#19 Dec. 10, 2025
Eric Zimmerman
GOOD LUCK ON FINALS and have a RELAXING AND
SAFE HOLIDAY BREAK.
See you Next Year!!!!
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IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES:
Click
here to see UCSB’s 2025-26 Registration Pass Times.
To view UCSB’s Quarterly Deadlines click here
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ES ADVISING HOURS FOR THE HOLIDAYS:
WE ARE OPEN from now through December 23rd and then
closed till Monday,
January 5th, the first day of Winter instruction.
This
is a great time to get personal advising while things are slow.
·
Email questions to advi...@es.ucsb.edu and
we will do our best to respond as soon as possible (normally 1-2
business
days).
·
Or, you can schedule a remote Zoom appointment with
an
advisor using the Schedule Appointment link on the ES Advising
webpage.
Appointments are generally available M-F 9:00-11:45 am and
3:00-4:00 pm. and
all-day Friday.
· There will be no Drop-in Advising for in-person meetings through Thursday, Dec 11 in Rm 4312 from 1:00-3:00. Starting Monday, December 15th all advising will be done via Zoom or email.
We strongly encourage
ES or
prospective majors take advantage of this slow period to get
in-depth advising
questions answered (i.e. long-term course planning, summer
options, etc.). The
first two weeks of the quarter will need to
focus more on immediate issues and concerns.
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INDEX:
1) IMPORTANT CORRECTION: Bren’s ESM 438 - Public Speaking Skills
for Environmental
Professionals - CAN NOT be applied to fulfill any
ES major requirements. This
is considered a professional skills
course.
2) Know Your Rights: Free Rental Inspections Now Available in IV
3) LOCAL INTERNSHIPS: Habitat Restoration Maintenance -- Storke Ranch Vernal Pools
4) Funded summer research opportunity for undergrads - Plastics REU @ URI
5) UC Davis Public Health Sciences Graduate Program is Recruiting - Upcoming Webinars!
6) Apps Now Open for Summer 2026 the Pacific
Internship
Programs for Exploring Science
(PIPES) opportunities in Hawaiʻi
7) Two
job postings
supporting local National Marine Sanctuary Foundation
(CHNMS) in San Luis
Obispo
8) California Water Data Consortium
is hiring a
project
manager overseeing
our upcoming work on recharge and groundwater
accounting with the CA Department of Water Resources.
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CONTENT:
1) IMPORTANT CORRECTION: Bren’s ESM 438 - Public Speaking Skills for Environmental Professionals - CAN NOT be applied to fulfill any ES major requirements. This is considered a professional skills course.
In an earlier ESmail message we mistakenly said this class could be taken to apply towards the Area B ES major requirements. This was WRONG as College of L&S policy states “UCSB courses numbered 400-499 are professional courses are not applicable to the bachelor’s degree in the College of Letters and Science” (see regulations here). We apologize for any confusion this may have caused and encourage you to contact ES Advising if you have any additional questions.
Students may still take this course for
personal enrichment
only (as true of all 400 level courses).
This four-unit public speaking class is a survey of skills for
environmental
careers. Each week, students will focus on one topic in
environmental public
speaking, from elevator pitches to science presentations and
podcasts to flash
talks. Weekly lectures and readings will cover best practices and
examples in
the theme. Friday sections will allow students to practice
public speaking
and build a portfolio of refined pieces to submit in finals week.
To enroll:
Undergraduate Students: Undergraduates must petition to enroll in a graduate class. To
do so, please send a copy of your unofficial transcript and the
completed form
to the instructor (alexandra...@ucsb.edu).
Details on enrollment codes are in the syllabus. Once the form is
completed by
all parties, the registrar will enroll you in the course
directly.
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2) Know Your Rights: Free
Rental
Inspections Now Available in IV
f you rent in Isla Vista, there's a new program you should know about: Santa Barbara County's Rental Inspection Pilot Program is now active, and it's designed to protect you.
What's happening: County inspectors are checking IV rental units for basic health and safety issues—things like working smoke detectors, safe balconies, and functioning plumbing. This process started over the summer and is currently ongoing.
What you need to know:
- It's free. The County covers all costs. You and your landlord pay nothing.
- It's working. Landlords have been given advanced notice about key safety concerns are currently addressing them in a timely manner.
- You're in control. Inspections are scheduled 15 days in advance, and you have the right to allow or decline the inspection.
- It's not about you. Inspectors are only looking at health and safety conditions—not your belongings, cleanliness, or how you've decorated.
- Your landlord is subject to renter protection laws and policies. There are laws protecting you against potential retaliation.
Common concerns addressed:
- Will my rent go up? Rents will not be raised because of the costs of the inspection.
- What if my unit is deemed unsafe? So far, no unit has been deemed unsafe. If that rare situation occurs, UCSB and the County have backup housing plans in place.
Having problems with your housing? You can confidentially report issues here anytime (even at the end of your rental contract) to the County's Planning and Development Dept.: www.surveymonkey.com/r/2R7T5L2
This program exists to protect tenants, not punish them. Please feel free to forward this email to anyone who would benefit from this information.
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3) LOCAL INTERNSHIPS:
Habitat Restoration Maintenance -- Storke Ranch Vernal Pools
Work with a conservation biologist on this local restoration project sponsored by the Storke Ranch Homeowner's Association.
Interns will participate in invasive plant control (lots of weeding!), planting native plants, solarization, phenology data collection, and possibly some plant propagation and herbarium specimen collection.
