In partnership with the state, the University of California awarded over $80 million in grants to four-year academic institutions across California. UC Santa Cruz secured over $9.5 million in funding for five projects, addressing climate change challenges through innovative research and community engagement. Let's dive into the groundbreaking projects that are revolutionizing climate resilience and social equity.
Maximizing Benefits from the State's Composting Program
Explore how UC Santa Cruz is leading the way in maximizing the benefits of California's composting program, reducing methane emissions, and promoting sustainable agriculture.
California has set a goal to divert 75% of organic waste from landfills by 2025, and UC Santa Cruz is at the forefront of research to maximize the benefits of this composting program. Led by Environmental Studies Professor Elliott Campbell, a team of researchers is studying implementation strategies to reduce methane emissions and promote sustainable agriculture.
The transition from landfill disposal to composting presents an opportunity to enhance agricultural lands. Through modeling techniques and experimental data, the team aims to develop decision support tools for optimal composting practices. This includes mapping out composting capacity, recommending new facilities, and analyzing market forces to meet demand. By distributing compost strategically, the team aims to maximize environmental benefits and improve soil moisture, carbon sequestration, and nutrient runoff.
With California's statewide mandate and the investments being made in infrastructure, this research has the potential to become a model for other regions. By harnessing the power of composting, UC Santa Cruz is paving the way for a more sustainable future.
Supporting Farmworker Health and Safety
Discover how UC Santa Cruz is addressing the damaging impacts of climate change on farmworker communities and developing solutions for their health and safety.
Farmworkers are disproportionately affected by climate change, facing extreme heat, wildfire smoke, drinking-water pollution, flood damage, and crop failures. UC Santa Cruz, under the leadership of Politics Professor Matt Sparke, is partnering with community organizations and universities to map out climate-related risk factors and develop tools for farmworkers and health workers.
A bilingual app will provide information on geographic 'hotspots' of risk and a health vulnerability checklist to identify available resources. The project aims to build partnerships and develop solutions to mitigate climate-related harms. By studying the impact of new strategies and technologies on farmworkers, the team seeks to empower communities and promote positive change.
UC Santa Cruz recognizes the need for active adaptation and resilience in a changing climate. By focusing on the health and safety of farmworkers, the university is working towards a more equitable and sustainable future for all.
Connecting the Housing Crisis to Climate Impacts
Explore the intersection of California's housing crisis and climate impacts, and how UC Santa Cruz is studying the growth of the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) to address environmental health and housing affordability.
California's housing crisis and climate impacts are deeply intertwined, and UC Santa Cruz is investigating this complex relationship. Sociology Professor Miriam Greenberg is leading a study on the growth of the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), where development encroaches on natural areas.
Development in the WUI accounts for 50% of new housing in the state, but it also increases the risk from climate-related natural disasters and impacts environmental health. By conducting statistical analysis, interviews, and surveys, the research team aims to identify areas where WUI development reflects the displacement of lower-income individuals from urban areas.
UC Santa Cruz is collaborating with community partners to understand the driving forces behind migration to the WUI and the resulting dynamics. By studying the impact on fire, habitat, and puma behavior, the team aims to inform regional planning and address the housing crisis in the context of climate change.
Advising on a New Pajaro River Levee System
Learn how UC Santa Cruz is advising on a new levee system along the Pajaro River to improve flood control, ecosystem resilience, and water quality.
The Pajaro River Flood Risk Management Project is a major initiative to modify and reshape levees along the Pajaro River. UC Santa Cruz, led by Hydrogeologist Andrew Fisher, is conducting research to enhance the project's effectiveness and maximize its benefits.
By assessing conditions in the river channels and expanded river bank areas, the research team aims to understand factors like channel flow, sediment types, aquifer recharge, and water quality. This data will inform an operation and maintenance plan, optimizing flood control while delivering additional benefits such as improved wildlife habitat.
UC Santa Cruz is committed to collaborating with partners and empowering agencies, community groups, and stakeholders to adaptively manage the levee project. By integrating natural hydrologic processes, the university is contributing to ecosystem resilience and sustainable water management.
Engaging the Public Through Art and Science
Discover how UC Santa Cruz is using art and science collaborations to engage the public in understanding climate change impacts on marine animals and vulnerable communities.
UC Santa Cruz is harnessing the power of art and science collaborations to raise awareness about climate change impacts. Rachel Nelson, director of the UCSC Institute of the Arts and Sciences, and Ocean Science Professor Ari Friedlaender are leading a project to develop a research-based traveling art exhibition.
The exhibition will feature artists from communities most impacted by climate change, exploring the economic processes underlying disparate impacts and the effects on migratory whales. Sound artists, composers, filmmakers, and digital artists will create immersive experiences to convey the impact of melting Arctic sea ice and Indigenous experiences of migration.
By combining art and science, UC Santa Cruz aims to foster a social and cultural shift towards embracing climate solutions. The exhibition will travel to art museums across California, sparking conversations and inspiring action for a more sustainable future.
Conclusion
UC Santa Cruz is at the forefront of tackling climate change challenges through innovative research and community engagement. The university's projects, funded by the University of California, are revolutionizing composting practices, supporting farmworker health and safety, addressing the housing crisis, advising on a new levee system, and engaging the public through art and science.
By maximizing the benefits of California's composting program, UC Santa Cruz is reducing methane emissions and promoting sustainable agriculture. The university is also working to mitigate the damaging impacts of climate change on farmworker communities and develop solutions for their health and safety.
Through the study of the Wildland Urban Interface, UC Santa Cruz is shedding light on the intersection of the housing crisis and climate impacts, aiming to address environmental health and housing affordability. The university's research on the Pajaro River levee system is improving flood control, ecosystem resilience, and water quality.
UC Santa Cruz is harnessing the power of art and science collaborations to engage the public in understanding climate change impacts on marine animals and vulnerable communities. By combining research, creativity, and community partnerships, the university is driving positive change and paving the way for a more sustainable future.