people (ages 13-24) in all 50 states to take highly visible, online and offline actions to catapult climate change into the spotlight. Earn points for a range of climate actions — from having a conversation about climate with a family member to calling on our leaders to embrace clean energy policies in their communities. Go to GetLoudChallenge.org to learn more.

Students with Drive
Each month, Zipcar awards $27,000 in transportation grants to student organizations across the country so groups like yours can drive for free to volunteer opportunities, academic conferences, concerts, games or wherever you need to go.Ready to enter? Visit the Students With Drive page to enter your organization today. Each month, 15 finalists will get a chance to win big. Apply here!

December 2015: Contests and Funding

Cool Campus Challenge
As the end of Fall quarter approaches, so too does the end of the Cool Campus Challenge. This event supports the UC Office of the President’s 2025 Carbon Neutrality Initiative and raises awareness on being greener amongst student staff and faculty. While a friendly competition with the other UCs on which campus can be the “Coolest Campus,” UCSC is currently in 4th place! As a point of Slug pride, let’s move up in number of participants and green pledges, showing the UCs we care about Carbon Neutrality. If you make it to 10,000 points, you'll be entered into a raffle to win a momentum bike (in UCSC school colors) and right now, with only 140 people at that level your odds are pretty good! Sign up and pledge today at coolcampuschallenge.org!

Just Sustainability Deadline Jan. 18
The Seattle University Center for Environmental Justice and Sustainability (CEJS) invites papers for its second biennial conference “Just Sustainability: Hope for the Commons” to be held in Seattle on August 7-9, 2016. Attendees will have a unique opportunity to connect with researchers, businesses, and communities that are bringing EJS issues to the fore of public discourse. Authors will have the opportunity to publish papers in a special issue of the journal Interdisciplinary Environmental Review.

Authors should submit abstracts of no more than 200 words by January 18th, 2016 by using the conference paper submission system. Authors should indicate their preference for an oral or poster presentation. Authors should also indicate if they would like to submit a full paper for a special issue of the journal Interdisciplinary Environmental Review. Full papers will be due on July 1st, 2016, and final versions of accepted papers will be due on October 1st, 2016.

Pitch Slam
If you're interested in sustainable innovations to present at a live competition on December 1st, email Sue Carter (sacarter [at] ucsc [dot] edu). They are awarding 4 prizes, each $500, to the top 4 presenters.  Students can present any idea as long as it involves some type of innovative product or service.

October 2015: Contests & Funding

Carbon Fund Info Session: October 22
The UCSC Carbon Fund is a granting body that funds student, staff, and community sustainability projects. If you have a project geared towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions on campus or in the community, consider applying for a Carbon Fund grant! There will be an info session to learn more on October 22 from 6-7:30pm. The meeting location has not been finalized, so please check the Carbon Fund website here or email carbonfund [at] ucsc [dot] edu for updates.

Cool Campus Challenge: October 6 - December 10
The first ever Cool Campus Challenge aims to engage UC campuses with our carbon neutrality initiative through a bit of friendly competition. Join the challenge, pledge to reduce your carbon footprint, and help us prove that UCSC is the coolest campus! Sign up here.

H&M Conscious Foundation Global Change Award: Deadline October 31
Students and faculty are invited to submit ideas that share the future of how fashion is designed and produced, shipped, bought, used and recycled with a focus on protecting the planet. The Global Change Award, by H&M Conscious Foundation, seeks to create fashion for a growing population while reducing its impact on the environment. The aim of the challenge is to close the loop in the fashion industry. Five winners will share a grant of $1 million euros ($1.1 million), get access to a tailor-made innovation accelerator, and fashion industry access. Deadline to submit is October 31.

