“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.
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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.
For her translation of raunchy Middle French stage comedies, Enders, a theater historian and professor of French, has won the Lois Roth Award from the Modern Language Association.
A multi-institution collaboration of scientists investigates the rise and fall in the abundance of kelp, and how it affects shorebirds.
Demo Day is a showcase of the startups from our IdeaToDo program.
Meet the founders, learn about their startups, view product demos, and network with the startup community.
DATE
Tuesday, January 9 from 4 – 6 PM (PT)
In person at Hub101 (livestream link available)
Join EDC, Women’s Economic Ventures and SCORE for a NO-COST webinar series on how you can use AI to leverage your business! Spanish interpretation will be available.
AI for Business 101: How to Leverage AI to Accelerate your Business Growth
January 24 @ 12:00 pm
AI for Small Business Marketing: Supercharge your Social Media Content Creation with the Power of AI
February 28 @ 12:00 pm
Explore the real-world applications of AI. Don’t miss out on unlocking the potential of AI for your business success.
Register today!
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUude-trz8sHNRmYCUJx5uVPyyyTn22J-cV#/registration
BioScience Alliance (BSA) organizes networking events to foster relationships among industry scientists, executives, professionals and key vendors, facilitating idea exchange and growth. Next week, join their team to tour Takeda Pharmaceuticals’ newest manufacturing facility in Thousand Oaks!
Takeda is a patient-focused, values-based, R&D-driven global biopharmaceutical company committed to bringing Better Health and a Brighter Future to people worldwide
“E-bike safety, reckless riding, and enforcement have become a significant concern for our community, and we want to address these issues head-on,” said Chief Darin Schindler. “This workshop is an opportunity for residents to learn more about the safe and legal use of electric bicycles and to engage with our officers on these important issues. We are committed to ensuring the safety of all road users and fostering a culture of responsible e-bike use in Ventura.”
“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.”
The first workshop, entitled “Digital Marketing Guide: What, When and How to Post Content” will be held on September 4 at the Oxnard Public Library, Meeting Room B at 10:00AM. The workshop will be presented by Luisa Arzate who has more than 15 years of experience in graphic design and marketing. In addition to owning and operating her own local business, Luisa is a Marketing Business Advisor with the Economic Development Collaborative.
eet the talented individuals who make up our Agri Tech Fair speaker lineup. Each speaker brings a unique set of skills and expertise to the table, working together to create an exceptional event experience for our attendees.
FATHOMWERX Summit is an inclusive two-day event filled with tested technology expositions, demonstrations, tours, innovators, networking, a keynote speaker, industry and Department of the Navy program representatives and stakeholders. With participation from ANTX Coastal Trident and Venture Ventura, the two-day event explores the intersections between industry and the Department of the Navy.
SANTA BARBARA — Did you know in the next 6 years Podcast Listeners are predicted to grow from approximately 100 million people (that’s 1/3 of the USA Population) to 160 million people (1/2 the USA population). Having a Podcast is one of the least expensive ways to market your business and become known as an expert in your field.
A new workshop series offered by local coworking space Workzones in partnership with video and audio production company Hypecats promises to teach participants how to harness the power of podcasting for business promotion and brand building.
Join the Golden State APEX Accelerator and the Economic Development Collaborative for an exclusive in-person event focused on securing federal funding through the SBIR and STTR programs. Learn a clear overview of the programs available to you, how to identify potential topics/ funding sources and what to know about the application process. This interactive workshop equips new and experienced participants with the tools they need to succeed in SBIR/STTR programs.
SANTA BARBARA — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Salman Khan, Brave New Words: How AI Will Revolutionize Education (and Why That’s a Good Thing) on Saturday, October 5 at 4 p.m. at the Arlington Theatre. The visionary behind educational nonprofit Khan Academy, Salman Khan seeks to remove the barriers to education that leave over 600 million children lacking basic math and reading skills. His free, world-class curriculum – available to anyone, anywhere – has made a massive impact, with its videos reaching over a billion views. Now, Khan is using the power of AI to make education even more accessible. With the introduction of the revolutionary Khanmigo, he’s giving every student around the world an AI-powered personal tutor that The Washington Post calls “the best model we have for how to develop and implement AI for the public good.” Author of the new book Brave New Words, Khan offers a uniquely prescient and practical look into how we can use AI to enhance HI: “human intelligence, human potential and human purpose.”
