About us
EnvironMentors—an initiative by the Global Council for Science and the Environment (GCSE)—is a national college access program that supports high school students who may face barriers to educational and career opportunities in STEM such as limited financial resources, attending schools with fewer STEM opportunities, or coming from families without college experience. Its mission is to mentor and inspire students with a wide range of experiences to explore and pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Through one-on-one guidance, EnvironMentors participants gain exposure to STEM pathways and career possibilities while developing research, critical thinking, and communication skills. Since the program began, more than 2,000 students have been paired with mentors, fostering academic growth and professional development across the country.
The UC Davis chapter of EnvironMentors works with high school students in the Sacramento region to spark interest in environmental science and prepare future leaders in the field. Students are paired with faculty and university student mentors who help them build skills, knowledge, and confidence to pursue STEM studies and contribute to their communities and the environment. Together, students and mentors design and carry out research projects during the academic year on a wide range of environmental topics, drawing on UC Davis’s diverse expertise in environmental science and engineering. These projects culminate in presentations at the EnvironMentors Research Symposium at UC Davis each spring. Through this mentorship, we strive to create supportive and collaborative relationships within research teams that enrich both the students and their mentors.
Our Mission
Our mission focus on 3 major objectives:
Recruitment: We work to make the UC Davis EnvironMentors chapter accessible to as many high school students in the Sacramento region as possible—especially those who may have limited access to STEM programs due to factors such as attending schools with fewer science resources, coming from families without college experience, or living in low-income communities. We also welcome undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty members with a variety of educational and professional experiences to serve as mentors, providing relatable role models for our high school participants.
Research: In the EnvironMentors program, each high school student is paired with a graduate student mentor and works under the guidance of a UC Davis faculty member. Students take part in hands-on scientific research projects with the potential to address real-world environmental challenges and benefit society. With mentorship and expert support, students design and carry out their own research projects while building skills in critical thinking, data analysis, and scientific communication.
Retention: Once students join the EnvironMentors program, they gain more than just research experience. We provide opportunities to explore college life, learn about academic and research programs in STEM, and receive training on how to prepare a strong college application. Our goal is to help students see higher education—whether at UC Davis or another institution—as an achievable next step, and to equip them with the knowledge and confidence to succeed in their chosen paths.