Rick Thomas Email & Phone Number

Washington, Dc, Us

- I design interactive outdoor escape room adventures that give participants an experience in nature they never forget. -Each adventure invites participants to explore the outdoors for clues and think critically to solve environmentally themed puzzles as they work together to complete a mission. These adventures have ranged from in-person events, to turnkey exhibits for institutions, to self-guided adventures set in city parks.- My puzzles have been featured at numerous locations including the Brevard Zoo, Santa Barbara Zoo, Lake Cachuma Recreation Area, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Isla Vista Elementary and UC Santa Barbara. All together, over 6,000 individuals across the country have embarked on a BranchOut Adventure.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

- Working within the Office of the Chief Communication Officer, I developed public facing programming to make NAS scientific findings more accessible to a broader audience. This complements the NAS Congressional mandate to inform the nation around all issues related to science.- I took the lead on initiatives across a range of scientific topics including how to promote prosocial pandemic behaviors, reducing plastic consumption and pollution, as well as the reliability of forensic science.

- I provided guidance on the development of a corporate engagement strategy for Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies, a Vessel Speed Reduction (VSR) Program that coordinates with large shipping companies to slow down their ships along the coast of California. - Since its inception in 2014, the program has helped shipping companies reduce 76,000+ tons of greenhouse gases, avoid 2,000+ tons of smog forming pollutants near coastal communities, and decrease the risk of fatal whale strikes by 50%.- I was brought on to identify how the program can best leverage these environmental accomplishments to help retailers and manufacturers achieve their sustainability goals and in doing so, gain their support.

Santa Barbara, California, United States

- I was asked to advise the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden's teen X-Stream Science Team on the creation of a self-guided activity for garden visitors. -The position began as a mentorship role where I oversaw the X-Stream Team’s workflow. However, with the Garden's closure due to COVID-19, I ended up completing the project independently. The end product was a self-guided outdoor escape room adventure that invites participants to explore the Garden and its key ecological features.

Santa Barbara, California, United States

- I was contracted out by the Museum of Natural History to serve as a mentor for their Teen Program’s School Engagement project. The Engagement project tasked a group of their teen volunteers to design an interactive activity for 8th grade classrooms in Santa Barbara that met California’s Next Generation Science Standards for Geology. -I led weekly workshops for the team of twelve teen volunteers to create an indoor escape room lesson plan. My primary responsibilities involved overseeing the teens’ workflow, providing feedback, and advising on curriculum content.

Santa Barbara, California, United States

- I was brought on for a short-term research project to consult on strategies to help the University of California achieve carbon neutrality by 2025. - As part of a team of only four individuals, this position gave me experience working with broad autonomy and limited oversight. My primary responsibilities involved conducting thematic analyses of interviews with sustainability leaders and key stakeholders across the ten UC campuses.

- Out of a competitive pool of applicants, I was selected as only 1 of 2 graduate students to advise Bren Master’s and PhD students on how to best hone their communication skills.- I held weekly 1-on-1 appointments and organized quarterly workshops for the Bren School. Altogether I assisted over 100 graduate students on everything from scientific publications and policy briefs for decision makers to legal memos and public presentations.

- In a unique collaboration between the Psychology and Environmental Sciences departments I investigated the health benefits of nature exposure.- Using aerial imagery and public health data, I created models that estimated how changes in urban greenspace affected residents' mental health.

University Of California, Santa Barbara

I served as a liaison between the Bren School and the English department as part of an interdisciplinary effort to engage the community in discussion of environmental issues.

Ucsd Writing Center

- Met with students for school papers or other scholarly writing and provide feedback regarding content and grammar

- Engaged with UCSD Alumni to help them network with fellow grads and provide feedback about the University

Master Of Science - Ms, Environmental Psychology

Activities and Societies: Graduate Student Council, Research Assistant

Masters Of Environmental Science & Management, Corporate Environmental Management

Activities and Societies: Eco-Entrepreneurship

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.) Bachelor Of Science (B.S.), Humanities, Ecology

Activities and Societies: Men's Club Soccer Team, UCSD's Juggling Club Vice President, Revelle Community Outreach