This is a great opportunity to gain valuable hands-on field experience and obtain skills in plant identification and other aspects of restoration.
Contact Kelly Hildner — kkhi...@gmail.com to request an application.
Hours/week: 4-6, most likely Friday mornings.
Location: Storke Ranch is an easy bike ride from the university.
Positions: Volunteer internships are available. There are no paid internships available for this quarter.
K Kelly Hildner, Ph.D.
Restoration Coordinator
Storke Ranch
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4) Funded summer
research opportunity for undergrads - Plastics REU @ URI
The University of Rhode Island Plastics
Initiative is now
accepting applications from undergraduates in STEM and the social
sciences for
a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded Research Experience for
Undergraduates (REU) studying plastic pollution in coastal
environments. The
program will run May 25-July 31, 2026. This is an excellent
opportunity for
undergraduates interested in solving problems related to plastic
pollution to
gain research experience in coastal Rhode Island with world-class
faculty
and research facilities. Our application is open through February
1, 2026. More
information and a link to the NSF ETAP application portal can be
found at
our website.
See attached flier or contact plas...@etal.uri.edu with any questions.
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5) UC Davis Public
Health Sciences Graduate Program is Recruiting - Upcoming
Webinars!
The UC Davis Department of Public Health Sciences is asking for help sharing some information about our graduate programs, as our Fall 2026 application cycle is open! Please share the information below and attached with anyone you think may be interested in an MPH or PhD program. If you have an alternative contact I should get in touch with, please let me know.
Here’s a blurb about each program:
“The UC Davis M.P.H. Program’s goal is to develop the public health leaders of the future by providing a high-quality Master’s degree curriculum in partnership with the public health community. Students gain advanced knowledge of epidemiology; biostatistics; environmental and occupational health; health services and administration; and social and behavioral science necessary for careers in public health and medicine.”
“The PhD program in Public Health Sciences trains students to become experts in generating, through scholarly research, new knowledge about health and disease prevention and effective programs in public health. Graduates will be equipped with the means to communicate and disseminate this new knowledge. The program educates students in research design, implementation, analysis and public health practice, and teaches effective ways to disseminate scholarly findings and implement evidence-based, effective public health programs.”
I have attached flyers about each of the programs, and below are details about some upcoming webinars, recruitment events we will be at, and contact info.
MPH Informational Webinars (via Zoom):
Wednesday, December 10 at 5:00 - 6:00 pm PST
Thursday, December 11 at 12:00 - 1:00 pm PST
We will have current student representatives at both of the MPH webinars this month!
PhD Informational Webinars (via Zoom):
Wednesday, December 16 from 10:00am-11:00am PST
PHS Education Program Contact Information:
Email: PHSInst...@ucdavis.edu
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6) Apps Now Open for Summer 2026 the Pacific
Internship
Programs for Exploring Science (PIPES) opportunities in
Hawaiʻi
We’re excited to share that applications for the Pacific
Internship
Programs for Exploring Science (PIPES) Summer 2026 Program
are now
open! Applications will close on January 16th, 2026. We kindly ask
that you
share this
opportunity with students who are interested in hands-on,
place-based
learning experiences that connect science, culture, and community.
PIPES provides paid summer internships for
undergraduate
students across multiple fields of study. The 10-week program runs
from May 25
- July 31, 2026, and is hosted on Hawaiʻi Island. It combines
mentored
learning, cohort activities, and community engagement. Throughout
the summer,
interns also build lasting connections across Hawaiʻi, the
Pacific, and beyond.
At its core, PIPES strives to grow and invest in the next
generation of aloha
ʻāina leaders through transformative, place-based learning,
mentorship, and
community partnerships.
We’re also thrilled to share that PIPES has been confirmed as a
National
Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF
REU) site for
Summer 2026. This partnership will allow us to expand our reach
and provide
even more opportunities for undergraduates to engage in
conservation and
ʻāina-based research across the Pacific. More information about
the REU award
can be found here.
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7) Two job postings
supporting local National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (CHNMS) in
San Luis
Obispo
The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that is a leading voice for U.S. protected waters, is seeking an Communications and Outreach Support Specialist, a position responsible for operating as a key member of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary (CHNMS) staff and working under the general guidance of the sanctuary’s Acting Superintendent.
Click on the links below to see the job listings and to apply.
Full Time
San Luis Obispo, CA, San Luis Obispo, CA, US
Communication and Outreach Support Specialist
Full Time
San Luis Obispo, CA, San Luis Obispo, CA, US
Applications received by December 22, 2025 will be preferred.
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8) California Water Data Consortium
is hiring a
project
manager overseeing our upcoming work on recharge and
groundwater
accounting with the CA Department of Water Resources.
I am a Senior Program Manager at the California Water Data Consortium, and I wanted to reach out to share a recent job opportunity we posted to see if you might share in the Friends of ES or other job related UCSB listserv.
This project manager would work directly with me overseeing our upcoming work on recharge and groundwater accounting with the CA Department of Water Resources next year. I’m happy to answer any questions you may have about the position.
Hannah Ake <ake.h...@gmail.com>
-- Eric D. Zimmerman (he/him) Student Services Manager, Lecturer Environmental Studies, UC Santa Barbara To schedule a Zoom advising appointment visit: https://tinyurl.com/8nrcckds "Work Hard ~ Play Harder!"
