UCSB professor honored for research on how media shapes the human brain Professor René Weber earns inaugural Social and Affective Neuroscience Society Fellowship for groundbreaking brain imaging research on media, emotion and social behavior.

René Weber’s early experiments involving video games and brain scanners were once met with deep skepticism. But now the #UCSB professor has been named an inaugural fellow of the Social and Affective Neuroscience Society (SANS).

Full story: https://ow.ly/uwVv50YyUWB

The Big Bee Project brings natural history collections into the 21st century UCSB wraps up the Big Bee Project, a pioneering, multi-campus initiative to bring natural history collections into the century of AI, big data and networked databases.

Led by #UCSB, The Big Bee Project is a collaboration across 13 U.S. institutions to create over one million high-resolution 2D and 3D images of bee specimens and annotated datasets of bee traits, bringing natural history collections into the 21st century 🐝

Full story: https://ow.ly/r8MK50YxC8b

California Prepares to Accelerate Quantum Research and Industry - edhat Leaders in science, industry and policy convened at UC Santa Barbara to discuss the future of quantum research and industry in California.

Asserting that California is poised for a major leap in quantum innovation to accelerate research and strengthen the economy with high-skilled jobs, leaders from science, industry, and state policy convened at UC Santa Barbara

www.edhat.com/california/n...
#edhat #UCSB #SBnews

UC is No. 1 in patents in new U.S. ranking UC is No. 1 in a National Academy of Inventors ranking of U.S. schools granted the most U.S. utility patents released today, March 19. Patents are a key driver of economic success and quality of life.

University of California has topped the National Academy of Inventors list for the most U.S. utility patents 👉 #UCSB holds 389 active US patents, according to UCSB Office of Technology & Industry Alliances, which builds relationships between UCSB & industry collaborators: https://ow.ly/IjZZ50YxBz0

UCSB Police Evacuate Henley Hall Amid Criminal Threats Investigation; Public Asked to Avoid Area - edhat UC Santa Barbara Police evacuated Henley Hall on Thursday afternoon while investigating a criminal threats case on campus.

#BreakingNews: UC Santa Barbara Police evacuated Henley Hall this afternoon while investigating a criminal threats case on campus, the department said in an emergency notification.

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#edhat #SBnews #UCSB

UC Santa Barbara Showcases the Future of Quantum Technology | Optical Communications and Atomic Quantum Photonic Integration (OCAQπ) | Daniel Blumenthal | UC Santa Barbara KEYT-TV, Santa Barbara television station, covers our lab's contributions in quantum innovations

See the historic work of the OCAQπ Lab in action:
🔗 tinyurl.com/ocaqpi
🔗 tinyurl.com/3486zbbb
📺 tinyurl.com/296b4ewf

#OCAQPI #UCSB #QuantumCalifornia #QuantumTech #EngineeringInnovation

Regional leaders discuss education, industry, energy and housing At a partnership summit hosted by the REACH nonprofit, leaders from across Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties convened at Corwin Pavilion to discuss education, industry, economy and housing

Leaders gathered at #UCSB for the REACH Ideas + Action Summit 2026: The university’s role in regional prosperity was one topic discussed at the event, spearheaded by REACH Central Coast, a nonprofit focused on economic development & quality of life across SB & SLO 🌴

https://ow.ly/qmZJ50Ywssv

2025-26 CRA Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award Recipients Announced By Sheila Khan, Program Associate, CRA-E The Computing Research Association (CRA) congratulates the recipients of the 2025-26 CRA Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award. Faculty from institutio…

Congratulations to 4 UCSB @ucsb.bsky.social students—Javin Zipkin, Gabriel Pizarro, Ziv Weissman, and Eirini Schoinas—for earning Honorable Mention in the 2026 CRA Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award!

Read more: cra.org/crn/2026/01/...

#UCSB #ComputerScience

New dashboard maps bike safety across Santa Barbara County The Santa Barbara County Active Transportation Dashboard brings together bike and pedestrian safety data to reveal patterns, trends and hotspots for collisions and near-misses across the county.

A group out of #UCSB has launched the Santa Barbara County Active Transportation Dashboard, creating a one stop shop for residents, visitors and decision-makers that will improve our understanding of walking and bicycling access in our region 🚲

Full story: https://ow.ly/yRMf50Yvp2W

It’s March, and high school seniors are facing a huge choice: Where to call home for the next 4 years? 🎓

At @ucsbengineering.bsky.social, we offer elite #engineering research in a coastal environment designed to keep you inspired. 🌴🌊

#collegedecisions #ECE #UCSB

New Dashboard Maps Bike Safety Across Santa Barbara County - edhat A UCSB group has launched the Santa Barbara County Active Transportation Dashboard, starting with the safety page.

