2026 Bren Communication Capstone Presentations

Join us to celebrate the work of ESM 449 Communication Capstone students as they present their final projects to clients, peers, and the broader Bren community. Each team has spent Spring Quarter partnering with external environmental clients to produce high-quality communication deliverables from strategic plans to story maps to documentary films.

The presentations will take place in Bren Hall 1414 from 1:30pm to 4:30pm, with a reception to follow in the Michael J. Connell Memorial Courtyard. Join us in person or watch online using this link and passcode comm

SCHEDULE

Session 1: 

• 1:30 PM Opening Remarks; Alexandra Phillips
• 1:35 PM Expanding SI2's Donor Base: An Audience Analysis and Strategic Communications Plan; Scott Schwartz
• 1:45 PM Trusted Ground: Kearns & West as the Bridge Between Projects and Communities; Lucas Duchrow
• 1:55 PM Channel Islands Biosphere Region: Strategic Communications and Outreach Plan; Marley Hatfield and Wesley Noble
• 2:05 PM Ash to Action: Post-Fire Coastal Communications Toolkit; Claire Katzenberger and Lili Khosravi
• 2:15 PM Enhancing Science Communications for the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary; Megan Baker and Andrew Castillo
• 2:25 PM Rooted in Hope: Plant Conservation at the San Francisco Botanical Gardens; Claire Anderson and Sneha Kumar
• 2:35 PM Scaling Environmental Stewardship and Culture Across the UCSB Student Community; Halle Kuhar-Pitters
• 2:45 PM UC’s Hidden Gem: The Natural Reserve System; Sarayu Ramnath
• 3:00 - 3:15 PM Break 

Session 2: 

• 3:15 PM How Coastal Erosion is Changing Dunes and Cliffs Along UCSB’s Coastline; Caroline Smith
• 3:25 PM The Bight: Santa Barbara Seafood Literacy Project; Lauren Puffer and Daniel O’Shea
• 3:35 PM Well, Well, Well: An Introduction to Groundwater Recovery; Sara Soroka and Travis Rennacker
• 3:45 PM Bay Sediment in Motion: Exploring Key Transport Processes in San Pablo Bay; Lilia Mourier
• 3:55 PM Jalama Creek - Steelhead Strong; Justin Gutierrez and Pablo Van Dyck
• 4:05 PM Beyond Bren: Alumni Spotlight Interview Podcast Series; Elise Dauterive
• 4:15 PM A Plot of Rising Ground Documentary; James Benjamin

🥂 Reception to follow at 4:30 PM | All guests welcome, food and refreshments provided!