EEP undergrad Tyler Jacobson is quoted in this Davis Enterprise article on the University of California's recent announcement that UC has shed $150 million in fossil-fuel investments. Jacobsen is a member of Fossil Free UC, a UC-wide, student-led campaign that demands UC divest its endowment from the top 200 fossil-fuel companies with the largest carbon reserves. Jacobsen commented, "It was energizing to see just how direct of an effect student organizing, along with strong faculty support, can have on altering UC’s investment decisions."
NewsDeeply | March 22, 2017
ESPM assistant adjunct professor and assistant CE specialist Van Butsic is featured in this News Deeply article on California's cannabis-growing industry and the impacts of legalization and new regulations. Butsic reckons the jury is still out on just how harmful the marijuana industry is to the environment – an area of research he says he is closely studying. Butsic coauthored a paper published in 2016 in Environmental Research Letters in which he concluded that the legal marijuana industry poses a considerable potential threat to Chinook salmon and steelhead in the emerald triangle region.
Researchers ramp up releases of tiny wasp to improve biological control of the Virginia creeper leafhopper
Western Farm Press | March 22, 2017
ESPM CE specialist Kent Daane and postdoc Houston Wilson are featured in this Western FarmPress article on the parasitic wasp as a option for organic growers with the best potential for controlling the Virginia creeper leafhopper. Wilson notes that, with the release of a specfiic strain of parasitoid this April, the "goal is to get the wasp established at a site and be able to control the Virginia creeper leafhopper on its own for the long-term as the population increases and covers a larger area without us having to come back in the meantime to make more releases.”
Santa Cruz Sentinel | March 17, 2017
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.”