Carbon Neutrality Ideas Contest Open To All UC students

President Napolitano’s Carbon Neutrality Initiative agreed to fund the extension to all UC campuses of a student ideas contest started at Berkeley. Student teams from any UC campus can now compete for cash prizes and mentoring and other support for ideas related to carbon neutrality at the campus, national, or international scale.
Got a big idea? Save the world and win prizes. For more information about rules, categories, resources, funding and contact information, visit the Big Ideas website at http://bigideas.berkeley.edu/energy/

November 2014: Contests & Funding

Apply for the Carbon Fund by November 14
Have an idea for a project that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions at UCSC? The Carbon Fund provides grants to UCSC greenhouse gas-reducing projects! Abstract applications are due on November 14, 2014 by 11:59 PM. Visit the website for more information about how to apply!

Campus Conservation Nationals Registration Deadline - November 7
Registration is now open for Campus Conservation Nationals (CCN), the world’s largest energy and water reduction competition for colleges and universities. Now in its fifth year, CCN is hosted by the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council, Lucid, National Wildlife Federation, and the Alliance to Save Energy. It’s an unparalleled opportunity to foster a culture of conservation on your campus; save energy and water; enable students to develop leadership, community organizing, and career development skills; and become part of the CCN legacy (during CCN 2014, 109 schools saved enough electricity to take 201 homes off the grid for a year!) The CCN team will support you all the way with training webinars, how-to guides, and templates. Your school will also get its very own Building Dashboard website to communicate competition standings to your community. Register for CCN today or find out more information at www.competetoreduce.org. Questions? E-mail ccn [at] comptetoreduce [dot] org. Registration closes November 7th, so don’t delay!

Call For Submissions: Sustainability Teaching Activities - Deadline January 20
Submissions are now being accepted for the peer-reviewed and edited book Learner-Centered Teaching Activities for Environmental and Sustainability Studies. Instructors are invited to submit descriptions of novel, easy to implement and engaging in-class activities. To be considered for publication, contributions must be submitted by January 20, 2015. For more information check out the following website: http://faculty.rwu.edu/lbyrne/book.html

Got a Big Idea? Receive Funding and Support - Deadline November 13
The 2014-2015 Big Ideas@Berkeley contest has launched with new categories and expanded eligibility to include graduate and undergraduate students across the entire UC system. This year there are four Big Ideas categories open to matriculated students from all 10 UC campuses: Food System Innovations, Global Health, Mobiles For Reading, IT for Society. Big Ideas is an annual student innovation contest aimed at providing funding, support, and encouragement to interdisciplinary teams of students who have creative solutions to important social challenges. Since its founding in 2006, Big Ideas has inspired innovative and high-impact student-led projects aimed at solving problems that matter to this generation. Up to $300,000 in prizes available to students with innovative ideas to improve society... So put on your thinking caps, break out your big ideas and do not miss this opportunity to have the support you need to get started!

Real Food Media Contest - Deadline January 5
Multimedia video submissions are now being accepted for the Real Food Media Contest. These videos should be between 30 seconds and 4 minutes, showcasing sustainable food and farming. The vides should feature underreported issues, innovative sustainability strategies, and compelling stories of food producers and workers. Make your submission by January 5, 2015. For more information, please visit the website.

Apply for the Campus Safety Health and Environmental Management Scholarship
CSHEMA is sponsoring the Scholarship Award Program to encourage the study of environmental and occupational health and safety. Currently, one $2,000 scholarship is awarded anually along with paid registration to attend the annual CSHEMA Conference. To be considered for the award, students must meet the following requirements: 1) submit an official transcript, 2) complete application form, 3) write and submit an essay. These items must be delivered in a sealed envelope with university seal and mailed by March 31, 2014. For more information contact April Anstey.

Call for Student Sustainability Leaders: C2C Fellows Network Training (December 5-7)
C2C workshops are for current students and recent graduates who want high-impact careers that can change the future through NGO's and government, and in sustainable business. Join C2C to learn the leadership skills necessary to succeed: how to develop a vision; know what you’re good at; tell your story; raise money; and build your network. The cost of the weekend trainings, including food and lodging, is $30. Graduates of these workshops are eligible for scholarships to become funded graduate students at Bard's Center for Environmental Policy and Bard's new MBA in Sustainability. Read more about the benefits of joining the growing national network of over 500 C2C Fellows here. Students aspiring to sustainability leadership in policy, politics and business should apply now to join student leaders from across the country. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and only 60 participants will be accepted into each workshop.

