Academic Exchangeto the University of California Santa Cruz

Academic Exchangeto the

University of California Santa Cruz

Academic Exchangeto the

University of California Santa Cruz

Megan WillemsNovember 14, 2007

Santa Cruz, CASanta Cruz, CA

Santa Cruz is located at the top of Monterey Bay on the Central California Coast, approximately 60 miles south of San Francisco

The Environmental Studies Major

The Environmental Studies Major

“…Students pursue an interdisciplinary curriculum that combines course work in ecology and the social sciences. The program emphasizes the integration of ecological knowledge with an understanding of social institutions and policies in ways that support the conservation of biodiversity, the practice of sustainable agriculture, and the careful management of other ecological and environmental systems.”

Courses I Took At UCSC Courses I Took At UCSC

• Organic Agriculture Theory and Practice

• Agroecology and Sustainable Agroecology

• Agroecosystem Analysis and Watershed Management

• Culture Through Food • Principles of Sustainable

Agriculture • Modern Soviet Literature• Environmental Politics• French!

Other Interesting Courses Offered

Other Interesting Courses Offered

• Integrated Pest Management

• General Entomology• Field Enthobotany• Environmental Action

through Writing• Nature Literature• Restoration Ecology• Biotechnology: Social

and Environmental Dimensions

The Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems

The Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems

• “The Farm” at UCSC• The mission of the CASFS (the Center) is to

research, develop, and advance sustainable food and agricultural systems that are environmentally sound, economically viable, socially responsible, nonexploitative, and that serve as a foundation for future generations.

• 25-acre farm/handworked gardens of annual and perennial food and ornamental crops, mechanically cultivated row crops, orchards, and research plots.

CASFSCASFS

Agroecology Related ProgramsAgroecology Related Programs

• Farm Apprenticeship - full time organic farming• Program in Agroecology and Community at the Village

(PICA)• UCSC Dining Services - use significant amount of farm

produce• Agriculture & Land-Based Training Association (ALBA) • Community Agroecology Network (CAN) - Steve

Gliessman’s fair trade coffee and research network• UCSC Food Systems Working Group• The Education for Sustainable Living Program (ESLP) -

student run courses that study all aspects of sustainable living from food to waste

• Life Lab - on farm classroom for children

Work ExperienceWork Experience

I worked for Dr. Joji Muramoto whose research focuses mainly on developing indicators of sustainable nutrient management in agriculture. I spent many sunny days sampling soil in strawberry and cover cropped fields as well as harvesting organic strawberries for yield analysis.

Colleges and CommunityColleges and Community

• Ten Colleges• I was in College 9 - our

theme was “International and Global Perspectives”

• Community is an important aspect of UCSC and the colleges are designed to have the advantages of a small college within the extensive resources of a large university

The VillageThe Village

• I lived at “The Village” a unique student housing community designed for continuing, transfer, graduate, and some students in special programs.

Santa Cruz LifeSanta Cruz Life

• Relaxed in comparison to Vancouver

• Beaches, beaches, beaches…need I say more?

• Social Justice focus - everyone had a cause

• San Francisco, Napa and more all nearby

Santa CruzSanta Cruz

Global Issues and CultureGlobal Issues and Culture

• Santa Cruz tries hard to be liberal and encouraged diversity

• Classes definitely encouraged more global perspectives although there was little diversity from students

• Professors all had global experience• College 9 had the International Living Center

and focused a lot on global issues. • Activism is alive and healthy at UCSC compared

to UBC. Many of the issues surrounded the war and global problems (climate change, human rights, etc)

How to have the Successful Exchange Experience!

How to have the Successful Exchange Experience!

• Be Open - my motto was to “say yes” to new experiences while on exchange. This meant football games, positive experiences of activism, hands on learning at the farm, driving to In-n-out at 1am on a Tuesday.

• Take courses outside your major!