Michael Brand (he/him) | Environment Economics & Policy, Legal Studies | Spring ‘27
For his URAP apprenticeship, Michael assessed the sustainability of the global subsea telecommunications network and the environmental impact of transoceanic internet cables. Over the past year and a half, he has researched a wide array of interdisciplinary issues surrounding the hidden environmental costs of the internet, further developing his skills in writing and critical thinking. Although initially planning to apply his degrees in environment economics and policy and legal studies to attend law school, his experience with URAP inspired him to pursue research.
What drew you to this project?
When I was a senior in high school, I participated in a national policy debate surrounding NATO cybersecurity cooperation. My team advocated for increasing the security of undersea cables and ultimately won the California State Championship defending cables. At the time I thought that my journey with cables was over – because most of the research was focused on geopolitical and security applications while I was more focused on environmental policy and sustainability. When I got to Cal, I started scrolling through all of the URAP opportunities and saw a project under Professor Starosielski and thought “wow that name sounds familiar.” I clicked on the opportunity and I realized that she was the same Professor Starosielski that I was citing in debate rounds. When I learned that her project was focusing on the environmental sustainability of cables, I knew it would be the perfect fit for me!
Has your experience with URAP changed or reaffirmed your professional or academic goals?
My experience with URAP drastically changed my professional and academic goals. Coming into college I planned on graduating two years early and going to law school—research was never a path that I considered. Over the past year as a researcher, I have gotten to travel and speak at industry conferences in New York, Singapore and Hawaii, publish articles in leading journals, and I now teach a DeCal class, “Building A Sustainable Internet,” which primarily covers our team’s research. I never would have guessed that this is what research looks like at Cal. After spending a year and a half in the program, I have completely shifted my professional goals towards developing effective academic and industry partnerships. Last fall I applied to the Energy of Resources and Masters of Public Policy programs and hopefully I will (knock on wood) continue my work with Professor Starosielski as a graduate student next year!
What skills have you acquired or improved through your apprenticeship?
Too many to count. Writing, critical reading, discipline and patience, public speaking, teaching, interdisciplinary thinking. But I think the largest and most important skill I’ve developed is strategic and critical thinking. A large part of my work over the past year has surrounded creating research projects that make an impact. Most of our research stems from our industry partners who are facing sustainability challenges firsthand. Being able to work with them to help create solutions for a sustainable future requires being able to coordinate a lot of moving pieces simultaneously.
How have you been able to balance URAP with your academic responsibilities?
The primary way I’ve balanced URAP with academic responsibilities is by over-communicating with professors and going to office hours. A lot of our research relies on attending industry conferences so that we can document the latest trends in emerging technology and sustainability. While this does require me to miss a decent chunk of class, professors have been really kind and understanding when I explain it’s for a research project.
What advice do you have to share with prospective URAP applicants?
Don’t be afraid to apply to something even if you don’t feel like you have the qualifications for it. Almost any skill can be trained, and many professors are looking to work with nice, kind and hard working people instead of just who has the best skillset.