Women's Bike Mechanic Scholarship - Deadline November 15
SRAM, Liv, QBP, United Bicycle Institute (UBI), Pedro’s and Park Tool have joined together to offer ten scholarships for women bike mechanics to attend UBI. This scholarship is dedicated to getting more women on bikes and supporting the development of female mechanics. This opportunity is open to aspiring or experienced bike mechanics and women that would like to increase their technical knowledge to further their career in the bike industry. This scholarship will cover the 2-week Professional Shop Repair and Operations class. Additional support is provided by Nuu-Muu and the Outdoor Industries Women's Coalition (OIWC). This open call for applications began October 20 and will close November 15. Scholarship winners will be notified via email by December 19. Apply for this scholarship!

Call for Papers - Special Issue: Campus Sustainability & Social Sciences Universities and colleges have been among the leading places where sustainability is promoted on campus and beyond. The social sciences can offer a variety of valuable insights into how to enhance a broad range of these efforts at higher education institutions: from supporting recycling, waste reduction, water and energy conservation, renewable energy and alternative transportation use, sustainable food procurement, and green building construction to fostering a sustainability culture. This special issue aims to present contemporary, state-of-the-art applications of how social science theories, models, and findings can help overcome campus sustainability challenges – and – to illustrate the diversity of social science campus sustainability research conducted across the world. Papers are sought from a range of social sciences including but not limited to anthropology, communication, economics, education, geography, psychology, political science, and sociology. Interdisciplinary social science contributions are welcome as well.
Information and Instructions for submissions: Prospective authors should submit an abstract of around 500 words, outlining the proposed manuscript, directly to the guest editor (zintmich[at]umich[dot]edu) by 15th November 2014. Registration and access is available at: http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/ijshe Author guidelines must be followed and can be found on the journal web site at: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?issn=1467-6370&show=latest

October 2014: Contests & Funding

Bioneers Conference Scholarship Deadline October 10
In an effort to make the Bioneers Conference accessible to a wider and more diverse group of people, UCSC's Common Ground Center is thrilled to continue the partnership with Bioneers to bring students, faculty, staff, and recent alumni to the conference at a reduced rate of $30 per person per day. The National Bioneers Conference in San Rafael, CA on October 17-19 is the original whole-systems forum of innovation and collaboration for achieving social, cultural and environmental justice. Serving the sustainability, environmental and social justice communities, BioCon speakers and presenters have included Van Jones, Jane Goodall, Gloria Steinem, Philippe Cousteau, Michael Pollan, Eve Ensler, and Paul Hawken, among many other luminaries. The conference also prides itself on introducing audiences to some of the most innovative voices yet to be discovered. Click here to apply now. More information about the conference is on the Common Ground Center website. Carpool options available. Deadline to apply for the scholarship is October 10!

Carbon Fund Info Session October 23

Have an idea for a project that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions on or off campus? The Carbon Fund is a student-passed fee measure that raises $3 per student per quarter totaling up to ~$100,000 per year to allocate to students, faculty, and staff for their project ideas! If you have ideas that will reduce the carbon footprint of UCSC, from energy and water conversation to more efficient composting and zero waste techniques, the Carbon Fund has money for your project. They will be hosting an info session on October 23 from 4-6 PM in the College 8 Red Room to review how to apply and what makes a strong application--pizza will be served! It is recommended that you attend the info session or email the Carbon Fund in advance to ask questions and receive feedback before applying. Abstracts are due November 14 for the 2014-15 funding cycle. Learn more on the website.

Get a Free Bike for the Quarter
Are you interested in having a bike this quarter? The Bike Library's mission is to make bikes accessible to students, faculty, and staff of UCSC to promote transportation sustainability and self-sufficiency. They believe that financial limitations should not be a barrier and provide our services free of charge. Applications have been open since October 1--apply soon! You can learn more about the program and apply here.

