UC Food & Climate Fellowships

The UCI Sustainability Resource Center coordinates two fellowship programs for UCI through University of California’s Office of the President. These two fellowships are the Bonnie N. Reiss Climate Action Fellowship & the Global Food Initiative Fellowship.

SRC partners across campus to host students in these fellowship positions. The fellowships enable graduate and undergraduate students to contribute significantly to a select group of on-campus projects. The projects reflect some of the many ways UCI is mobilizing to achieve the underlying goals of the UC President’s Global Food and Climate Action initiatives.

These fellowships are yearlong commitments starting in September and ending in June the following year.

green anteater, yellow sun, blue circle

 

Contact Information

Room G458, Fourth Floor Student Center South in the R.I.S.E. Suite

Monday – Friday, 9AM – 5PM

(949) 824-2826

sustainability-center@uci.edu

woman standing in front of tv screen with powerpoint up.
beach cleanup
Taj James, Movement Strategy Center, speaking with UCI students and community activists during Climate Action Dialogue
food and climate fellows

Bonnie Reiss Climate Action (CA) Fellowship Program

The Climate Action Student Fellowship Program is meant to engage students in shaping the carbon neutral and climate action initiatives and goals of the University of California system. Project Fellows work on research and implementing projects that reduce a location’s operational greenhouse gas emissions and other benchmarks.

Planning and collaboration are key to a successful fellowship. All fellows are expected to work with their supervisors to develop a project overview that includes their project goals, deliverables, timelines, and the metrics that will be used to measure success. Fellows are expected to meet regularly with their supervisors to discuss projects, progress, and issues that arise.

In general, all fellows are expected to:

  • Contribute approximately 8-10 hours per week to the fellowship during the academic year
  • Orally present one status update each quarter at select campus-wide events
  • Attend one fellows’ study break each quarter
  • Complete work products specific to the fellowship project by June 1st

All fellows are expected to attend the following meetings and trainings:

  • A virtual orientation session in the fall
  • A leadership training in the fall
  • Topical trainings on climate resilience and decarbonization (as relevant)
  • A field trip in the spring
  • A closing symposium and poster presentation in June or July
  • Periodic conference calls to discuss individual projects and share best practices with peers

Through the fellowship, students will receive:

  • Hands-on, project-based experience in the fellowship area
  • Approximately, $4,000 in the form of a paid student assistantship
  • Campus and university-wide recognition as a member of a select group of student leaders
  • An opportunity to convene virtually with climate and food fellows across the UC system at the beginning and end of the fellowship year
  • An opportunity to participate in a virtual sustainability leadership training
  • Guidance from prominent scholars and mentorship from practitioners in the field

UCI Main Campus

Climate Action Fellow – Decarbonization

This Climate Action Fellow will be a team member of UCI Campus Physical and Environmental Planning and support campus efforts to reach carbon neutrality for scopes 1 and 2 by 2025. Projects will focus on decarbonization, which may include but is not limited to: conducting annual campus greenhouse gas emissions reporting, updating reporting information to The Climate Registry, Second Nature, and the University of California Office of the President, and maintaining the Climate and Energy webpage. As needed, the fellow may support climate outreach and engagement efforts. The fellow will work with their supervisor to develop a project overview that includes project goals, deliverables, and timelines.

 

Climate Action Fellow – Resilience

This Climate Action Fellow will be a team member of UCI Campus Physical and Environmental Planning and support ongoing efforts to advance campus climate resilience planning. Projects will focus on climate resilience, which may include but is not limited to: creating and implementing an outreach plan for engaging diverse student groups in resilience visioning, conducting a climate impact assessment and assessing vulnerabilities, and helping to organize stakeholder engagement events. These projects will have a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Justice (DEIJ)-centered approach. The fellow may also collaborate with the UCI Environmental Justice Collective on projects and initiatives. The fellow will work with their supervisor to develop a project overview that includes project goals, deliverables, and timelines.

