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Society + Culture

A youthful adult in a blue suit and pink tie stands before a grey stone wall, looking to his left
Photo Credit
Matt Perko
Howard Chiang

Howard Chiang named Yushan Scholar to advance Taiwan studies across the Pacific

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Voters standing in line to vote
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iStock

With the election approaching, is the gender gap widening?
an African baby in his father's arms
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iStock

An early-warning system for child health in West Africa
color photograph portraits of Evan Kleiman and Marion Nestle
Photo Credit
Nestle photo by Peter Menzel
"Good Food" host Evan Kleiman (left) and author Marion Nestle

“Good Food” host Evan Kleiman kicks off UCSB speaker series
Black-and-white portrait of a woman with long hair leaning against a wall and looking over her shoulder towards a tree
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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
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iStock

Young infants infer the closeness of social relationships via saliva sharing interactions
color photograph of a group of college students in discussion

Speaker series and graduate seminars explore academic freedom
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
a woman smiling while writing in her journal
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iStock

The benefits of gratitude interventions vary based on where they are practiced, and by whom
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
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Matt Perko
UC Santa Barbara economist and demographer Shelly Lundberg, September 2026

Economist Shelly Lundberg wins prestigious Mincer Award, releases book on gender economics
A woman in blue blouse and green blazer with long brown hair, standing on a beach with greenery in the background
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Courtesy
Anton Vonk Associate Professor of Environmental Politics Leah Stokes

Leah Stokes brings urgency, optimism to fight to save the planet
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