Projects
Year
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Fruits and avocados on market table

An Open-source Pipeline for Remote Sensing of Crop Yields: a Zambia Case Study

Using the MOSAIKS machine learning approach to make fine-resolution agricultural crop yield predictions over time across all of sub-Saharan Africa.

Group Members: Steven Cognac, Juliet Cohen, Grace Lewin, Cullen Molitor

Clients: UCSB Bren School

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Plastic bag that says thank you

Environmental and Financial Analysis: Single-Use Plastic versus Reusable Recycling Bags

Analyzing environmental and financial factors to develop a calculator and marketing tool to help a commercial recycling company make decisions about transport packaging.

Group Members: Karla Bonilla Cordero, Kat Cotti, Larissa Neilson, Morganne Sigismonti

Faculty Advisors: Matt Potoski

Clients: WSP Sustainability, Energy & Climate Change Division

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Mouth of Pacific Lamprey

Identification and Conservation of Larval Pacific Lamprey Habitat in the Columbia River Estuary

Identifying larval Pacific lamprey habitat locations to aid ongoing restoration efforts, and providing policy recommendations to the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission.

Group Members: Ethan Hoffman, Lory Salazar-Velasquez

Faculty Advisors: Scott Jasechko

Clients: Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission - CRITFC

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Baseball field and stadium

Play Sustainaball: An Environmental Footprint for an MLB Team Season

Quantifying the environmental impacts of a stadium and clubhouse operations to better understand and mitigate these impacts.

Group Members: Gabrielle Barsotti, Hannah Brady, Jordan Davis, Carly Norris, Eric Shaphran

Faculty Advisors: Eric Masanet

Clients: Goldring Family Foundation, Players for the Planet

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Aerial view of solar panels floating in pond

Exploring the Feasibility of Floating Solar on Lauro Reservoir

Developing a framework for a floating photovoltaic system identifying potential opportunities, difficulties, and concerns for various stakeholders, including financial, regulatory, and technical components necessary to gain permitting approvals.

Group Members: Trent Buchanan, Andrea Gracia Duran, Colin Schimmelfing, Carlos Simms

Faculty Advisors: Roland Geyer

Clients: City of Santa Barbara

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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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Yosemite Valley

Water Balance in National Parks

The National Park Service wants its managers to incorporate ‘water balance’ into their park management practices—but it’s a challenging topic and not many are aware of how it works. This project includes an ArcGIS StoryMap to explain the topic and why it’s relevant to park managers.

Group Members: Joanne Pham, Janelle Christensen, Keene Morrow

Faculty Advisors: Lisa Leombruni

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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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Purple urchin uni

Uniquely Sustainable Seafood

The purple urchin is a delicacy that can help repopulate California’s kelp forests if fished. But Americans aren’t knowledgeable about the culinary uses and potential of ‘uni.’ To help curious foodies learn more, this cooking video will educate home cooks and share cooking and urchin sustainability tips.

Group Members: Max Diamond

Faculty Advisors: Lisa Leombruni

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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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Community meeting about the coast

Engaging Communities in Public Meetings

The CA Coastal Commission hopes to expand participation in its public comments. Since many young people and People of Color are underrepresented in this process, this team created a short film, instructional video, and web content to inspire participation and provide engagement tips.

Group Members: Gavi Keyles

Faculty Advisors: Lisa Leombruni

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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

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kelp forest

Seaweed Revolution

The potential for seaweed aquaculture is real, though challenges remain in expanding its use. Created for UCSB’s Seaweed Working Group, this short film addresses the benefits of seaweed aquaculture and helps those who might be skeptical better understand its sustainability and broad applicability.

Group Members: Gabriel De La Rosa, Alicia Fennell, Dylan Glave, Rachel Rhodes, Vanessa Rathbone

Faculty Advisors: Lisa Leombruni