
Charlie Chesney
- Environmental Innovator -
I'm Charlie Chesney,
an environmental innovator.
How can we ensure equitable access to economic development and essential resources worldwide without compromising our natural world? I strive to find solutions to this problem by leveraging innovative technologies and efficient problem solving approaches. My PhD at the University of California, Santa Cruz focuses on the development of an innovative renewable energy technology that will enable us to meet our electricity demands with minimal ecosystem and community harm. I'm also passionate about educating the next generation of scientists through popular science media and participating in mentorship programs.
Education
University of California, Santa Cruz
PhD Environmental Studies
Loik Lab
Sept 2020 - Present
University of Oxford
MSc Biodiversity, Conservation & Management
Oct 2017 - Sept 2018
Distinction
San Francisco State University
BSc Biology/Zoology
Aug 2011 - May 2015
Magna Cum Laude
Skills
- Qualitative & Quantitative Research -
- Academic, Technical & Popular Science Writing -
- Mentoring / Teaching Students -
- Field Work & Wildlife Handling -
- Design Thinking for Innovation -
- Lean / Scrum Methodologies & Tools -
- Event Planning & Coordination -
- Podcast Production -
Achievements
March 2022
Presented at the UC Santa Cruz Plant Science Symposium. Talk titled "Living Solar Panels: Towards Opuntia-based Electricity"
February 2022
Successfully designed, built, programmed, and deployed IoT-based in situ plant monitoring devices
December 2021
Awarded $1,000 scholarship from the Paliwal Club of 100 STEAM Scholars Fund
November 2021
Awarded $220 from UC Santa Cruz's Plant Sciences Fund
November 2021
Chosen to participate in UC Santa Cruz's CORE Undergrad/Grad STEM Mentorship Program and awarded $1,200 to pay an undergraduate student a stipend to participate in my PhD research
October 2021
Invited to give a talk at Cairo Water Week Conference in Cairo, Egypt titled "California's Efforts to Revive Its Dying Salton Sea"
September 2021
Gave seminar talk for the Environmental Studies department at UC Santa Cruz titled "Lithium Extraction at the Salton Sea"
December 2020
Invited to be a guest speaker for Earth Team, talk titled "Becoming a STEM Researcher"
August 2020
Awarded the AmeriCorps Education Award ($10,000) for completing the Climate Corps AmeriCorps fellowship
May 2020
Organized and guided student teams to present research and year achievements to an audience of students, scientists, and local government officials
May 2020
Guided student teams to compete in SEI's environmental campaign competitions, winning first and second place
April 2020
Gave "Technology for Conservation" webinar hosted by Climate Corps AmeriCorps
March 2020
Guided student team to host educational environmental art event at San Lorenzo Library
February 2020
Gave "Blockchain for Nature & People" webinar hosted by Blockchain for Social Impact Coalition
November 2019
Grand Prize Winner of Conservation X Labs Technology Prize for blockchain prototype ($20,000)
October 2019
Included in WWF's 17 ideas that could change the world
August 2019
Awarded $650 from Impactio pilot for NeuTreeLize
June 2019
Spoke on the New Finance Mechanisms panel at the Blockchain for Social Impact conference in New York
May 2019
Coordinated the collaboration between Ecosulis, Panda Labs and the University of Oxford to produce a conservation blockchain technical brief inspired by my MSc dissertation (in production)
March 2019
Joined WWF’s Panda Labs core team as an ‘Honorary Panda’
September 2018
Received distinction on MSc dissertation & overall course work
May 2018
One of three students chosen to present MSc dissertation topic at WildCRU Colloquium
February 2018
Presented at WWF-UK Innovation Challenge
August 2017
Recognized by Michelle Obama for achieving a MSc acceptance to the University of Oxford
June 2017
Coordinated and led community BioBlitz event
February 2017
Publication of co-authored animal behavior study at the San Francisco Zoo
May 2015
Graduated Magna Cum Laude from San Francisco State University
February 2014
Became the first student researcher at the San Francisco Zoo’s Wellness & Conservation Center, establishing an independent study program for San Francisco State University zoology students