“As AI is adopted across industries for automation, decision-making and data-driven insights, we will see growth rates that very few sectors have ever seen,” said Gerhard Apfelthaler, dean of the School of Management at Cal Lutheran. “By 2030, the global AI market is expected to expand to $1.3 trillion.”
Building on the research in the Civic Alliance’s 2023 State of the Region Report, this Future of the Region conference explores the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence and how it will shape our region.
We are excited to invite Aaron Anderson, president of Brandes Associates Inc., to be our next guest in our MSIT TechTalk webinar series.
For many of us who are in the workforce — or for those who are preparing to enter the workforce — we continue to ask ourselves this fundamental question, “Are We Prepared for the Workplace Where Artificial Intelligence is Bound to be Integral to the Company’s Workflow?”
In this TechTalk, Aaron Anderson, president of Brandes Associates Inc., will discuss how he answers this question and more. Anderson has much say about his expectations for his employees, be they new hires or seasoned professionals, and how he goes about preparing his teams for the future in which artificial intelligence will be highly integrated.
LOS ANGELES — Clean Power Alliance (CPA) has capped its fifth anniversary year of serving Southern California customers with a prestigious number one national ranking by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in the sale of green power.
The NREL 2022 Utility Green Power Rankings, announced in fall 2023, is an annual list of top green power providers throughout the United States. The national report has historically identified and compared investor owned (IOU) and publicly owned utilities’ (POU) clean energy programs, evaluating green pricing, customer acquisition and sales. This year marked the first time the NREL included the nation’s community choice aggregators (CCAs), such as CPA.
Written by Wendy Eley Jackson, a lecturer in film and media studies, “Napa Ever After” is part of an effort to create movies that appeal to African-American families, particularly women, and reflect the themes of love, romance and personal growth.
Research in California’s Northern Channel Islands provides strong evidence of the benefit of marine protected areas for the recreational scuba diving industry in Southern California and highlights that the diving community should be considered a key stakeholder in decision-making about the future of MPAs.
Professor Emeritus Francisco Lomelí and Osiris Aníbal Gómez Ph.D. ’20 won an International Latino Book Award for their work on the former poet laureate.
An updated and expanded edition of Curtis Rhodes’ work maintains its volume as a seminal textbook.
SANTA BARBARA — On Monday, November 6, 2023, One805 presented donations to Chris Mailes, President of the Fire Chiefs Association of Santa Barbara County. The event took place at 6300 Hollister Avenue at 12 p.m.
Thirty-seven Seek Thermal FirePRO 300 devices, which help firefighters navigate through low visibility conditions by helping them see hazards invisible to the naked eye, were donated to Santa Barbara County Firefighters. One805 ran a “fundraiser within a fundraiser” at its One805Live! Fall Music Festival in September, earning enough to purchase fourteen Seek Thermal FirePRO 300 devices, with a promise from Seek Thermal to match, who exceeded its match promise with an additional nine extra devices to cover each fire station in the county.
GOLETA — LaunchPoint Electric Propulsion Solutions, Inc. (“LaunchPoint”), a pioneer in advanced aerospace electric power generation and propulsion technologies, announced today the grant of US Patent 11,738,875 B2 “Lightweight, High-Efficiency, Energy-Dense, Hybrid Power System for Reliable Electric Flight”. This patent is a significant milestone in LaunchPoint’s greater mission to revolutionize electric flight and propel the aerospace industry into a new era of efficiency and reliability.
Curated by art history graduate students Graham Feyl and Sylvia Faichney, the exhibition — now on view at UCSB’s Art, Design & Architecture Museum — reimagines spaces such as discos, dive bars, living rooms and bathrooms through the lens of queer placemaking.
When I was starting my higher technical education, I was studying “vacuum tubes.” These might as well be classified now as archaeological artifacts that young people can view in museums. Vacuum tubes were ubiquitous in the primitive computers of that time. They were also visible in everyday, household life—in radios, televisions, and guitar amplifiers.