Got a Big Idea? Receive Funding and Support!
The 2014-2015 Big Ideas@Berkeley contest has launched with new categories and expanded eligibility to include graduate and undergraduate students across the entire UC system. This year there are four Big Ideas categories open to matriculated students from all 10 UC campuses: Food System Innovations, Global Health, Mobiles For Reading, IT for Society. Big Ideas is an annual student innovation contest aimed at providing funding, support, and encouragement to interdisciplinary teams of students who have creative solutions to important social challenges. Since its founding in 2006, Big Ideas has inspired innovative and high-impact student-led projects aimed at solving problems that matter to this generation. Up to $300,000 in prizes available to students with innovative ideas to improve society... So put on your thinking caps, break out your big ideas and do not miss this opportunity to have the support you need to get started!

Real Food Media Contest
Multimedia video submissions are now being accepted for the Real Food Media Contest. These videos should be between 30 seconds and 4 minutes, showcasing sustainable food and farming. The vides should feature underreported issues, innovative sustainability strategies, and compelling stories of food producers and workers. Make your submission by January 5, 2015. For more information, please visit the website.

Apply for the Campus Safety Health and Environmental Management Scholarship
CSHEMA is sponsoring the Scholarship Award Program to encourage the study of environmental and occupational health and safety. Currently, one $2,000 scholarship is awarded anually along with paid registration to attend the annual CSHEMA Conference. To be considered for the award, students must meet the following requirements: 1) submit an official transcript, 2) complete application form, 3) write and submit an essay. These items must be delivered in a sealed envelope with university seal and mailed by March 31, 2014. For more information contact April Anstey.

New Video: UCSC Carbon Fund

What is the Carbon Fund? What kinds of projects has it funded in the past? Watch this video to learn more about three projects that received funding last year:

There will be an info session on October 23 in College 8 from 4-6 PM and the abstract deadline for fall is November 14--details online here. If you have a project idea, visit their website to learn more. 

May 2014: Contests and Funding

Apply for the Community Service Project Grant

The Community Service Project (CSP) grant allocates money to students interested in implementing a student initiated, off-campus project that addresses a relevant community need after an appli
cation process. Students can be awarded up to $1,000.

Join Campus Sustainability Council
The role of the Campus Sustainability Council (CSC) is to provide funding to registered UCSC student organizations for programs and events that create, implement, and monitor environmentally sound practices on campus as established through the protocol outlined in the Blueprint for a Sustainable Campus. These organizations additionally facilitate greater collaboration between students, the administration, staff, faculty, and the community. If you are interested in joining the CSC, fill out this form or contact them directly at csc [at] ucsc [dot] edu

March 2014: Contests & Funding

CHESC Award Nominations Due March 7
The California Higher Education Sustainability Conference (CHESC), hosted by the Associated Students of San Diego State University invites students, faculty, staff and administrators from campuses throughout California to submit a proposal to speak; present a poster; or receive an award at this year's conference.

The Higher Education Energy Efficiency and Sustainability Best Practice Awards aim to:

1. Highlight the achievements that California campuses have made through innovative and effective energy efficiency projects and sustainable operations;
2. Showcase specific projects as models to be used by other campuses to achieve energy efficiency and sustainability goals; and
3. Provide campus staff with a compendium of Best Practice projects that could be transferable to their campus. 

Award Nominations are due March 7. For more information about the different nominating categories and to fill out a nomination form, check out their website.

Walk to Class Challenge Day
Save the date! Walk to Class Challenge Day is taking place on April 22. Help reach campus sustainability goals and promote healthy choices. Sign up April 1st-22nd to challenge yourself to walk while on campus rather than use transit. Contact Jessica Pearson, jrpearso [at] ucsc [dot] edu for more information and if you're interested in volunteering on the day of the event!

Call for Papers! Ecomusicologies 2014
The Ecomusicologies 2014: Dialogues is a multi-day conference on the topic of music, culture and the environment. Students and faculty may submit proposals on topics such as musical collaboration with the environment, the sound of green, acoustic ecology, race, class, gender, and academic-as-activist. Proposals are due April 30. For more information and for submissions, contact ecomusicologies [at] gmail [dot] com. You can also check out their website here for a more extensive list of possible topics for the proposals and guidelines.

