Environmental Science Through Art Teaching Our Community


Who We Are

A group of scientists, educators, and artists working with students to answer questions about the relationship between the environment and human health. We are focused on students in the Salinas Valley and surrounding communities.

Our focus includes the human health impact of:

During three consecutive years focusing on plastics, climate change, and agricultural practices, we are: 

We aim to create an exhibition of the arts created in the response to these science projects and compile resource of ideas generated by us and others for other educators to use.

ESTA Across Our Region

This year, students and teachers from across California are currently collaborating on solutions to Climate Change. Their projects target multiple sectors from Project Drawdown, a leading source of approaches to address climate change.

Check out the digital archive of projects here.

Youth Council

The ESTA Youth Council gives voice and action to our community's future leaders. The ESTA Youth Council represent our youth through the Monterey Climate Action Plan as well as other municipal meetings. They learn about environmental science and health and how policy is made and also have a paind internship during the summer. Right now, the Youth Council actively engage with the Monterey Climate Action Plan as well as other municipal meetings. They fully participate with elected and appointed leaders, responding to and suggesting policy improvements for the community, city government and school. They work to represent and inform Monterey County youth on issues affecting our community. The Youth Council is a dynamic network that amplifies the voices and experiences of young people, and leverage their expertise, energy and ideas to promote public health.

Enid Art Blog

Meet Enid our esteemed artist and dedicated college educator at CSUMB. With a passion for environmental art projects, Enid brings a wealth of creativity and expertise to our team. Their innovative approach inspires students of all ages to engage in meaningful artistic endeavors that explore and address pressing environmental issues. Enids projects offer unique opportunities for participants to connect with their surroundings and contribute to positive change. With their guidance, students are empowered to express themselves artistically while gaining a deeper understanding of the world around them. Learn more about Enid at her blog!

Student Resources

Are you interested in solutions to microplastics/plastic pollution and climate change? The earth’s climate is changing. While the planet’s climate has changed before, this time is different. People are causing these changes, which are bigger and happening faster than any changes that modern society has ever seen. We can observe changes in our communities, the environment, our society, and ecosystems. Here are resources and ways to connect and make a difference. You have a right to know what environmental stressors you are exposed to and how to protect yourself and your communities.You can design a future to address the realities of climate change and your community.

Teacher Resources

Are you a K-12 teacher interested in environmental science and communicating science through art? We are building a coalition of scientists, educators, and artists to develop a curriculum and train teachers and students living in underserved agricultural communities about the relationship between the environment and human health. We are focusing on three core challenges: climate change, ocean plastics, and food systems. Cutting-edge environmental health education aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) will be enhanced with arts-based inquiry to increase pathways to sciences and help diversify STEM fields in the Salinas Valley region and beyond.

Interested In What We Do?

Please contact our coordinator, Corin Slown or Eros Gonzalez-Lopez.