The Bren Emerging Environmental Scholars (BEES) program prepares students for leadership and success in the environmental field and natural sciences. Recognizing the urgency to reach youth, BEES is an interactive initiative that connects Bren PhD students in mentorship roles with middle and high school students. This dual-impact model cultivates leadership in PhD students while revealing diverse, accessible career pathways for youth. BEES bridges the gap between advanced environmental research and the next generation of stewards.
Program Details
The program immerses students in real-world conservation through experiential learning and hands-on field trips to local natural reserves including the Sedgwick Reserve, Santa Cruz Island, and The Nature Conservancy’s Dangermond Preserve. In the classroom, PhD educators conduct pre- and post-field trip lessons aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
- For Youth: Middle and high school students receive holistic career readiness by being exposed to diverse employment and non-traditional postsecondary education pathways, equipped with technical knowledge, and instilled with industry confidence.
- For PhD students: Bren and UCSB graduate students give back to the community while gaining high-impact professional development outside the research lab, including leadership cultivation, curricula building experience, and science communication skills refinement.
- For academic partners: The BEES program provides local middle and high school teachers with high-quality education led by committed PhD students. Resources include direct classroom support, immersive, hands-on field trips, lessons aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards and more!
What BEES participants are saying:
“I want to give others the opportunity to see the beauty and why we should care about the world.”
Lesley Figueroa, 3rd year Bren PhD student
“[I look forward to] becoming a steward of the land and being able to connect what I learned in class and apply it to the trip.”
Andrea R., Lompoc High School Student
The Bren Emerging Environmental Scholars program was a pivotal experience for my high school students in the Marine Science Academy, expanding their awareness of academic and professional pathways for their future. Learning from and interacting with Ph.D. students who are just a few years ahead of them allowed my emerging scientists to imagine themselves thriving in that space. They all went home excited to dive deeper into environmental science and research, and were inspired to grow in their capacity to protect, restore, and conserve coastal habitats in their own backyard.
- Theresa Lujan, Biology Teacher, Marine Science Academy Coordinator, Channel Islands High School
We wish to thank our Bren Emerging Environmental Scholars (BEES) Partners:
