On Campus

Short takes, lively stories and snapshot looks at the UC Santa Barbara campus and community open a window into our dynamic environment and diverse culture.

 

Issue Name
Fall / Winter 2024

Ian Duncan

Ian Duncan gives back to campus

A founding member of UCSB's Innovators Circle, a network of entrepreneurs who convene to share expertise, he established the Janet and Ian Duncan Chair in Actuarial Science as part of his pledge.
Wax cylinders with audio recordings from the late 1800s of various Chinese dialects

Linguistic artifacts

book on table next to computer keyboard called Hate Speech 101

A critical look inside ‘the back room’

Tania Israel sitting on bench

Finding Common Ground

Professor Tania Israel offers tools to navigate political and cultural divides
emily jacobs holding brain scans

This is your brain on pregnancy

Professor Garratt with his running mates holding an american flag

The Economy of Running

To win medals, this professor had to learn to pace himself
men's basketball in the Thunderdome

Feel the thunder

From concerts in the 80s to concerts lately

Issue Name
Spring / Summer 2024

student passing a basket of oranges

Climate activism and resilience to climate anxiety

The newly offered UC-wide Climate Resilience Course," led at UCSB by Ken Hiltner and Summer Gray, aims to help students get centered
Molly McGee and Eva Mills sitting on green grass

Quick Fix

Undergraduates Molly McGee and Eva Mills establish ‘fix-it fairs’ to build community and reduce waste
Leda Cosmides and John Tooby

Where the human mind, and human nature, meet the natural world

Since its founding 30 years ago, the Center for Evolutionary Psychology has expanded understanding of universal human nature and behavior
vintage photo of Paula Bruice

For beloved professor, the honors are organic

To celebrate their favorite faculty member’s retirement and teaching legacy, three alumni established the Paula Bruice Scholarship in Organic Chemistry
David Valentine at campus point

Discoveries from Disasters

A conversation with oceanographer Professor David Valentine
Listen up graphic with portrait of Paasha Mahdavi

Podcast recommendations

Podcast recommendations from Paasha Mahdavi, assistant professor of political science

Issue Name
Fall / Winter 2023

Charmane Chua and Kyle Meng

Awards & Honors

Accolades for faculty members Charmaine Chua and Kyle Meng
Garren Tinney

Unbroken Lines

The literary legacy of M. Garren Tinney ’01
Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant

The Wild Life of Dr. Rae

From inner city to ‘Wild Kingdom’ with Bren School ecologist Rae Wynn-Grant
climate researcher on a campus beach

Climate solutions for amphibians and iconic beaches

Ian Walker and Cherie Briggs are lighting the way, with new grant funding from the UC
Simone Pulver

Winter Reads

trio of data visualizations by George Legrady

Visualizing Information

Blending artistic and analytic approaches yields a unique course on data visualization
students posing with bikes in 1980 and today

Forty-three years later, it’s bicycle-ly the same

From concerts in the 80s to concerts lately

Issue Name
Spring / Summer 2023

alumni statistics

Alumni Stats

A look at your alumni numbers
Sameer Pandya

Summer Reading

Book recommendations from Professor of Asian American studies Sameer Pandya
portrait of Kelly Barsky

An Everyday Journey

Kelly Barsky followed her passions for education, sports and community to the top job in Athletics
Koegel Autism Center

A Legacy of Understanding

Joanne Onstine-Dill ’71 ’73 supports graduate students at the Koegel Autism Center
France Winddance Twine portrait on art background

Grieving with Fire

Sociologist France Winddance Twine finds solace in hot wax painting
Stephanie Malia Hom outdoor portrait

Humanities in the Time of COVID

Taking cues from the pandemic, a professor of Italian teaches multidisciplinary compassion
Illustration of Mahsa Amini

Mahsa Amini’s Legacy

A new fellowship opens for Iranian women at UC Santa Barbara
Frank Zappa and Colin Crawford

Is It Live, or Is It Memorex?

From concerts in the 80s to concerts lately
closeup photo of guitarist

Iconic Campus Concerts Quiz

Do you remember that concert? From the Grateful Dead to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, some of the world's top artists have played the stage at UCSB.

