LPC Environmental Interns

 

Las Positas College is proud to host a great group of student interns.  According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupations related to helping the environment or conserving natural resources are projected to grow significantly by 2030. That is why Las Positas College launched an internship program in January 2022 to give students hands-on experience in the environmental field. The internship program has afforded our students with critical networking connections, provided doors to employment opportunities, and given them a competitive edge in the job market.

 

Destiny Yano

Major: Environmental Science

Climate Literacy Intern, Fall 2022

 

"From this internship I've engaged with an incredible number of people who have helped and refined my understanding and appreciation for what sustainability can mean to me and how it can mean for others."

Destiny is meeting with professors across all disciplines on the Las Positas campus to determine how they are incorporating climate-related topics into their curriculum. She is hoping to talk with them about how increasing climate literacy amongst students will create ample green job opportunities, empower students, and motivate them to take action.

 

 

Avery Payne

Major: Political Science

Zero Waste Intern, Fall 2022

 

"I'm looking forward to facilitating a lot of meetings this semester and seeing what changes can be implemented as we work toward a more sustainable campus!"

Avery is working with Post Landfill Action Network (PLAN) to prepare for, and co-facilitate, digital Zero Waste Strategic Visioning Sessions with key campus stakeholders. She will then work with PLAN staff to produce a Zero Waste Strategic Vision - roughly 12-15 pages long, agreed upon by all campus stakeholders through a facilitated feedback process. The vision they produce will serve as a proposal to upper-level administration to request that significant investment and improvements be explored to establish a zero-waste system on campus.

 

Morgan Garner

Major: Environmental Science

Zero Waste Intern, Spring 2022

 

"I have a gained a greater understanding of the importance of waste reform not only in my everyday life but on a global scale."

Morgan worked with Post Landfill Action Network (PLAN) to complete a waste assessment for Las Positas. She interviewed key campus stakeholders to gain a holistic view of our materials management infrastructure, waste policies, and collection procedures. After compiling answers from their interviews, PLAN sent a report with a score and a list of recommendations to fix issues with waste on our campus. 

 

 

Photo of Garion and Sonia taken at Quest Science Fair 2022 by Ron Essex Photography

Garion Nicdao

Major: Undecided

Drone Intern, Spring 2022

 

"I'm confident that this internship will have been a key step in my future in academic and professional life."

Sonia Bulavko

Major: Environmental Science

Drone Intern

 

"I have learned so much about teamwork, the power and potential of technology, and the many ways to make a difference on campus."

Sonia and Garion worked with Las Positas Anthropology Professor Dan Cearley to capture images with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to determine the amount of carbon sequestered by the vegetation on the Las Positas College campus. Using Pix4D software, they used the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index to distinguish between living plant matter on campus and non-living matter. They also had all of the trees on campus surveyed for their species and diameter. They were able to estimate the rate of carbon sequestration by all of the trees on campus and compared that number with the total greenhouse gas emissions of the school.

 

Jeff Deng (not pictured)

Major: Computer Science

New Power Industries, Spring 2022

 

"As an intern, I'm learning a lot about the business-to-business model and business skills."

Jeff worked for New Power Industries to research equipment and processes involved in closed loop energy systems for farms. The purpose of researching closed loop energy systems and planning ways to develop them for farms is to cut down on energy costs and to help farmers expand their repertoire of products they can sell. He helped to compile a catalog of equipment to be used in eco-industrial village networks. He also conducted an analysis of expected yields for a moringa farm in Kenya. Moringa is a superfood that is highly commercially viable and nutritious, and many mothers in developing countries use it as a key supplement for nourishment.