UC Santa Barbara joins consortium of universities carrying out Earth system research

The Earth is a complex system, and understanding the processes happening between the crust and the stratosphere is an interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary enterprise. 

This collaborative endeavor just got a boost at UC Santa Barbara, where faculty already have their fingers in many pies. UCSB has joined the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). Despite its name, UCAR is actually a nonprofit consortium of more than 120 North American colleges and universities that advances understanding of Earth system sciences, especially the atmosphere, oceans and climate. The corporation manages the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).

UCAR membership provides UCSB faculty and students a voice in the governance of NCAR, as well as access to exclusive training and networking opportunities. “This new partnership amplifies UC Santa Barbara’s capacity to tackle pressing global challenges in climate science and keeps our campus at the forefront of efforts to understand and mitigate the impacts of climate change,” explained Kelly Caylor, associate vice chancellor for research.

“UCSB is a leading institution in many Earth system science fields, and it was surprising to me that we weren’t already a member,” added associate professor Samantha Stevenson, who spearheaded the university’s application process.

NCAR serves as a hub for atmospheric, climate and Earth system science research. “It’s considered one of the premier climate research institutions in the country,” said Stevenson, who studies atmospheric and ocean dynamics at UCSB’s Bren School of Environmental Science & Management. NCAR scientists work closely with university researchers, who gain access to funds for visits and workshops. 

The consortium provides a framework to build collaborations that may not have arisen through informal networks alone. NCAR is also committed to education and training at all levels of schooling. Joining UCAR will provide undergraduates, grad students and postdocs access to research opportunities, conferences and fellowships at NCAR.

Stevenson and associate professor of geography Qinghua Ding will serve as UCSB's representatives to UCAR. “I’m hopeful that by officially becoming a UCAR member, we can build more connections than we would have been able to otherwise and find new opportunities to do even more exciting science,” Stevenson said.