The inaugural SDG Symposium addresses limited awareness of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while building participants’ capacity to pursue actionable change in their current and future work.
Through the Global Grad Grant research track, Sungwon Heo, a Ph.D. candidate in Cultural Studies, conducted fieldwork on queer activism in Seoul, South Korea.
John Cadiz participated in the Korea University Climate Corps Program to examine South Korea’s approach to clean energy and transportation policy, gaining global insights that directly informed his PhD research on hydrogen infrastructure.
UC Davis student Kaylianne Jordan joined the Connect with Rwanda: One Health for a More Sustainable World program to explore the links between human, animal and environmental health. The experience deepened her understanding of sustainability and global collaboration, inspiring her to encourage other first-gen and African diaspora students to pursue global learning opportunities.
Research Track Student ExperiencesGillian Bergmann
Ph.D. student in Ecology
Research: Microbial ecology in seeds research exchange (France)
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 2: Zero Hunger; SDG 15: Life on Land
“The program also allowed me to participate in the Global Leadership Certificate, which taught me about cultural humility and approaching my exchange through a global perspective.
The Global Grad Grants provide funding opportunities for UC Davis graduate or professional students traveling to participate in a globally-focused social impact program or in a globally-focused research opportunity or program during the summer.
UC Davis faculty have proposed a new general education requirement mandating climate crisis education for all undergraduates, aiming to equip students across all disciplines with the knowledge and skills needed to address climate change and promote sustainability.
Spending the summer documenting animal management practices on California dairy farms was both eye-opening and rewarding for Ph.D. student Christian Bernal-Córdoba. From navigating cultural and language barriers to witnessing the real-world impact of antimicrobial use, this experience deepened Christian's research and reinforced the power of lived expertise in shaping sustainable solutions.
One of the ways UC Davis students can get involved with the UN Sustainability Development Goals is through the SDGs Internship, where interns develop SDG-focused programming, identify SDG implementation opportunities, outreach about the SDGs, and more.
