R1 is special for my colleague Martha Conklin & me. As founding faculty in 2003, our goal was to build a research university using the region as a natural laboratory to address environmental challenges. Grateful for the opportunity, proud of the outcome. news.ucmerced.edu/news/2025/…

Thank you senator, please continue speaking out & do whatever is possible to stop these out-of-control threats & actions

ICYMI, a new video by UC colleague Robyn Schelenz on our operational & still evolving water-energy-ecosystem initiative, which adds solar to open canals, creating an innovative multi-benefit infrastructure investment. universityofcalifornia.edu/n…

Well stated.

Thanks to Frontiers in Education for publishing this timely set of research, case-study & review pieces as a book. The important theme is how university colleagues can assume more-active roles in addressing the planetary climate & ecological crises. frontiersin.org/research-top…

Follow the science! The ‘implementation COP’: why the Belém summit must ratchet up climate action nature.com/articles/d41586-0…

Interesting point at the end: "... a smaller population should bring benefits: a society that has fewer people can lessen pressure on the environment and allow for greater investment in each individual. But a stable economy is key ..."

The $1B demand harms every American, not just UCLA, UC & Calif. We all benefit from @UCLA's vital work saving lives, improving national security, helping feed the world, increasing educational opportunity & driving innovation. I'm speaking as a UC alum & retired UC prof.

The switch from gasoline to electric vehicles remains urgent & although the individual & societal benefits are huge, the transition requires collective action through government policy & support. calmatters.org/environment/2…

Survey highlights: 1-Barriers: financial & workforce; uncertainties: climate, outcome, operations. 2-Environmental & economic benefits are key. 3-Lowering wildfire risk is primary, plus water & environmental co-benefits. 4-Collaboration can lower barriers frontiersin.org/journals/for…

Thanks to @Sammy_Roth & colleagues at @latimes for continuing to speaking the truth on climate change & how federal officials are working against the public interest & in favor of expensive, harmful fossil-fuel interests. latimes.com/environment/news…

Freedom of expression in & by colleges & universities is foundational for our democracy. Can academic leaders speak out when political officials act to silence statements they disagree with? washingtonpost.com/nation/20…

There's research indicating that microplastics are bad for human health & also bad for other parts of nature. More science can help establish how, and in a normal world could affect policy. nature.com/articles/d41586-0…

Good analysis by @Sammy_Roth. Incentives for distributed solar are important for advancing the energy transition & building support for meeting California's greenhouse-gas-reduction goals; and legislative action could help in charting equitable paths. latimes.com/environment/news…

Many campuses are evaluating central vs distributed heating & most seem to be moving to central + new piping system based on projected maintenance costs. Will be very interesting if a compact campus like MIT can opt for a distributed system work.

As you note, it's good to remember the obvious: The biggest barriers to climate action aren’t economic or technological. They’re political. latimes.com/environment/news…

Now published! Our 3rd paper in a series examining resource-manager & public perspectives on forest restoration. Collaborative solutions key to advancing forest restoration. @ucmerced, @safeeqkhan, @Begoh3 news.ucmerced.edu/news/2024/…

Sadly, that characterizes what we in Calif, in the U.S. & globally will be facing. The climate crisis is real & reducing CO2 emissions through the energy transition is step 1 of the solution.

Advancing multi-benefit infrastructure investments such as this provide renewable energy, save land, conserve water, benefit local economies & much more.