Mantell Symposium in Environmental Justice and Conservation Innovation 2025
Please join us for a special event that will catalyze the Bren School’s efforts to advance environmental justice and conservation innovation. The Mantell Symposium will include panel discussions featuring leaders in the environmental justice and conservation innovation space as well as Bren School faculty and the fourth cohort of Mantell and Bren Environmental Leadership Fellows. Following the event, a reception for donors, partners, all Bren students, staff, faculty, and others attending the Symposium will be held in the Michael J. Connell Memorial Courtyard.
The symposium will also be live streamed for remote viewing; see below.
RSVP required for in person attendance only; kindly reply to Renee Dubie at reneedubie@ucsb.edu to reserve your place.
1:00-5:00 PM | Symposium, Bren Hall 1414
1:00-1:05 PM Introductory Remarks: Dr. Sarah Anderson, Interim Dean and Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
1:05 - 1:30 PM Opening Keynote: Jim Enote, Zuni tribal member and Chief Executive Officer of the Colorado Plateau Foundation
Watch a recording of the introduction and keynote here
1:30 - 2:05 PM: Panel 1
Designing Resilient Oceans: Strategies for Marine Protection and Biodiversity Preservation | Watch a recording of the panel here
Partners: Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Invited Panelists: Meg Caldwell, Planet Women; Monisha Sugla, NOAA
Bren Moderator: Dr. Chris Free
Student Fellows: Allie Caughman, Bren PhD; Caroline Smith, Bren MESM; Addison Desmond, Environmental Studies undergraduate; Hali’a Fleming, Environmental Studies undergraduate
2:05 - 2:40 PM: Panel 2
Coding Equity: Building Inclusive STEM Futures | Watch a recording of the panel here
Partner: Bren Strategic Environmental Communication & Media Focus
Invited Panelist: Dr. Lena Capece, Blue Carbon Science
Bren Moderator: Dr. Carmen Galaz García
Student Fellows: Cali Pfleger, Bren PhD; Lauren Puffer, Bren MESM; Ozair Usmani, Physics undergraduate; Kayle Craigen, Environmental Studies undergraduate
20 minute intermission
3:00 - 3:35 PM: Panel 3
Blueprints for Blue Recovery: Advancing Marine Restoration and Responsible Aquaculture | Watch a recording of the panel here
Partners: The Nature Conservancy, Monterey Bay Aquarium
Invited Panelist: Margaret Spring, Monterey Bay Aquarium
Bren Moderator: Dr. Ben Halpern
Student Fellows: Ashley Diedenhofen, Bren MESM; Dan O’Shea, Bren MESM; Alyssa Boucher, Environmental Studies undergraduate; Mackenzie Grebner, Environmental Studies and Aquatic Biology undergraduate
3:35 - 4:10 PM: Panel 4
Bridging Data and Impact: Sustainability in Corporate Practice | Watch a recording of the panel here
Partner: Tillamook
Invited Panelists: Laura Tam, Bay Planning Coalition; Jocelyn Bridson, Bren alum, Tillamook
Bren Faculty Moderator: Dr. Sarah Anderson
Student Fellows: Karina Kays, Bren MESM; Roxanna Braganca, Environmental Studies undergraduate
4:10 - 4:45 PM: Panel 5
Cultivating Change: Regenerative Agriculture for a Climate-Resilient Future | Watch a recording of the panel here
Partner: White Buffalo Land Trust
Invited Panelists: Ashley Boren, Sustainable Conservation; Ann Close, White Buffalo Land Trust
Bren Faculty Moderator: Dr. Kelly Caylor
Student Fellows: Zoe Sims, Bren PhD; Isa Elias, Bren MESM; Andie McNeil, Environmental Studies and Spanish undergraduate
4:45 - 5:00 PM Closing Remarks: Michael Mantell, Resources Legacy Fund
5:00 - 7:00 PM | Reception, Michael J. Connell Memorial Courtyard
We could not do this without our partners at UC Santa Barbara. Thank you to the Promise Scholars program, the Center for Equitable Environmental Sciences, and the UCSB Graduate Division. A special thank you to the generous supporters of the Bren School and student fellows: Resources Legacy Fund Board and Friends of Michael Mantell, Manitou Fund, U.S. Department of Agriculture, The Nature Conservancy, Tillamook, Bank of America, Monarch Opportunity, Rincon Consultants, and UCSB donors.