Capstone.
build your professional portfolio through applied client work.
The best way to learn communication skills is to apply them in a real-world context.
Applied client work is the foundation of the Communication program. Students can gain hands-on experiences through the communication capstone, fellowships, or through part-time positions in strategic environmental communication with local organizations such as LoaCom, NCEAS, and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper.
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Communication Capstones
The communication capstone project (ESM 449) represents a culmination of the applied skills that students in the Communication academic focus learn. The experience helps students build skills and their portfolio while working for an external client over ten weeks in spring quarter. Students may also elect to develop their own communication products or expand upon their Master's Group Projects.
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Past communication capstones have taken on a diversity of topics and tactics, such as branding and messaging strategy, short films, audience research, educational curricula, outreach strategies, infographics, and museum interactives.
Capstone Project Requirements
Students and potential clients are encouraged to propose communication capstone projects. Successful projects should focus on a clear goal, such as raising awareness, promoting engagement, creating educational opportunities, or compelling individuals to engage in pro-environmental behavior. They must also incorporate at least two of the following:
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Strategy
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Narrative / Story development
-
Audience research
-
Development of a communication skill or tool
​
Spring 2019 capstone projects will run 10 weeks from April 1 - June 7, 2019.
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If you have any questions about a potential capstone project, please contact communication program director, Lisa Leombruni.
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Past Capstone Clients
California Academy of Sciences
Surfrider Foundation
Honda Marine Science Foundation
WaterNow Alliance
Santa Barbara Channelkeeper
Ocean Health Index, NCEAS
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
University of California Office of the President
Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary
Salty Girl Seafood
PAST Capstone Projects
Current students can access the full archive of capstone projects here
See the full Comm Capstone video archive
build your professional portfolio through applied client work.
The best way to learn communication skills is to apply them in a real-world context.
Applied client work is the foundation of the Communication program. Students can gain hands-on experiences through the communication capstone, fellowships, or through part-time positions in strategic environmental communication with local organizations such as LoaCom, NCEAS, and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper.
​
Communication Capstones
The communication capstone project (ESM 449) represents a culmination of the applied skills that students in the Communication academic focus learn. The experience helps students build skills and their portfolio while working for an external client over ten weeks in spring quarter. Students may also elect to develop their own communication products or expand upon their Master's Group Projects.
​
Past communication capstones have taken on a diversity of topics and tactics, such as branding and messaging strategy, short films, audience research, educational curricula, outreach strategies, infographics, and museum interactives.
Capstone Project Requirements
Students and potential clients are encouraged to propose communication capstone projects. Successful projects should focus on a clear goal, such as raising awareness, promoting engagement, creating educational opportunities, or compelling individuals to engage in pro-environmental behavior. They must also incorporate at least two of the following:
​
-
Strategy
-
Narrative / Story development
-
Audience research
-
Development of a communication skill or tool
​
Spring 2019 capstone projects will run 10 weeks from April 1 - June 7, 2019.
​
If you have any questions about a potential capstone project, please contact communication program director, Lisa Leombruni.
​
Past Capstone Clients
California Academy of Sciences
Surfrider Foundation
Honda Marine Science Foundation
WaterNow Alliance
Santa Barbara Channelkeeper
Ocean Health Index, NCEAS
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
University of California Office of the President
Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary
Salty Girl Seafood
PAST Capstone Projects
Current students can access the full archive of capstone projects here
See the full Comm Capstone video archive
Rage Sustainably
2019
Danny Elkin, Giovanna Davila, Eric Tarantino, Kynan Witters-Hicks
Social Media Strategy & Campaign
Client: IV Adopt a Block
2019
Breaking Bear-iers
2019
Caitlin Swalec, Cheyenne Coxon, Lauren Krohmer
Communication Plan and Strategy
Client: California Grizzly Research Network
A communication strategy and collection of communication materials to help the California Grizzly Research Network craft a consistent message about their research on grizzly bear reintroduction in California.
Why Should I Care About...?
2019
Taylor Heisley-Cook, Bri Winkler
YouTube Series | Personal Interest Capstone
A 10-part YouTube series that teaches middle schoolers to be mindful consumers by exploring the environmental impacts of daily items, covering climate change, plastic pollution, & land use.
Power Play
2019
Valeria Tamayo, Danny Ettelson, Hanna Buechi
Science Education Game
Client: California Academy of Sciences
An interactive puzzle game for the California Academy of Sciences that makes the electricity grid fun, helps players understand where their electricity comes from, and empowers them to support a greener grid.
