A Visual Narrative of Food Insecurity in Santa Barbara County
Erika Egg and Tiffany Hsu
We are creating a geographical data visualization of poverty (as a proxy for food insecurity) and food distribution locations operated by the SB Food Bank in Santa Barbara County. Utilizing Tableau to create an interactive design, we plan to incorporate many different features, layers, and descriptions to explore. Our goal is to help the Food Bank (and the public) understand where poverty is centered and, by extension, if the needs of those who are potentially food insecure are being met. Creative problem solving through our data visualization will support the direct change-makers and, in turn, bring greater awareness of food insecurity in SB County. (Mentored by Katie Eagen, Ceara Sweetser, Jamie Jackson, Nola Jackson, Co-Founders, Empathy Data)
Carbon Neutral Isla Vista: Community Outreach and Just Transition
Tyler Barton
My project focuses on engaging the entire community of Isla Vista to discuss how we will reach carbon neutrality. Throughout these past nine months, I have been focused on building relationships with community groups and getting a better understanding of the different players in Isla Vista who can help begin this process. These preliminary discussions are intended to lead into community workshops with Isla Vista’s diverse range of residents to discuss the pressing issues that face the community in this dynamic, yet necessary, transition. While this transition will happen beyond my time in Isla Vista, I am excited to have begun planting the seeds of this idea in a community with so much potential. (Mentored by Katie Maynard, Sustainability Coordinator, University of California, Santa Barbara)
Climate Grief Circle
Sarah McNelis
The Climate Grief Circle project is meant to support those in environmental fields deal with the strain environmental degrees and jobs that comes addressing the severity of modern climate change and the toll it is taking on our planet. This support is achieved through holding a grief circle in which people can discuss their experiences with environmental and climate grief. Everyone is affected by our ever-changing climate, and my project goes to help bear the burden of growing up and getting jobs amidst a climate crisis. (Mentored by Celia Alario, Communications Coach & Strategist)
Climate Research for the Youth (Climatry)
Allyson Ee
Due to climate injustice, hundreds of thousands of Filipinos are displaced by typhoons yearly. There is currently a lack of scientists in the country to mitigate its climate crisis. The Philippine government instituted a rigorous STEM-centered high school, Philippine Science High School (PSHS), to educate the future scientists of the nation. All 11th and 12th graders of PSHS conduct scientific research yearly, but these students don’t have access to mentors working on related topics. On the other hand, there are numerous graduate students working on climate change related research in America. Climatry aims to connect these Filipino youth with US graduate research mentors to hone their scientific research skills. They will also equip these young researchers with climate education and personal development skills, empowering them to become climate leaders of tomorrow. (Mentored by Wendy Ibsen, Associated Director, Center for Science and Engineering Partnerships (CSEP), University of California, Santa Barbara)
Eco-friendly Feminine Care Products for UCSB Students
Natalya Alcerro
My project addresses issues of equity and access on UCSB campus that affects 55% of the population. Menstrual products are a medical necessity for this population. Also, UCSB has one of the oldest environmental studies programs and is a green campus. I want to build on the issue of access and the environment to provide a solution for female students and staff. I am designing an infographic that will inform with the latest research the impact of plastic on the environment and eco alternatives to disposable menstrual products which would include a discount code for an ecofriendly product. (Mentored by Dr. Laury Oaks, Chair, Feminist Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara)
Energy-Efficient Lighting Initiative in UCSB’s Residence Halls
Eliana Stone
For my ELI project, I completed a proposal for an energy-efficient update to the lighting systems in six major UCSB residence halls (Santa Cruz Hall, Anacapa Hall, Santa Rosa Hall, Manzanita Village, San Miguel Hall, and San Nicholas Hall) from old fluorescent bulbs to new LED bulbs with the potential for additional modifications such as ambient light sensors and dimming capabilities in the future. The LED bulbs are almost 60% less energy-intensive compared to the existing bulbs and the LED retrofits are estimated to save UCSB close to $25,000 a year on energy and maintenance costs for all 6 halls. This proposal was submitted to Mark Rousseau, UCSB’s Housing and Residential Services Energy Manager. This project contributes to UCSB’s Carbon Neutrality Initiative goals of emitting net zero greenhouse gases from its buildings by 2025. (Mentored by Brandon Kaysen, Environmental Supervisor, City of Ventura)
Environmental Justice for the Undocumented Community
Martha Gonzalez
Undocumented Immigrants are among many marginalized groups in the United States that experience environmental injustices intensified through generations. Lack of legal Immigration status in the United States not only subject immigrants to poor living and working conditions but forces them into silence for fear of persecution and deportation. This ELI project focuses on moving Undocumented experiences towards environmental justice by educating the non-Immigrant community on the injustices Undocumented Immigrants face through the presentations and discussions of researchers, organizers, and activists and collaborating with local organizations and organizers to connect community members to resources and ways to advocate for the Undocumented Environmental Justice experience.
Envirosations
Hannah Dayton and Lizzy Mau
Engaging in conversations with environmental activists to explore environmentalism through their eyes. We host the podcasts on the belief that environmentalism should be framed through an intersectional lens. We want to share the stories of a diverse array of people who are doing the work in their communities to inspire and empower your journey as an environmentalist. (Mentored by Lisa Osborn, News and Public Affairs Director, UCSB's KCSB FM 91.9)
Go 10 More!
