UC FIELD SAFETY LEADERSHIP TRAINING SERIES 2026
This training series will feature timely, challenging topics lead by subject matter experts, presented online in workshop format with opportunities to discuss scenarios, practice skills, and plan for your specific field projects and settings. This event is sponsored by UCOP Risk Services, UCLA BSAS GAEL, the UC Field Research Safety Center of Excellence, and the UC Field Safety Workgroup. Content is compiled and accessible to all via the UC Field Safety Leadership Training Library. Learn more about our resources by visiting the UC Field Research Safety Center of Excellence website or email fieldsafety@berkeley.edu.
Sessions will be offered twice, and participant's should choose one date of each topic during registration.
SESSIONS
Mental Health First Aid for Field Settings
This will be a highly interactive workshop focused on developing skillful empathy and practicing tangible tools to address behavioral challenges that arise in field settings when we are the only responders available. Topics include:
Building our capacity to hold space through challenging situations
Overview of the Polyvagal Theory, including triggers and physical symptoms
Developing a mental health tool kit with grounding interventions
Introducing Safety/Support Plans and evacuation decision-making considerations
Mental Health First Aid for Field Settings goes beyond an awareness-level workshop as its main goal is to build skills and confidence in attending to mental health challenges.
Speaker: Shannon Anderson, Ph.D., NREMT, WEMT
Format: Zoom
Wednesday, March 4 | 1:00 PM–5:00 PM PT
Friday, March 6 | 9:00 AM–1:00 PM PT
ADVANCEing Field Safety: Preparation & Leadership in the Field
ADVANCEing FieldSafety (AFS) is a widely accessible training for anyone working in field science to help build a safe and welcoming field environment and team culture. The program is a NSF-funded collaboration between the FieldSafe team at the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado Boulder and the ADVANCEGeo Partnership. In this presentation, the AFS team will introduce the program and all of its components and will share content from the first two parts of the online course: Module 1: Preparing for and Evaluating Hazards and Module 2: Communication and Leadership.
Speaker: University of Colorado Boulder PIs/Team
Format: Zoom
Wednesday, March 11 | 2:00 PM–3:30 PM PT
Friday, March 13 | 11:00 AM–12:30 PM PT
Emergency Response Panel Talk
This session will bring together professionals with expertise in emergency response to share lessons learned, protocols, and highlight practical tips valuable for a broad range of travelers and field researchers. Each speaker will present on their unique role and experience, and participate in a panel Q&A session.
Panel:
Eric Hessell, UCSB Boating & Diving Safety Officer
Jeff Holmquist, UCLA researcher/Mono County SAR
Hannah Keith, National Cave Rescue Commission
Julie Pollard, Director of International Health, Safety, and Crisis Management, UC Education Abroad Program
Format: Zoom
Wednesday, February 25 | 2:00 PM–3:30 PM PT
Friday, February 27 | 11:00 AM–12:30 PM PT
Field Emergency Tabletop Drill
As a follow up activity to the emergency panel talk and other sessions, this event will offer the opportunity to network with peers and learn in person on campus or at a field station. Participants will build knowledge and skills by practicing responding to a mock emergency scenario in small groups. Participants should indicate interest on the series registration form and will receive an email invitation with additional information. Those interested in hosting a tabletop exercise at their site should contact Sara Souza directly via sarasouza@berkeley.edu.
Format: In Person
Dates/Times: TBD — Registrants will indicate interest and receive follow-up via email
Emergency Response Debrief
This final session of the series will be a facilitated discussion via Zoom to reflect on the tabletop exercises, identify what went well and what could be improved, and develop recommendations to strengthen our operations and plans.
Format: Zoom
Wednesday, April 8 | 2:00 PM–3:30 PM PT
REGISTRATION
SPEAKERS
ADVANCEing Field Safety
There are 9 Co-Principal Investigators for the ADVANCing Field Safety (AFS) endeavor. A selection of them will present the March 11th and 13th virtual workshops. Anne Gold, PhD, is the PI of the FieldSafe team. She is the Director of CIRES Center for Education, Engagement and Evaluation and a Senior Associate Scientist at the University of Colorado in Boulder, where she focuses on science education for educators, students, communities and the public around climate, water, polar regions and geosciences in general. Anne spent ten years working as a paleoclimatologist working in different field settings, mostly in mountainous and polar regions. Anne is interested in understanding and studying effective ways of teaching and learning and building inclusive environments and is dedicated to grounding her education work in research and evaluation. She is passionate about building local partnerships with diverse communities. Anne has led dozens of NSF, NOAA and NASA-funded education projects and leads a vibrant group of 24 outreach and education professionals in developing engaging and meaningful educational, career and mentorship opportunities for all learners.
Eric Hessell
UCSB Boating & Diving Safety Officer
Jeff Holmquist
UCLA researcher/Mono County SAR
Hannah Keith
National Cave Rescue Commission
Julie Pollard
Director of International Health, Safety, and Crisis Management, UC Education Abroad Program
Shannon Anderson, Ph.D., NREMT, WEMT
Shannon is the Field Safety Officer/Lead with UCSC EH&S and has been offering these workshops over the past two years to faculty, staff and students around the UC system. She is currently certified as a National Registry EMT and an American Red Cross First Aid/CPR and WFA Instructor. Before coming to UCSC, Shannon was a National Park Service wilderness ranger for 3 years involved in Search and Rescue operations and an EMT First Responder. She has 20+ years experience in wilderness settings and extensive Peer Counseling experience. She is currently certified as a Behavioral First Responder (Alpenglow Ed.) and Adult Mental Health First Aider USA. Shannon may be reached via email sander19@ucsc.edu.