IN-PERSON EVENT: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR SMALL BUSINESS
October 21 @ 10:00 am
The symposium will provide an introduction to AI and discuss tools and technologies with an overview of cutting-edge AI tools and platforms tailored for small businesses. Real-Life Case Studies will examine successful AI implementations in small businesses across diverse industries. They will also discuss AI-driven marketing and Sales Strategies, where you will discover how AI can supercharge your marketing campaigns, customer engagement and sales conversion rates. The key to prosperity is to reframe your thinking and leverage AI as a strategic tool to increase productivity. Join the NO-COST symposium to learn how! Location: Santa Barbara City College – West Campus, BC-Forum.
SAN LUIS OBISPO, SANTA BARBARA AND VENTURA COUNTIES — October is National Energy Awareness Month, which is a national effort to promote awareness and understanding of the importance of energy conservation, sustainability, and efficiency. Locally, 3C-REN (Tri-County Regional Energy Network), a partnership between the Counties of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura that delivers energy-saving programs, is introducing an “Incentives Finder,” a new online tool that helps residents find personalized programs and incentives for saving money and reducing energy usage. This tool is especially helpful in navigating the incentives that can be stacked for residents who upgrade their natural gas furnace or water heaters to high-efficiency, all-electric heat pumps.
“October serves as the perfect time to remind everyone about the opportunities and easy switches we can all make to be more energy wise,” said Marisa Hanson-Lopez, 3C-REN Program Manager. “Our new online tool allows residents to find the programs and incentives that are tailored specifically to them. We’re here to make it easy for the Central Coast to get onboard with electrification and energy savings. While this awareness month comes once a year, we encourage everyone to be energy efficient all year-round.”
A Chumash cultural burn reignites ancient practice for wilderness conservation
Reviving a practice that had been lost for generations, the Chumash community and the university partner on a cultural burn at North Campus Open Space.
In “The Virus Touch,” the global studies professor explores relationships between viruses, humans, animals and the environment to show how various forms of media — from news content to lab test results — create our understanding of epidemics.
A powerful memoir of poetry and prose, “Loving in the War Years: Lo que nunca pasó por sus labios” explores the author’s interconnected identities as a lesbian and a Chicana, coming of age in a turbulent era of American politics and social change.
PORT OF HUENEME — The Port of Hueneme is working with local fire departments on various training exercises to better prepare for a variety of emergency situations.
This week, crews from Ventura County, Oxnard and the Naval Base fire departments boarded the Wallenius Wilhelmsen (WW) car carrier vessel Oberon. This exercise is part of the ongoing effort to enhance awareness of Port and maritime operations to the local fire departments. The Oberon training focused on how to respond to emergencies involving electric and lithium powered vehicles and infrastructure. More than 370,000 cars come in through the Port of Hueneme on approximately 300 car carrier vessels annually, which accounts for a major part of the Port’s core business as the top 6 auto port in the US.
I am honored to have been elected the Chair of the Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) Policy Board of Directors. For those who don’t know, 3CE formed beginning in 2021 as our new, locally-owned electricity provider. Our reach spans 30 cities and 5 counties, from Carpinteria to the Santa Cruz Mountains. With no investors or shareholders, the revenue generated by 3CE stays local, helps keep rates lower than SCE and PG&E, and provides millions for rebates and incentives that lower greenhouse gas emissions. For example, during last week’s 3CE Policy Board of Directors meeting, we adopted the FY 2022-23 Operating Budget that includes approximately $16M for Energy Programs. During my time as Chair, I am looking forward to increasing the awareness of the important work 3CE is doing.
In her forthcoming book, and with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Kate McDonald illuminates the key role of people in the evolution of transport.
SANTA BARBARA — Cottage Health’s Santa Barbara Neuroscience Institute (SBNI) is the first healthcare provider on the Central Coast to use the latest image-guided laser technology to treat brain tumors, lesions and epilepsy.
The NeuroBlate® System delivers Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT), a minimally invasive surgical technique using MRI-guided laser light to ablate unhealthy brain tissue. It can be an effective treatment option for recurrent and hard to reach brain tumors and lesions. It is also used to treat certain types of epilepsy.
“LITT provides patients with difficult-to-access lesions, recurrent brain tumors and epilepsy with an alternative treatment method,” said Nicole Moayeri, MD, Neurosurgeon affiliated with the Santa Barbara Neuroscience Institute. “Being the first in the region to offer LITT is a testament to Cottage’s commitment to staying at the forefront of neurosurgery.”
