2026 Master's Impact Project Presentations
Master of Environmental Science and Management student impact projects are the culmination of a year working in collaboration with a client partner or on a business plan which addresses an environmental problem. The Class of 2026 will present 17 Impact Projects and Eco-Entrepreneurship Impact Projects on Friday, April 17, 2026, from 1:00pm to 5:55pm Pacific Time. This event will be held in-person on the UC Santa Barbara campus and streamed live online. Presentations will be held in two simultaneous sessions: Session A is in Bren Hall 1414, and Session B is in the Marine Science Institute (MSI) Auditorium.
This event is open to the public, both in-person and online. No registration is required. See schedule and livestream links below.
SCHEDULE
Session A: Bren Hall 1414
- 1:00 - 1:15 pm: Dean's Welcome
- 1:15 - 1:40 pm: Coexisting with Black Bears: Modeling Habitat Connectivity and Conflict in California’s North Bay; Carolina Chatila, Olly Johnson, Emmalyn Norman, Lauren Puffer, Sydney Royal
- 1:45 - 2:10 pm: Evaluating Habitat Suitability at Apricot Lane Farms for the Proposed Reintroduction of the California Red-Legged Frog (Rana draytonii); Natasha Atkins, Avery Bowen, Lenaya-Aiden Gonzales, Melissa Rivas Hernandez, Angelina Taylor
- 2:15 - 2:40 pm: Regional Restoration Planning for the Central San Joaquin Valley and Sierra Nevada; Rebeca Adam, James Benjamin, Sneha Kumar, Sara Soroka, Elizabeth Weathers
- 2:45 - 3:10 pm: Developing Cost-Feasible Decarbonization Strategies for the Presidio Springs Affordable Housing Redevelopment; Kyle Alves, Lucas d'Alva Duchrow, Maya Kurani, Isabella Perez
- 3:15 - 3:40 pm: MediMRF: Automated Waste Sorting for Healthcare (Eco-Entrepreneurship); Nicholas Leong, Ryan Stanley
- 4:00 - 4:25 pm: ReNewHair: An Eco-Friendly and Non-Toxic Alternative for Hair Extensions (Eco-Entrepreneurship); Halle Kuhar-Pitters, Aaliyah Muhammad
- 4:30 - 4:55 pm: Circular Threads: A Blueprint for California’s Textile Recovery Under SB 707; Kaitlin Castor, Elise Dauterive, Claire Katzenberger, Karina Kays
- 5:00 - 5:25 pm: Evaluating the Equity and Efficacy of Los Angeles County's Stormwater Capture Projects; Claire Anderson, Samuel Cervantes, Nico Gavigan, Lili Khosravi, Tina Tran
- 5:30 - 5:55 pm: Impacts of Mining Contamination in the Pilcomayo River Basin and Opportunities for Remediation; Katerina Bischel, Abbey Guilliat, Nadav Kempinski, Elijah Khan, Jackson Mills
Session B: MSI Auditorium
- 1:00 - 1:15 pm: Dean's Welcome
- 1:15 - 1:40 pm: Squid Inc.: Treating and Transforming Squid Processing Wastewater at Ventura Harbor (Eco-Entrepreneurship); Ashley Diedenhofen, Benjamin Ladabaum, Travis Rennacker, Stella Wing
- 1:45 - 2:10 pm: A Feasibility Assessment of U.S. Deep-Sea Mining and a Comparative Analysis with Terrestrial Mining; Gerald Clark, Haven Parker, Emma Perme, Pablo Van Dyck
- 2:15 - 2:40 pm: Baseline Environmental Assessment of Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary; Andrew Castillo, Michelle Graham, Marley Hatfield, Sarayu Ramnath, Caroline Smith
- 2:45 - 3:10 pm: Assessing Climate Exposures to Indigenous Peoples & Local Communities and the Nature within their Territories in Amazonia; Jackson Coldiron, Garrett Craig, Isa Elias, Justin Gutierrez, Bella Pucker
- 3:15 - 3:40 pm: Quantitative Assessment of Remote Sensing Capabilities to Improve Monitoring of Giant Kelp Condition; Emilie Lenoir, Michelle Moreno, Charles O'Connor, Tanvi Shah, Danielle Turner
- 4:30 - 4:55 pm: Santa Barbara Residential Electrification: Roadmap to Zero Emissions by 2035; Karlie Hayes, Nolan Mitschke, Alon Robbins
- 5:00 - 5:25 pm: Evaluating Neighborhood-Scale Decarbonization in a Disadvantaged Community through Energy System Electrification; Megan Baker, Nicolas DeStephano, Allison Larko, Ella Moore, Scott Schwartz
- 5:30 - 5:55 pm: Advancing Managed Retreat in California: Planning Considerations and Buyout-Leaseback Financing Evaluation; William Dean, Ada Ekpezu Olumba, Wesley Noble, Lilia Mourier, Daniel O'Shea
Reception to follow in the Bren Hall Michael J. Connell Memorial Courtyard
Bren School MESM Impact Project Presentation Day: An Invitation from Interim Dean Sarah Anderson
I am pleased to invite you to the Bren School’s 29th Annual Impact Project Presentations. This event showcases our mission: turning rigorous, interdisciplinary science into actionable, real-world solutions.
Today represents the culmination of a year-long immersion in the complexities of environmental problem-solving for the MESM Class of 2026. Working in collaborative teams with faculty advisors, our students have navigated the technical, scientific, and social realities that define modern environmental work. Their projects provide immediate, tangible value to our partners and the broader environmental community, ranging from data-driven management strategies for external stakeholders to sustainable ventures launched through the Eco-E track.
By joining us for these presentations, you are doing more than just watching a series of talks. You are meeting a new cohort of leaders who have the depth of knowledge and the practical experience to lead the way forward. Whether you are a long-time collaborator, a family member, a Bren alum, or a prospective employer, I know you will be inspired by the expertise and readiness of our students as they step into their roles as the next generation of environmental leaders.
Thank you to our 2026 Master's Impact Project Presentations Supporter:
And thank you to the Bren School's Corporate and Institutional Partners:
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, California Homebuilding Foundation, California Marine Sanctuary Foundation, Donald Bren Foundation, Kingfisher Foundation, Latham & Watkins, Natalie Orfalea Foundation, Professional Environmental Managers Association (PEMA), Rincon Consultants, Safe Passage Youth Foundation, Southern California Edison, The Kirby-Jones Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, Toad&Co.