Climate Action Fellow – Student Engagement

The Student Engagement Fellow will be a team member of the UCI Sustainability Resource Center (SRC). The fellow will focus efforts on incorporating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) into the CNI and Sustainable Practices Policy. This will include but is not limited to supporting DEI programs based on Environmental Justice and Climate Justice principles. The fellow will host a program each quarter such as a workshop, film screening, and other student forums or events and report on student issues, concerns, and proposals. The fellow will also collaborate with campus units to update and maintain campus sustainability information on the SRC website. Planning and collaboration are key to a successful fellowship. The fellow is expected to work with their supervisors to develop a project overview that includes their project goals, deliverables and timelines, and the metrics that will be used to measure success.

Student Engagement Fellows will share students’ feedback with the student representatives to the Global Climate Leadership Council on the CNI, local needs and opportunities and guidance on advancing student engagement in the CNI. Student Engagement Fellows will receive a $1,000 student engagement budget.

UCI Health

Climate Action Fellow

This Climate Action Fellow will be a team member of UCI Health Planning Administration and support ongoing efforts to advance medical center projects at the intersection of health, equity, and climate change. Projects will focus on climate resilience and decarbonization, which may include but is not limited to: creating and implementing an outreach plan for engaging diverse groups in resilience visioning, conducting a climate impact assessment and assessing vulnerabilities, researching the benefits of telehealth for patients and the planet, conducting annual greenhouse gas emissions reporting, and helping to organize stakeholder engagement events. These projects will have a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Justice (DEIJ)-centered approach. The fellow will work with their supervisor to develop a project overview that includes project goals, deliverables, metrics, and timelines.

 

UCI Health Climate Action Fellow – Student Engagement

This Student Engagement Fellow will be a team member of UCI Health Planning Administration and support ongoing efforts to advance medical center projects at the intersection of health, equity, and climate change. Projects will focus on climate resilience, which may include but is not limited to: creating and implementing an outreach plan for engaging diverse groups in resilience visioning, conducting a climate impact assessment and assessing vulnerabilities, conducting annual greenhouse gas emissions reporting, and helping to organize stakeholder engagement events. The fellow will host programs such as a workshops, webinars, film screenings, or other forums on the nexus between climate and health. The fellow will work with their supervisor to develop a project overview that includes project goals, deliverables, metrics, and timelines.

The Bonnie Reiss Climate Action Fellowship Program has an, almost, 10-year history at UCI. Through the years, CA Fellows have worked across campus and within the community on their projects. Some of these sites include the UCI Campus Physical & Environmental Planning, UCI Community Resilience Projects, UCI Sustainability Resource Center, and more. The fellowship alumni have gone on to do amazing things through the program and beyond.

Below you will find the cohorts for every CA year:

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

Global Food Initiative (GFI) Fellowship Program

Former UC President Janet Napolitano, together with UC’s 10 chancellors, launched the UC Global Food Initiative in 2014. Building on existing efforts and creating new collaborations among UC’s 10 campuses, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and UC’s Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the initiative draws on UC’s leadership in many fields. Its focus is both external and internal. The Global Food Initiative offers a student fellowship program for undergraduates and graduate students to work on research projects or internships related to the initiative

A man putting together food
food fellows working together
peppers

Planning and collaboration are key to a successful fellowship. All Fellows are expected to work with their supervisors to develop a project overview that includes their project goals, deliverables and timelines, and the metrics that will be used to measure success. Fellows are expected to meet regularly with their supervisors to discuss projects, progress, and issues that arise. Fellows will also submit progress reports and a final report to UCOP.