CAMARILLO — Battery Streak, a leading battery technology company, has signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the US Navy’s Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane Division. The CRADA will enable Battery Streak and NSWC Crane to collaborate on research for safe and fast charging battery development through August 2026.
The agreement will allow both entities to leverage each other’s subject matter experts, laboratory space, state of the art test equipment, and test result data. The collaboration will focus on developing Battery Streak’s advanced battery technology that can be used in dual use applications (military and commercial.)
For answers, John Protzko and his team looked to philosophers, professionals and laypersons. Their conclusions could help answer moral and legal questions if scenarios in today’s science fiction ever become reality.
OXNARD —The City of Oxnard announced the appointment of Rob Ruben as Oxnard’s new Chief Information Officer (CIO), effective Sept. 5, 2023.
With more than 20 years of industry experience leading large-scale project implementation and overseeing diverse operational teams, Ruben brings a wealth of expertise to his role in shaping Oxnard’s technological future.
“We’re excited to promote from within an experienced professional like Rob to lead our IT Department,” said City Manager Alexander Nguyen. “I look forward to him providing secure, efficient, forward-looking IT solutions for our organization.”
GOLETA — LaunchPoint Electric Propulsion Solutions, Inc. (“LaunchPoint”), a leading innovator in cutting-edge aerospace electric power generation and propulsion technologies, is thrilled to unveil its expansion to a new, state-of-the-art corporate headquarters in Goleta, Calif. The move to a larger, custom-built facility marks an exciting milestone for the company and underscores its commitment to better serving its aerospace industry customers as well as its growing workforce.
Using an Afrocentric and critical race theoretical framework, lead author Sharon Tettegah and co-authors Alison Cerezo, Terrance Wooten and DeLeon Gray review the works of four prominent Black psychologists.
“The culture in which a person grows up can impact the interpretation of the event,” said UC Santa Barbara professor emeritus Ann Taves. “And certain cultures can encourage people to watch out for and expect to experience these things.”
While they confer many ecological benefits, marine protected areas do not shield against the effects of prolonged elevated water temperatures.
CENTRAL COAST?— 3C-REN (Tri-County Regional Energy Network), a partnership between the Counties of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura that delivers energy-saving programs, had its $155 million, 8-year business plan approved by the California Public Utilities Commission. The plan permits 3C-REN to continue operating four successful existing programs and launch three new programs to fill gaps in energy efficiency services for commercial and public sector buildings, and the agricultural sector.
Resource managers are increasingly turning toward prescribed burns as a tool for land maintenance and restoration — and for reducing the risk of wildfires.
The Promise Scholar is graduating as a double major and is next set to join the university’s intensive Teacher Education Program on a full ride.
Faculty and students from four CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) academic programs are working together on a research project that has been awarded $80,000 by NASA.
Faculty and 10 students from CSUCI’s Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science and Chemistry/Biochemistry programs are involved in the research project, which is aimed at developing a way to predict how quickly various metal structures corrode in different environments.
“This is one giant project broken down into smaller projects,” explained Associate Professor of Mathematics Cynthia Flores, who is leading the project. “Essentially, we’d be able to render simulations with different metals and different designs to predict how they well they would withstand various atmospheric pressures and conditions before they start to degrade and corrode.”
Between the overlapping arrangement of two lattices, physicists find some interesting material behaviors that have never been seen before
Artificial intelligence (AI) may have burst upon the scene just last November, but it has been a part of our lives for at least several years. We may not have called it “artificial intelligence,” but many of us have been using it for years for our mundane tasks.
Google Maps is one clear long-running example of AI in some of our lives. It became available to us in 2005, not quite 20 years ago. The younger generations may feel particularly adept at using many of the more esoteric features of this app. But those of us of the boomer persuasion might have used Google Maps long ago simply as a digital version of the old Thomas Bros. paper map books that were sold in grocery stores and bookstores before the era of Google Maps.
Giovanni Vigna, with colleagues Ambuj Singh, Christopher Kruegel and João Hespanha, will head the $20-million Institute for Agent-based Cyber Threat Intelligence and OperatioN (ACTION).
Professors Tanya Atwater, Leda Cosmides and Nelson Lichtenstein have been elected to the prestigious, 243 year-old institution.
