Sophia Forstmann Email & Phone Number

Co-President of Cal Poly's Horticulture Club where we aim to create a community in horticulture, career advancement opportunities, and leadership skills.

Conducting independent research in the Coastal Soil Horizons & Ecology Lab (C-SHEL) assessing the effects of how prior tilling and passive restoration influence percent cover, percent coverage relation to total plant and soil carbon, and soil carbon pool volumes. Investigating grazing effects on plant diversity and soil carbon pool distribution on the Central Coast of California. Gaining experience in collecting soil and plant samples, taking soil flux measurements, preparing soil and plant… Show more Conducting independent research in the Coastal Soil Horizons & Ecology Lab (C-SHEL) assessing the effects of how prior tilling and passive restoration influence percent cover, percent coverage relation to total plant and soil carbon, and soil carbon pool volumes. Investigating grazing effects on plant diversity and soil carbon pool distribution on the Central Coast of California. Gaining experience in collecting soil and plant samples, taking soil flux measurements, preparing soil and plant samples, measuring soil characteristics (pH, C:N ratios, etc.), and data analysis. Working under the guidance of Dr. Yamina Pressler. Show less

Sustainability Undergraduate Research in Geoscience and Engineering (SURGE) Intern researching how on-farm management impacts food-type emission factor estimates and how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the food system. Working under the guidance of Dr. Rob Jackson and Sierra Castaneda. Conducting a field trial on Stanford's research farm to assess the impact of cover cropping on carbon and nitrogen emissions. Collecting and analyzing soil samples, taking soil flux measurements… Show more Sustainability Undergraduate Research in Geoscience and Engineering (SURGE) Intern researching how on-farm management impacts food-type emission factor estimates and how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the food system. Working under the guidance of Dr. Rob Jackson and Sierra Castaneda. Conducting a field trial on Stanford's research farm to assess the impact of cover cropping on carbon and nitrogen emissions. Collecting and analyzing soil samples, taking soil flux measurements, preparing soil samples, measuring soil characteristics, analyzing data through R, and creating presentations and posters. Show less

Participating in a 21-week, in-residence internship on working lands management. Working 20 hours/week during the spring quarter and 40 hours/week during the summer conducting research on rangeland ecology, attending meetings for rangeland planning, participating in conferences, participating in leadership training, and working on necessary hands-on ranch management.

Working as an environmental advocate for Cal Poly to reduce waste, promote a circular economy and provide peer-to-peer recycling and composting education at Cal Poly events. Zero Waste Ambassadors (ZWAs) require volunteers for events, provide onsite training at Zero Waste events, staff Zero Waste stations to train attendees on properly sorting waste, and provide project support to other campus Zero Waste projects. ZWAs also host Zero Wate educational training presentations for other… Show more Working as an environmental advocate for Cal Poly to reduce waste, promote a circular economy and provide peer-to-peer recycling and composting education at Cal Poly events. Zero Waste Ambassadors (ZWAs) require volunteers for events, provide onsite training at Zero Waste events, staff Zero Waste stations to train attendees on properly sorting waste, and provide project support to other campus Zero Waste projects. ZWAs also host Zero Wate educational training presentations for other campus-affiliated groups. Show less

Conducting research and producing a comprehensive sustainability framework for Swanton Pacific Ranch, Cal Poly's 3,200-acre working ranch. Utilizing holistic systems techniques to research, customize and implement a framework that addresses 360 future operations. Perform innovative critical thinking and analysis to address management of Swanton Pacific Ranch’s natural resources, the design and function of its built environment, and its ongoing operations and infrastructure. Addressing critical… Show more Conducting research and producing a comprehensive sustainability framework for Swanton Pacific Ranch, Cal Poly's 3,200-acre working ranch. Utilizing holistic systems techniques to research, customize and implement a framework that addresses 360 future operations. Perform innovative critical thinking and analysis to address management of Swanton Pacific Ranch’s natural resources, the design and function of its built environment, and its ongoing operations and infrastructure. Addressing critical environmental challenges such as Climate Change, Biodiversity Loss, Water and Energy Efficiency, Air and Water Pollution, and Waste Generation in order to move toward a Carbon Neutral and Zero Waste operation. Show less

Researching the ecological speciation of Lasthenia maritima from L. minor under Dr. Nishanta Rajakaruna's guidance. We will be performing a reciprocal transplant study to observe L. maritima and minor's fitness in their home soil and in others. This information will allow us to understand how isolating barriers led to genetic variation including high metal tolerance. Received the Spring Frost Research Grant for this work.

Working with Swanton Pacific Ranch and Cal Poly to help create a method to connect the two on the topic of Regenerative Land Use and Agriculture. Conducting interviews with Cal Poly and Swanton faculty, staff, and students to create effective and innovative avenues of learning for future students. Creating a final presentation with a proposed educational plan as well as realistic steps for implementation to Cal Poly leadership and members of the board of Swanton Pacific Ranch.

San Luis Obispo, California, United States

Digitized, transcribed, and georeferenced herbarium specimens; worked with students across other colleges and California; gained experience working with natural history collections and databases; presented scientific journals on herbarium research.

Pocantico Hills, Ny

ATTENDEE of the 2019 Young Farmers Conference - January 2019 - 3-day conference where I attended various talks, activities, and engaged in conversation with fellow farmers, researchers, ranchers, chefs, etc. INTERN for the head of horticulture and landscaping - Summer 2018- Collected data on pollinators specifically Spotted Wing Drosophila and presented data at the end of the summer while also attending classes with apprentices- Taught classes on fruit identification to high… Show more ATTENDEE of the 2019 Young Farmers Conference - January 2019 - 3-day conference where I attended various talks, activities, and engaged in conversation with fellow farmers, researchers, ranchers, chefs, etc. INTERN for the head of horticulture and landscaping - Summer 2018- Collected data on pollinators specifically Spotted Wing Drosophila and presented data at the end of the summer while also attending classes with apprentices- Taught classes on fruit identification to high school students and members of Stone Barns - Worked daily from 6:00 am to 5:00 pm completing various tasks around the farm SUMMER INSTITUTE STUDENT - Summer 2017- Participated in a two-week intensive workshop investigating the concepts and practices of agroecology; exploring food's relationships to culture, the environment and power, and extending conversations through cooking activities. VOLUNTEER - 2012 to 2020- Volunteer since age eleven from collecting eggs, harvesting vegetables and fruits, to bottle-feeding lambs and eviscerating turkeys for the turkey harvest. - Connected The Masters School by providing volunteer activities for students such as working during the Sheep Shearing Festival and coordinated these connections Show less

Worked on the farm harvesting flowers, planting, and maintaining crops; created floral arrangements for local CSA and individual orders; and assisted in crop planning and maintenance.

Worked in field and greenhouse planting and harvesting fruits and vegetables; prepared produce for sale; and assisted in crop planning and maintenance.

Hastings-On-Hudson, New York, United States

Worked with children ages three to six at a day camp overseeing lunch and leading activities such as nature walks.

Brooklyn, New York, United States

Taught kids ages five to ten how to build using real tools such as hammers, nails, and wrenches with a goal of helping children gain problem-solving skills that come from building a finished project from start to finish.

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Soil Biogeochemistry

Bachelor Of Applied Science - Basc, Agricultural And Environmental Plant Science

Activities and Societies: President of Horticulture Club, Coastal Soil Horizons & Ecology Lab researcher, and garden club member.

Education record

Activities and Societies: President of EFFECT the student-led environmental organization, Community Service school representative.