Living Rivers
Eric Holmes, Marina Lindsay
Documentary Film | Group Project Capstone
Client: The Nature Conservancy
A short film for The Nature Conservancy exploring
the impact of climate change on Eastern Sierra
rivers, featuring local residents and managers. It
offers solutions to adapt to increased river volatility.
Parks Over Pollution
2019
Meghan Cook, Casey Moorhead
Press Kit and Communication Strategy
Client: National Parks Conservation Association
Press kit materials and strategy for the National
Parks Conservation Association to raise awareness
on the impacts of fracking on California National
Parks and to encourage community engagement.
A campaign to reduce litter in Isla Vista by targeting party culture to change wasteful behavior through strategic messaging & coalition building. Created in collaboration with IV Adopt-A-Block.
The Salty Generations
2018
Shelby Oliver, Shaun Wolfe
Short Documentary | Group Project Capstone
Bernard Friedman has been pioneering shellfish farming in the California for 15 years, while Tessa Emmer, Avery Resor, and Catherine O’Hare are in the earliest stages of testing out their seaweed farm. In “The Salty Generations,” we look at the unique challenges of each generation of farmers and their motivation to provide sustainable food for their communities despite these challenges.
Short Documentary | Personal Interest Capstone
We often remember the direct impacts of natural disasters, such as the loss of life and property—but what about the untold stories? We take a closer look at vulnerable populations, often minority or low income communities, whose livelihoods are significantly impacted by the secondary effects of a disaster, such as the loss of a job, exposure to toxins, or lack of access or post-disaster support. This short documentary explores these stories.
After the Fire | After the Rain
2018
Sarah Salem, Alex McCutcheon, Gokce Sencan, Alex Jamis
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This project was made possible by a generous gift from the Robert L. Boughton Jr. Endowed Environmental Communication Fellowship
Whale-safe Shipping through Coalition Building
2018
Madi Harris, Chester Lindley, Rowena Eng, Lauren Menzer, Erika Petroy
Client: Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS)
The CINMS Vessel Speed Reduction program has successfully slowed ships the Santa Barbara Channel through financial incentives. Yet can non-financial incentives be successful? This project explored the potential for non-financial incentives through interviews with supply chain planners and sustainability managers. Companies generally supported a business partnership to promote ocean-friendly shipping; outreach materials were created to help build a coalition.
Teaching Sustainability through Museum Interactives
2018
Cheryl Bube, Christin Palmstrom
Science Education Game
Client: California Academy of Sciences
The California Academy of Sciences has launched PlanetVision, a science-based outreach plan that inspires people to put environmental solutions into action. We designed three interactive museum activities for PlanetVision to encourage visitors to learn more about sustainability. We pilot-tested and assessed the interactives' impact through survey feedback and provided suggestions for Cal Academy to implement and scale-up the activities for other settings.
This project was made possible by a generous gift from the Honda marine science foundation
Shelling Out Solutions
2017
Desmond Ho, Erin O'Reilly, Emily Read, Erik Martinez
Short Documentary | Group Project Capstone
Client: Honda Marine Science Foundation
The native California Olympia oyster used to carpet the seafloor from Baja to British Columbia. Yet pollution, overharvesting, and habitat destruction have destroyed oyster populations. Join a team of Master’s students from the Bren School at UC Santa Barbara as they explore ways to restore habitat to bring these creatures back to our waterways.
Teaching Complex Environmental Science in High School
2017
Bella Marill, Cora Kammeyer
High School Curriculum | Personal Interest Capstone
As sustainability and climate challenges continue, it is important that high school students not only understand science concepts but also apply these concepts to creatively address the problems their generation will face. We created an environmental education curriculum for AP high school students in Santa Barbara that highlights problem solving and critical thinking related to real world environmental problems. The objective was to have students understand the interdisciplinary nature of problem solving: social, economic, environmental.
Strategic Communication for Carbon Neutrality
2016
Ilan MacAdam-Somer, Brian Jones, Heather Martin
Client: University of California Office of the President, TomKat Foundation
University of California Office of the President (UCOP) announced the Carbon Neutrality Initiative (CNI) in 2013, committing all ten UC campuses to carbon neutrality by 2025. To help understand how the UC might achieve carbon neutrality from a human-centric perspective, this project conducted audience research and pilot-tested campaign concepts with UC students to improve the ability of UCOP to engage and connect with with the UC student body regarding carbon neutrality.
