The film details Professor David Valentine’s discovery and investigation, with Los Angeles Times reporter Rosanna Xia, of toxic waste dumping off the Southern California coast.
Read more about “Out of Plain Sight”
Bludog Telecom provides Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP phone systems to businesses. These systems are a modern and reliable way for companies to communicate with customers while saving hundreds or even thousands of dollars compared to traditional business phone services. Additional communications tools such as text messaging, voicemail and video conferencing can be integrated into the system and presented using a single, streamlined interface. Known as Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS), these integrated communications systems allow businesses to manage a variety of customer interactions all in one place.
“In 30 years of clinical practice, I’ve seen childhood change dramatically due to screen time. With kids spending more time in online neighborhoods than offline neighborhoods, digital injuries increasingly contribute to child distress,” said Dr. Bennet. “The key to prevention is awareness, information, and a strong parent-child connection. That’s the mission behind GetKidsInternetSafe. I’m so grateful to community leaders like Ventura Charter School for supporting their families during difficult times.”
LONG BEACH — The California State University (CSU), the largest and most diverse public four-year university in the country, announced (on Feb. 5) a first-of-its-kind public-private initiative with some of the world’s leading tech companies, including Adobe, Alphabet (Google), AWS, IBM, Instructure, Intel, LinkedIn, Microsoft, NVIDIA, OpenAI, and the Office of California Governor Gavin Newsom that will leverage the power of artificial intelligence to create an AI-powered higher education system that could surpass any existing model in both scale and impact.
The CSU’s unprecedented adoption of AI technologies will make trainings, learning, and teaching tools—including ChatGPT—available across all 23 CSU universities, ensuring that the system’s more than 460,000 students and 63,000 faculty and staff have equitable access to cutting-edge tools that will prepare them to meet the rapidly changing education and workforce needs of California. The CSU expects to make these tools available within the next few weeks.
VENTURA — The Ventura County Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved a series of legislative sponsorships aimed at improving utility accountability, enhancing public safety, and expanding disaster recovery assistance for residents. Patrick Maynard, Director of the Office of Emergency Services, emphasized…
The associate professor, an expert in energy, climate and environmental politics, was recognized for her exceptional contributions and public engagement.
Culminating a multiyear effort to unite library collections and services in a central, state-of-the-art space, the newly opened facility also represents the vision of its namesake, a longstanding donor to campus
SANTA BARBARA — More women than ever are working in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, but they’re still vastly outnumbered by men. For many women professionals that can lead to a feeling of isolation, as well as problems with discrimination, unconscious bias and a lack of role models and support.
Leadership coach Mary Jean Vignone, Ph.D., aims to change that. From Feb. 3 to 6 she will be hosting the second annual “Fearless Femme Summit: Propel Your Career in STEM” The free event, which will be held entirely online from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day, is designed to help women in STEM reach new heights in their careers and become authentic leaders.
Registration is open to STEM professionals, students and the public at no cost by signing up at www.fearlessfemmesummit.com. Participants can also sign up for a paid group coaching program and individualized emotional intelligence assessments that include free access to Fearless Femme Summit speaker videos.
“We are honored to receive this grant and are committed to enhancing our cybersecurity infrastructure to safeguard the college’s digital resources and the data of our students and community,” said Allan Hancock College Superintendent/President Kevin G. Walthers, Ph.D. “This funding will play a vital role in strengthening our defenses against evolving cyber threats.”
CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) students and their mentors are preparing for the world of big data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) by learning and sharing all they can about High-Performance Computing or HPC.
HPC is a way of combining a network of computers to create a more powerful system designed to handle data or problems too big for one computer. There’s a growing demand for expertise in HPC, given the rise of AI, machine learning and data-intensive tasks across various industries like scientific research, finance, and healthcare. Job growth for HPC is expected to be significantly faster than the average for all occupations.
