Learning Beyond the Lab with ‘EnvironMentors’

As the school year wraps up, some students at the University of California, Davis, are celebrating more than their own accomplishments. They’re cheering on the budding scientists they’ve spent months mentoring through UC Davis EnvironMentors.

The campus program within the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is a chapter of the national EnvironMentors program, an initiative by the Global Council for Science and the Environment. It pairs undergraduate and graduate students with high school researchers for yearlong STEM projects.

“The high school student is learning about life in college, about how to do science, about how to interact with people in a scientific setting,” said Grey Monroe, associate professor with the Department of Plant Sciences and co-director of EnvironMentors. “And the UC Davis students benefit from the leadership experience they gain from it all.”

Eight students from Pioneer High School in Woodland participated in this year’s program, working alongside faculty and mentors from labs in plant sciences, ecology, atmospheric science, environmental policy and more. Each group developed an original research project and met weekly on campus, using lab equipment and nearby field sites to collect and analyze data.

“We have a diverse set of projects, most of them include some field experiment and data analysis, which engages students with hands-on science, which is a really nice research experience,” said Erwan Monier, associate professor with the Department of Land, Air and Water Resources and co-director of EnvironMentors. “Students focus on environmental science topics that have a real societal impact or that is relevant to their community, so they are really motivated and engaged.”

Over the winter and spring quarters, students also took part in field trips and hands-on experiments. The program culminates in science fair-style poster presentations, where each student shares their research and findings.

Students take the lead

Anna Callens, a senior at Pioneer High School, was focused on the environmental impacts of gravel mining on local water quality. By measuring dissolved oxygen and pH and mercury levels upstream and downstream of a gravel mine, she explored how mining activities may alter watershed conditions and potentially increase risks to wildlife and human health through mercury contamination.

Throughout the project, she was mentored by Gal Koss, a Ph.D. candidate in environmental and natural resource economics, who was impressed with how Callens took ownership of her research from the start. 

“She had her own project idea, and I've been following her lead on it,” Koss said. “She comes to every meeting more and more prepared. It’s amazing to watch how her scientific muscle is growing."

Callens credits the program for strengthening her confidence and technical skills.

“The program has elevated my interest in environmental science by pushing me to be more confident in my data analysis and poster presentation skills,” Callens said. “Without joining EnvironMentors, I would not have gained the valuable research skills that I can now take with me to college that make me a more competitive applicant for future jobs or internships.”

Making a difference in the community

Mudasser Ahmed, an 11th grader, explored how increasing salt levels in groundwater could affect agricultural crops. His project focused on the salt tolerance of walnut plants, examining how they respond to high-salinity conditions. Ahmed said a highlight of the program was working alongside his mentor in the campus greenhouses.

“I read that by 2050, salt levels will more than double in groundwater, so I thought that with this research, we can try to find solutions to that problem,” he said. “By using the greenhouses, I feel like I’m learning a lot.”

Another mentor, Marie Klein, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Plant Sciences, worked with student Marissa Bautista, who wanted to explore bird biodiversity in rural and urban environments. She said mentorship has been just as meaningful for her as it has been for Bautista.

“I’ve been in her position where I had to figure out my career and what I wanted to do next,” Klein said. “I think a mentorship program, in which I can tell her about my experience and my story, is helpful to make decisions about her career. This group of mentees and mentors, forming this community on campus, is super valuable for anyone.”

Ready for what’s next

While students spend the year conducting research and experiencing college life at UC Davis, EnvironMentors also helps them think about what comes after high school. The program offers workshops on how to apply for college, providing practical guidance as they prepare for the next step.

Ahmed, Callens and two other students, along with Klein and Monroe, traveled to Panama City this month for the program’s annual research symposium, joining students from chapters across the globe to present their projects. For Monroe, it’s exciting to think about what could be possible if even more students had access to experiences like this and the chance to pursue projects that matter to them.

“The reason I’m passionate about trying to get this really going is because it’s nice to do something that actually makes a difference in people’s lives in a very tangible way, which is very cool,” said Monroe.

Recruitment for the next cohort of EnvironMentors will begin this fall. Learn more here.