Campus News
Applications are now open to students interested in the CIDER Summer Drone Pilot Training Program
UC Santa Cruz’s CITRIS Initiative for Drone Education and Research (CIDER) is offering a Summer Pilot Training Program that provides hands-on drone training and research opportunities in agriculture and climate science for students, along with FAA certification support and a $1,200 stipend.
The CITRIS Initiative for Drone Education and Research (CIDER) is organizing a Summer Pilot Training Program for UCSC graduate and undergraduate students, focusing on drone applications in agricultural and climate research. The program consists of eight days of project-based, in-person training starting on Monday, August 25th, and ending on Thursday, September 4th. There will be no program activities on Labor Day, September 1st. The applications are now available until July 15th. Please visit the program website to apply.
Before participating in the program, students must obtain a remote pilot certificate by self-studying and passing the FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot exam. The exam will take place at an FAA testing center, and it consists of 60 multiple-choice questions related to topics including regulations, airspace, weather, and aviation performance. To help with exam preparation, CIDER provides a Canvas course that includes short videos, quizzes, and study notes covering all exam topics, in addition to a practice exam.
During the in-person training, students will work individually or in small teams on a drone research project. They will learn the basics of drone piloting, as well as data processing and analysis using Drone Deploy and QGIS. No prior drone experience is required to participate in the program.
Participants will apply for two separate tracks – one with a focus on Agriculture and the other with a focus on Climate research. Students on both tracks will receive a $1,200 award, and the costs for the FAA Part 107 exam will be covered. Students will also have the opportunity to stay at the UCSC Farm during the two-week in-person training, as the farm yurts will be available for accommodation. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.
UCSC CIDER was founded in 2021. A program for undergraduate students that runs in the Winter and Spring quarters started in 2022. This is the second year of the summer pilot training program. The core mission of CIDER and the Pilot Training Program is to support the development and use of drone technology across various academic disciplines and industry sectors. Additionally, the program aims to train responsible drone pilots who prioritize safety, privacy, and security when operating drones.
In addition to running the Pilot Training Program, CIDER collaborates with various educational organizations in the community, such as Hartnell College, Digital Nest, and Rancho Cielo, to train their instructors and support their drone program curriculum development. CIDER also contracts with federal, state, and local agencies and industry to complete drone surveys for their needs. Additionally, CIDER works with the industry and community to develop a workforce that can meet the current and near-future demand. For more information about CIDER’s efforts in drone education and research, visit the CIDER website.CIDER is one of many initiatives under the Center for Information Technology in the Interest of Society (CITRIS) and the Banatao Institute. Established in 2001, CITRIS is a multi-campus initiative focused on research and emerging technologies. CITRIS leverages the interdisciplinary research strengths of UC Santa Cruz, Berkeley, Davis, and Merced to advance the University of California’s mission. The institute aims to shorten the pipeline between world-class laboratory research and the development of impact applications, platforms, companies, and new industries, with a strong emphasis on creating solutions to significant societal challenges. For more information, visit the CITRIS website.