Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB
Group Project Kick-off
Class of 2012
Projects for 2011-20121. Best Practices in Evaluating the Performance of Climate Friendly Buildings 2. Greening Aquarium of the Bay: Environmental Impact & Recommendations for Reduction3. Deckers Outdoor Corporation Water Footprint 4. Developing fire management strategies in support of adaptive management at Tejon Ranch,
California5. Comparing Feasibility of Ecosystem-based (EbA) Methods for Climate Change Adaptation
with Engineered Approaches 6. Energy Storage & Renewables: Improving the Energy Profile of the U.S. Military 7. Next Generation Decentralized Wastewater Treatment 8. Utilizing Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to track Life Cycle Inventory (LCI)
data through the supply chain 9. Sustainable Visitorship at the Angeles National Forest: An Ecological and Economic
Assessment 10. Sustainability Trajectories to reform the coral reef wildlife trade 11. Assessment of Vulnerability to Sea Level Rise for Sensitive Species along a Portion of the
California Coast and Development of Recommendations for Future Management 12. Bioeconomics of aquaculture in Southern Chile: A social cost-benefit analysis of natural
resource use options13. 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
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/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
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
Registration & Grading
ESM 401A - spring 2011 with TagueGrade assigned by faculty advisor
401B (fall 2011) & 401C (winter 2012)Multiple sections; register in the one with your advisorGrade assigned by advisorSame grade for 401B and 401C
* B or better required in all sections
401A
• Will meet 6-7 times in spring quarter• First meeting is Tues., March 29, 4:30-5:45 pm
in Bren 1414• Topics
o Writing a Group Project proposalo Group writing workshopo Myers Briggs Type Indicatoro Web design workshop (at least 2 group members)o Research techniques meeting (at least 2 group
members)o Doris Duke Fellows group project experience
Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB
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 mediaStaff 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, 4/8FMs should study financial information in handbook
before the financial info session with Mike BestGet 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 installedWebsite 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 evaluationsCompleted at end of each quarterSpring (2011) submitted to faculty advisorFall (2011) & Winter (2012) submitted to faculty advisor and GP Coordinator
GP Faculty Advisor Evaluations Completed at end of projectExtremely 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 managero 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
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
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
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 skillsIndividual and group tutoringCommunications Center hours on websitewww.bren.ucsb.edu/academics/comm_center.htmEmail: [email protected]
Research skillsJanet Martorana ([email protected])Librarian assigned to Bren SchoolHolds 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!