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Letters and Science

two white men with yellow and blue lines on background
Photo Credit
Courtesy
Recent UCSB graduates Matthieu Huy and Enri Lala were selected from 3,400 applicants for a fully funded year of graduate study in France.

Two 2026 UC Santa Barbara graduates receive inaugural Lafayette Fellowship

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A collection of dark green lines and small dots on a pale green background
Photo Credit
Courtesy UCSB Engineering
A close-up view of anaerobic gut fungi under the microscope. Armed with powerful plant-degrading enzymes and a dense network of hyphae, these specialized microbes break down tough lignocellulosic plant matter in the absence of oxygen.

Two UCSB-led projects selected for DOE’s Genesis Mission
Deborah Williams smiles with an Alaskan landscape behind her
Photo Credit
Background image by Benton Sherman, portrait by Jeff Liang
Deborah Williams dedicated decades of her career to improving her adopted home.

Deborah Williams joins the Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame for decades of trailblazing public service
illustration of male and female workers sitting on stacks of dollar bills, representing gender-based wage gap

In the battle of the sexes, the pay gap persists
man with dark hair, laptop and white headphones at a desk in a room full of students at desks
Photo Credit
Matt Perko

Comm scholar Dan Lane named UC fellow for research on AI and civic engagement
giant kelp in the water

Disturbance has a greater effect on giant kelp productivity than does resource availability
A women in a green jacket sits at a table, hands folded, in front of a red background
Photo Credit
Matt Perko
Thuc-Quyen Nguyen

New Faculty Research Lecturer Thuc-Quyen Nguyen reflects on science, mentorship and resilience
An artist's concept of a distant galaxy with an active quasar at its center shooting out bright jets of radiation above and below the galactic disc.
Photo Credit
NASA, ESA, Joseph Olmsted (STScI)
A quasar emits exceptional amounts of energy generated by matter falling into a supermassive black hole.

The earliest quasars yet observed are shedding light on the infancy of our cosmos
Purple, pink and blue rope-like 3D structures fold over each other, illustrating the protein-folding process.
Photo Credit
iStock / quantic69
Scientific illustration of a 3D protein molecules structure, formed by amino acids and peptides, reflecting the protein-folding process.

New tools to study protein assembly may help in the search for neurodegenerative disease therapeutics
photo image of sociologist terrell winder and the cover of his new book
UCSB assistant professor of sociology Terrell Winder's book was released this month by NYU Press

New book documents Black gay men rejecting the burdens of stigma
sand dunes against an ocean background

California has lost more than half of its coastal sand dunes, first-ever comprehensive assessment reveals
A closeup of the back of a graduation cap decorated with a pale blue flower and the letters UCSB

Commencement 2026 celebrates accomplishment, purpose and community
man of Asian descent in blue suit with light pink tie
Photo Credit
Matt Perko
Howard Chiang, UCSB historian

Howard Chiang honored for career in queer history and Sinophone studies
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