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December 18 @ 5:00 pm
The SBIR and STTR programs are highly competitive and encourage U.S. small businesses to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development (R/R&D) initiatives with commercialization potential. Join SBA as they discuss NASA’s SBIR/STTR program. Learn about program phases and discover funding opportunities for innovative projects and technologies. Gain insider knowledge to position your business for success. Hear from industry leaders and expand your aerospace network. Stay informed and inspired, and have your questions answered at this exclusive event. This event will take place online using Microsoft Teams. Please register to obtain the login information. Please note that if you are planning to use a mobile device to access this webinar, you must first download the Teams app on your device. SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. To request reasonable accommodation, please email lado@sba.gov at least seven days in advance.
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CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) will offer a new Bachelor of Science degree in the field of Data Science beginning in Fall of 2025. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), students who choose the degree will graduate with a very promising job outlook.
Employment of data scientists is projected to grow 36% from 2021 to 2031, according to the BLS, much faster than the average for all other occupations. And the pay for data scientists with bachelor’s degrees in the U.S. was $100,910 per year in 2021. If you land a job as a data scientist in California, the average salary is $166,000, according to Indeed.com
“The job of data scientist is a rapidly emerging job title,” explained CSUCI Chair of Mathematics Geoffrey Buhl. “A data scientist uses tools from mathematics, statistics and computer science to turn data into useable information that can inform decision-making processes and answer questions.”
New research provides the first comprehensive map of the vast footprint of coconut palm agriculture across nearly every Pacific atoll.
VENTURA — The City of Ventura has been awarded an additional $60.4 million in federal grant funding under the Department of the Interior’s Large-Scale Water Recycling Program. This new award brings total federal investments in Ventura Water’s projects to $108…
CAMARILLO — Sarah Oberman, the founder of private jet charter company TruNorth Jets, has been recognized as one of the top 40 young aviation business professionals in the country by the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA).
Oberman just received the 2024 NBAA Business Aviation Top 40 Under 40 award, which recognizes emerging leaders who are actively helping shape the future of business aviation. She joins an esteemed group of young professionals driving real change in the aviation industry and setting the standard through impactful contributions.
The NBAA Young Professionals (YoPro) Council receives hundreds of nominations for the award each year. In 2024, the organization received a record number of nominations across nine career categories. The council carefully reviews each submission and selects candidates based on their community involvement, professional achievements, innovative mindset, and commitment to the business aviation community.
If policy makers implemented just four policies acting across the plastic lifecycle (from production to use and disposal), researchers say, we could reduce plastic pollution by 91%.
“We are setting an example for other universities by making a positive impact on the environment,” said then-CSUCI Director of Sustainability and Energy Roxane Beigel-Coryell, who entered the University in the DOE’s Better Climate Challenge.
This quarter’s Livable Communities Newsletter reports on the 2024 FUTURE OF THE REGION CONFERENCE: HOW WILL ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SHAPE OUR REGION?. Our keynote speaker gave a balanced view of the positives and negatives of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and our panel discussed these points. However, this is not your typical conference report, as writer Kerry Roscoe soon found out. In interfacing with AI for these articles, she learned that AI can be a great partner in the quest to understand what AI is, and what it can do to shape our region. Read through the following three articles to see what surprises Kerry and AI have for all of us.
Let us know what you think about this.
Investigating major migrations in global weather patterns, research by Zhe Li and Quingha Ding suggests this poleward shift is part of a natural cycle in sea surface temperatures in the Tropical Eastern Pacific.
VENTURA — The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District is offering $1.5 million in grants for organizations to install and operate electric vehicle chargers along the Highway 126 corridor.
The 126 Corridor EV Chargers Incentive Program is designed to improve air quality in Santa Paula, Fillmore and Piru and support the transition to EVs by providing much-needed chargers along the heavily trafficked route.
CAMARILLO — If we want to protect ecosystems, try protecting the surf breaks.
