Bren School of Environmental Science & Management
I’m currently a graduate student at the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management specializing in Economics and Politics of the Environment and Strategic Environmental Communication. Please see below for work samples during my tenure as a graduate student at Bren.
Policy Briefs
Policy Brief on Monterey Peninsula Water Politics. This is a policy brief that I wrote for my Water Policy class examining the sources of Monterey’s water, its sustainability and resilience, and provides a recommendation for future action.
Policy Brief on the Resilience of Utah’s Water System. This is a policy brief that I wrote for my Water Policy class assessing the sources and sustainability of Utah’s water system and provides recommendations for additional policy actions that confer multiple benefits on the system and its users.
Policy Analysis on Why Protect Our Winters Should Support Cap and Trade. This is a policy analysis that I wrote for my Biogeochemistry class analyzing cap and trade markets as a solution to carbon emissions, and why the organization Protect Our Winters should support these policies.
Research Papers, Case Studies, and Science Stories
Research Paper on the Future of Water on the Monterey Peninsula. This is a research paper I wrote for my Water Policy class examining the history, present, and future of Monterey Peninsula Water politics.
Science Story on Reducing Bird Mortality near Wind Turbines. This is a science story that I wrote for my Writing Skills for Environmental Professionals class on a scientific paper assessing how to reduce bird mortality near wind turbines.
Environmental Strategy Proposal on Feasibility of CVS Switching to Bio-Plastic Pill Bottles*. This is an Environmental Strategy Proposal outlining a strategy for CVS pharmacy to switch from traditional plastic pill bottles to bio-plastic pill bottles.
Literature Review: How will climate change affect the spawning habitat of Pacific Salmon in the Columbia River watershed? This is a literature review assessing how climate change could affect the regions of the Columbia River watershed where Pacific Salmon spawn.
Essay: Economic Interventions Designed to Eliminate the Harvesting of Fin Whales in Iceland. This is an essay outlining economic interventions, specifically non-market valuations, can be used to reduce or eliminate the commercial harvesting of fin whales in Iceland.
Legal Case Study: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act*. This case study applies assesses the applicability of the RCRA statute (which governs the disposal of solid waste and hazardous waste) to a business that is improperly disposing of its waste.
Legal Case Study: Clean Air Act*. This case study assesses the applicability of the Clean Air Act statute (which limits national air pollution) to a business that is potentially out of compliance with CAA regulations.
Data Analysis
Data Analysis and Policy Brief on Flood Risk in NYC. This is a policy brief that I produced for my Earth System Science class assessing flood risk in New York City. I used a random number generator algorithm in R to assess flood risk at various tidal levels, storm surges, and sea-level rise estimates to assess the threat of sea-level rise in New York City. Produced using R and R markdown.
Data Analysis and Policy Brief on California Groundwater Depletion. This is a policy brief that I produced for my Earth System Science class assessing the size of California’s groundwater resources. I used R to analyze a dataset examining the sources, sinks, and an estimated total of California’s groundwater system to provide a recommendation on when California should begin reducing its groundwater consumption. Produced using R and R markdown.
Maps
Multicriteria Analysis of Conservation Potential of Watersheds in Santa Barbara County, 10 March 2021. This map displays the conservation potential and subsequent priority of watersheds in Santa Barbara County based on the following parameters: proximity to streams and vegetative growth (high priority), visibility from established observation points and gentle slopes (medium priority), and land availability and cost (low priority). Tier 1 is the quartile with the highest conservation potential, followed by Tiers 2, 3, and 4. Watersheds listed as "n/a" did not meet a sufficient threshold for conservation. Produced using QGIS.
Top Ten Wind Turbine Sites in Santa Barbara County, 22 February 2021. This map assesses the top ten placement sites for wind turbines in Santa Barbara County, based on the following criteria: road access, proximity from airport and urban areas, not within fire hazard zones or on public lands, and wind power density (over 6.4m/s). The ten sites listed meet all of these criteria and are ranked by area (i.e. site 1 is this single parcel with the highest area that meets all of this criteria). Produced using QGIS.
Sea level rise in Santa Barbara and its impacts on real estate, 1 February 2021. This map assesses how sea-level rise could impact downtown Santa Barbara, and what sort of real estate will be affected. While it’s difficult to predict the exact effect that sea-level rise will have on coastal regions, areas with high concentrations of expensive real estate must have a keen understanding of how much property is at risk from flooding during different scenarios (1 meter of SLR vs. 3 meters of SLR). Produced using QGIS.
Percentage of population aged 60 and over, 2000 estimates, 19 January 2021. This map assesses the distribution of individuals aged 60 years+ by country. The age structure of a population affects a nation's key socioeconomic issues, meaning that countries with young populations (high percentage under age 15) need to invest more in schools, while countries with older populations (high percentage ages 60 and over) need to invest more in the health sector. The age structure can also be used to help predict potential political issues. For example, the rapid growth of a young adult population unable to find employment can lead to unrest. Produced using QGIS.
*denotes that the assignment was a group project