Affiliated Research Centers and Initiatives

The Environmental Studies Department at UCSC is engaged in cutting-edge interdisciplinary academic and policy-relevant research. We have world-class facilities, including a state-of-the-art Geographical Information Systems (GIS) lab. We also have a vibrant research colloquium and topical research groups, many of which conduct seminars and other events. See our faculty, staff, and student-focused DEI initiatives on our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion page.

Center for Agroecology

The Center for Agroecology, directed by Environmental Studies Professor Stacy Philpott, works to advance agroecology and equitable food systems through experiential education, participatory research, agricultural extension, and public service. Our faculty and staff serve as affiliated faculty members and researchers for the center and conduct research using the center’s facilities at the UC Santa Cruz Farm and Garden. Many undergraduate and graduate students from our department also participate in research projects and internships with the center. 

Center for Integrated Spatial Research (CISR)

The Center for Integrated Spatial Research, led by Professors Jeffrey Bury and Bo Yang, is the central facility for spatially-focused research and training for our department and the broader campus. The center’s projects integrate state-of-the-art spatial technology and methods with pressing interdisciplinary research and foster cross-domain applications of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools. Faculty and staff members from our department lead the center, and students have opportunities to get involved with the center’s research projects, gaining hands-on experience in the process. 

Center for Reimagining Leadership

The Center for Reimagining Leadership (CRL) advances faculty mentoring and community-engaged research to support underrepresented faculty and marginalized communities. By fostering culturally responsive, mutually beneficial partnerships, CRL ensures academic research aligns with community needs. Led by interdisciplinary faculty like Environmental Studies Professor Sikina Jinnah, CRL develops seed funding programs for early-career faculty across all divisions to build meaningful collaborations. Initiatives include a climate justice postdoctoral fellowship co-designed with community leaders, emphasizing impactful research and equity-driven partnerships that transcend disciplinary silos. 

Global Environmental Justice Observatory

The observatory, led by Environmental Studies Professor Ravi Rajan, supports research and education at the interface of the environment, social justice, and human rights. More than half of the observatory’s affiliated faculty come from our department, and many Ph.D. candidates serve on the editorial board for The Journal of Global Environmental Justice, which highlights undergraduate research on communities impacted by environmental, social, and ecological changes. Undergraduate students from our department often intern with the observatory as producers, editors, researchers, art directors, and designers. 

Forest Ecology Research Plot (FERP)

The FERP is a mapped forest plot in the Santa Cruz Mountains that is part of the UCSC Campus Natural Reserve. Environmental Studies Professor Gregory Gilbert serves as the FERP director, with other department faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students also playing critical roles in research utilizing the FERP. Undergraduate students can complete for-credit internships through the department’s field study program. Additionally, the project welcomes student-led research projects, including independent or thesis research.

Kenneth S. Norris Center for Natural History

The Norris Center supports natural history educational and research opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and the greater Santa Cruz community. Our faculty members serve on the center’s executive committee, as affiliated faculty for the center, and lead the Natural History Field Quarter program and other courses in ecology, conservation, and interpretation. The center’s staff are also affiliated with our department. Our undergraduates often complete for-credit internships with the center or become museum curation and outreach staff. Graduate students can complete fellowships mentoring undergraduate students and overseeing research projects on natural history and museum collections management. 

Political Ecology Working Group (PEWG)

The Political Ecology Working Group is a graduate student-led forum for discussing the foundational work and innovative research in the broadening field of political ecology. We define political ecology as a critical recognition and exploration of the dynamics, properties, and meanings of ‘politicized environments.’ The format consists of a combination of weekly readings, speakers, and graduate student presentations. The group explores and debates the core issues of the field with the goal of strengthening and sharpening political ecology’s conceptual, methodological, and theoretical tools for creating a more sustainable and just society. 

Santa Cruz Puma Project

Led by Environmental Studies Professor Chris Wilmers, this project uses telemetry collars on mountain lions to collect location data and better understand puma behavior, physiology, habitat requirements, and movement patterns. The Puma Project is a partnership between UC Santa Cruz and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The project often collaborates with the Center for Integrated Spatial Research. Graduate students in environmental studies have supported much of the project’s research, and undergraduates may complete for-credit internships through the department’s field study program. 

UC Santa Cruz Greenhouses

The Jean H. Langenheim Greenhouses are an instructional facility open to the public and located on the roof of Thimann Labs. This facility has a botanical collection as well as a lab, library, and outdoor seating areas. Some department faculty, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers lead research on ecology, agroecology, and ecosystems in these spaces. The greenhouses also sponsor internships and a volunteer program for undergraduate students. Past projects include restoration initiatives, rare plant conservation, plant care, and facility maintenance. 

UC Santa Cruz Natural Reserves

UC Santa Cruz manages a network of six sites along the Central Coast, from Monterey Bay to Big Sur, as part of the broader UC Natural Reserves system. These outdoor classrooms are vital sites of teaching and learning for our department, enabling undergraduate and graduate students to learn about ecology and natural history while applying field methods. Faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students also use these sites, and others in the UC Natural Reserves, to perform critical research related to ecology, restoration, and conservation. Several of the department’s faculty serve as advisors for the UC Santa Cruz Natural Reserves, collaborating with the system-wide Advisory Committee.