UC Santa Barbara

06/23/2026

A first of its kind for the California coast, a new study conducted by researchers and collaborators has found that California has lost more than half of its coastal dune systems due to a combination of urban development, land-use changes and erosion.

"There are major implications of this loss for the California coast, including reduced habitats for plants, insects and other invertebrates, birds and small mammals," said Tim Baxter. "Importantly, we also lose coastal protections against storms and sea level rise."

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California has lost more than half of its coastal sand dunes

06/22/2026

Congrats to UCSB's Howard Chiang, one of the winners of The Dan David Prize, the largest history prize in the world 🏆

Chiang is a historian of modern East Asian thought and culture with an emphasis on the critical study of science, medicine, race, gender and sexuality. He is the first winner from East Asia of the prestigious award.

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Chiang is a pioneer of the field of Sinophone studies, which reconceives regions such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Asian America,...

06/21/2026

Father's Day shoutout to all the dads, granddads, mentors and father figures in the lives of students and the UC Santa Barbara community. We see you cheering us on during all the big moments 🎉

06/20/2026

Historically, dengue fever has been rare in California. But according to new research out of UC Santa Barbara & UC Berkeley, a warming climate is making parts of the state more hospitable to the illness—and the mosquitoes that carry it.

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A warming climate is making California more hospitable to dengue fever and the mosquitoes that carry it.

06/18/2026

2026 Commencement try-not-to-cry challenge: impossible. The years of hard work, academic rigor, community building, dedication, and support from our incredible friends and family—it all led to this moment, this huge life milestone.

Congrats to the UC Santa Barbara Class of 2026 🎓🎉 We’re rooting for you!

06/17/2026

Two programs at 's Koegel Autism Center at UC Santa Barbara are giving local teens on the autism spectrum and with related neurodivergent profiles something many families struggle to find: a place to build social skills, make friends and spend time together in a supportive environment.

"We wanted to completely reimagine how to approach the complexities of improving the social motivation, insights and skills of autistic youth transitioning from children to adulthood," said Ty Vernon, director of the center and professor within the Gevirtz School of Education.

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“Social Tools And Rules for Teens (START) was developed in direct response to the growing need for socialization support in the local community,”...

06/16/2026

Researchers at have just released the latest version of one of the world’s most widely used rainfall data products, the Climate Hazards Center Infrared Precipitation with Stations, or "CHIRPS" ☔️

"We’ve significantly enhanced CHIRPS v3 to paint a more accurate picture of both drought and flood risk."

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UCSB researchers released a new version of one of the world’s most widely used rainfall data products, which guides drought early warning, disaster...

06/15/2026

That's a wrap! Congrats to the graduates on all of your incredible achievements 🎓💙 Commencement season may be over at UC Santa Barbara but we're still reliving all the incredible moments from the last week of ceremonies. Shout out your favorite grads 🎉

06/14/2026

We asked graduating Gauchos: What most surprised you about your experience? From the variety of classes, clubs and events to how welcoming the community is, students shared their memories at the UCSB Alumni Senior Celebration 🎓

06/13/2026

undergraduate students, faculty, and alumni took home trophies at this year's Indy Awards for acting and stagecraft 🎭🏆

Student winners were recognized for their work on a theatrical adaptation of George Orwell's "Animal Farm," a production of Shakespeare's "The Tempest," and more.

"UCSB had a particularly strong year in theater," said Leslie Dinaberg, the Santa Barbara Independent's arts and culture editor.

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It was a good year for UCSB theater as three graduating seniors and associated faculty took home prestigious Indy Awards