UCSC’s “Science in the Neighboorhood” Series Invites Community to Explore Cutting Edge Research

The University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) Division of Physical & Biological Sciences is proud to announce the continuation of its free public lecture series, “Science in the Neighborhood.” Designed to demystify complex scientific research and foster a deeper connection between the university and the Santa Cruz community, the quarterly series brings world-class researchers out of the lab and into local venues for accessible, engaging discussions.

The next event in the series, “Innovations for Building Coastal Resilience Locally, Nationally, and Globally,” will take place this Thursday, February 5, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Seymour Marine Discovery Center.

The upcoming February lecture will feature Dr. Mike Beck, Director of the UCSC Center for Coastal Climate Resilience. Dr. Beck will share recent breakthroughs in bridging ecology, engineering, and finance to protect coastal communities from the growing risks of climate change. The session will conclude with a live Q&A moderated by Professor Stefano Profumo, Associate Dean of Graduate Education.

Next month’s event titled “Transforming Pacific salmon recovery, from genes to ecosystems” will feature Eric Palkovacs, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Director of the UCSC Fisheries Collaborative Program and Q&A hosted by Bryan Gaensler, UCSC’s Dean of Science. Professor Palkovacs will discuss how UC Santa Cruz is leading the way in salmon conservation by bridging the gap between genetic research and ecosystem-wide management. Palkovacs will talk about the innovative strategies being used to protect wild salmon populations from threats like habitat loss and climate change. Learn more and register here.