Projects
Year
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gorillas in the congo

Combining Conservation and Community Empowerment to Protect Grauer’s Gorilla

This project hopes to promote the conservation of the endangered Grauer's gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Using a data-driven approach to inform habitat corridor management, we are looking at priority conservation areas to investigate the trade-offs between human activities and gorilla conservation planning.

Group Members: Kelsie Fronheiser, Monica Gordon, Zoe Duerksen-Salm, Lizzy Schattle, Yani Pohl

Faculty Advisors: Mark Buntaine, Frank Davis

Clients: Strong Roots Congo

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tropical bird

Wildlife-Friendly Farming and Crop Resilience in Southern Costa Rica

This project team is working with the Costa Rica-based non-profit, Osa Conservation, to evaluate the potential of eco-certifications to produce a net economic benefit to farmers in the Talamanca-Osa Region, and to upport Osa Conservation and local farmers in decision-making by projecting shifts in crop suitability distributions considering the anticipated impacts of climate change.

Group Members: Marie Bouffard, Cameryn Brock, Julia Dagum, Bret Folger, Lauren Manzo

Faculty Advisors: Ashley Larsen

Clients: Osa Conservation

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Still lake water surrounded by boulders.

Understanding Multiple Benefits of Floodplain Restoration from Flood Managed Aquifer Recharge in Madera County, California

This project is working to address California's groundwater resilience by analyzing the multiple benefits of using flood waters for managed aquifer recharge and floodplain restoration in the Madera Basin of the San Joaquin Valley.

Group Members: Alex Ehrens, Annika Leiby, Alex Milward, Nicole Schmidt

Faculty Advisors: Scott Jasechko

Clients: California Department of Water Resources, Environmental Defense Fund

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Sunset behind large electrical towers

Advancing Methods for Corporate Climate Risk Assessment

This project first seeks to identify the climate weather events that will have the most signifiant impact on 19 Raytheon Technologies locations within the United States.

Group Members: Margaret Brickner, Derek Nguyen, Jordan Faires, Paul Rikhter

Faculty Advisors: Eric Masanet, Matt Potoski

Clients: Raytheon Technologies

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ground level view of a tall pine tree

Conservation of Southern California Yellow Pine Mixed Conifer Forests

This project will assess the natural range of variation (NRV) for southern California National forests, in addition to analyzing current research to provide the client with feasible management objectives that maximize forest resilience under a changing climate.

Group Members: Hannah Garcia-Wickstrum, Leana Goetze, Anne-Marie Parkinson, Jennifer Truong

Faculty Advisors: Bruce Kendall

Clients: US Forest Service

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Small fishing boat floats unattended in ocean.

Supporting Cooperation in Brazil’s Marine Extractive Reserves

Using several data sources, this group project is building a model to guide day-to-day decisions and high-level campaign strategy for a new fishery co-management framework in Brazil.

Group Members: Dylan Glave, Elliott Matthews, Peyton Moore, Ruben Sanchez Ramirez

Faculty Advisors: Steve Gaines

Clients: World Wildlife Fund Brazil

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Silhouette of a sting ray underwater

A Framework for Designing Marine Protected Areas for Sharks and Rays in Mozambique

The goal of this project is to assist the government of Mozambique to improve the management of shark and ray populations and associated fisheries, through appropriate analysis and translation of data into science-based recommendations for policy and management.

Group Members: Anna Abelman, Courtney Krone, Vanessa Rathbone, Rachel Rhodes, Erin Ristig

Faculty Advisors: Hunter Lenihan

Clients: Wildlife Conservation Society

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trees in a forest and mountain creek

Prioritizing Prescribed Fire to Protect Water Quality in the Sierra Nevada

This project is identifying locations for fuels reduction to maximize benefits to river ecosystems and clean water supply. This model will be looking at fire and water processes in the Cosumnes, American, Bear, and Yuba (CABY) river regions in the Sierra Nevada Forests.

Group Members: Simone Albuquerque, Indigo Bannister, Allison Hacker, Jon Hart, Evan Heberlein

Faculty Advisors: Christina Tague

Clients: American Rivers

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Aqua lake surrounded by forested hills

Energy Savings from Moulton Niguel Water District Water Efficiency Programs

This project explores residential water rebate programs' impact on water, energy, and greenhouse gas emissions, specifically for the project client, Moulton Niguel Water District.

Group Members: Pat Byrne, Claudia Flores, Jaleise Hall, Ruoyu Wang, Jakob Wilford-Bivin

Faculty Advisors: Arturo Keller, Eric Masanet

Clients: Moulton Niguel Water District

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Rustic fishing boats in a harbor.

Quota Baskets: Exploring Alternative Groupings for Fisheries Management

The main objective of this project is to design a theoretical framework of quota baskets to guide managers and decision-makers in determining whether quota basket approaches are an appropriate management strategy for a fishery.

Group Members: Mauricio Collado, Gabriel De La Rosa, Kat Leigh, Siya Qiu

Faculty Advisors: Christopher Costello

Clients: Environmental Defense Fund

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solar panels

Local Clean Energy Vision for Southern California

This study aims to define “multiple benefit local clean energy” and “environmentally responsible local clean energy” in order to explore the benefits of distributed energy resources.

Group Members: Jordan Isken, Keene Morrow, Audrey Nolan, David Segan, Richard Viebrock

Faculty Advisors: Andrew Plantinga, Kyle Meng

Clients: The Nature Conservancy, Clean Power Alliance

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A group of people traverse a grassy field through brush

Wild Pig Management at the Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve

This project analyzes data and strategies for feral pig management at the Dangermond Preserve in California to inform The Nature Conservancy's long-term management plan to reduce or eliminate the negative impacts of this invasive species on the preserve's natural and cultural resources.

Group Members: Benson Truong, Shuhan Song, AJ Zekanoski, Peter Omasta

Faculty Advisors: Kelly Caylor, Christopher Costello

Clients: The Nature Conservancy

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Fresh blueberries in a carton.

Reducing Agricultural Plastics’ Environmental Impacts

This project assesses viable alternatives to agricultural plastics as well as their disposal methods. The group aims to to seize the opportunity to lighten the environmental impact of the berry industry. 

Group Members: Lucas Empson, Garrett Eyer, Emma Friedl, Renata Massion, Bobby Miyashiro

Faculty Advisors: Roland Geyer

Clients: Driscoll's, Inc.

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Carrots and artichokes fresh from farm.

Rubbish: Diverting Neglected Organic Waste from Landfills to Create Renewable Energy and High Quality Compost (Eco-E)

BioQuest is a cooperative composed of small-medium businesses and ranchers within the local food ecosystem. This Eco-E group of social entrepreneurs is looking to develop innovative, holistic solutions that incentivize climate action throughout the food supply chain. 

Group Members: Allison Bailey, Anthony Luna, Kazia Mermel

Faculty Advisors: Robert Heilmayr, Emily Cotter

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Trail in the Santa Barbara mountains

Parks Are Essential Campaign

The Conejo Recreation & Parks Department hopes to reach residents to communicate benefits of local parks to spark increased use, interest, and support for future park initiatives. This multi-part, research-based campaign includes a survey, strategic messaging, video competitions, and calls to action.

Group Members: Veronica Weber, Yani Pohl

Faculty Advisors: Lisa Leombruni

Clients: Conejo Recreation & Parks Department