December 2013: Contests & Funding

Free Winter Quarter Bike Library Rentals: Deadline January 15
Need a bike? The UCSC Bike Library has a fleet of Kona Dew hybrid bikes available to be rented for the whole quarter for free by students, staff, and faculty. The bikes come with a helmet, lock, cable, and lights. Bike Library recipients must attend a one-day bike safety class that covers bike traffic safety, maintenance, and reviews challenging roadway situations in Santa Cruz and how to best approach them. The class will be offered January 18 and 19, and it is open to any UCSC affiliate, even if they are not getting a Bike Library bike. To RSVP for the class, please email taps [at] ucsc [dot] edu. Bike Library applications for winter quarter are due January 15. Visit the website for details, and to apply for a bike click here.

Call for Papers: 'Just Sustainability: Hope for the Commons' Conference
Seattle University's Center for Environmental Justice and Sustainability invites papers and proposals for talks, workshops and panel presentations for its inaugural conference “Just Sustainability: Hope for the Commons” to be held Aug. 7-9, 2014. Topic areas are environmental justice and sustainability from all fields of discourse, including but not limited to environmental studies, theology, business, philosophy, engineering, education, law, the arts, international development, anthropology, religious studies, geography and the natural sciences. Submissions are due by Jan. 27, 2014.

Call for Papers: BioCycle West Coast Conference
Abstracts are now being accepted for the 14th annual Renewable Energy from Organic Recycling (REFOR14 WEST) conference in the areas of renewable energy, and food recovery and recycling tracks. Deadline for abstract submission is December 31.

Call for Proposals: Solar Decathlon 2015
The U.S. Department of Energy is now taking proposals for collegiate entrants in its 2015 student competition. Up to 20 teams will be selected to begin a two-year project to build solar-powered, highly energy-efficient houses that combine affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence. Proposals are due Dec. 20, 2013.

Call for Proposals: 2014 Agricultural Innovation Prize
Launched by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the 2014 Agricultural Innovation Prize encourages student teams to develop innovative plans to address social and agricultural challenges within food systems, improving the standard of living and quality of life for the world’s population. The competition is open to U.S. undergraduate and graduate students across all academic disciplines and runs through spring 2014, when teams will compete for the chance to win $215,000 in prize money, with a grand prize of $100,000.

Call for Submissions: Real Food Media Film Contest
Real Food Media Project is seeking 30-second to four minute short films from students about U.S. food, farming and sustainability. Cash prizes will be given to the best 10 films and the audience choice winner, including a $5,000 grand prize and a chance for a screening at the Food and Farm Film Festival in San Francisco in April 2014. Deadline for submissions is February 3, 2014.

Call for Submissions: Innovative, Sustainable Projects
The Campus Consciousness Challenge, hosted by REVERB Inc., is accepting U.S. undergraduate proposals that aim to have a direct or indirect positive effect on the environment. The winner will receive $10,000 for development of the proposal. Entries are due by noon Eastern on Feb. 17, 2014.

Earthzine Seeks Student Juror for Science Competition
The online scientific journal seeks a university or college student as a juror to assist in scoring entries for NASA 2013 Earth Science Technology Showcase, an online presentation of technology developments for the earth science community.

Call for Submissions: Green Living Project Student Film Competition
Green Living Project invites submissions for its Student Film Project. The competition encourages students to submit films of five minutes or less that share a unique, creative and compelling story about a local or global sustainability-related project. Winning films will be screened at GLP Films' events throughout the year, and winners also receive gear and prizes up to $1,000 in value. Deadline for submissions is Jan. 17, 2014.

November 2013: Contests & Funding

The UCSC Carbon Fund Wants You!: Applications due November 15
The Carbon Fund is accepting applications for project funding! The Carbon Fund is a student-passed fee measure that raises $3 per student per quarter totaling up to ~$100,000 per year to allocate to students, faculty, and staff for their project ideas! This year they have over $200,000 to allocate in funding due to rollover from previous years! If you have any project ideas that reduce the carbon footprint of UCSC, from energy and water conversation to more efficient composting and zero waste techniques, the Carbon Fund has money for your project! For more information, email the Carbon Fund at carbonfund.ucsc@gmail.com and check out their website. Abstracts are due November 15th.