The MOU outlines an agreement between the five container ports to jointly advance computerized and cloud-based data interoperability with a common goal of resilience.
View this email online. April 20, 2023 Top News Composer João Pedro Oliveira is awarded a Guggenheim “All of us at UC Santa Barbara are fortunate to have a colleague of such talent and expertise in our Music Department,” said…
GOLETA — LaunchPoint Electric Propulsion Solutions, Inc., an aerospace power generation and hybrid-electric propulsion company, announced today the commercialization and first customer shipments of its 12 kW stacked electric alternator solution for aerospace applications. The system is designed for drones and aircraft requiring a minimum axial form factor and lowest weight for maximum achievable power. The lightweight, high-power motors and controllers offered by LaunchPoint are coveted by companies seeking to reduce motor weight for maximum duration and payload.
One day some months back, I needed to talk with my bank about a suspicious charge on my credit card. I wasn’t as naïve to think that somebody would pick up the phone when I called. But I innocently believed that I would be talking with a person after listening to a brief “menu” and punching a couple of buttons.
Then I entered “chatbot hell.”
“Thank you for calling the Local Bank. What are you calling about?” the robot cheerily asked me.
“Credit card,” I answered.
A pause.
“Did you say, ‘debit card’?”
“No, I responded,” incredulous that it didn’t understand me the first time. “Credit card.”
“I’m sorry,” my chatbot said with no detectable remorse. “I’m not understanding your reply. What are you calling about?”
I started to become wary of this supposedly artificial “intelligence.” But I thought I would give it a chance and comply with its requests as best I could.
The Gevirtz Graduate School of Education is awarded a record grant for K-12 mental health services.
Doctoral candidate Elizabeth Driscoll Smith receives a dissertation fellowship to research the impact of transportation on midcentury American folk art.
If you need to locate a book – even if it was a written a decade or a century ago – there are library archives and organized shelves to help you. But similar systems for continually evolving computer games and interactive software have been slow to develop.
It’s a problem CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Assistant Professor of Computer Science and video game enthusiast Eric Kaltman came across while attending graduate school at UC Santa Cruz, where he was doing computer game research.
“I was working at Stanford University archiving their video game collections—they had all of these games donated to them—and I thought, even Stanford is still figuring out what to do with all of this,” Kaltman said. “There was clearly a lot of work to do in figuring out how can we restore and recover historical video games for libraries and archives.”
Researchers prove that tough, woody lignin can be broken down in an anaerobic environment.
MPPA Policy Talk Series Presents…
Revisiting Integration Policies in the United States: From Patchwork Policies to a Systematic Approach
Wednesday, March 1 | 6:00 – 7:00 pm (PT) | In Person
Join Dr. Wa’ed Alshoubaki as she discusses integration policies in the United States while distinguishing between immigrants and refugees in terms of the logistics of their integration.
Assistant Professor at the University of Jordan. Expertise in public policy with ongoing research on immigration and refugee resettlements in the Middle East, Europe, and the United States.
Ecologist Leander Anderegg receives an award for research on the interplay between plant physiology and ecosystem dynamics.
I wrote recently about the rising influence of artificial intelligence (AI). This revolutionary advancement is no longer something far off in the distant future. Nor is it a nascent technology that is just now making an appearance. It has been creeping into our lives for decades.
Closely related to the field of AI is the science of robots, which are likewise invading our lives. For example, we are dependent on ATMs, installed at our banks and scattered around our cities. The check-in kiosks at medical offices and airports have replaced myriad jobs.
We order meals from some of our restaurant tables using digital devices. In more technologically advanced restaurants, robots are beginning to deliver those meals to our tables.
The biotech field is expected to grow faster than average through 2031, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Area biotech companies report struggling to fill positions for well-trained staff on their production teams. To meet this need, Moorpark College will offer a bachelor’s degree in applied biomanufacturing, expanding on the college’s proven track record of its associate degree in biotechnology.
The California Community Colleges Board of Governors granted Moorpark College official approval of the degree on Jan. 23. Students can begin the program with the fall 2024 semester.
“Students who earn this degree will be well-equipped to pursue careers in the growing biotech industry,” said Dr. Julius Sokenu, president of Moorpark College. “Moorpark College aims to provide our community with educational opportunities that lead to careers that help them build wealth — not just a living wage — and salaries that lift students out of poverty into solid middle-class professional jobs.”
