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Society + Culture

A wave crashes upon campus point with Santa Cruz Island in the distance.
Photo Credit
Matt Perko
Ocean policy issues are front and center on UC Santa Barbara’s coastal campus.

Science policy education should start on campus

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fighters raising their arms and waving a flag
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Courtesy
Book cover detail for "When Rebels Win" by Kai Thaler (Cornell University Press, 2025).

Why some rebel victories build states — and others break them
portraits of ucsb political scientists Matto Mildenberger and Neil Narang against the backdrop of the White House
Political scientists Matto Mildenberger (left) and Neil Narang

UCSB scholars join podcast recap of national headlines from 2025
book shelves in library
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Jeff Liang

How books helped make computers mainstream
city neighborhood from aerial view
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iStock

New data shows gun violence drives major declines in neighborhood foot traffic and economic growth
man sitting on chair with newspaper cover background
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Matt Perko
UC Santa Barbara English assistant professor Jim Casey is leading a project to recover and share 19th-century African American newspapers using artificial intelligence.

$750,000 Schmidt Sciences grant uses AI to transform Black press archives
grains and pulses with scoops in baskets.
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Pierivb via iStock
Addressing world hunger requires an accurate account of those in need.

Global measure underestimates the severity of food insecurity
Older woman with grey hair and blue coat sits outside rustic building
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Elana Resnick
Baka, a waste collector, at home.

How Europe’s green transition is reinforcing racial inequality
arrows pointing in both directions black boots
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iStock

A two-minute fix for procrastination
color photographic portrait of professor Joseph Blankholm
Photo Credit
Matt Perko
Religious studies associate professor Joseph Blankholm, November 2025

$1.5 million grant advances UCSB leadership in the study of modern spirituality
a family of East African nomadic pastoralists
Photo Credit
Wiesla-Wikimedia Commons - CC BY-SA 4.0
The Turkana are nomadic pastoralists who live in Kenya

Genetic adaptations helped East African nomadic pastoralists adapt to constant water stress, but urbanization may present an 'evolutionary mismatch'
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Genetic adaptations helped East African nomadic pastoralists adapt to constant water stress, but urbanization may present an 'evolutionary mismatch'
black and white image of an older person's face
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Courtesy Image

Michael Gurven reframes aging as evolutionary success
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