Department of Applied Environmental Science
Department Highlights | February 25, 2022 | Issue 6
About the Highlights
The Department of Applied Environmental Science (AES) is home to 3 degree programs: Environmental Studies B.A. (ENSTU), Environmental Science, Technology and Policy B.S. (ESTP), and Environmental Science M.S. (ENSCI). In an effort to stay connected in a virtual world, we hope to utilize this bi-semester highlights email to keep all AES students, staff, and faculty informed of current AES highlights, news, & events. If you need to get in touch with the AES office, please feel free to email us at aes_office@csumb.edu.
Faculty Highlight
Dr. Jennifer Duggan, Associate Professor

Dr. Jennifer Duggan has been actively engaging students in research through her Terrestrial Wildlife Ecology lab. In addition to lab experiences, Jenny also dedicates her Sunday afternoons towards informally advising students on Step & Prep walks throughout Fort Ord. Recently, she has been working with a couple of graduate students in her lab to address the question of whether wildlife perceives humans differently when we are wearing face masks. Through these engaging experiences, Jenny is forming the next generation of wildlife scientists.

Thank you for all that you do for our students, Jenny!
Campus Resource
CSUMB Recreation

CSUMB Recreation creates healthy living environments through innovative and experiential learning opportunities. They design programs that foster growth, leadership and wellbeing for the CSUMB community.

Through CSUMB Recreation, you can explore the following:

Check out the recreation calendar for upcoming events!
Undergraduate Student Highlight
Timothy Randazzo, ESTP

Timothy Randazzo, a senior ESTP student, has immersed himself in a wide array of research and professional experiences over the past few years; spanning wildfire analysis, pesticide bacterial remediation, sustainability, and environmental management. Through these experiences, Timothy has advanced his professional environmental science skills in pursuit of an interdisciplinary master's degree following graduation. The tight-knit CSUMB community has been one of the highlights of Timothy's undergraduate experience. It has allowed him the ability to build strong networks, engage in small class sizes, and participate in on-campus jobs.
Graduate Student Highlight
Connie Machuca, ENSCI

Connie Machuca, a current graduate student in the Environmental Science master's program (ENSCI), has been working on her thesis project over the past year. As a thesis student in Dr. Nathaniel Jue's lab, Connie is focusing her research on soil microbes found in a bioreactor system in Salinas, CA that is attempting to remediate pesticides from nearby agricultural fields. She is also collecting soil samples from the Salinas and the Tijuana River valleys to compare bacterial communities and functional components between historically polluted environments. 
Alumni Highlight
Trinity Gomez,
ENSTU

Trinity Gomez, an alumna of the Environmental Studies program at CSUMB, has been busy pursuing her master's degree in Landscape Architecture following graduation. As a graduate student in Cal Poly Pomona's College of Environmental Design, Trinity hopes to apply her graduate studies towards a career as a landscape architect. Alongside her CSUMB research mentor, Dr. Victoria Derr, Trinity was recently published in the Journal of Landscape and Urban Planning in Science Direct: “Landscapes as living laboratories for sustainable campus planning and stewardship: A scoping review of approaches and practices”.
Message from the Department Chair
Dear AES Students,

I hope you are doing well, staying healthy, and settling into the semester! Thanks for your continued efforts to keep our CSUMB community vibrant and safe.

This semester we are excited to launch a new program called AES Field Adventures. The last two years of virtual learning and online classes have been challenging. We missed going on class field trips and exploring the Central Coast region together. To make up for lost time, our AES Faculty are offering Saturday trips to our favorite field and research locations.

Throughout the semester we will be leading trips to terrestrial, freshwater, and coastal habitats. There is no preparation, homework, or grade involved and we provide van transportation from campus. These Saturdays are meant to offer you a fun day in the field with AES Professors and fellow students. Some trips will include strenuous hikes, while other trips will be more relaxed. All are open to any science student (first year and beyond) and are intended to build field skills and/or address current topics in Applied Environmental Science.
Bonus – all participants get a free hat with the AES Department name on it.

Check out the schedule. I hope you will sign up and join us on one of our upcoming Saturday field adventures!

My best wishes,
Susan Alexander
Professor and Chair, Department of Applied Environmental Science
Department Updates
AES Field Adventures
Join us on Saturdays for a fun day in the field!
Throughout the semester, AES faculty will be leading trips to terrestrial, freshwater, and coastal habitats. These Saturdays are meant to offer AES students a fun day in the field with professors and fellow students.

Check out the schedule below for more details. AES Field Adventures are open on a first come, first served basis (max 11 students per trip). You will be notified in advance whether your registration has been accepted or if you are placed on a waitlist. As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out at aes_office@csumb.edu. 
Interested in having your story highlighted in our next AES highlight email? Complete one of the following forms for a chance to be featured on our website & in our upcoming email(s).
Department of Applied Environmental Science | https://csumb.edu/aes