As our Fall Grant Cycle comes to a close, we have approved six new projects to make the Davis campus a more sustainable place!  The TGIF Committee enjoyed reading every grant proposal as there were some innovative ideas that blew us away. TGIF is so excited to see these projects get implemented in the coming quarters.

The UC Davis Advance Modeling Aeronautics Team (AMAT) have recently completed their TGIF-funded project! This team has designed and are currently constructing an agricultural and environmental monitoring UAV drone to assist with the monitoring of agricultural systems, the survey and the study of environmental engineering subjects. The aircraft, AMAT RC3 Condor, has been created and designed to be easily transported and launched in rugged conditions using little-to-no accompanying equipment. 

In collaboration with one another, students, faculty, and staff in Design, Cinema and Digital Media, Campus Planning, and the Arboretum and Public Garden program, have recently completed their TGIF-funded project, creating a Climate Adaptive Learning Landscape on the Cruess Hall Courtyard!

The UC Davis Student Farm has recently completed its TGIF-funded Water Wise project! This project marks a significant step in improving water efficiency and sustainability in agriculture right here on the UCD campus. The Student farm successfully implemented new technology, including a water wheel transplanter and drip irrigation times to optimize water use and reduce water waste. 

Do you have a project that needs funding? If it's a project led by undergraduate students or one that directly benefits undergraduate students, and it aligns with any of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), you may be eligible for funding from The Green Initiative Fund!

The ultimate goal of this project is to contribute to the development of an industry-wide standard for green roof irrigation in California. Using cutting-edge irrigation technology, the demo is currently monitoring the water use of California native grassland species to observe their adaptability to a green roof environment so they can potentially be used for future green roof projects. 

Researchers at UC Davis are creating sustainable structures that can be turned into everything from biodegradable plastics and circuit boards to filters that remove harmful antibiotic and pesticide residues from water.

The Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department features research funded by TGIF!

TGIF will continue providing critical funding for student-centered environmental sustainability projects, internships, and sustainability programming and initiatives through the 2030-31 academic year.

As the UC Davis community prepares for a return to campus and for in-person activities to resume, we hope that the extended application period will encourage potential applicants to begin thinking about possible projects that include in-person components.