Environmental Science MS
Congratulations to our Fall 2020 Graduates!
On behalf of the Environmental Science M.S. faculty, we want to extend a well-earned congratulations to our Fall 2020 graduates! We wish we could be celebrating with you all in person today, but know that we are cheering for you from afar!
Scroll through this semester's graduates to learn more about their Professional Science Master's (PSM) projects and their experience in the Environmental Science (ENSCI) graduate program.
Stefanie Kortman | Faculty Advisor: Dr. Arlene Haffa
PSM Project: "In-Situ Monitoring of Soil Greenhouse Gas Emissions During Anerobic Soil Disinfestation Treatment in Strawberries on the Central Coast of California"
Stefanie Kortman dedicated her PSM towards managing soil greenhouse gas emissions monitoring projects for a USDA collaborative project focused on organic, non-fumigating alternatives to soil-borne disease management in strawberries. Following graduation, she plans to continue to pursue additional opportunities that focus on addressing challenges to sustainable crop production in the greater Monterey Bay region.
The ENSCI program helped me enhance skills I already had and gained many new ones that I can apply directly to my professional pursuits. I was rewarded with several opportunities to participate in class projects that addressed an expressed need in the community, and to communicate science to a diverse group of stakeholders including local city governments, researchers, and land managers. I feel better equipped to engage not only in my area of research but also in the broader environmental science community, and more importantly to communicate effectively to mixed audiences and the general public.
Ryan Solymar | Faculty Advisor: Dr. Steve Moore
PSM Project: "3D Digital Modeling of Maritime Heritage Resources: Are Small ROVs up to the Task?"
Ryan Solymar interned with the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) and CSUMB's Ecosystems Electronics Lab (EEL) as part of his PSM project. As a 3D photogrammetry intern, he spent the past year developing three-dimensional models of maritime heritage sites throughout MBNMS. Ryan and his colleagues successfully created a 3D model of the “mating amtracks” (two military amphibious tracked vehicles) off of Lovers Point in Pacific Grove, CA using video imagery collected from a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). Following graduation, Ryan hopes to apply the experience he gained from his graduate internship towards a career in applying advanced technology towards pressing environmental issues.
My project allowed me to pursue applying novel technologies to understanding marine ecosystems.
John Wandke | Faculty Advisor: Dr. Fred Watson
PSM Project: "Martin Dunes Special Status Plant Surveys"
John Wandke worked alongside Big Sur Land Trust (BSLT) to design and implement a plant survey for his PSM internship. This internship provided John with the opportunity to independently execute field work and repeatedly observe and analyze environmental conditions. Through analyzing rare and protected flora continuously throughout the survey season, he was able to witness how environmental and human manipulations may influence the ecosystem. Following graduation, John hopes to apply the advanced skills he gained throughout the ENSCI program towards his career as an ecologist.
I found the Martin Dunes project with BSLT to be highly rewarding, challenging and avaluable learning experience that bolstered my education at CSUMB.