Group Projects

The Group Project is one aspect of the Bren School that sets it apart from other environmental programs. Serving as the master's thesis, the Group Project begins during the spring quarter of the first year of study and lasts three quarters, ending in Winter quarter of the second year. Students join one of 15 groups, each comprising four to six MESM students who work as a team to solve a real-world environmental problem, with the guidance of a faculty advisor. The experience culminates with every group making a final oral and poster presentation to the Bren community, Group Project stakeholders, and local environmental professionals.

The goals of the Group Project are:

To prepare students for professional careers by providing them with training and experience in multidisciplinary real-world environmental problem-solving
To provide a mechanism for students to apply their technical expertise in solving complex environmental problems
To provide training in the management of group dynamics

In addition, the Group Project is an exciting and valuable opportunity for agencies, firms, and individuals with an environmental problem to have a group of talented Masters students tackle the problem and make professional-level recommendations in need of a solution.

For more information on the Group Projects, please contact Amy Burgard, Academic Programs & Group Project Coordinator, Corlei Prieto at projects@bren.ucsb.edu.

For more information on submitting a Project Proposal, click here.

Past Group Projects (1998-2008)

Current Group Projects - MESM 2009

TITLE	STUDENTS	FACULTY ADVISOR	PROPOSER(S)	CLIENT
Exploring the ecological and socio-economic impacts of South Coast Marine Life Protection Act on the Santa Barbara Channel Marine Trap Fisheries: advancing marine ecosystem-based management SOUTHCOAST	Hess, Lauren Johnson, Philip Karasek, Theresa Port-Minner, Samantha Radhakrishnan, Uthra	Chris Costello/ Hunter Lenihan	Philip Johnson Samantha Port-Minner	California Lobster and Trap Fishermen's Association Santa Barbara Channel LTER
Hydrologic analysis, risk assessment, and evaluation of potential land management techniques for a Catalina Island watershed CATALINA	Abramson, Leslie Chennel, Milli Eisch, Erica Glassco, Alicia Holley, Tom	Tom Dunne	Melissa Harris Alicia Glassco	Catalina Island Conservancy Guided Discoveries, Inc.
Assessing and Improving Life Cycle Management of Copper at Southern California Edison COPPER	Bumby, Sarah Druzhinina, Ekaterina Feraldi, Rebe Werthman, Danae	Roland Geyer	Rebe Feraldi Lara Polansky	Southern California Edison
Conservation Plan for the Cuyama River Valley and Sierra Madre Foothills, California TNC	Andersen, Caitlin Dobrowski, Bridget Harris, Melissa Moreno, Edith Roehrdanz, Patrick	Frank Davis	Thomas H. Maloney	The Nature Conservancy
Overcoming Data and Cost Obstacles to Fisheries Management with Innovative MPA-based Methods MPA	Apel, Ashley Faloon, Kristine Panitz, Dave Scarborough, Courtney Shelton, Clare	Hunter Lenihan	Rod Fujita Hunter Lenihan Jono Wilson	Environmental Defense Oceans Program
TMP: Brokering and Managing Sustainable Real Estate Investments in Mexico MEXICO	Beadle, Kristian Brazil, Gia Dean, Ashley Johnson, Lucas Spraycar, Paul	Catherine Ramus	Kristian Beadle Gia Brazil Ashley Dean	Harrington Investments, Inc.
Long Range Ecological Optimization Approaches for Piute Ponds PIUTE	Alderman, David Maciejowski, Nikki Randall, Julie Shirley, Robert	Arturo Keller	Robert Shirley	Environmental Management Directorate Edwards Air Force Base
A Prospectus of Methods for Measuring Carbon Sequestration in Cofan Bermejo Reserve, Ecuador and Recommendations for Participation in Global Carbon Markets COFAN	Abbey, Heather Ching, Carolyn Eckerle, Tyson Webb, Scott Welborn, Emily	Christina Tague	Heather Abbey Nicole Virgilio	La Fundacion para Sobrevivencia del Pueblo Cofan (FSC)
Impacts of Rising Sea Level on Coastal Communities: A Santa Barbara Case Study SEALEVEL	Muhammad, Mushfiq Griffin, Julia Schwartz, Dave Spontak, Mike	James Frew	Bruce Caron James Frew	The New Media Studio
TMP: Improving and Translating Deckers Outdoor Corporation's Environmental Performance: Implications for Competitive Advantage and Consumer Awareness DECKERS	Cote-Schiff, Danielle Donnelly, Clancy Flinn, Lauren Fulmer, Brian Lin, Chien-Ju	Gary Libecap	Danielle Cote-Schiff Ashley Dean Clancy Donnelly Alicia Godlove Paul Spraycar	Deckers Outdoor Corporation
Incentivizing Sustainable Property Management Practices among Real Estate Holding Clients of Yardi Systems, Inc. YARDI	Fulton, Jesse Jalapour, Bob Lane, Lindsey Sager, Jordan Willer, Brandon Del Maestro, Christian	Sarah Anderson	Jordan Sager Brandon Willer	Yardi Systems, Inc.
Sustainably Design a Community Development in Santa Paula and Identify Room for Improvements and Opportunities Created by a Net Carbon Analysis LIMONEIRA	Godlove, Alicia McCune, Kelli Naxon, Tariel Strongin, Seth	Jeff Dozier	The Limoneira Company	The Limoneira Company
Antelope-Fremont Watershed Assessment and Plan (AFWAP): An Ecosystematic Assessment and Integrated Plan for Watershed and Habitat Preservation ANTELOPE	Bare, Lucas Bernhardt, Tessa Chu, Toby Gomez, Melissa Noddings, Chris Viljoen, Milena	Lee Hannah	Antelope Valley Conservancy	Antelope Valley Conservancy
Strategies for Measurement and Reduction of the Carbon Footprint of a Diversified Financial Services Entity - Zurich Financial Servics ZURICH	Kokosinski, Kate Murray, Shannon Osgood, Nick Polansky, Lara Tsiarta, Christina	Matt Kotchen/ Oran Young	Zurich Financial Services	Zurich Financial Services