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the quintessential double-edged sword. It has the ability to rescue humanity from some of its most intractable problems. On the other hand, if we are not careful, it could end up subjecting us to its whims, ravaging societies, and, ultimately, destroying us.
Some scientists and social engineers are giddy with the possibilities of AI. They see it as a means toward achieving things such as advances in medicine, more effective education, better tools for fighting climate change, and stronger and more durable materials. Employers are salivating with the potential of AI to help them trim costs—enormously, in some cases.
Aera Energy, a longtime leader in the California energy industry, and the Ventura College Foundation (VCF) are excited to support young adults interested in pursuing future careers in energy, through a new endowment that provides STEM scholarships.
The Aera Energy STEM Scholarship Fund will award annual scholarships to students studying and seeking a degree in STEM disciplines and interested in pursuing a career in the energy sector. The endowment was launched through an initial $25,000 donation from Aera in December. A $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to a student every April.
“The future of reliable, safe and affordable energy for this and future generations of Californians relies, in part, on investment in our future workforce. These students are tomorrow’s engineers, teachers and geologists. That’s why Aera supports education in the communities where we operate,” said Amy Fonzo, external affairs advisor at Aera-Ventura. “We’re proud to help the VCF support young adults who are pursuing STEM education. These energy workers of the future will help power our state while innovating new technologies to meet the state’s climate goals.”
Anna Wikland has been the Country Director for Google Sweden for 7 years and is also part of the management team for Google in Northern Europe. In addition to this, she sits on the board of ICC Sweden and Spiideo and is an advisor to some other tech scale-ups.
Economic Development Collaborative (EDC), Santa Barbara Foundation (SBF), the California Department of Technology (CDT) and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) are hosting a workshop to seek input on the development on the State Digital Equity Plan (SDEP) and the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Five-Year Action Plan.
EDC, SBF, CDT and CPUC are working to close the digital divide and ask community members from all walks of life to take part by sharing their experiences with connectivity and adoption issues, device access and knowledge/training about how to use devices.
VENTURA — Clean Power Alliance (CPA) is once again sponsoring the National Drive Electric Week EV Showcase at Ventura Harbor (1591 Spinnaker Drive, Main Lawn, Ventura, CA 93001). The popular event will take place Sunday, October 1, 2023, from 12:30 – 4:30 p.m. Visit CPA’s exhibit while checking out the always amazing showcase of electric vehicles. Last year’s event displayed 69 vehicles representing 31 different models.
SANTA BARBARA — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Adam Grant in conversation on Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things on Thursday, November 16 at 7:30 p.m. at The Arlington Theatre. In this paradigm-shifting conversation, organizational psychologist and Penn Wharton School of Business professor Adam Grant offers a new framework for raising aspirations and exceeding expectations. Grant is the No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and Originals. His new book, Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things, explores how to build the skills and structures to achieve greater things, and how to create opportunities for those who have been overlooked. We can all improve at improving – and when opportunity doesn’t knock, there are ways to build a door.
Wednesday, December 6 | 5:00 (PT) | Lundring Events Center
The competition, presented by the School of Management’s Sports Management program, is designed for students to comprehend how sport organizations’ brand value can drive sustainable innovation.
Through a theory-driven project, students use exploratory research to create a cause activation plan on behalf of an existing sport league or organization. Judged by sport industry executives, students learn how to propose innovative solutions for a better world from a business perspective.
Join us for a discussion on the impact of AI on companies, geopolitics, and diplomatic decision-making in the US, Europe, and Austria.
When CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Assistant Professor of Computer Science Scott Feister, Ph.D., heard that Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) had achieved “fusion ignition” — a significant step toward clean energy —he sent congratulatory emails to the scientists, many of whom he has known and worked with for years.
“I know the people involved,” Feister said. “I’ve been involved in the wide net of all these people around the world working on these kinds of projects. I think it’s cool that the groups I am associated with are the ones that crossed the threshold.”
Feister has been visiting LLNL in Northern California for years, either to conduct academic research or to observe. And for the last two years, he has led a group of CSUCI undergraduates in a research project funded by one of the major figures at Livermore’s National Ignition Facility (NIF).
A collaborative, cross-disciplinary study on socially responsible augmented reality for human rights museums receives a National Science Foundation grant.
