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2020 Environmental Studies

December 09, 2020
Surge in online grocery shopping brings a quantity-over-quality jobs shift
The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated emerging labor market trends associated with e-commerce in the grocery industry, creating mixed implications for jobs, according to a new report led by UCSC professor Chris Benner.
December 04, 2020
National Academies report on sustainability education features UC Santa Cruz expertise
UC Santa Cruz professor Anne Kapuscinski chaired the committee that developed the report, and campus initiatives were highlighted within as examples of innovative sustainability education.
November 24, 2020
UC Santa Cruz celebrates its first Rhodes Scholar
Spring 2020 graduate Garima Desai was named among the top 32 scholars from across the U.S. who will have all of their expenses paid to attend graduate school at Oxford University through a Rhodes Scholarship.
November 12, 2020
Research breakthrough achieves fish-free aquaculture feed that raises key standards
A new aquaculture feed formula eliminates conventional fish meal and fish oil ingredients by combining ingredients derived from two species of marine microalgae.
November 04, 2020
Quantitative ecologist wins Tansley Medal for plant science contributions
Environmental studies assistant professor Kai Zhu was recently chosen from a global field as one of two recipients of the Tansley Medal for Excellence in Plant Science, presented by the journal New Phytologist.
October 21, 2020
Physical and Biological Sciences Division honors three prominent alumni
The PBSci Distinguished Alumni Awards recognize contributions to society by graduate and undergraduate alums.
October 19, 2020
Doctoral candidate wins Switzer Fellowship for environmental justice research in El Salvador
James Alejandro Artiga-Purcell, a Ph.D. candidate in Environmental Studies, was recently selected for the 2020 Switzer Environmental Fellowship as part of a cohort of 20 top scholar-activists from around the country.
October 15, 2020
UC Santa Cruz study cited in arguments against gig economy proposition
The report, "On-demand and on-the-edge: Ride-hailing and Delivery Workers in San Francisco," underscores the financial vulnerability of workers in the gig economy.
September 16, 2020
The global land rush
In her new book, 'Fields of Gold, Financing the Global Land Rush,' Madeleine Fairbairn looks at forces and players that have transformed farmland into a novel financial asset class.
August 31, 2020
Rising to the Eco-Challenge
Two Slug alumni were part of a grueling, 11-day, 416-mile adventure race called Eco-Challenge Fiji, caught in a 10-episode series streaming on Amazon Prime.
August 22, 2020
Research buildings saved as wildfire sweeps across Big Creek Natural Reserve
Fire preparedness and hard work by fast-moving fire crews and UC Santa Cruz staff is being credited for saving research and residential buildings at the Landels-Hill Big Creek Natural Reserve on the Big Sur coast.
July 22, 2020
Report exposes rampant illegal fishing in North Korean waters
Ground-breaking study reveals hundreds of vessels fishing illegally in one of the world’s most contested ocean regions, contravening UN sanctions and fueling overfishing.
June 23, 2020
Michael Soulé, father of conservation biology, dies at 84
Michael Soulé, a professor emeritus of environmental studies at UC Santa Cruz who was widely considered the "father of conservation biology," died on June 17. He was 84.
June 05, 2020
Social Sciences recognizes students amid unprecedented times
The Social Sciences Division announced the recipients of its annual student achievement awards.
June 05, 2020
Royal Geographical Society publishes special COVID-19 issue
A virtual special issue of Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers features Politics Professor Matt Sparke's article, "Contextualizing Coronavirus Geographically," and provides free access to additional articles that provide perspective on the pandemic.
June 01, 2020
Two vital buffers against climate change are just offshore
A new study underscores the need to conserve and restore mangroves and coral reefs for coastal protection.
May 28, 2020
Emerald predators: Ohlone tiger beetles reclaim territory with the help of local scientists
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists released 43 Ohlone tiger beetles to a new home in Santa Cruz County earlier this year with the help of UC Santa Cruz students and reserve managers
May 07, 2020
Planting trees is no panacea for climate change, says ecologist
Restoration ecologist Karen Holl has a simple message for anyone who thinks planting 1 trillion trees will reverse the damage of climate change: "We can't plant our way out of climate change."
