Department of Applied Environmental Science
ESTP Student Leaves Green Mark on Campus
Destiny-Ciara Yano, a current Environmental Science, Technology, and Policy major, recently presented her research at the following conferences: CSU WATER, the Society of College and University Planning, and the 72nd Annual Meeting of the Western Section of The Wildlife Society. Additionally, she conducts research in Dr. James Guilinger's Watershed Geology Lab. Outside of the lab, Destiny serves as the Sustainability Senator for Associated Students and on the President's Sustainability Committee, providing a student's perspective on policy and operational initiatives. Within this committee, Destiny sits on the Habitat Working Group, the Nature Rx Working Group, and the Sustainable Events Working Group.
We reached out to Destiny to learn about her research and on-campus involvement. Check out her interview below!
You recently attended and presented research at CSU WATER, the Society of College and University Planning, and the 72nd Annual Meeting of the Western Section of The Wildlife Society conferences. What was your research on?
For all three conferences, I presented a different topic for each of them! For CSU-Water, I presented my UROC and honors independent capstone project that I'm working on under Dr. John Olson on investigating if there is resilience riparian corridors have when it comes to major wildfires that have recently occurred in the central coast. For the Society of College and University Planning (SCUP), I presented on behalf of the President's Sustainability Committee, NatureRx Working Group, a student's perspective on how to create a StoryMap to highlight green spaces and memorable places on a university campus that can increase a student's experience during their time on campus. For the 72nd Annual Meeting of the Western Section of the Wildlife Society conference, I presented the long-term impacts of a low-impact dam removal of the San Clemente dam on the habitat of the endemic species, steelhead trout, under Dr. James Guilinger's lab.
What are you gaining from this research experience, and does it contribute to your career goals?
From these research opportunities, I have formed a strong network of connections within (and even outside!) this area and equipped myself with many new skills for different projects. Before going into research, I did not think I would be capable of getting involved with attending conferences or being in direct communication with most members of the AES department. It contributes to my career goals of aspiring to work in the environmental sector within sustainable natural resource management. Working with my hands is a good skill to have; communicating with others and leading a group of individuals to do the right thing all encompass what I hope to gain from these research experiences.
What were your favorite parts of the conferences?
Meeting new people and hearing what they had to say about the work that I was doing! I also had a thrill drinking copious amounts of coffee, but connecting with people via LinkedIn, social media, or their personal emails to hear about post-grad opportunities and what a potential career could look like for me 🙂. It was even awesome having some of the graduate programs try to recruit me to join their research program!
Do you have any advice for students interested in pursuing those types of opportunities?
Don't be afraid to try something new and to really put yourself out there. Start branching outward to anyone within your department; start with your professors! Let them know you want to get involved with either their lab or learn more about a project they discussed in class. Talk to everyone around you about what they might be doing and if they need any help with a field day or with decoding some of their deliverables for a project!
What is your favorite part of being an undergraduate here at CSUMB?
From my time here at CSUMB as an undergraduate has been nothing short of a well lived experience. My favorite part was making lifelong friends, I know I will contact after graduation, creating connections with the faculty and staff members here, and deepening my understanding of the rich history and land we reside on at CSUMB. The two years worth of experiences and memories shaped the person I am today and will take with me as I enter the next chapter of my life.
What are your future plans (career, academic, etc.)?
After graduation, I have an arborist internship with Davey Tree Expert Company for a year. During that time, I plan on taking a gap year, focusing on my internship, spending time with my family back at home (Livermore), enjoying backpacking and mountain biking, and preparing for graduate school. I hope to pursue a Master's degree in either forestry or sustainable resource management (or maybe even both!).
Congratulations, Destiny!! We are otterly proud of you, and can't wait to see where your professional and academic endeavors take you!