Campus & Community


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A tractor sprays fertilizer or pesticides on a green field.
Photo Credit
MaYcaL via iStock
Synthetic fertilizer has increased the amount of nitrogen compounds in the biosphere, compounds that must be converted by microbes back into nitrogen gas.

A rare atomic fingerprint reveals how ecosystems clean nitrogen pollution
Black-and-white portrait of a woman with long hair leaning against a wall and looking over her shoulder towards a tree
Photo Credit
Matt Perko
Heidi Amin-Hong

Refugee studies meets environmental justice in new special journal issue
photo of Tsimane people, left, and photo of Hadza people, right
Photo Credit
Michael Gurven; iStock
Though separated by an ocean for millennia, the rural Tsimané of lowland Bolivia, left, and Hadza people of Tanzania, right, share a remarkable number of gut microbiome species, many of which have disappeared from the microbiomes of people in urbanized societies

Microbiome study reveals ancient gut connections between Africa and South America
woman sharing food with her children in a bright setting
Photo Credit
iStock

Young infants infer the closeness of social relationships via saliva sharing interactions
Waves roll up the shoreline at sunrise, horizon is orange in the distance
Photo Credit
Matt Perko

UC Santa Barbara introduces minor in environmental humanities
a painting of festively dressed men and women at Fiesta
A student work at the "Finding Fiesta" museum exhibit at Casa de la Guerra

Young students tap UCSB archive to reflect on century-old Fiesta celebration
Black and white 1970s era portrait of Luis J. Rodriguez
Photo Credit
Courtesy UCSB Library
Luis J. Rodriguez is a pivotal artist and public figure whose life and work illuminate the modern history of Chicanismo

Luis J. Rodriguez Papers at UCSB Library document life and work of the renowned author and activist
image of lab instrument
Photo Credit
Matt Perko
The scanning ultrafast electron microscope in the Bolin Liao lab

Mechanical engineer Bolin Liao to develop platform for imaging and controlling quantum interactions with 2D materials
Leander Anderegg sits on the stairs to the left of Kelly Caylor and David Valentine.
Leander Anderegg, Kelly Caylor, and David Valentine have all been recognized by the American Geophysical Union for their work.

Three UCSB researchers recognized for contributions to the earth sciences
color photograph of a group of college students in discussion

Speaker series and graduate seminars explore academic freedom
A man in a navy blue sit sits on a table in a modern lecture hall
Photo Credit
Matt Perko
Distinguished Professor John Bowers

John Bowers honored by UC Regents for a lifetime of innovation
color photographic portrait of teaching professor Tim Dewar
Photo Credit
Matt Perko
California Writing Project director and UC Santa Barbara teaching professor Tim Dewar, September 2026

California Writing Project wins Library of Congress literacy award
stylized photo of a researcher at a colorful optical table
Photo Credit
Matt Perko

UCSB researchers to collaborate in three of NSF's Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes
Blue sky and bright sun light the partial view of a modern building on a coastline
Photo Credit
Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects
An artist's rendering of the La Kretz Environmental Crossroads shows the view from the main entry and an elevated porch with the ocean in the distance

Alumni gift, vision powers plans for a multifaceted climate solutions hub at UCSB
a woman smiling while writing in her journal
Photo Credit
iStock

The benefits of gratitude interventions vary based on where they are practiced, and by whom
A woman in a bright blue shirt smiling as she walks through rows of people waving blue and gold pom-poms
Photo Credit
Matt Perko
The second annual Gaucho Welcome rally for first-year and transfer students brought the energy to kick off fall quarter.

Fall quarter kicks off with a week’s worth of events and festivities
color photograph of artist Jackie Amezquita working on a mural
Photo Credit
Gina Clyne, courtesy of the artist, Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions, and Los Angeles Nomadic Division
The AD&A Museum show by Guatemalan-born artist Jackie Amézquita (center) will include "Gemidos de la Tierra (Wailings of the Land/Soil)," a public activation of her work on Día de los Muertos (Nov. 1)

Fall arts abound across campus and community
Portrait of Wendy Berry Mendes
Photo Credit
Courtesy
Wendy Berry Mendes

Social psychologist, alum Wendy Berry Mendes to deliver inaugural Major-Blascovich Lecture
Tsimané fishing with bows and arrows
Photo Credit
Michael Gurven
Compared to industrialized counterparts Tsimané people of lowland Bolivia have less food availability and must expend more effort to get it

New study adds nuance to the understanding of dementia in the Tsimané and Mosetén of lowland Bolivia
color photographic portrait of professor shelly lundberg
Photo Credit
Matt Perko
UC Santa Barbara economist and demographer Shelly Lundberg, September 2026

Economist Shelly Lundberg wins prestigious Mincer Award, releases book on gender economics
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