Field Research

Safely working and conducting research outdoors, off-campus, and abroad.

UC Field Safety Leadership Training Series

UC Field Research Safety Center of Excellence

Updated November 2025

2023

Improve your leadership and communication skills! The UC Field Research Safety Center of Excellence’s leadership training series features timely, challenging topics led by subject matter experts, presented online in workshop format with example scenarios, practice skills, and planning guidance to promote safe teaching and research outdoors, at remote sites, and abroad. Access the UC Field Safety Leadership Training Series Library below.

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Encounters with Dangerous Animals and Plants

James McCabe

2023

This workshop at UCLA includes a review of common species of venomous and poisonous animals and plants found in the Western United States and covers basic first aid, precautions, necessary field equipment and site preparation (i.e.: PPE, first aid kits, safe animal handling equipment, etc.) as well as communication and transportation considerations. Please note that we don't encourage handling animals in the wild!

Speaker: James...

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Off-Road Driving: Lessons Learned & Precautions

Breezy Jackson

Steven Devanzo

Brett Pickering

Geoff Davis

2023

Panel discussion on lessons learned & precautions to take during off-road driving.

Panelists:

Breezy Jackson, Director, Yosemite & Sequoia Field Stations, University of California Merced

Geoff Davis, Network & Systems Engineer, Geophysics & Planetary Physics, University of California San Diego

Steven Devanzo, Operations Manager, White Mountain Research Center, University of California Los Angeles

Brett Pickering, Boating Safety Officer, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, University of...

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Resilience

Lorca Smetana, Resilience Trainer

2025

Video

Presentation

Resources

Speaker bio:
Lorca Smetana knows about coming back...

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Addressing Sexual Harassment, Sexual Violence, and Psychological Safety in the Field

UC Field Research Safety & EH&S

2025

This session, hosted by the VCRO at UC Berkeley aimed to advance the campus's commitments to prevent and address sexual harassment and sexual violence in field research, to foster a culture that prioritizes consent and respect, and to engage all members of the university community in creating a healthy environment where violence in any form is not tolerated. Panelists reviewed violence prevention strategies, support resources and reporting, and explored the related topic of psychological safety in the field.Speakers: Led by Sara Souza...

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De-Escalation Workshop

Joffe Emergency Services

2025

Speaker: Joffe Emergency Services, 3/6/2025

Best Practices Video

Best Practices Slides

Presentation...

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Practical Use of Risk Assessment Tools in the Field

2025

Speaker(s): Abbey Dias, Assistant Diving and Boating Safety Officer, UC Davis

Abbey Dias is an Assistant Diving and Boating Safety Officer for UC Davis based in Bodega Bay, California. Her experience as a student-turned-instructor of scientific diving and boating has allowed her to hone the skills and tools needed to successfully lead and train a variety of teams conducting global research. Abbey will use her most recent experience working on a research team in Antarctica to demonstrate implementation of risk assessment through productive...