Blog Topic: Sustainability

Meet Jake Heeren, the student-powered force behind UCSB's recycling revolution, helping the campus get closer to zero waste—one bin at a time.

The Bonnie Reiss Climate Action Student Fellowship at UCSB empowers students like Abigail Balais and Michelle Shteynberg to lead sustainability initiatives, focusing on climate resilience, emergency preparedness, and sustainable transportation. Their work, supported by UCSB’s departments, highlights the power of student-driven change in tackling environmental challenges and fostering a more sustainable future.

The Bren Environmental Leadership (BEL) program at UCSB empowers first-generation, underrepresented, and low-income students to pursue careers in environmental science through paid summer fellowships. Participants collaborate on impactful projects, from wildfire resilience to climate change adaptation, while building skills in leadership, communication, and mentorship. By fostering connections among students, faculty, and environmental professionals, BEL creates a supportive community dedicated to advancing diversity, equity, and innovative solutions to critical environmental challenges.