Researchers create visible-to-near-infrared-light lasers on silicon chips, paving the way for scientific and consumer applications.
The Port of Hueneme received $10.4 million in funding from Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) to help build shoreside power plug-in infrastructure on its North Terminal. The Port also recently received state and federal funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust to implement innovative technologies to increase electrification efforts, track air quality progress, and further reduce particulate matter. These environmental wins benefit the Port and its surrounding community.
As Sedgwick Reserve marks 25 years of groundbreaking science, an upcoming art show will benefit the UCSB Natural Reserve System.
As part of its ongoing commitment to addressing climate change impacts and enhancing wildlife habitat, the County of Ventura is pleased to announce its new Environmental Grant Program. Schools, nonprofits, and community organizations can apply for funding to implement shovel-ready projects or activities that support wildlife habitat restoration, species conservation, environmental education and stewardship, and/or address climate change impacts. Eligible grant awards will receive up to $15,000.
A Santa Barbara Foundation grant underscores the community need for racially-informed therapy services.
Competing in the national Collegiate Inventors Competition, undergraduate student Visala Tallavarjula tackles water scarcity with her innovative irrigation solution.
CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) students will learn molecular genetic techniques on campus, use sophisticated research equipment at Utah State University, and later travel to Peru on a quest to find out why frogs living at high elevations lose their ears and their “croak.”
“Probably because there are fewer species in the highlands, so there is not a lot of competition in terms of sound,” said Assistant Professor of Biology Rudolf von May, Ph.D., who wrote the grant with Associate Professor of Biology Allison Alvarado, Ph.D. “But we want to know how they communicate. Maybe it’s chemical.”
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has granted $471,862 to von May and Alvarado for the project, entitled “Phenotypic convergence and trait loss in high-elevation Andean frogs.” The ideas were based on previous research von May has published about the unique characteristics of this group of animals.
The Economic Development Collaborative would like to recognize Cybersecurity Awareness Month. The internet has become an invaluable tool for small businesses, opening the door to a wide range of previously unheard-of possibilities. Unfortunately, as e-commerce continues to grow, so does the number of bad actors looking to exploit hard working entrepreneurs. This Cybersecurity Awareness Month, check out the Small Business Administration’s best practices and upcoming events where you can learn how to keep your small business cyber secure.
Cybersecurity Best Practices
The County of Ventura’s General Services Agency has executed an agreement with ForeFront Power to expand solar panels at the Government Center by an additional 5.8-Megawatts, furthering progress toward the County’s climate action goals. The 20-year agreement will result in $10.8 million in savings.
“The County continues to make significant progress towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and meeting climate action goals,” said County Executive Officer Dr. Sevet Johnson. “We are grateful to our General Services Agency for identifying this opportunity to expand our renewable energy use and lead by example to reduce emissions in our government operations significantly.”
Adopted in 2020, the County’s Climate Action Plan calls for a 41% reduction in communitywide greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, with additional goals identified for 2040 and 2050.
Marine research and conservation institutions band together to expand whale-saving technology to the San Francisco Bay.
September 22, 2022 Good Afternoon, Thank you for continuing to stay informed with the County of Ventura! Going forward, our email newsletter will be sent monthly. For the latest COVID-19 information and data, please visit our website at www.vcrecovers.org. In…
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the Responsible Battery Recycling Act today as part of a larger climate action package. Together, SB 1215 and AB 2440 will create a statewide collection and recycling program for consumer batteries and products that contain batteries. The signing of these bills mark the culmination of many years of effort to address battery waste.
California classifies batteries as hazardous waste and bans them from solid waste landfills because of the hazardous metals and corrosive materials that batteries contain. When improperly discarded, batteries pose serious fire, health and safety hazards that disrupt the state’s waste stream and poison the environment. …
“Few people know that batteries are actually hazardous waste and those of us who do have containers of used batteries we don’t know what to do with. This means the majority of batteries end up in curbside waste bins, causing damage to our recycling facilities which ultimately requires rate payers to pay more on our utility bills,” said Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks), author of AB 2440.
The Community Environmental Council (CEC) and their Electric Drive 805 coalition partners are proud to sponsor a variety of free, in-person, and virtual events leading up to and during National Drive Electric Week, scheduled for September 23 to October 2, 2022. The public is invited to learn about the wide range of electric vehicles (EVs) that can fit most every lifestyle and budget—and provide independence from fossil fuels.