That’s the gist of a 2021 research study, “Conservation Opportunities Arise from the Co-Occurrence of Surfing and Key Biodiversity Areas” led by CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Associate Professor of Environmental Science & Resource Management (ESRM), Dan Reineman.
“There’s a conservation opportunity ‘two-for’ here,” Reineman said. “We found that many of the world’s surf breaks are located in the same places as critical, but unprotected, ecosystems. Surfing – for recreation and tourism – provides an additional incentive to protect both.”
The MultiCultural Center and UCSB’s Early Childhood Care and Education Services partner on a community-based Dia de los Muertos celebration for children and families.
OXNARD — SpaceReturn///// The California Space ClusterTM proudly launches its mission to lead the future of space industry focused advanced manufacturing through a powerful blend of advanced technology, collaboration, and community-driven sustainability. With a vision that goes beyond conventional manufacturing and ideas, SpaceReturn/////TM is dedicated to addressing the most complex challenges of the space sector, setting a new standard for regional impact in advanced manufacturing.
In Rome, Schooler will present alongside research colleague Madeline Gross, assistant project scientist. Together, they are investigating how art can induce a state of cognitive openness, allowing viewers to approach the world with greater mental flexibility.
Jackson Muhirwe, chief information security officer and director of information assurance, is a seasoned higher education leader with over two decades of experience in information technology and security.
“Our Building & Safety Division is highly encouraging homeowners, contractors, and developers to “Go All-Electric” with new construction projects,” said Ruben Barrera, Building & Safety Director. “Using electric appliances and equipment rather than natural gas will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from your building’s heater, water heater, kitchen range, and other appliances and equipment. Going “All-Electric” better aligns our communities with the County’s greenhouse gas reduction strategies identified in our Climate Action Plan.”
For affordability, social mobility, research impact, academics and other metrics, the campus is again considered among the nation’s — and the world’s — top universities, according to myriad recent rankings.
The award is part of the NIH’s High-Risk, High-Reward Research program. Montell will use the funds to test a new treatment her group is developing for cancer and other diseases, such as antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Featured prominently in Getty’s Art + Science Collide-themed initiative, Rosalena discusses computational craft, a hybrid practice between analog and digital techniques, in a recent episode of UCSB’s video series, “Research in 60 Seconds.”
“As retailers continue to pivot away from selling physical media, the need for consumer protections on the purchase of digital media has become increasingly more important,” said Assemblymember Irwin. “I thank the Governor for signing AB 2426, ensuring the false and deceptive advertising from sellers of digital media incorrectly telling consumers they own their purchases becomes a thing of the past.”
In her latest book, the digital artist and scholar examines the intersection of art, technology and activism.
In a pair of recent papers, David W. Lawson and his team at UCSB’s Applied Evolutionary Anthropology Lab shed light on possible explanations for gender bias. Their research was carried out in an urbanizing rural community in northwestern Tanzania.
The AlloSphere opens to the public with “Sketches of Sensorium,” a multisensory installation exploring ocean fragility and resilience through art and science. Shows are every second Thursday and fourth Saturday.
The exhibition situates Puccinelli’s career within the constellation of his local and regional contemporaries.
Read more about the art opening
When it comes to shark conservation, scientists say size should matter after a global study finds that the sharks most affected by fishing are also the most important for healthy oceans.
CAMARILLO — “We’re calling it a base camp (as opposed to a summit) because as far as AI has come in such a brief period of time, it still feels like a moment where we’re just beginning,” said Assistant Vice President of Digital Learning Lorna Gonzalez. “An event like this is meant to bring our community together to hear about what’s happening regionally and to have a shared experience about something that has been highly disruptive and will continue to be.”
One of the greatest frustrations of modern life is trying to unsubscribe from a paid service that is intent on not making it easy for you. To cancel a particular service that you no longer wish to receive, you may be forced to jump through several hoops that are only two feet wide, ablaze with shooting flames, and 60 feet above the ground.
