University of California, Los Angeles
EN-3: Student Life

For a full list of over 45 student organizations visit: https://www.sustain.ucla.edu/our-initiatives/student-organizations/

UNDERGRADUATE GROUPS:

Renewable Energy Association: “Renewable Energy Association (REA) at UCLA strives to cultivate an understanding of the importance of renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric, and biofuel, etc., and their effects on our environment, economy, and society. We use an interdisciplinary approach, by connecting both undergraduates and graduates of varying fields of interest at UCLA. This will be done by organizing speaker presentations, working on energy-related projects, networking, showcasing sustainable and efficient environment solutions to the University and the Greater Los Angeles area, and more. Learn more about REA, how to join, and what we do at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/uclarenewable/

Bruin Beekeepers: “Founded in 2018, the UCLA Bruin Beekeepers are on a mission to (1) Educate the importance of bees in the ecosystem (2) Learn about their contribution towards human food supply (3) Design and build beehives that will be placed in the UCLA Botanical Garden and around So-Cal“ https://www.facebook.com/BruinBeekeepers/

Clean Consulting UCLA: “To empower companies to understand and act on their connections with the natural world. Our services' objective is to evaluate companies' current practices and encourage the use of most sustainable strategies. By making them aware of their corporate social responsibility and the growing presence of sustainability in the professional sphere, companies will be able to mitigate risk, improve their brand value, reduce cost by adopting more resource-efficient technologieRainforest Action Network
RAN campaigns to protect forests, their inhabitants and the natural systems that sustain life, by transforming the global marketplace through education, grassroots organizings, lead change and inspire others.“ “The Analysts of Clean Consulting are responsible with computing and running waste, plastic and energy audits. As well as helping clients with tangible statistics of our findings.“ https://cleanconsulting.org/

Bruin Home Solutions: “Here at Bruin Home Solutions (BHS), we’re working to educate students, audit and retrofit UCLA’s buildings to be more efficient, develop new sustainable technologies, and participate in international student competitions.” “Through BHS, students have the unique opportunity to get real, hands-on experience and make a quantifiable, positive impact that touches nearly every aspect of the UCLA community while helping UCLA take steps towards accomplishing goals such as zero waste by 2020 or carbon neutrality by 2025.” Projects include: VW Beetle Electric Conversion, Aquaponics, Greenwall, HVAC, Water Audits, Solar Decathlon, and LEED Training. http://www.bruinhomesolutions.com/

E3: “To foster a culture of sustainability at UCLA, through student-led campaigns, engaging events, and community involvement. We work on a variety of campaigns and events, including our Annual Earth Month Events and Farmers' Market at UCLA.” https://e3ucla.wixsite.com/e3ucla

DIG: The Campus GARDEN COALITION AT UCLA
The leadership council positions of Dig are open to both undergraduate and graduate or professional school students while visitors and volunteers of any kind are welcome in the gardens. The organization seeks a diverse membership comprised of students, staff, faculty, alumni, and other volunteers/visitors. To learn more about DIG, visit their website: http://digucla.weebly.com/.

Education for Sustainable Living Program (ESLP)
The Education for Sustainable Living Program (ESLP) is a peer-to-peer education program founded by E3, which brings world renowned authors, activists, and academics to the campus to speak on the interconnected and interdependent nature and challenges of the 21st century. During winter and spring quarters, ESLP students can participate in an action research project, working to solve sustainability related challenges on campus. Each team collaborates with members of the faculty or campus administration to develop a research project that identifies sustainable alternatives to current practices and policies. Other education programs, by both CalPIRG and Environmental Bruins, have focused on taking UCLA students into K-12 classrooms to teach environmental education, as well as taking UCLA students out into nature to learn about and gain appreciation for our local ecosystems. Website: https://cosmolearning.org/courses/education-for-sustainable-living/

Associated Students of UCLA and the Undergraduate Student Association
Both the Undergraduate Student Association Council (USAC) and the Associated Students of UCLA (ASUCLA) have demonstrated their commitment to sustainability. USAC made sustainability a key area of concentration and has begun to promote sustainability efforts in the residence halls, as well as throughout the undergraduate student government offices. ASUCLA, the largest student-run student union in the country, agreed to develop a policy on sustainability as well as a sustainability plan, all because of student efforts. To learn more about ASUCLA’s sustainability efforts visit https://www.facebook.com/pg/USAC.Facilities/posts/