National Drive Electric Week is a nationwide celebration aimed at helping the United States transition rapidly and equitably to cleaner transportation in order to protect communities from pollution and worsening climate change impacts. Transportation is the largest source of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in California. To prevent further climate impacts and protect our air, the California Air Resources Board issued a rule last month that fully bans the sale of new gas-powered cars starting in 2035.
PORT HUENEME — Opening day of the 2022 FATHOMWERX Summit on Sept. 14, 2022 was a success with hundreds of people representing partner organizations gathered to explore the intersection between technology and the Department of the Navy. The two-day event was held at the FATHOMWERX Lab located at the Port of Hueneme.
The campus again lands in U.S. News & World Report’s Top 10, ranking No. 7 among the country’s top public universities.
Researchers identify a new class of drugs that offer a safer, more targeted treatment for leukemia patients.
Psychology professor Daniel Conroy-Beam has been named the recipient of the 2022-23 Plous Award.
Aiming to undo stereotypes, Women Doing Science profiles female scientists all over the world in their elements, be they labs, lecture halls or the field.
Clean Power Alliance (CPA) is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for the 2022-2023 Community Benefits Grant Program. Now in its second year, the program is an innovative partnership between CPA and Calpine Energy Solutions that provides funding for nonprofit organizations working to advance clean energy in the 30 communities that CPA serves in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, as well as the unincorporated areas within both counties. The program’s application period opens today and runs through Sept. 16.
“Investing in our local communities is a key goal of CPA and this grant program is an important part of creating long-lasting partnerships with organizations that support our clean energy mission,” said Ted Bardacke, CEO of Clean Power Alliance. “We appreciate Calpine’s ongoing commitment to reinvesting with us in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.”
The County of Ventura has ranked eighth among digital counties nationwide by the Center for Digital Government (CDG) and the National Association of Counties (NACo). Ventura County’s Information Technology Services (ITS) Department was awarded in the 20th annual Digital Counties Survey for being an information technology leader amongst counties with populations of 500,000 – 999,999, after Gwinnett County, Georgia, followed by Polk County, Florida, and County of Chester, Pennsylvania.
“We are proud that our County continues to be a leader in technology and innovation and are grateful for this special recognition,” said Interim County Executive Officer Dr. Sevet Johnson. “It reflects the dedication of our ITS Department and entire county team in finding new and efficient ways to serve our community. Looking ahead, we remain committed to leveraging technology and key collaborations to help close the digital divide so that all community members have equitable access to digital services.”
New research demonstrates the connections between climate change and civil unrest among the ancient Maya.
As growing numbers of us drive electric vehicles (EVs), the demand for accessible charging stations in safe well-lit locations is increasing throughout our local communities. The CALeVIP South Central Coast Incentive Project promotes easy access to such zero-emission vehicle infrastructure, by providing incentives for the purchase and installation of eligible electric vehicle (EV) chargers here in Ventura County.
Highlighting four works in progress, LAUNCH PAD’s 2022 Summer Reading Series features both comedy and drama.
Cyber-attacks are a serious threat to the public drinking water supply. Recent cyber-attacks around the United States have resulted in community water supplies being poisoned or their suppliers’ business operations being held hostage by ransomware. In recognition of this critical threat, the 2021-2022 Ventura County Grand Jury investigated the cybersecurity of Ventura County public water providers.
The Grand Jury investigated two primary areas of cyber vulnerability in the water sector: the information technology used to bill consumers and record usage, and the operational technology used to control and monitor treatment and delivery of the water supply. Malicious actors can take advantage of network vulnerabilities and/or weak user access controls in either information or operational technology to disrupt the business and the water service, and potentially degrade public safety.
Teachers from throughout Ventura County are being honored with $16,000 in grants for developing innovative lessons for their students. At a ceremony tonight in Camarillo, the Ventura County Office of Education will present 11 IMPACT II grants to 16 teachers. The grants are funded by local businesses and organizations that wish to promote unique and creative teaching practices.
The winning entries cover a variety of subject matters, including history, language arts and social sciences. Detailed lesson plans prepared by each of the grant winners are available at this link for use by other teachers in Ventura County and beyond.