Impact Award: Beyond the Personal Challenge
Reducing waste for the Chancellor's Sustainability Challenge requires building awareness and educating yourself and others. The Chancellor is sponsoring an Impact Award, which includes a cash prize of up to $300 and recognition by the Chancellor for implementing a project or experience that raise awareness about the need to reduce waste at UCSC. More information, ideas and award details are available here.

Net Impact's "Small Steps, Big Wins" Campus Challenge: Ends December 1
Small Steps, Big Wins is a university-focused national student competition to spark undergraduates into doing positive social and environmental actions such as donating blood, recycling or organizing a volunteer day. Join your school and participate in the challenge here. The competition closes on December 1.

Agricultural Innovation Prize 
Interested in participating in the largest agriculture-focused student competition in the world? Share your agricultural challenges and compete for a chance to win the Agricultural Innovational Prize and up to $100,000. The competition is open to U.S. undergraduate and graduate students across all academic disciplines and runs through spring 2014. The contest encourages student teams to develop innovative plans to address social and agricultural challenges within food systems, improving the standard of living and quality of life for the world's population. Additional information about how to participate is available on the website.

Challenge Your Perspectives – The Swedish Scholarship Awards 2014
Two winners will be awarded with full tuition waivers for Master’s of Science programs at two prestigious Swedish universities: Stockholm University and Lund University. If you are interested, enter the challenge here and begin to fill out the application for a chance to win a full tuition fee waiver for either of the Swedish schools.

Zipcar Seeks "Students With Drive"
The "Students with Drive" program is giving student groups an extra hand to help get things done with the help of Zipcars. The program, which gives away over $35,000 in driving credit a month, allows all student groups to nominate themselves to win free driving credit for their group to use for their groups' needs. In 2013, Alpha Phi Omega won $5,000 in driving credit to help students get to their community service events and in 2013, the Sabrosura Dance Troupe won $1,000 to take their dance shows into the community. Learn more about how your group can get involved on the contest website.

April 2013: Contests & Funding

The Human Face of Sustainability Deadline: May 31

Creative Nonfiction and Arizona State University’s Global Institute of Sustainability are looking for remarkable true stories that illuminate and present the human side of environmental, economic, ethical, and/or social challenges related to the state of the planet and our future for the $10,000 Walton Sustainability Solutions Best Creative Nonfiction Essay Award. They welcome personal essays or stories about extraordinary individuals or communities and stories about innovative solutions to sustainability. They seek essays on topics that range from global to local, from “big” (e.g., Resilience after natural disasters; New technology solutions vs. common sense; Energy harvesting) to “small” (e.g., Personal decisions about consumption; Reuse, recycle, up-cycle, bicycle?; Green, clean—what does it mean?; What can we learn from past generations?). Whatever the subject, they want to hear about it in an essay that blends facts and research with narrative—employing scenes, descriptions, etc. For more information click here.

Campus Sustainability Council 
Looking for funds for your sustainability project? The Campus Sustainability Council will be accepting applications this quarter. Deadlines and informational sessions are TBD, but please contact the CSC or visit their website for more information.

Free Spring Quarter Bike Library Rentals Deadline: April 5
Need A Bike? The UCSC Bike Library has a fleet of Kona Dew hybrid bikes available to be checked out for free to students, staff, and faculty. The bikes come with a helmet, lock, cable, and lights. There is a mandatory bike maintenance and safety workshop for recipients of bikes that covers how to take care of the bike, fix a flat tire, how to use bike resources in Santa Cruz such as the bike trailer and bike co-op, and the safest ways to ride. To apply for a bike click here.

