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Group Project
Kick-off
Class of 2012
Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB
Projects for 2011-2012
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Best Practices in Evaluating the Performance of Climate Friendly Buildings
Greening Aquarium of the Bay: Environmental Impact & Recommendations for Reduction
Deckers Outdoor Corporation Water Footprint
Developing fire management strategies in support of adaptive management at Tejon
Ranch, California
Comparing Feasibility of Ecosystem-based (EbA) Methods for Climate Change Adaptation
with Engineered Approaches
Energy Storage & Renewables: Improving the Energy Profile of the U.S. Military
Next Generation Decentralized Wastewater Treatment
Utilizing Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to track Life Cycle Inventory
(LCI) data through the supply chain
Sustainable Visitorship at the Angeles National Forest: An Ecological and Economic
Assessment
Sustainability Trajectories to reform the coral reef wildlife trade
Assessment of Vulnerability to Sea Level Rise for Sensitive Species along a Portion of the
California Coast and Development of Recommendations for Future Management
Bioeconomics of aquaculture in Southern Chile: A social cost-benefit analysis of natural
resource use options
Evaluating Viable Models for Community Solar Projects in the state of California of 0.25MW
to 5.0MW
Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB
External Funds
While obtaining additional funding may be desirable, we
generally don’t pick projects that can’t be done on the
base budget provided by the School or funding
promised by the client.
Each group has a budget of $1300, plus $200 for printing
Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB
Contracts/Grants
Contract/grant = money given to University for a specific
deliverable(s)
Proposal to funding organization is written (with Mike
Best’s coordination)
Must be faculty principle investigator (PI); PI ultimately
responsible
Proposal must have budget, budget justification, clearly
articulated deliverables, start and end date
Must be approved by the Office of Research before
submission (takes at least 1 week)
ONLY the Office or Research can accept contract and grant
money; you can’t do this on your own!
OVERHEAD RATE = 50%!!!!
i.e. $100 yields only $50 of real capital
Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB
Gifts are Best!!!
All gifts coordinated by Jennifer Deacon
(jennifer@bren)
Active fundraising by students without Jennifer’s
guidance is not appropriate
Under NO circumstances, even if faculty tell
you to, talk to anyone about a giving a gift
without first talking with Jennifer Deacon!!!
Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB
Information Sources
 Group Project Guidelines
 http://www.bren.ucsb.edu/services/student/documents/GroupProjectGuidel
inesMESM2011_003.pdf
 Past Reports and Briefs
 http://www.bren.ucsb.edu/research/gp_past.html
 2nd year GP Presentations - Friday, April 15th
1:00-5:30 p.m.
 Your 2nd year Peers
Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB
Administration
Group Project Committee (2010-2011)
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Christina Tague, Group Project Chair
Steve Gaines
Jim Frew
Amy Burgard, Staff Group Project Coordinator
 Your first point of contact for all matters
related to Group Projects
Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB
Registration & Grading
ESM 401A - spring 2011 with Tague
Grade assigned by faculty advisor
401B (fall 2011) & 401C (winter 2012)
Multiple sections; register in the one with your
advisor
Grade assigned by advisor
Same grade for 401B and 401C
* B or better required in all sections
Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB
401A
• Will meet 6-7 times in spring quarter
• First meeting is Tues., March 29, 4:30-5:45 pm in
Bren 1414
• Topics
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Writing a Group Project proposal
Group writing workshop
Myers Briggs Type Indicator
Web design workshop (at least 2 group members)
Research techniques meeting (at least 2 group members)
Doris Duke Fellows group project experience
Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB
Meetings
Meet at least once/week
Students responsible for scheduling meetings
and securing meeting space (not advisors)
Designated student Group Project meeting
spaces:
Visitor Center - available during business hours
Manzanita (4024) - available during business hours
Bonsai (4402) - available at all hours
Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB
Meetings (cont.)