May 05, 2020
Already vulnerable, gig economy workers in San Francisco suffer during coronavirus pandemic, survey reveals
A new survey of app-based ride-hailing and food and grocery-delivery workers in San Francisco underscores the financial vulnerability of workers in the gig economy—and the coronavirus has made their plight much worse.
April 21, 2020
Agroecology major available this fall
Beginning this fall, students will have an opportunity to enroll in a new agroecology major, an interdisciplinary program housed in the Environmental Studies Department.
April 21, 2020
Delivery and ridehailing workers lack critical protections from coronavirus
Chris Benner led an online survey of app-based workers in San Francisco, and preliminary results reveal significant financial hardship caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
April 02, 2020
Grow your own veggies? Orin Martin offers tips for novice gardeners
Orin Martin is delighted that people are responding to the coronavirus pandemic with a desire to grow their own veggies, and he has lots of knowledge to share—as well as one plea: Be sure to plant some flowers, too.
March 26, 2020
California Sea Grant funds sustainable aquaculture project
Pallab Sarker, an associate research professor in environmental studies, has received support from the Coastal Sea Grant program to fund his research into the development of sustainable feed for farmed fish.
March 26, 2020
Grad student wins support for Joshua tree research
Daniel Hastings, a graduate student in environmental studies, has received a research fellowship award to support his work studying the effects of climate change on the Joshua tree.
March 25, 2020
Orin Martin recognized for 'Fruit Trees for Every Garden'
Orin Martin's book 'Fruit Trees for Every Garden' has been recognized by the American Horticultural Society as one of the outstanding gardening books of 2019.
March 24, 2020
Recruiting raptors for rodent control along the Pajaro River levee
UCSC’s Predatory Bird Research Group is working with the Santa Cruz County Flood Control District to encourage hawks and owls to patrol the levee for rodent control.
March 17, 2020
How to #keepteaching and #keeplearning during a pandemic
Jody Greene is eager—almost desperate—to help her colleagues who are facing the unprecedented challenge of shifting to remote instruction for the entire spring quarter.
March 16, 2020
Two programs will support undergrads in research, service learning, and peer mentoring
Undergraduates in the Division of Social Sciences will soon benefit from two programs that will provide paid opportunities to do research, engage in service learning, and mentor their peers.
March 03, 2020
Karen Holl publishes a "primer" on ecological restoration
Karen Holl has introduced hundreds of undergraduates to ecological restoration, and now she has published the book she wishes had been available when she first stepped into the classroom.
February 21, 2020
UC Santa Cruz joins national "tech for social good" network
UC Santa Cruz has been accepted into a new national network of colleges and universities that have made an explicit commitment to developing technology that will advance the public interest.
February 20, 2020
Aquaculture to benefit people and the environment
Two graduate students have received a one-year, $150,000 grant to create environmentally sound seaweed and sea cucumber farms on the coasts of Kenya and The Gambia.
February 20, 2020
Norris Center aims to inspire naturalists across campus
Jessica Correa has loved insects since she was a little girl. Today she is an instructor with the Bird School Project. The Norris Center for Natural History gave her the support that launched her career in environmental education.
January 16, 2020
The carbon footprint of dinner: How "green" are fish sticks?
Fish sticks may be a tasty option for dinner, but are they good for the planet? A new study of the climate impacts of seafood products reveals that the processing of Alaskan pollock into fish sticks, imitation crab, and fish fillets generates significant greenhouse gas emissions.
January 14, 2020
Global study of street networks reveals growing urban sprawl
Local streets of the world’s cities are becoming less connected, part of a global trend that is driving urban sprawl and discouraging the use of public transportation.
January 06, 2020
UC Santa Cruz helps develop Egyptian Center of Excellence for Water
UC Santa Cruz is partnering with the American University in Cairo, nine other Egyptian and U.S.-based universities, and industry partners to help Egypt make the most of its limited water supply.
January 06, 2020
Food and anti-corporate globalization activist Vandana Shiva coming to campus Jan. 25-26
The public is invited to attend two events with legendary food activist Vandana Shiva, who will be at UC Santa Cruz on January 25 and 26.