ESPM assistant CE specialist Jodi Axelson is featured in this Santa Cruz Sentinel article on a newly developed technique of combating bark beetles via bioacoustics. “These kinds of technologies are interesting and great for the private landowner, or parks and rec agencies that have high value trees they want to protect,” said Axelson. But for large-scale protection, she stressed that forest management techniques such as thinning trees are still most important.
Political Insight | March 17, 2017
ESPM professor Wayne Getz and grad students Colin Carlson, Eric Dougherty, and Oliver Muellerklein authored this article for Political Insight on new approaches and improved technologies for neutral redistricting of state and federal districts, verifying results, and ensuring cyber security. Donald Trump’s presidential victory has focused attention once again on disparities within the US electoral system. The authors look to community-based conservation (CBC) for lessons in how to build a fairer election process.
Snopes | March 17, 2017
ESPM professors Gordon Frankie and Claire Kremen are featured in this Snopes article on General Mills Inc's new promotion aimed at fighting declining bee populations in N America.
Mercury News | March 14, 2017
ESPM professors Gordon Frankie and Claire Kremen are featured in this Mercury News article on the decline of bee populations countrywide. Kremen noted that exposure to neonicotinoid-based pesticide can make bees more susceptible to contracting parasites and disease. Frankie leads the Urban Bee Lab, which has collaborated with the USDA on over 60 educational workshops last year to teach the general public about bees.
Vox | March 10, 2017
ESPM visiting researcher and NPS Principal Climate Change Scientist Patrick Gonzalez is featured in this Vox interview on Washington DC's cherry blossom trees.
Scientific American | March 02, 2017
ERG professor Dan Kammen authored this guest blog post for the Scientific American on different strategies proposed by the Democratic and Republican Parties to address global warming. Kammen argues that though these two plans are dramatically different, "the home run strategy for American job creation and industrial leadership is to implement both the Clean Power Plan and the Carbon Dividend Plan."
UC Newsroom | February 27, 2017
PMB grad student Becky Mackelprang is featured in this UC Newsroom article on simplifying food labels to reduce food waste. Mackelprang, who helped organize a panel discussion last year on food waste, noted: “I think it’s fantastic that the grocery industry is taking this critical step toward reducing food waste. I would also like to see legislation passed to mandate this.”
Forbes | February 26, 2017
Researcher Wendy Baxter was featured in this Forbes article on the effects of California's drought on giant sequoias. Baxter, who is in ESPM professor Todd Dawson's lab, climbs these trees -- some of which are almost 300 feet tall -- to collect samples for this collaborative research project. She shares her research into how climate change affects these trees in the accompanying bioGraphic video.
Atlantic CityLab | February 24, 2017
ESPM professor George Roderick is featured in this CityLab article on San Francisco's populations of fruit flies. Roderick, who is the curator of invasive species at the Essig Museum, noted that "they likely do well here because of our relatively mild climate and abundance of fruit in markets, stores, restaurants, kitchens, but also outside in yards and gardens.”
Daily Californian | February 22, 2017
ESPM undergrad Grace Treffinger commented in this Daily Californian article on the capital improvement projects across campus. Treffinger, who recently became involved with the effort to preserve the Oxford Tract, said that although the Oxford Tract development is expected to house the most students of all the sites the university has proposed for dorms, she felt that other potential sites had not been adequately considered.