Giving Stories

The BEL Fellowship pairs UCSB Bren graduate students with undergraduates on paid sustainability internships, combining peer mentorship, career training, and real-world environmental problem-solving with mission-driven partner organizations.

Field-based environmental education at the Dangermond Preserve shows how hands-on learning builds scientific intuition, making ecology and science more accessible through observation, inquiry, and real-world experience.

Bren School's BEL program pairs undergraduate and graduate students for 10-week paid fellowships, fostering mentorship while advancing environmental research from marine conservation to climate solutions and STEM diversity initiatives.

Bren School's Environmental Leadership program partners with Youth Conservation Corps to transform first-generation students' futures through hands-on Santa Cruz Island restoration work, mentorship from PhD students, and exposure to environmental careers previously beyond their imagination.

The Hurd Co. started as an Eco-Entrepreneurship project to create a sustainable product for fabric production made from plant waste instead of logging forests. Taylor Heisley-Cook, David Mun, and Celine Mol weaved together their passions for sustainable apparel to propose their initial product “biscose,” an apparel-grade pulp made from cannabis plant waste that is typically burned or sent to landfills.

With increasing numbers of drivers making the switch to electric vehicles (EVs), ensuring access to reliable charging remains a hurdle. This is where EVmatch plugged into the market gap to build a bridge between drivers and property owners to tackle the lack of charging infrastructure.

Learn more about how you can support the Bren Environmental Leadership (BEL) Program. This leadership development program for undergraduates facing adverse circumstances is developed to improve professional outcomes and fostering growth in the field of environmental science.

This year the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management hosted the first ever Corporate Sustainability Network Summit for our alumni and donors.

The Bren School celebrates the life of Richard Wilson, a visionary and committed environmental advocate. With the support and momentum from this dedicated benefactor, countless students have been, and will continue to be, empowered to forge a brighter, more sustainable future.

Dr. Keller’s research is leading to economically viable solutions that can ensure equitable access to safe drinking water, manage biosolids, and eliminate contaminants like microplastics and ‘forever chemicals’.

The Bren School of Environmental Science and Management is committed to creating a more inclusive field. To that end, the Michael Mantell Fellowship and Symposium supports emerging leaders who work toward environmental justice, social equity, and climate resilience.

Boughton Communication Fellows advance inclusion at Bren by developing environmental justice education programs