Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB Group Project Kick-off Class of 2012.

Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB

Group Project Kick-off

Class of 2012

Projects for 2011-2012

1. 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



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


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


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!!!


Information Sources

Group Project Guidelines http://www.bren.ucsb.edu/services/student/documents/GroupProjectGuidelin

esMESM2011_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

http://www.bren.ucsb.edu/services/student/documents/GroupProjectGuidelinesMESM2011_003.pdf

http://www.bren.ucsb.edu/services/student/documents/GroupProjectGuidelinesMESM2011_003.pdf

http://www.bren.ucsb.edu/research/gp_past.html


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


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



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


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

http://www.bren.ucsb.edu/services/computing/applications/corporate_time.html#StudentRoomScheduling


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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)


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 wello For example, internship coordinator (IC)


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


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


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)



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



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


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



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)


Additional Resources

Writing skillsIndividual and group tutoring

Communications Center hours on website

www.bren.ucsb.edu/academics/comm_center.htm

Email: [email protected]

Research skillsJanet Martorana ([email protected])

Librarian assigned to Bren School

Holds weekly office hours at Bren (Tues, 2-3:30 pm)


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 Group Project Kick-off Class of 2012.

Documents

Transcript of Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB Group Project Kick-off Class of 2012.