Some companies providing services that, supposedly, we can “unsubscribe from at any time” make it excruciatingly difficult for us to do so. Their hope, of course, is that we become so flustered that we simply give up and decide to march on to fight another battle somewhere else in our lives.
Mechanical engineering professor Francesco Bullo leads a multidisciplinary university research initiative to investigate the mathematics behind networks of coupled oscillators.
LOS ANGELES — Clean Power Alliance (CPA) is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for the 2024 Community Benefits Grant. The grant program, a partnership between CPA and Calpine Community Energy, has once again increased funding to support local nonprofit organizations working to advance clean energy goals within CPA’s service area. This year, $325,000 in funding will be made available to 12 to 15 organizations – the largest amount since the grant was launched in 2021. Last year, $288,000 was distributed to 12 organizations throughout Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
Previous studies have looked at regional effects on fishing of individual marine protected areas; this is the first to consider the question on a global scale, accounting for complex interactions between fleets. Its findings challenge assumptions about ocean conservation.
PORT OF HUENEME — The Port of Hueneme is excited to support and enhance the movement of goods across the state of California and throughout the supply chain with the announcement of a $3.935 million award from the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). This historic investment, known as the California Port Data Partnership, will revolutionize direct cloud-based data management and sharing amongst California’s five containerized ports to accelerate climate adaptation and resiliency, workforce development, zero-emission vehicle deployment, and increased grid support and reliability. As the nation’s preeminent global goods movement gateway, California ports are responsible for handling forty percent of all containerized imports and thirty percent of all containerized exports in the United States.
Bringing together students from Tuskegee and from UCSB, the unique program is creating a new kind of space between a Hispanic Serving Institution and an HBCU.
The Banerjee Lab’s flat and tiny field-effect transistors could pave the way for ultra-efficient computing with a platform that can bring energy requirements to within two orders of magnitude — about 100 times — with respect to the human brain.
From the sunny skies to the good vibes, it was a glorious graduation weekend at UC Santa Barbara.
VENTURA — After a competitive, nationwide recruitment, the City of Ventura has selected Mike Shaffer as the new Chief Technology Officer in the Information Technology (IT) Department.
“Mike brings over 15 years of experience in public sector technology and already has a deep understanding of our City’s needs,” shared City Manager Bill Ayub. “With a proven track record of implementing innovative solutions that drive efficiency and improve user experience, I am confident that Mike will lead Ventura’s technological future with excellence and vision.”
MILWAUKEE, WISC. — The American Academy of Water Resources Engineers has honored Mohammed A. Hasan, a prominent Ventura civil and environmental engineer for his outstanding contribution to water resources engineering.
The induction ceremony was held at the 2024 World Environmental and Water Resources Congress in Milwaukee, Wisc. He was awarded the credential, BC.WRE, board-certified water resources engineer. The BC.WRE is the highest post-license certification one can attain in the water resources engineering profession, and it is an accredited program by the Council of Engineering & Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB). The BC.WRE demonstrates specialty expertise beyond professional licensure, strong professional ethics, and a commitment to life-long learning and continuing professional development.
VENTURA — The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (VCAPCD) has awarded $1.56 million to school districts in Oxnard and Ventura to replace diesel engine buses with new zero-emission electric ones and to install charging stations.
Ocean View School District (OVSD) received funding to replace one diesel bus with an electric one and purchase one charging station. Ventura Unified School District (VUSD) received funding to replace two diesel buses with two electric ones and purchase two charging stations. The charging stations will be level 3, the fastest and most powerful type available. The grants will cover the cost of the charging equipment and 87% of the price of the buses.
The historian and professor receives the Bert Corona Lifetime Achievement Award for inspiring progressive social change to advance the inclusion of the poor and oppressed.