Issue Name
Fall / Winter 2022

outdoor campus scenic facing the library

Stellar Scholars

A sampling of recent honors and accolades received by UC Santa Barbara faculty
underwater photo illustration

Innovating to Save the Seas

New gift from Marc and Lynne Benioff propels work to heal our oceans
Elizabeth Perez portrait on colorful background

Queering the Spirit

Religious studies course brings LGBT figures front and center
First generation undergrad researchers posed in a group photo

A Winning Formula

Professor emeritus Gene Lucas ’73 supports first-gen undergraduate researchers
Airplane taking off at sunrise by Glenn Beltz

Of Flight and Photography

'Parallel interests' keep Glenn Beltz looking up
UCSB Library exterior

Library Stats

Take a spin through the library — by the numbers
Daina Ramey BerryMichael Douglas Dean of Humanities and Fine Arts, Daina Ramey Berry

Bedside Reading

Michael Douglas Dean of Humanities and Fine Arts, Daina Ramey Berry always has time for a good book. Here are her recommendations.
Racial Justice Fellows group shot

Freedom to Focus

Racial Justice Fellows receive funding to pursue research and earn graduate degrees
Scholars for Ukraine stop the war banner

Scholars for Ukraine

Researchers raise funds for humanitarian aid
Alison Butler in her lab

Femme in STEM

There are more women working in STEM today than ever before. The lasting impact of the steady increase of female scientists? Immeasurable.
students on NBC's 'College Bowl'

Quiz Show Kids

Students take the soundstage on NBC’s 'College Bowl'
Visala Tallavarjula

Use Less, Lose Less

Undergraduate earns national notice for her water scarcity solution
Shuji Nakamura with LED light

Lab Quiz

Test your knowledge of the UCSB lab scene.

Issue Name
Spring / Summer 2022

Campus Point

An Iconic Headland

The Campus Point bluffs will be restored in a collaboration with the Barbareño Band of Chumash Indians.
Henley Gate

Extra Credit

A snapshot look at a few of the many UC Santa Barbara faculty to receive awards and other honors in 2022.
Tanya Israel

Bedside Reading

Tania Israel shares some of her favorite titles, and reasons why they resonate.
leaves illustration

Campus Sustainability

How green is UCSB? Test your knowledge.
Seth Petersen

Gardening 101

Seeking Zen, friends and good food? Get your hands dirty by starting a home garden. Seth Peterson has tips!
Ingrid Lopez Higuera

The Endeavor of the Social Sciences

Providing scholarships and services, donor-supported initiative PROPEL helps high-achieving, first-gen students excel.
Perseid meteor shower and milky way

Reserve Stats

Get to know the UCSB Natural Reserve System through these interesting statistics.
Greg Husak

Let it Frisbee

Climate researcher and triple alum Greg Husak is also a Hall of Fame Ultimate Frisbee player.
Early phonograph and cylindar

Saving an Endangered Species

The Early Recordings Initiative promotes the preservation, digitization and accessibility of pre-1903 sound recordings.
Victoria Rivera sitting with books and apple

Living Up to Its Name

Aiming to help build the pipeline of trained ethnic studies teachers, ÉXITO one year in is a bona fide success.
Jill Horst

Top Chef

On staff for 27 years and counting, Jill Horst nourishes mind, body and soul as executive director of campus dining.
Surfers on campus beach

Making Waves

The first course of its kind, Geography of Surfing has been among campus’s most popular classes for nearly 20 years.
carol blanchette sitting with legs crossed

Fifty Years Preserved

Surrounded by homes, Valentine Camp Reserve — a pocket of forest in Mammoth Lakes — is protected for research and teaching.
female surfer with blue hair

Decades of Stoke

Any time of day, any time of year, surfing never goes out of style. These two photos, taken 40 years apart, are proof.
Graduate commencement

National Recognition

Multiple UC Santa Barbara graduate programs land top rankings from U.S. News & World Report.
Kiley Acosta

Rethinking the Black Experience

Inclusion transforms academic programs, as the AfroLatinidades Institute launches a summer research partnership with HBCUs.
Arnhold Tennis Center entrance

Championship Court

The Arnhold Tennis Center, made possible by a $5.2 million gift from John ’75 and Jody Arnhold, opens its gates.
repairing a bike wheel

It's Getting Wheel

Reenvisioned as an interactive community hub, the A.S. Bike Shop is getting a new location — and a new look.

Issue Name
Fall / Winter 2021

UCSB Henley Gate

In the Top Five

UC Santa Barbara earns No. 5 ranking in U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 listing.
student riding a bike near the library on October 7, 1962

Wheels of Fun

The wheels keep on turning at our beautiful bicycle-friendly campus.
Previously Committed performs at the grand reopening of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art

Previously Committed

Professors Sumita Pennathur, Aahish Mehta and Tevfik Bultan pour their creative passions into the jazz ensemble Previously Committed.
A pile of books

Bedside Reading

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jeffrey Stewart, professor of Black Studies, shares an eclectic list of book recommendations.
Joe Incandela

Faculty Honors

Recognizing members of the UC Santa Barbara faculty for scholarly achievements.
Rinker Lab

Where Theory and Practice Meet

The Rinker Undergraduate Teaching Lab exemplifies the power of alumni engineers’ enthusiasm for giving back.
Dj Darla with Vinyl

The Beat Goes On

DJ Darla Bea ’03 makes a career out of evoking our musical memories.
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