UCLA Bicycle Coalition
The UCLA Bicycle Coalition unites the diverse bicycling community in order to make UCLA and the broader Los Angeles region a safe and enjoyable place to ride. To learn more about UCLA Bicycle Coalition’s sustainability efforts visit http://bikeucla.wordpress.com/

Engineers without Borders
The Engineers without Borders mission is to partner with disadvantaged communities to improve their quality of life through implementation of environmental and economically sustainable engineering projects, while developing internationally responsible engineering students. EWB-UCLA strives to uphold this vision; furthermore, they hope to encourage local community awareness of environmental/global issues through outreach and education programs. To learn more about Engineers without Borders’ sustainability efforts visit https://www.ewb-ucla.org/

Climate 411
Climatepedia is an online hub for climate change information designed to make the complex nature of climate science accessible to the general public. The site brings together related news, media, and blog commentary to increase public understanding and awareness of climate science. A key feature of the site is a climate change blog that allows professors and other experts to discuss current research and provide insight into the field. The project is an initiative run by Climate 411, a UCLA student organization. Visit Climatepedia at www.climatepedia.org.

Net Impact UNDERGRAD
Net Impact Undergrad at UCLA is a global non-profit organization of students and professionals using business to improve the world. This is an exciting new program involving undergraduates who wish to leverage their influence for the benefit of society, the economy, and the environment. To learn more about Net Impact’s sustainability efforts visit http://netimpactucla.wordpress.com/

UCLA Student Welfare Commission: EARTH
E.A.R.T.H
Formerly known as SWC Recycling Committee, EARTH (Environmental Awareness, Recycling, and Terrestrial Health) promotes sustainability in student lifestyles because they believe that student wellness stems from living in a clean environment. They educate students on environmental issues and host activities and programs that promote reusing materials, reducing consumption, and recycling waste. To learn more about EARTH’s sustainability efforts https://swc.ucla.edu/about-2/

Student Advocacy
Undergraduates have also campaigned for such things as sweatshop-free apparel and fair trade coffee in the student union, workers rights, climate change solutions such as solar, and an end to genocide in Darfur. Other undergraduate student groups also involved in the sustainability movement on campus, besides those mentioned above, include, but are not necessarily limited to the UCLA Bicycle Coalition, and Engineers without Borders.

GRADUATE GROUPS
Graduate student groups promoting sustainability on campus and beyond include the UCLA GSA Sustainable Resource Center (SRC), the UCLA Anderson Net Impact Chapter, the Sustainable Urban Network (SUN), the Environmental Law Society, and the Leaders in Sustainability certificate.

GSA Sustainable Resource Center
The SRC was established by the Graduate Student Association to promote sustainability through facilitating the provision of resources, information, and education to the graduate student body, campus and community. The SRC is a place where students can come to ask questions, access publications from the Center’s lending library, or use a computer to research sustainability topics. A comprehensive website provides an extensive calendar of campus and community events and campaigns, as well as links to student groups, research centers and community resources. The Center also hosts lectures and forums on topics related to sustainability. For more info visit http://gsa.asucla.ucla.edu/sustainable-resource-center.html

Net Impact
Net Impact is a dynamic and rapidly expanding network of MBAs and alumni one of the most progressive and influential in existence today. Members share a passion for exploring the interdependence of business and social responsibility while in business school and throughout their professional careers. The UCLA chapter has been active in hosting numerous events and forums. For more info visit: https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/about/clubs-and-associations/professional/net-impact-(ni)

Sustainable Urban Network
The Sustainable Urban Network (SUN) is a student organization hosted by the Urban Planning Department, and committed to shifting mindsets toward sustainable living in an urban environment. They promote awareness and minimization of the ecological impact caused by humans. For more info visit: http://sunucla.blogspot.com/

Environmental Law Society
UCLA’s Environmental Law Society (ELS) provides opportunities for students to learn about environmental law, and socialize with like-minded individuals interested in working towards a cleaner environment. ELS arranges speaker events on a wide variety of environmental issues, coordinates UCLA participation in inter-school environmental moot court and negotiations competitions, organizes environmentally-focused outings and works to green the law school. For more info visit: http://uclaels.weebly.com/.