In general, all fellows are expected to:

  • Contribute approximately 8-10 hours per week to the fellowship during the academic year
  • Orally present one status update each quarter at select campus-wide events
  • Attend one fellows’ study break each quarter
  • Complete work products specific to the fellowship project by June 1st

All fellows are expected to attend the following meetings and trainings:

  • GFI orientation
  • GFI bimonthly check-ins
  • Virtual leadership training
  • Mid-year check-in survey due
  • GFI spring convening or field trip
  • Year-end poster due
  • Fellows’ symposium
  • Year-end report

Through the fellowship, students will receive:

  • Hands-on, project-based experience in the fellowship area
  • Approximately, $3,000 in the form of a paid student assistantship
  • Campus and university-wide recognition as a member of a select group of student leaders
  • An opportunity to convene virtually with climate and food fellows across the UC system at the beginning and end of the fellowship year
  • An opportunity to participate in a virtual sustainability leadership training
  • Guidance from prominent scholars and mentorship from practitioners in the field

UCI Main Campus

GFI Student Ambassador

The GFI Student Ambassador role was established to increase student engagement in the Global Food Initiative at both systemwide and campus levels. At each of the 10 UC campuses, the Student Ambassador Fellow serves as the GFI student engagement liaison for their campus. Ambassador Fellows may be invited to participate in leadership convenings of the UC Global Food Initiative where they will lift student voices, report on student engagement activities and progress, and connect with GFI workgroup leaders across the university system.

The GFI Ambassador at the UCI Basic Needs Center, UCI more specifically will lead CalFresh communications and engagement efforts at the UCI Basic Needs Center. The Ambassador’s role is to increase visibility of the CalFresh program and student eligibility requirements in multiple spaces thus improving student food security and wellness. This includes creating content to advance CalFresh awareness on social media platforms and newsletters, and coordinating CalFresh outreach activities and programming events.

GFI Food Recovery Fellow

The GFI Food Recovery Fellow at the UCI Basic Needs Center will be involved in efforts addressing food waste and food security efforts with a commitment to sustainability practices across UCI. The Food Recovery Fellow will facilitate engagement efforts to sustain and increase visibility of the following programs in multiple spaces: The Harvest Project, Grocery Rescue Program, Mobile Food Pantry, and Zotponics.

The Harvest Project is a partnership developed with UC South Coast Farm to harvest locally-grown produce at the farm. The Grocery Rescue Program leverages partnerships with local grocery stores to recover food that would otherwise go to waste. The Mobile Food Pantry increases pantry access for students unable to visit the UCI Food Pantry. The Zotponic system was developed in partnership with UCI’s Electrical Engineering & Computer Science department to achieve the most cost efficient smart indoor hydroponics system that can be controlled via a mobile device. The fellow will coordinate with the Zotponics Team to schedule growth, harvest, and distribution of food grown in the Zotponic system.

Additionally, the GFI Food Recovery Fellow will serve as a liaison between the UCI Basic Needs Center and the Food Recovery Network (FRN) Chapter at UCI. The fellow will attend FRN meetings and actively participate in opportunities across campus to uplift coordinated efforts to increase sustainability practices at UCI.

GFI Garden Fellow

The Garden Fellow will create and implement educational programming and conduct engaged research on urban agriculture at UCI. UCI is home to a growing network of gardens that capture student and staff interest in urban agriculture and greening and responds to urban sustainability, food security, environmental health, and climate change resilience. Many of these gardens are student led with functions for food production, education, research, community building, and cultural representation. Since 2015, a partnership among UCI Student Housing, ASUCI, the UCI Basic Needs Center, and the UCI Sustainability Resource Center has coordinated a campus gardens program which aims to improve integration between urban agriculture and Basic Needs services, increase experiential learning, and initiate cross-campus collaboration. In particular, the GFI Garden Fellow will support programming and sustainable approaches to urban agriculture at the Arroyo Vista housing “Ants in Your Plants” garden. The fellow will lead the produce donation program between the AV garden and the pantry at the UCI Basic Needs Center. This is a hands-on, experiential learning internship engaging the range of skills essential to urban agriculture, both inside the garden and as a community organizer.

The Global Food Initiative (GFI) Fellowship Program has an, almost, 10-year history at UCI. Through the years, GFI Fellows have worked across campus and within the community on their projects. Some of these sites include the UCI Basic Needs Center, UCI Student Housing, UCI Community Resilience Projects, UCI Sustainability Resource Center, and more. The fellowship alumni have gone on to do amazing things through the program and beyond.

Below you will find the cohorts for every GFI year.

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020