Department of Applied Environmental Science (AES) Highlights

Department of Applied Environmental Science

Department Highlights | December 5, 2023| Issue 13

About the Highlights

The Department of Applied Environmental Science (AES) is home to 3 degree programs: Environmental Studies B.A. (ENSTU), Environmental Science, Technology and Policy B.S. (ESTP), and Environmental Science M.S. (ENSCI). In an effort to stay connected, we created a bi-semester highlights series to keep all AES students, staff, and faculty informed of current AES news & events. If you need to get in touch with the AES office, please feel free to email us at aes_office@csumb.edu.

Check out our social media sites!

Faculty Highlight

Dr. Julie Martin, Lecturer

Julie joined the CSUMB community in 2014 and is a valued faculty member in the AES Department. She has taught numerous courses throughout AES, including GEOL 210 (Intro to Earth Science) and PHYS 121 (Physical Earth Science).

Her classes are known for their creative and informative projects, designed to help students gain a deeper understanding of the earth sciences.

Outside of the classroom, Julie can be found exploring the various state and national parks around Monterey Bay or out in the local tidepools.

We reached out to Julie to learn more about what led her to CSUMB and her career.

Read more about Julie!

Alumni Highlight

Dr. Miles Daniels, ESSP/CWSP

Dr. Miles Daniels is an Earth Systems Science and Policy (now known as Environmental Science, Technology, and Policy) and Coastal Watershed Science and Policy (now known as Environmental Science) alumnus. He now works as an assistant researcher with the Fisheries Collaborative Program at the University of California, Santa Cruz and as an affiliate of the Southwest Fisheries Science Center.

We recently touched base with Miles to learn more about his work and how his experiences at CSUMB have helped him in his current career.

Learn more about Miles!

AES Capstone Festival

Friday, December 15

The Department of Applied Environmental Science Fall 2023 Capstone Festival will occur on Friday, December 15, 2023, from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm in the Tanimura & Antle Family Memorial Library, Room 1188.

Light refreshments (coffee, cookies, bagels, and other treats) will be served at the break between the oral and poster presentations.

If you have any questions, please contact us at aes_office@csumb.edu or at (831) 582-4110.

RSVP Today!

Undergraduate Students Highlights

Connor Quiroz, ESTP

Lexi Yokomizo, ESTP

Marlenne Ortega, ESTP

Madison Moreno, ENSTU

Connor Quiroz, Lexi Yokomizo, Marlenne Ortega, Environmental Science, Technology, and Policy majors, and Madison Moreno, an Environmental Studies major, competed in the UROC Fall Research Competition this past November.

Connor placed second and is competing in the state finals, which are happening in April at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

Congratulations to all on a job well done!

Check out their story!

Graduate Students Highlights

Mary Snook, ENSCI

Sarah Beilman, ENSCI

Mary Snook, a current Environmental Science Master's student, recently presented her thesis research at the CSU Water Conference.

Sarah Beilman, a current Environmental Science Master's student, is completing a 400-hour internship with the Bureau of Land Management as part of her Professional Science Master's degree requirement.

We recently touched base with Mary and Sarah to learn more about their research and experiences at CSUMB.

Check out Mary's interview!

Learn more about Sarah's PSM!

Alumni Highlight

Cecelia Gutierrez, ENSTU

Cecelia Gutierrez, an Environmental Studies alumnus, works as the Community Bird School & Nature Program Coordinator for the Ventana Wildlife Society.

We recently touched base with Cecelia to learn more about her work and how her experiences at CSUMB helped shape her career pathway.

Learn more about Cecelia!

Message from the Department Chair

Dear AES Community,

We have reached the final stretch of the Fall semester and have much to celebrate. I hope you click on all of the stories and interviews in this newsletter that highlight the accomplishments of our students, alumni, and faculty. They are doing great work!

Please join us in-person or online for the AES Capstone Festival next Friday, Dec 15 from 9 am - Noon. The Capstone Festival features presentations and posters from undergraduate and graduate students in ENSTU 471, ENSTU 497, ENVS 402, ENVS 410, ENVS 436, ENVS 497, ENVS 660, and BIO 448. I hope to see you there.

Congratulations to our Fall 2023 graduates in ENSTU, ESTP, and ENSCI! We are proud of you!

Warmly,

Dr. Susan Alexander

Professor and Chair, Department of Applied Environmental Science

salexander@csumb.edu

"Fall"ing into Research!

Abraham Porras-Vargas, a current Environmental Science minor and Biology major, recently attended the Geological Society of America conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Abraham presented his research project “Creepy Hillslopes: Multimethod Analysis of Earthflows in Hollister, CA,” which was completed with Dr. Jimmy Guilinger, Dr. Doug Smith, Ellery Charleton (a current ESTP major) and Manuel Villa Alvarado (a current ESTP major).

Check out Abraham's interview!

Dr. John Olson, Connor Quiroz (ESTP), Lexi Yokomizo (ESTP), and Ashley Rawlins (BIO/ENVS) attended the California Chapter of the Society for Freshwater Science meeting in Costa Mesa on November 13 & 14. All three students won awards for their lightning talks. Ashley took 1st place ($100 prize), Connor took 2nd place ($50 prize), and Lexi took 3rd place ($25 prize).

Check out Ashley's interview!

Dr. AJ Purdy and Lee Johnson, adjunct research faculty and senior research scientists with the CSUMB/NASA Co-Op, received a $1.13 million award from the U.S. Geological Survey for their work in scientific leadership and software engineering in support of the OpenET project.

Learn more here!

Interested in having your story highlighted in our next AES highlight email? Complete one of the following forms for a chance to be featured on our website & in our upcoming email(s).

Undergraduate Student Highlight Form

Graduate Student Highlight Form

Alumni Highlight Form

Department of Applied Environmental Science | https://csumb.edu/aes