Social Sciences
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UC Santa Cruz research finds viable alternative to using wild-caught ingredients in fishmeal
Researchers at UC Santa Cruz successfully developed an aquaculture feed for rainbow trout that removes fishmeal entirely, substituting it with leftover marine microalgae sourced from the human dietary supplement industry.
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Data Shows Racial Disparities in Toxic Cleanup Times in SF
“There are many reasons why these disparities could be, but the fact that they exist means regulatory agencies should take social vulnerability and race into account when prioritizing which sites to clean up first,” said Lindsey Dillon, associate professor of sociology at UC Santa Cruz, who is part of a research group that advises the…
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In the Medical System, the Concept of General ‘Safety’ Can Be a Pretext to Harm Pregnant Women
Existing in a police state where cops are embedded in hospitals or sicced onto people experiencing mental health crises “produces premature death,” says Carlos Martinez, a public health researcher and assistant professor at UC Santa Cruz.
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¿Cómo la falta de trabajadores del campo podría impactar la economía local?
Associate Professor of Sociology Juan Pedroza discussed the economic impacts of immigration policies that are causing some farmworkers to fear going to work. “La economía está en un estatus frágil y menos trabajadores significa menos cosecha y más riesgo, no solamente para los que están trabajando, sino para todos nosotros que necesitamos las cosechas para…
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Trump administration dismisses nearly 400 scientists working on congressionally mandated national climate report
Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Mijin Cha was one of hundreds of expert authors on the National Climate Assessment who were recently dismissed from that work by the Trump Administration. “I’m worried who will do the NCA moving forward and putting something forward that is false,” she said. Additional coverage in the Washington Post and…
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An opportunity to chew on
Distinguished Professor of Economics Nirvikar Singh wrote an opinion article about how increased iPhone production could prove to be an inflection point for India in manufacturing.
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We can’t plant our way out of climate change
Forests with diverse tree species are more resilient to climate extremes and better at storing carbon, according to recent studies conducted in China and Panama. Karen D. Holl of the University of California, Santa Cruz, notes that the studies merely add “to the list of reasons” for diverse plantings — their importance is undeniable.
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New research finds substantial peat deposits in Colombia’s conflicted Amazon
Research led by Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Scott Winton found that Colombia may have extensive peatlands, sequestering an amount of carbon equivalent to 70 years worth of the country’s emissions.
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Watsonville Earth Day celebration highlights disaster preparedness
Watsonville’s Earth Day celebration highlighted the ongoing Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Research for Resilience project, led by Sociology Professor Miriam Greenberg. The project explores the relationship among natural disasters, lack of affordable housing, and WUI growth.
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Ahead of Earth Day, peek inside the living laboratory where redwoods meet modern science
Environmental Studies Professor Greg Gilbert uses a technology called sonic tomography to look inside redwoods for signs of a fungus that has been infecting them since the CZU fire. The technology uses sound waves to create a picture of the inside of a tree.
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SF nonprofits feel the squeeze in second Trump term
During Trump’s first term, “rage giving” was an outlet for dissent. Sociology Professor Juan Pedroza used IRS data to show how organizations providing legal aid to immigrants grew their financial resources significantly between 2016 and 2019.
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Diverse forests and forest rewilding offer resilience against climate change
Environmental Studies Professor Karen Holl says there will always be trade-offs among benefits when conducting specific reforestation projects. “We can’t do it all at once,” she said. “If your goal is maximizing biodiversity, then reintroducing all the fauna and natural processes makes a lot of sense. If you’re trying to maximize timber production, it’s probably…