Leaders in Sustainability
The Leaders in Sustainability certificate program is aimed at graduate students (masters and doctoral) who will become decision-makers in various types of organizations (businesses, non-profits, governmental, etc) and who will have to address the three dimensions of sustainability. The emphasis is open to all graduate students at UCLA. Currently there are over 150 students participating in the program from departments as diverse as the Anderson School of Management, the School of Law, the School of Public Affairs, the School of Public Health, the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, the School of Arts & Architecture, Geography, Economics, and others. Leaders in Sustainability allows students to create a program tailored to their needs and background, by choosing among the sustainability related opportunities at UCLA. Students take a core course in sustainability and relevant electives and participate in leadership training. Additionally, students have a positive impact on the community as they learn experientially by collaborating on client projects for local businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies. Leaders in Sustainability students also give themselves a career edge by developing a broad knowledge of topics that are increasingly relevant to employers. For more info, visit: http://environment.ucla.edu/lis/

E3-Ecology, Economy, Equity Community Garden: In 2006 students from the organization E3-Ecology, Economy, Equity established an organic garden on campus. The organic garden, located at Sunset Recreation, features various vegetables, herbs, fruits, and flowers. Gardening classes are offered in collaboration with UCLA Recreation; where students can enroll to work with a certified Master Gardener. DigUCLA: “DIG creates a space for the community to come together and learn about the process of growing food and our food systems through hands on learning, fostering the relationship between nature, humans and fresh, healthy food.” http://digucla.weebly.com/

The UCLA Neuropsychiatric Hospital, as well as UCLA Dining have installed aeroponic tower gardens, which allow for produce to be grown in a dense, urban environment. UCLA Dining uses the produce from these towers in the Dining Halls

The UCLA Healthy Campus Initiative (HCI) and its Eatwell Pod launched a community garden at Sunset Recreation. The terraced garden sits atop the existing amphitheater, consisting of 31 beds which are used by student organizations, academic courses, and UCLA staff and faculty to grow food and hold workshops. This garden is maintained by the Garden Oversight Committee, a joint committee of DIG leaders, Semel HCI researchers, and Recreation staff dedicated to maintaining this hub for experiential learning and dialogue about our food systems.

https://www.recreation.ucla.edu/amphitheatergarden

ASUCLA, Associated Students UCLA, is a non profit that manages dining facilities and book stores on campus. The organization has a student majority board, and student employees, and a comprehensive sustainability program linked below.
https://asucla.ucla.edu/about-asucla/target-zero-waste/

UCLA Student Food Coop
https://www.facebook.com/studentfoodcoopatucla

Farmers’ Market: “To organize and supervise the farmers’ market on the UCLA campus, to initiate educational projects in regards to food, health, justice, environment, sustainability, and to promote self-education through hands-on opportunities with urban agriculture and local food institutions.” “Our organization plans and implements free on campus events for students and faculty to learn more about sustainability and food sustainability.” Students who run the market learn sustainable business skills including: money management, vendor relationships, and managing permits. https://www.facebook.com/uclafarmersmarket/

https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/programs-and-outreach/impactanderson/for-students/anderson-venture-impact-partners

Anderson Venture Impact Partners

Impact investments are made with the intention of generating measurable, beneficial social or environmental outcomes in addition to a financial return. UCLA Anderson offers students hands-on opportunities to identify social ventures and manage capital for profit and purpose.
Anderson Venture Impact Partners (AVIP), UCLA Anderson's student-led impact investing fund, makes minority investments of at least $50,000 in early-stage ventures that have the intention of generating measuring social and/or environmental returns alongside financial returns.

http://tgif.ucla.edu

The Green Initiative Fund

The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) is a student run fund that provides seed capital to projects, initiatives and events across campus with a focus on sustainability. Over the years, TGIF has funded projects big and small, from solar panels, to drought tolerant landscaping.