Ella Fletcher and Layni Booth
Go 10 More! is a program dedicated to reducing food waste and increasing charitable giving from grocery stores and restaurants throughout Isla Vista, Goleta, and Santa Barbara. Some of the projects that have been done so far include facilitating one-time donations from the Isla Vista restaurant, Buddha Bowls; interviewing grocery stores to learn more about local food waste practices; working with the Santa Barbara Public Health department to create an information campaign regarding food donation guidelines for grocery stores; surveying local nonprofits to get intel on their donation needs and food storage capacity; and creating 52 care packages for houseless individuals with the help of donations from local grocery stores. This project is currently being adopted by City Net and being turned into an annual donation drive across multiple California cities. (Mentored by Julia Devor, Food Rescue Program Coordinator, Community Environmental Council)
Litter-Free IV
Hannah Karlsrud
For my ELI Project, I created an organization, called Litter Free IV. As an organization we host litter clean-ups in Isla Vista and educate the community about the harmful environmental impacts of litter, especially disposable face mask litter. My goal is to reduce the amount of trash in Isla Vista that ends up littering the natural environment. In 2016, it was estimated that 11% of plastic waste, 19 to 23 million metric tons, ended up in aquatic environments (Borrelle et al., 2020). Five years later, plastic pollution continues to rise and the outbreak of the Covid-19 crisis has only aggravated the problem because of the increased use and improper disposal of disposable face masks and gloves. At each clean-up Litter-Free IV has hosted, we have had participants count how many disposable masks they find. I also conduct my own face mask litter counts before and after each clean-up. (Mentored by Penny Owens, Education & Community Outreach Director, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper)
Plan Bee
Alyssa Jain
Plan Bee focuses on addressing declining insect populations—particularly for native bees—through habitat creation and education. We have partnered with St. Mike’s Community Church to build a new pollinator garden in Isla Vista with native bee-preferred plants. We are also working on becoming a certified Bee Campus USA through the Xerces Society’s certification program, which promotes education and awareness about pollinators and recognizes college campuses that demonstrate a commitment to bee conservation. Additionally, we plan to offer research internships, volunteer opportunities, and educational workshops focused on native insect conservation. Our goal is to increase awareness about issues affecting native bees as well as other insects and provide avenues for students to take action and join in conservation efforts. (Mentored by Dr. Katja Seltmann, Director, Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration)
Project Green Path
Tara Pugliese
Project Green Path (PGP) is an environmental initiative aimed at encouraging high school students to consider a career in an environmental field that relates to their unique interests and abilities. PGP emphasizes interdisciplinary environmental work by showcasing the creative ways that most academic and extracurricular skills can be geared toward an environmental aim. Think environmental law, environmental engineering, and environmental journalism, just to name a few! PGP hopes to reach students through in-person presentations and workshops at local high schools in the Santa Barbara area as well as by curating a collection of video interviews with real-world environmental leaders that will be available on the PGP website. (Mentored by Rachel Sarnoff, Founder, Lincoln Sarnoff Consulting)
Reviving Pointe Shoes
Camille Locke
For my ELI project, I began with the idea of creating a program where dancers could donate their “dead” pointe shoes in order for their materials to be recycled to be made into leotards that could be sold back to the dance world; those dancers who participated in donation of their shoes would be able to get a discount on the leotard line created from their shoes. Through this project, I learned of the complexity of recycling materials and the need for financial backing to make a project like this a reality. I want to continue to work towards my goal with this project by raising environmental awareness in the ballet world. I am writing an op-ed article about the process of trying to get this project to be a reality, and I will be sending this article to dance magazines as well as influential dancers. I will use a film project that I am creating for my senior thesis as a call to action to change the dance world and bring awareness of the amount of pointe shoes that dancers go through throughout their dancing career. (Mentored by Rene Eyerly, Acting Sustainability & Resilience Co-Director, City of Santa Barbara)
Straight From the Sun
Layne Hayward and Yalda Khodadad
We created a thirty minute presentation for 5th or 6th graders at local elementary schools that covered the basics of sustainable nutrition, including ways to benefit your body and the Earth! Our goal was to empower kids to have the information to make educated eating choices at a young age. Along with our presentation, we provided each student with a recipe bag that included a simple plant-based taco recipe for them to make at home. The recipe bags were subsidized in part by Trader Joe’s, and we paid for the rest using a $750 grant we received from the Associated Students Community Affairs Board. We also created a website that has recipes and resources on it for the students and their parents. (Mentored by Emma Malina, Plant-Based Nutrition Educator, Rooted Santa Barbara)
Sustainability Education in Gaucho FYI
Risa Mori
My ELI project mission was to create a platform to educate students about sustainability and give them the tools to implement it as a mindset and way of living. To achieve this goal, I worked with other students, including Associated Students (AS) Senators and leaders of campus environmental organizations, to build support for including sustainability education in Gaucho FYI, the group that develops required modules for incoming students. Through Gaucho FYI, all incoming UCSB students would learn about the shared values of sustainability and the environmental resources on campus. I hope that this project will make environmentalism inclusive to all students and motivate them to take thoughtful actions. (Mentored by Dr. Katya Armistead, Assistant Vice Chancellor & Dean of Student Life, University of California, Santa Barbara)