Read more about the honor
“The CPUC’s proposed decision to dismiss AT&T’s request underscores the importance of ensuring equitable access to essential services for all residents of Ventura County”, stated Supervisor Parvin. “As your County Supervisor, I remain committed to advocating for policies that prioritize Public Safety and the needs of our constituents, particularly those in underserved areas.”
VENTURA COUNTY — Ventura County Animal Services (VCAS) announces its adoption of a revolutionary lost and found platform that leverages facial recognition technology to reunite lost animals with their families faster than ever before. The platform, Petco Love Lost, employs an algorithm that scans lost and found photos uploaded by the public and VCAS, and instantly notifies pet owners if a match is made. Numerous animal welfare organizations already using this platform have reported a substantial increase in animals being reclaimed by their families.
“Between 80%-90% of animals arriving at our shelter come to us as lost/stray. If everyone in Ventura County utilizes the Petco Love Lost platform, it could be the game-changer we have been hoping for!” Stated Randy Friedman, spokesperson for VCAS. “This could be the single greatest advancement in lost and found since microchip implants were introduced in the 1990s!”
The Black Studies professor, who won a Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award for his acclaimed biography of Alain Locke, brings to 49 the number of UCSB faculty that have been named fellows of the academy.
We cannot deny that artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming a threat to the livelihoods of writers. How concerned should writers, or prospective writers, be?
The frustratingly simple answer is, “It depends.”
Writers who devote themselves to creating content for publications are particularly vulnerable because AI is remarkably adept at content creation. It scans the universe of language and generates literary content in a flash that is nearly as spirited as that of the human mind.
There are already books sold on Amazon that are generated by AI. Any books that we might write and place on the Amazon marketplace will be competing with a superabundance of books that may or may not have been written by humans.
Assistant professor Matt Beane‘s new book uncovers ways for workers to remain competent and competitive in an increasingly automated workplace.
Healing meets the surreal in the hyper-saturated dreamscape featured in the exhibition and performance series by the art professor, whose work captures the banality and enormity of everyday life.
Wang’s considerable work to develop scalable algorithms that are both swift and accurate couldn’t be more necessary. His efforts are being recognized by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Signal Processing Society.
Vladimir Hamed-Troyansky’s first book captures ‘an important moment in global history’ in the little-known story of how roughly 1 million Muslims from Russia sought refuge in the Middle East.
Focusing on the Maldives and Guyana — two communities on the front lines of sea level rise — sociologist Summer Gray’s new book examines and illustrates how seawalls serve as a point of conflict between rich and poor, colonizer and Indigenous, powerful and powerless.
Rebecca Varney of the Department of Ecology, Evolution & Marine Biology helps to reveal the surprising origins behind mollusk eyes, shedding light on evolutionary processes.
Assistant teaching professor Michelle Petty-Grue explores her life and profession in the arts in this long-form interview that ranges from her upbringing in England to raising a Black son in America.
CAMARILLO — After years of transformation, the CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Science Carnival is back, bigger and better, as the CSUCI School of Arts and Sciences STEAM Carnival. STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.
“It took a while to make this happen again, but I am so, so, so excited,” said Acting Dean of Arts & Sciences Phil Hampton, who started the carnival. “COVID nearly eliminated the event but now it has grown up into the Arts and Sciences (A&S) STEAM Carnival. We’ve added the arts, but it’s a very long bar over the ‘A’ to make it include art, social science and humanities.”
The team in chemistry Professor Guillermo Bazan’s lab was trying to develop compounds to harness energy from bacteria. They wound up developing the basis for a new class of antibiotics.
A new study finds that some features essential to the resiliency of Elkhorn Slough, a salt marsh-dominated coastal estuary in Monterey County, are improved by the return of sea otters and their insatiable appetite for herbivorous marsh crabs.
A global experiment covering 100 sites, undertaken to generate a baseline understanding of the potential losses of plant productivity in these vital ecosystems, quantifies the impacts of extreme drought across six continents.