The Disorientation Guide Seeking Submissions About LRDP debate 
This quarter, The Disorientation Guide at UCSC will publish GROWTH, a magazine containing a broad array of perspectives on issues relating to the UCSC Long Range Development Plan (LRDP). They are looking for analytical and creative contributions in the form of  articles, poetry, or illustrations/art. If you’re familiar with the ongoing debate that surrounds the LRDP,  then you already know that it is a complex issue, linked to struggles over water use, endangered species, quality of student life, and more.  For more information email the Disorientation Guide or call (707) 318-1760.

Zipcar "Students With Drive" Program

Zipcar has a Students with Drive program that allows all student groups to nominate themselves to win free driving credit for their group to use for their groups' needs.  Two years ago, one of our campus service fraternities won about $5,000 in driving credit to go to their service sites.

Money Available For Your Project Ideas!

Imagine a carbon neutral campus  (a campus that removes as much carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as it puts in). Solar panels and wind turbines on every roof. Bikes and pedestrians fill the streets. What else comes to mind when you think of a more sustainable campus? Did you know that there is tons of money available to help UCSC reduce its carbon footprint? 

UCSC's Carbon Fund was founded in 2010 through Measure 44, a $3-per-quarter student fee. The Carbon Fund provides grants to projects that reduce local greenhouse gas emissions on campus and in the surrounding Santa Cruz area. The UCSC Carbon Fund is dedicated to giving students, staff, and faculty members like you the power to make a change! We're looking to fund projects that reduce waste, energy, water, and gas consumption in innovative ways.

Past projects include the installation of a wind turbine on the Santa Cruz municipal wharf that helped to make the historic Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf energy more self-sufficient. 

For more examples of more past projects click here.

Project abstracts are due Friday, November 16th online. Access the abstract submission form here. We hope you take advantage of this great opportunity to help our community move towards a sustainable future! Apply for the Carbon Fund today!

October 2012: Contests & Funding

Campus RainWorks Challenge Registration Closes October 5

The U.S. EPA’s Office of Water is pleased to announce the Campus RainWorks Challenge for undergraduate and graduate students. Student teams are invited to create an innovative green infrastructure design for a site on their campus showing how managing stormwater at its source can benefit the campus community and the environment. Winning teams will earn a cash prize, as well as research funds for their faculty advisor to conduct research on green infrastructure. Find out more here.

Carbon Fund’s New & Improved Application Process

The UC Santa Cruz Carbon Fund is dedicated to reducing UCSC’s greenhouse gas emissions by awarding grants to student, staff, and faculty led GHG reduction projects. This year, the grant application process has been simplified and includes opportunities for applicants to receive feedback and support from the Carbon Fund staff and committee. Make sure to attend the first Carbon Fund workshop in the fall to get details about how to participate! Visit the website and sign up for our mailing list to receive updates about workshop dates and locations, application deadlines, and more!

Measure 43 Speaker Funding Available - Deadline October 10

UCSC undergraduate students are invited to apply for Measure 43 funds to support visiting speakers whose topic is related to food, health and wellness, and who will engage UCSC students. Application deadlines are October 10th, 2012 for Fall or Winter Requests; January 20, 2013 for Winter or Spring Quarter Requests; and April 20, 2013 for Spring Quarter awards. Your request(s) will be reviewed promptly and awarded applicants will be notified one week following each quarter's application deadline. For more information about Measure 43 click here, and click here to apply.

"So Practical, It’s Radical” Video Contest Deadline October 28
The Rainforest Alliance want to know what students are doing on campus that is “So Practical, It’s Radical."  Have you started a recycling program or a community garden?  Have you encouraged your dining halls to source sustainably? Grab your videocameras, iphones, or other filming devices and submit a short video (no more than 2 minutes) about what you’re doing to make your campus more sustainable!  Prizes include a beautiful Renovo bicycle made from lumber that was grown, harvested and milled in the Appalachian region of the US, tickets to the Broadway show Wicked, a Grow Anthology Special Edition Longboard made from Forest Stewardship Council certified paper, Patagonia goodies and Rainforest Alliance gift bags!  Winning videos will also be featured on the Rainforest Alliance website. If you have any questions regarding the contest or would like to help out, please send an e-mail to campus@ra.org.