Students can reserve these meeting rooms
using Corporate Time: Scheduling Instructions
(under Internal Services/Computing)
*Be good peers when scheduling*
Please email scheduling@bren to reserve other
rooms or media
Staff will not schedule GP meetings in other rooms
unless student spaces are booked or it is a special
stakeholder meeting
Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB
Money Matters
Each group gets $1,300 plus up to $200 for Bren
printing
Appoint a financial manager (FM) by Friday, 4/8
FMs should study financial information in handbook
before the financial info session with Mike Best
Get to know the Bren School’s Financial Staff
Mike (mbest) = extramural and gift funds,
proposals, financial statements, questions,
problems, training
Frank Soares (fsoares) = purchasing, travel, and
payroll
Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB
Summer Internships
If internships promised, identify one group member
to be the summer internship coordinator (IC)
Decide EARLY who is going to do the internships
IC works with Dave Parker and Kristen Robinson for
help coordinating internships
Career Development GP Internship session April 5
Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB
Work Stations
One computer for each group in Commons (13
total)
Eco-E groups: Will be located in a large office
(Room TBA)
Computer assignment map will be posted in
Services/Group Projects
Tentative move-in date = Monday, April 25th
Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB
Computer Resources
Each group must appoint:
Web Manager (WM)
Data Manager (DM)
Inform Amy Burgard (aburgard@bren) by
Friday, 4/8
Compute staff will hold a mandatory training
meeting for DMs and WMs in the near future
Group project email alias
Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB
Website
Each group must create (by end of spring quarter) and
maintain a web site
At a minimum the following is required:
• Name and email of all group members
• Group email address
• Names and email of advisor(s)
• Final project proposal (completed at the end of
spring)
All GP computers will have Adobe Suite installed
Website design workshop to be held in spring quarter
Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB
Evaluations
401A
Reviewed at the end of spring
Peer/self evaluations
Completed at end of each quarter
Spring (2011) submitted to faculty advisor
Fall (2011) & Winter (2012) submitted to faculty advisor and
GP Coordinator
GP Faculty Advisor Evaluations
Completed at end of project
Extremely important that every group member participates
and provides thorough and informative feedback
Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB
Faculty Advisors
• Monitor progress, provide technical
assistance/expertise, and evaluate project and assign
grades
• Provide advice but generally reactive; you need to take
initiative
• Project leadership and management is YOUR
responsibility
• No two advisors alike
• Attend a regular weekly meeting
• All expect you to take charge
• Turn-around times vary but NEVER expect <1 week
• Schedule initial meeting with advisor NOW and explore
how they will interact with you
Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB
External Advisors
• Groups are expected to obtain the counsel of at least
two outside advisors
• Outside advisory committee often includes another Bren
faculty member
• Interact with them with absolutely the highest
standards of professionalism
• ACKNOWEDLEGE them frequently, privately and publicly
(if they welcome this)
Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB
Structure of the Group
• Designate a project manager
o Give manager authority to be the ultimate decisionmaker (not tyrant)
• Designate financial manager (FM), data
manager (DM), and web manager (WM)
• May create other roles as well
o For example, internship coordinator (IC)
Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB
Problems
• Students have primary responsibility for
problem-solving
• Involve advisor only after thorough efforts by
the group to solve problems
• If serious, unresolvable problems arise (rare),
go to Amy, Christina or Satie
• Written documentation is essential if an
administrative solution is required
• Campus ombuds office:
http://www.ombuds.ucsb.edu/index.html
Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB
Use of Human Subjects
• MUST follow strict procedures and may need
to obtain approval from the Human Subjects
Committee (HSC) if human subjects will be
used in research
• This even applies to CONDUCTING SURVEYS!!!
• It is potentially a very big deal not to be in
compliance
• If your group will work with human subjects,
please review the Office of Research site:
• http://www.research.ucsb.edu/compliance
Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB
Group Project Deliverables
• Each quarter, Amy sends an email to students
and advisors listing deliverables for that quarter
• Deadlines are identified under “Group Project
Guidelines” on website (updated next week)
Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB
Group Project Deliverables
Spring 2011
• Draft proposal
• Proposal review meeting with advisory committee
• Proposal review written summary
• Final proposal
• Peer evaluations
• Group website
Fall 2011
• Progress review meeting with advisory committee
• Written progress report
• Peer evaluations
Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB
Group Project Deliverables
Winter 2012
• Final report
• Project defense
• Brief - 4 page summary with graphics
• Poster
• Abstract & acknowledgements for program
Spring 2012
• Public presentation
Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB
Project Defense
• Mid to late winter quarter 2012
• Rigorous defense of methods, analysis, results, and
conclusions
• Focus on project’s scientific content
• Presented to advisor and 2 other Bren faculty
• Open to all Bren faculty and students
Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB
Public Presentation
• Early spring quarter 2012
• General audience, including faculty, students,
potential employers, community and family members
• Focus on substance, key findings and meaning
(not methods and analyses)
• Poster session and reception follows
Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB
What you need to start doing
IMMEDIATELY
• READ the Group Project guidelines
• Schedule meetings
• Define roles (FM, DM, WM, IC) and enter
information into Google doc provided by Amy
• Start developing your group; learn about each
other; do something together
• Educate yourself about your project
• Confirm client’s funding commitments (working
with advisor and appropriate Bren staff)
Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB
Additional Resources
Writing skills
Individual and group tutoring
Communications Center hours on website
www.bren.ucsb.edu/academics/comm_center.htm
Email: [email protected]
Research skills
Janet Martorana ([email protected])
Librarian assigned to Bren School
Holds weekly office hours at Bren (Tues, 2-3:30 pm)
Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB
Cautions &
Words of Wisdom
• Group project should not become all or overly
consuming
• Issues with group members, advisor or clients may
or may not arise
• This is an educational experience
• This is one of the best preparations possible for
your future career (ask any alum or employer)
• The work belongs to ALL group members
• Make sure to thoroughly reference others’
work/data/models
• Have fun!
Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB