Group Project Kick-off Class of 2012

1. Group Project Kick-offClass of 2012 Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB

2. Projects for 2011-2012 • 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. Information Sources • Group Project Guidelines • http://www.bren.ucsb.edu/services/student/documents/GroupProjectGuidelinesMESM2011_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

7. Administration Group Project Committee (2010-2011) • 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

8. 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

9. 401A • Will meet 6-7 times in spring quarter • First meeting is Tues., March 29, 4:30-5:45 pm in Bren 1414 • Topics • 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. Structure of the Group • Designate a project manager • Give manager authority to be the ultimate decision-maker (not tyrant) • Designate financial manager (FM), data manager (DM), and web manager (WM) • May create other roles as well • For example, internship coordinator (IC) Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. Additional Resources Writing skills Individual and group tutoring Communications Center hours on website www.bren.ucsb.edu/academics/comm_center.htm Email: writing@bren.ucsb.edu Research skills Janet Martorana (martoran@library.ucsb.edu) Librarian assigned to Bren School Holds weekly office hours at Bren (Tues, 2-3:30 pm) Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB

30. 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