The Green Initiative Fund: “Building a more sustainable UCLA community through student-initiated projects, greener campus/student events and human ingenuity. The Green Initiative Fund is the resource that can transform an idea into an eco-friendly reality.” “The goal of The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) is to enable and empower students to take an active role in making UCLA a leader in sustainability. TGIF will provide much needed funding for projects that reduce UCLA's negative impact on the environment.” http://tgif.ucla.edu/

UCLA holds a large variety of sustainability events on campus with students as the intended audience, including the following:

The Energy Innovation Conference is held annually by UCLA Anderson's Energy Management Group. This student-run event hosts over 200 participants, including students, academics and industry professionals. Through keynote speakers, panelists and an Innovation Showcase, the event highlights companies and technologies that have the potential to reinvent the energy industry.
https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/about/clubs-and-associations/professional/energy-management-group-(emg)/energy-innovation-conference

There are two annual Sustainability Fairs.
Sustainival is held annually in October hosted by Residential Life and Housing and Dining. The fair is targeted at the 13.5k students living in the on campus residence halls and brings together campus stakeholders to showcase their work and educate participants about sustainability on campus. The event includes a DJ, food tasting and interactive events.
The Earth Day Fair is held in the Spring for Earth Day led by the student club E3. Departments collaborate with Student Groups in organizing and hosting interactive events showcasing the years work.

Coastalong (formerly known as Ecochella) is an annual bike-powered, student-run music festival and sustainability fair. Its goal is to spread awareness about alternative energy sources in a funky, cool, and creative space. The event hosts a variety of activities, booths, and installations each year in addition to performers and DJs. http://www.coastalongfestival.com/

The campus sustainability website has a calendar of events that is updated regularly: http://www.sustain.ucla.edu/calendar/index.asp?action=monthview

The annual Green Screens film festival happens every year in April and features 4-5 films on sustainability related topics. The film festival is organized by the Graduate Student Alliance.

Renewable Energy Association and UCLA Engineering’s Waste Awareness Week: “Waste Awareness Week is a week-long sustainability event that specifically tackles the impact of waste mismanagement on the environment. The Renewable Energy Association at UCLA, along with a number of sustainability, environmental justice, food insecurity, and artistic organizations, are collaborating to create a number of events that:
1. Expose students to the gravity and scale of the global waste crisis
2. Discuss the various social, economic infrastructural and environmental causes and consequences of the crisis
3. Empowers students to make informed decisions and lifestyle changes that can mitigate this crisis.
The week will consist of a large variety of events that will appeal to all corners of our diverse campus. From interactive games, workshops and panels, to collaborative art shows, movie screenings and a gala dinner, Waste Awareness Week hopes to engage all students and push them to think more critically about their waste generation habits, the single-use culture and linear economic systems that enable them, and the out-of-sight-out-of-mind mentality that blinds them to the true consequences of this global crisis. By collaborating with a large number of student groups, we also hope to plug UCLA students into the community of organizers who are working relentlessly on this issue, and tackling it from every possible facet. As the university approaches the deadline of our zero waste by 2020 goal, we hope that this event will be the final catalyst that empowers our community to meet this goal, and allows us all to live more sustainably at UCLA and beyond.” The the week long event was first held during winter quarter 2019, with the second annual (2020) event currently in planning. The website is currently down for updating.

Climate Justice Forum -
UCLA's Environmentalist of Color Collective held the first Climate Justice Forum May 2018, hosted a program that included performance artists and speakers creating a safe space for discussion of this critical topic. The second annual event was held in May 2019.
https://www.facebook.com/events/carnesale-commons/climate-justice-forum-2019-ucla-community-call-to-action/363579267589319/

Our Ecological Footprint - Environmental Art Show: “Beautiful thoughtful pieces by UCLA students (poetry, photography, sculptures, interactive pieces, videos, and more). Presented by UCLA Radio, Student Committee for the Arts, Environmentalists of Color Collective, and Renewable Energy Association” https://www.facebook.com/events/2285259774865345/

Counterforce Lab -
The Counterforce Lab is an initiative by Professor Rebeca Méndez in the department of Design Media Arts at UCLA, that uses art and design to develop new collaborative insights, disciplines and methods to research, create, and execute projects around the ecological impacts of anthropogenic climate change. One such event included the "No Time to Waste" pop-up event held May 2019, featuring student artwork made from waste, designed to educate about specific waste issues.
https://counterforcelab.org/Project-Menu

UCLA's Recreation Center has an Outdoor Adventures program, which plans trips for students, staff, and faculty. These trips provide wilderness education that is experiential and adventurous and promotes responsible stewardship of the environment and our natural resources. Groups also have the option of scheduling a specific group trip with Outdoor Adventures to tailor to their requests. Outdoor Adventures has planned custom group trips to many locations in California and out of state locations such as Hawaii.

