Small Projects (>$10K)

These projects received less than $10,000 from TGIF.

Rainwater Harvesting System III

Project Description

Project RISHI is a nonprofit organization committed to the sustainable development of rural Indian communities. Since 2013, the UC Berkeley chapter has worked in Bharog Baneri, Himachal Pradesh to address the key challenge of agricultural water stress. Our Water and Sanitation project group focuses on Rainwater Harvesting Systems (RHS), which collect and store rainwater for use during dry seasons, ensuring reliable water access for subsistence farmers. These systems support water justice, food security, and stable livelihoods. Since 2018 we have installed 29...

People of Color Sustainability Campaign

Project Description

The People of Color sustainability campaign aims to facilitate sustainable and environmental justice education for POCTH residents and Berkeley Student Cooperative students of color. Targeted outreach will be led by a paid resident from POCTH who will facilitate conversations, coordinate workshops and conduct outreach. The campaign will host a series of eight workshops in Fall and Spring, four per semester, devoted to topics of: indigenous food systems and sovereignty, zero-waste and compost, urban agriculture, and decapitalizing your health. Activists, students...

Fannie Lou Hamer Black Resource Center Garden Project

Project Description

This project will be a student/community-led garden maintained to provide fresh food, as well as a platform to introduce students to different ways that we can sustain ourselves while improving lifestyle choices.

Project Links

Project Application

Project Poster

Standardization of Waste Sorting Signage within UC Berkeley Residence Halls

Project Description

Project plans to standardize and improve waste sorting signate in residence halls, to support incoming students in proper waste sorting practices, ensure consistency and clarity in messaging, and educate and inform students about waste sorting at UC Berkeley.

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Project Application

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Carbon Crew: A Diversified Approach to Carbon Neutrality

Project Description

Carbon Crew was established in Fall 2018 to redefine the role of carbon neutrality in campus engagement through the work of three teams: Food Team, Campus Engagement Team, and CO2RE (CO2 Reduction and Education Team). Focused on institutionalizing plant-forward dishes that are healthy, cheap, and less carbon intensive than regular meals, Food Team hosts regular plant-based sampling events geared towards redefining Cal Dining’s menu cycle by incorporating student interest, chef experience, and Cal Dining leadership to lower our carbon emissions. The CO2RE team is working...

Valley Life Sciences Building (VLSB) Native Plant Restoration

Project Description

The Essig Museum and UCB Entomology Club propose to revitalize areas around the Valley Life Science Building with native vegetation. Currently many areas are covered by wood chip mulch where grass lawn was removed during the prolonged drought. As high visibility areas along major walkways, these revitalized landscapes will improve the aesthetic appearance of campus with flowering plants, minimize water usage by choosing locally adapted species, provide forage and habitat for native insects and birds, and provide educational...

Reducing the Impact of Chemical Education

Project Description

In 2016, our General Chemistry course series underwent an unprecedented redesign. In addition to fully integrating green chemistry learning goals into both the majors and non-majors series, we also made steps toward reducing the environmental impact of the course through lower student preparation volumes, elimination of hazardous chemicals, and using renewable resources where possible.

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Autoclave Replacement

Project Description

Proposed funding for this project will aid continued student research throughout the following academic year. Through an in-depth evaluation of the outdated autoclaves housed in the Life Sciences Addition (LSA) building, findings have since spurred a broader discussion among other campus labs and a desire to continue research on behalf of future sterilizer upgrades based on their autoclave needs.

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Clark Kerr Rain Garden Community Garden Project

Project Description

Our focus will be on the Building 2 Courtyard at the Clark Kerr Campus. Currently, because of poor landscaping and irrigation, water is constantly flooding directly into the entrance of the building and off into the street. Recently, an orchard was planted in the courtyard; however, when it rains, the water flows directly down the side of the building to the door, rather than to the newly planted trees. It is vital that this area be modified, not only for functionality, but for sustainability purposes as well.

Please note due to permitting challenges...

​Ethical and Accessible E-Waste Recycling at UC Berkeley

Project Description

This project seeks to implement and institutionalize a streamlined e-waste recycling system on campus where none was accessible to students before. Student staff will spearhead an education campaign detailing the environment and economic impacts of e-waste, meant to support the campus-wide Zero Waste by 2020 goals. The recycling system is meant to be modular, and will be highly responsive to feedback from facilities, faculty, students, and other stakeholders.

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