Mantell Symposium in Environmental Justice and Conservation Innovation 2026

About

Please join us for a special event that will catalyze the Bren School’s efforts to advance environmental justice and conservation innovation. The Mantell Symposium will include panel discussions featuring leaders in the environmental justice and conservation innovation space as well as Bren School faculty and the fifth cohort of Mantell and Bren Environmental Leadership Fellows. Following the event, a reception for donors, partners, all Bren students, staff, faculty, and others attending the Symposium will be held in the Michael J. Connell Memorial Courtyard.

Toward a Just Future: Conservation, Innovation, and Resilience in a Changing World

The symposium will also be live streamed for remote viewing: watch on YouTube.

RSVP required for in-person attendance only; kindly reply to Renee Dubie at reneedubie@ucsb.edu to reserve your place.

1:00-5:00 PM | Symposium, Bren Hall 1414

1:00-1:05 PM Introductory Remarks: Dr. Elena Irwin, Dean

1:05 - 1:30 PM Opening Keynote: Faith Briggs Rose, a documentary filmmaker, creative producer and podcast host passionate about sharing contemporary stories from diverse communities

1:30 - 2:05 PM: Panel 1 Community Climate Resilience and Environmental Justice Partners: The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Community and College Partners Program (C2P2) Invited Panelist: Alvaro S. Sanchez, Blueprints for Belonging Senior Fellow at Just Solutions Collective Bren Moderator: Dr. Jayajit Chakraborty Student Fellows: Alexandra Brown-Law, Bren MESM; Tiffany Sun, Bren MESM; Hambee Makinoda, Environmental Studies and Biological Sciences undergraduate; Shelsy Marquez-Solorzano, Environmental Studies undergraduate

2:05 - 2:40 PM: Panel 2 Forests, Fire, and Drought in a Changing Climate Invited Panelist: Lara Buluc, Wildfire County Coordinator Program Manager at California Fire Safe Council, Bren alumna Bren Moderator: Dr. Joan Dudney Student Fellows: Emma Rigatti, Bren PhD; Olivia Ross, Bren PhD; Jamie Luu, Environmental Studies and Ecology and Evolution undergraduate

20 minute intermission

3:00 - 3:35 PM: Panel 3 Tools, Technology, and Data Systems for Conservation Impact Partner: The Nature Conservancy Invited Panelist: Dr. Darcy Bradley, Lead Ocean Scientist at The Nature Conservancy, Bren alumna Bren Moderator: Dr. Christopher Jerde Student Fellows: Sloane Stephenson, Bren PhD; Emma Rasmussen, Bren MESM; Mila Matich, Environmental Studies undergraduate; Matthew Roco-Calvo, Environmental Studies undergraduate