Outdoor Adventures programs include group gear. Attendees provide personal gear (sleeping bag, backpack, boots, food, etc). OA rents sleeping bags, backpacks, and ground pads (as well as other useful outdoor gear) from the Rental Center in the John Wooden Center. Information on renting equipment is provided at the pre-trip meeting. Group travel and dinners are provided for some outings as indicated.

Outdoor Adventures, UCLA Recreation: “Outdoor Adventures offers a variety of experiential-learning opportunities through our Bike Shop, Challenge Course, Outdoor-Leadership-Training Program, Outdoor Trips, Rental Center, and Rock Wall. Our programming is designed to nurture and encourage a life-long love of outdoor pursuits along with a deep appreciation of risk management, environmental stewardship, as well as social and cultural inclusivity.” https://www.recreation.ucla.edu/oa?fbclid=IwAR1SSCCtNBZsGvxNSb_BmaV6QWgV7d1633OM0M0DuxlfYi9_x8P1S0tLsbg

Bruin Naturalists
The Bruin Naturalists Club (BNC) is an avenue for members interested in natural history to get exposure to the natural and human diversity in California and the vicinity and to interact with other like-minded individuals. The club and its members organize overnight trips to parks, reserves and other areas noteworthy for their flora and fauna, where participants will be introduced to a wide variety of conservation strategies and learn experientially about the diversity and history of different ecosystems in California and elsewhere.

Additionally, the BNC social activities locally to increase awareness of issues relevant to conservation, land management and natural history.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/BNCLA/

Freshman Cluster Program - Food: A Lens for Environment and Sustainability

This three-course cluster will address, through the lens of food, one of the most pressing issues of our time: the relationships between the world's rapidly growing human population and the sustainment of the global environment that makes human existence possible. The connections between food and the environment are complex, encompassing scientific, economic, cultural and social factors. We will address the interrelated problems of biodiversity loss, nutrient cycling, land conversion, climate change, sustainable energy, chemical pollution, antibiotic resistance, fresh water quality and quantity, equitable access to healthy food, and dietary trends. We will investigate how our current food systems impact all of these areas and the many exciting new approaches to food production and distribution under development. This course also serves as an entry to the Food Studies minor. http://www.uei.ucla.edu/academic-programs/ucla-cluster-program/cluster-m1/

Sustainability Living Learning Community - Sustainable Living Dorm Floors: “The Sustainability Living Learning Community provides a living and learning environment that encourages students to consciously expand their awareness and apply their knowledge of sustainability through environmental responsibility and advocacy. This community focuses on the social, economic, political, and scientific issues affecting our Earth’s urban, rural, and global environment. The Sustainability Living Learning Community provides students with opportunities to work alongside campus partners in both structured and informal methods to explore ways in which UCLA students can lead more sustainable lifestyles.” https://reslife.ucla.edu/livinglearning/green

Student interns are employed by the Sustainability Office of Housing & Hospitality Services. These positions aid UCLA’s Housing programs to meet the needs of the students, support UC Regents initiatives and manage large-scale sustainability programs. Three positions are currently offered: Sustainable Housing Assistant (2) and Sustainable Dining Assistant (1)

The UCLA Office of Sustainability offers paid Carbon Neutrality Fellowship positions supported by the UC President's Office. Three positions have been offered annually since 2014. Additional opportunities have been developed through the Carbon Neutrality and Zero Solid Waste Ambassadors program, where 6 and 8 students (respectively) provide program development support while receiving training, a quarterly stipend and an opportunity to attend the annual California Higher Education Sustainability Conference.

The Housing Sustainability Assistant helps and supports the Housing & Hospitality Services Sustainability Manager with ongoing sustainable initiatives related to Housing. Duties include creating educational material for residents, collecting and analyzing data on sustainable purchases, conducting sustainability training for Housing & Hospitality Services team members, and researching sustainable initiatives at other universities. The Sustainable Dining Assistant focuses on supporting sustainable food efforts for UCLA’s Dining Services. Responsibilities of this position include analyzing UCLA’s sustainable food purchases, collecting data for Green Restaurant Certifications, helping to coordinate relationships with local farms and dining chefs, and assisting in the implementation of events and educational initiatives. For more information: http://www.sustain.ucla.edu/housing/sustainability-assistant/.

Other information can be found at sustain.ucla.edu