Project Green Challenge Video Contest Deadline October 30 
Project Green Challenge is a 30-day eco-lifestyle challenge happening world-wide, and UCSC is participating! Find out more about the challenge here. There is a video contest associated with the challenge to tell the back story of how the challenge is unfolding on our campus. If you are interested in participating in the challenge and you have video-making skills, we would love to get in touch with you. You would shoot and edit the video and deliver it on October 30, and you could work with us to get in contact with students who are participating. The film would need to include interviews, footage of challenges, engagement with the campus, and truly tell the story! If the film is judged “best” by the non-profit who is hosting Project Green Challenge, the filmmaker would get the Adobe Creative Suite and an awesome graphic design and editing package valued at $2500. The winning video will premiere at the Opening Dinner of Green University in San Francisco! If you're interested in documenting this challenge at UC Santa Cruz, please contact Melissa as soon as possible.

Third International E-Waste Design Competition - Deadline November 1
Electronic waste, or "e-waste," generated by computers, TVs, cameras, printers, and cell phones, is a growing global issue. Through the Third International E-Waste Design Competition, participants are asked to explore solutions to both remediate the existing e-waste problem and prevent e-waste generation in the future. Registration is now open! Submit your ideas by November 1 for a chance to win cash prizes. Click here to learn more.


Measure 43 Education & Research Funding Available - Deadline December 15
UCSC undergraduate students are invited to apply for Measure 43 funds to support education and research projects whose topic is related to food, health and wellness, and who will engage UCSC students. The application deadline is December 15, 2012. Awarded applicants will be notified the week of January 14, 2013. For more information about Measure 43 click here, and click here to apply.

Heard about other sustainability related contests or funding opportunities around Santa Cruz or the campus? Post in the comments or send us an email!

September 2012: Contests & Funding

Carbon Fund’s New & Improved Application Process

The UC Santa Cruz Carbon Fund is dedicated to reducing UCSC’s greenhouse gas emissions by awarding grants to student, staff, and faculty led GHG reduction projects. This year, the grant application process has been simplified and includes opportunities for applicants to receive feedback and support from the Carbon Fund staff and committee. Make sure to attend the first Carbon Fund workshop in the fall to get details about how to participate! Visit our website and sign up for our mailing list to receive updates about workshop dates and locations, application deadlines, and more!

Measure 43 Speaker Funding Available Deadline October 10

UCSC undergraduate students are invited to apply for Measure 43 funds to support visiting speakers whose topic is related to food, health and wellness, and who will engage UCSC students. Application deadlines are October 10th, 2012 for Fall or Winter Requests; January 20, 2013 for Winter or Spring Quarter Requests; and April 20, 2013 for Spring Quarter awards. Your request(s) will be reviewed promptly and awarded applicants will be notified one week following each quarter's application deadline. For more information about Measure 43 click here, and click here to apply.

"So Practical, It’s Radical” Video Contest Deadline October 28
The Rainforest Alliance want to know what students are doing on campus that is “So Practical, It’s Radical."  Have you started a recycling program or a community garden?  Have you encouraged your dining halls to source sustainably? Grab your videocameras, iphones, or other filming devices and submit a short video (no more than 2 minutes) about what you’re doing to make your campus more sustainable!  Prizes include a beautiful Renovo bicycle made from lumber that was grown, harvested and milled in the Appalachian region of the US, tickets to the Broadway show Wicked, a Grow Anthology Special Edition Longboard made from Forest Stewardship Council certified paper, Patagonia goodies and Rainforest Alliance gift bags!  Winning videos will also be featured on the Rainforest Alliance website. If you have any questions regarding the contest or would like to help out, please send an e-mail to campus@ra.org.

Measure 43 Education & Research Funding Available Deadline December 15
UCSC undergraduate students are invited to apply for Measure 43 funds to support education and research projects whose topic is related to food, health and wellness, and who will engage UCSC students. The application deadline is December 15, 2012. Awarded applicants will be notified the week of January 14, 2013. For more information about Measure 43 click here, and click here to apply.