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2018 Sustainability

November 08, 2018
Oil and gas development off California's coast—Is more in our future?
The Ken Norris Memorial Lecture at the Seymour Center on Tuesday, November 13, features a moderated discussion with an expert panel.
November 01, 2018
UCSC chemists develop safe alternatives to phthalates used in plastics
Growing concern over the health effects of phthalates has spurred a search for alternatives that can add flexibility to plastics without leaching out.
October 18, 2018
3D-printed supercapacitor electrode breaks records in lab tests
Advances in supercapacitor technology could lead to wider use of fast-charging energy storage devices and novel designs for electronic gadgets.
October 17, 2018
UC Santa Cruz receives Mellon Foundation humanities grant to explore Earth Futures
Catastrophic environmental breakdown, mass species extinction, financial collapse, racist separatism, global nuclear war…there is much speculation these days that we are living at the end of democracy, liberalism, capitalism, a cool planet, and civilization as we know it...
October 11, 2018
Gary Griggs covers region's history of natural disasters in new book
Griggs puts the natural disasters of recent decades into historical context in his latest book, 'Between Paradise and Peril: The Natural Disaster History of the Monterey Bay Region.'
October 03, 2018
Arctic ecology field course a memorable experience for students
After studying Arctic ecology and environmental change in the classroom, students experienced it firsthand on a three-week summer field trip .
August 30, 2018
Injection wells can induce earthquakes miles away from the well
A study of earthquakes induced by injecting fluids deep underground has revealed surprising patterns, suggesting that current recommendations for hydraulic fracturing, wastewater disposal, and geothermal wells may need to be revised.
August 06, 2018
Coastal Science and Policy graduate program welcomes first cohort of students
The new graduate program in Coastal Science and Policy at UC Santa Cruz will welcome its first cohort of students in fall 2018.
July 30, 2018
Groundwater recharge project informs statewide sustainability efforts
Study shows how collecting storm-water runoff to replenish depleted groundwater supplies can be coupled with a simple strategy to reduce nitrate contaminants.
July 17, 2018
Study finds 50 times more native trees on rat-free Palmyra Atoll
New research demonstrates a strong positive benefit to native trees after removal of an invasive species.
June 29, 2018
Farm ranked among top college farms
The UC Santa Cruz Farm has been ranked among the top 15 college farms in the country by Best Value Schools.
June 25, 2018
'Electrogeochemistry' captures carbon, produces fuel, offsets ocean acidification
Researchers analyzed the global potential for 'negative emissions energy' using electricity from renewable sources to generate hydrogen fuel and capture carbon dioxide.
June 22, 2018
Climate scientist Nicole Feldl wins NSF CAREER Award
NSF grant includes funding for climate research and for a cross-disciplinary environmental game project for students to develop a learning game about climate science.
June 12, 2018
Without coral reefs, annual flood damages from storms could double globally
New study shows annual costs soaring to $272 billion, sending a powerful signal about reefs and their importance during the International Year of the Reef.
June 06, 2018
Climate scientist James Zachos appointed to Ida Benson Lynn Endowed Chair in Ocean Health
Zachos has spent his career studying episodes of climate change in Earth's distant past and their relevance to current global warming.
June 04, 2018
UC Santa Cruz offers new major in environmental sciences
UC Santa Cruz has approved a new interdisciplinary major in environmental sciences leading to a B.S. degree.
May 18, 2018
Undergraduate builds handcrafted bee hotels to attract pollinators
Mindful that the population of European honeybees is crashing worldwide due to Colony Collapse Disorder, Environmental Studies senior Forest Peri wanted to make a welcoming home for native bees.
May 04, 2018
Elkhorn Slough scientist Kerstin Wasson honored as 'wetland hero'
An adjunct professor at UC Santa Cruz, Wasson will receive the 2018 National Wetlands Award for Scientific Research.
May 01, 2018
Undergraduate Eric Medina wins $15,000 Strauss Scholarship to reinvigorate Oakes Garden
Eric Medina, a fourth year at UC Santa Cruz double majoring in ecology and evolutionary biology and Latin American and Latino studies, has received a $15,000 public service scholarship to reinvigorate the garden at Oakes College.
April 30, 2018
UC Santa Cruz glaciologist leads project to study Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier
Earth sciences professor Slawek Tulaczyk will lead one of eight projects in a joint U.S.-U.K. research program to understand how quickly the massive Antarctic glacier could collapse.
April 30, 2018
Cowell Ranch Hay Barn recognized for energy-efficient systems
The newly restored Cowell Ranch Hay Barn continues to reap recognition and awards, the latest from professionals in the field of building systems design.
April 26, 2018
Award-winning biologist and writer Sean B. Carroll to speak at UC Santa Cruz
Carroll will give the 2018 Sinsheimer Lecture on Thursday, May 10, followed by a free screening of the film 'The Serengeti Rules' on May 11 at the Rio Theater.
April 11, 2018
Nature-based solutions can prevent $50 billion in Gulf Coast flood damages
Researchers found that restoration of marshes and oyster reefs are among the most cost-effective solutions for flood risk reduction on the U.S. Gulf Coast.
March 16, 2018
Soil fungi may help determine the resilience of forests to environmental change, according to UC Santa Cruz study
A major new study by Kai Zhu reveals that soil fungi could play a significant role in the ability of forests to adapt to environmental change.
March 13, 2018
Homegrown help
New ag tunnels will allow the UC Santa Cruz Farm and Garden to provide a year-round supply of healthy, low-cost produce to dining halls, food pantries, and market pop-ups on campus as part of the effort to address food insecurity.
March 12, 2018
Four kinds of algal toxins found in San Francisco Bay shellfish
Researchers monitoring San Francisco Bay for algal toxins have found a surprising array of different toxins in the water and in mussels collected from the bay.
March 01, 2018
Ecologist Erika Zavaleta elected Fellow of the Ecological Society of America
Zavaleta was honored in recognition of her contributions to the science of ecology.
February 28, 2018
Fixing damaged ecosystems: How much does restoration help?
A new meta-analysis of 400 studies that document recovery from large-scale ecosystem disturbances worldwide suggests that while ecosystems can bounce back, they rarely mend completely, with the final stages of recovery being most difficult.
February 21, 2018
At the nexus of food, energy, and water: Elliot Campbell bridges the research gap
Elliott Campbell is an environmental engineer who is drawn to research at the nexus of food, water, and energy.
February 12, 2018
Innovative restoration of coral reefs helps protect Caribbean islands
Study shows direct link between healthy coral reefs and shoreline stability and field-tests an innovative risk-reduction solution that combines engineering with reef restoration.
February 01, 2018
Polar bears finding it harder to catch enough seals to meet energy demands
As climate change alters their environment a growing number of polar bears are unable to catch enough fat-rich prey to meet their energy needs.
January 18, 2018
Elliott Campbell appointed to chair in water resources and food system sustainability
Elliott Campbell, associate professor of environmental studies, was honored as the inaugural holder of the Stephen R. Gliessman Presidential Chair in Water Resources and Food System Sustainability.
January 08, 2018
How birds' genes influence adaptation to climate change
Biologists involved in the Bird Genoscape Project are racing against time to find out the potential for adaptation in vulnerable populations of birds.