A UCSB group has launched the Santa Barbara County Active Transportation Dashboard bringing official and community-reported safety data together in one place, revealing patterns, trends and hotspots for collisions and near-misses across the county.

www.edhat.com/news/new-das...
#edhat #SBnews #UCSB

Some nice window art on campus. An art student apparently works at the Arbor. #UCSB

LEGO Star Wars UCS Tie Interceptor 75382 NEW Sealed In Bags 1931 Pieces Seller: 501stbricks (100.0% positive feedback) Location: US Condition: New Price: 169.99 USD Shipping cost: Free Buy It Now

Ad: For Sale - LEGO Star Wars UCS Tie Interceptor 75382 NEW Sealed In Bags 1931 Pieces #LEGO #StarWars #UCSB

What if quantum computers could help protect privacy and security instead of jeopardizing it? That’s what #UCSB's Prabhanjan Ananth is focusing on as part of a new National Science Foundation grant.

Full story: https://ow.ly/Js1N50YrUFW

A Mony's bowl for lunch. Yum. Not as fancy as 🦞 or 🦀 like @WhiskeyPete had... But still nummy. #UCSB

Congratulations to ECE & Materials Distinguished Professor Steven DenBaars for receiving the 2026 @optica.org Nick Holonyak, Jr. Award! 🏆💡

Read more about this prestigious honor: bit.ly/4lj15RH

#UCSB #Engineering #Optica #LED #Sustainability #GaN

How farming perennial crops can help us in times of climate change, food insecurity and social division A new book co-edited by UCSB environmental studies professor Liz Carlisle and Aubrey Streit Krug at the Land Institute asserts that farming perennial crops confers resilience in times of climate change

It’s not difficult to join the perennial food movement, according to #UCSB's Liz Carlisle, whose research focuses on food and farming.

Co-editor of the book "Living Roots," Carlisle asserts that relying on perennial crops can ease the difficulties of a changing climate: https://ow.ly/OiMN50YrycZ

HIV patients are especially vulnerable to extreme weather events Researchers uncover the effects of extreme weather events on HIV patients in clinics worldwide

Scientists from #UCSB, UCSF, and CUNY have created a historical record linking extreme weather events to HIV cases.

Many people with HIV "live in areas that are historically and/or increasingly prone to severe weather events," said UCSB's Frank Davenport.

Full story: https://ow.ly/AhV850YpgS5

UCSB researchers develop a genetic sensor that could allow MRIs to image molecular-level changes In a development that could transform how scientists study cancer, neurodegeneration and inflammation, researchers have invented a modular, genetically encoded, protein-based sensor that enables MRI machines to visualize molecular activity inside cells.

In a development that could transform how scientists study cancer, neurodegeneration and inflammation, #UCSB researchers have invented a modular, genetically encoded, protein-based sensor that enables MRI machines to visualize molecular activity inside cells.

Full story: https://ow.ly/cRmg50YqsiU

Group photo of the team member Ezra, Om, and David, with this faculty sponser. They are wearing navy blue team shirts.

3 UCSB @ucsb.bsky.social students are heading to the #ICPC North America Championship on March 19–22, 2026, after placing 4th out of 75 teams at regionals.

Congrats to Ezra Furtado-Tiwari, Om Mahesh, and David Qiao!

Read more: ccs.ucsb.edu/news/2026/cc...

#UCSB #GoGauchos #ComputerScience

A lovely day on campus. #UCSB #SantaBarbara

UCSB Among the World’s Most Influential Research Universities For Science Impact - edhat UC Santa Barbara ranks first among U.S. public universities, third among all U.S. institutions, and seventh worldwide for scientific impact in engineering and the physical sciences, according to the 2...

UC Santa Barbara ranks first among U.S. public universities, third among all U.S. institutions, and seventh worldwide for scientific impact in engineering and the physical sciences, according to the 2025 Leiden Rankings.

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#edhat #SBnews #UCSB

#UCSB research has found that new LED designs the size of a human hair could replace lasers. This new microLED design improves both efficiency and beam directionality.

"We’re talking about devices that are literally the size of a hair follicle."

Full story: https://ow.ly/49HV50YkvgO

Scientists unlock a massive new ‘color palette’ for biomedical research by synthesizing non-natural amino acids Scientists at UCSB have developed a technique for efficiently synthesizing non-natural amino acids, which could significantly advance peptide research.

Ozempic makes headlines but it's just one in a growing class of drugs called peptide therapeutics. A #UCSB research team has developed a new technique for synthesizing non-natural amino acids and applying them to peptide construction.

Full story: https://ow.ly/EQCs50Yj17i

From the Bahamas to #UCSB and back again: Using citizen science smartphone app CoastSnap, Ph.D. student Divina Cox is monitoring sea level rise off the beaches of her home country.

Full story: https://ow.ly/m1g250YimR7

Congratulations to @ Spatial Students Yuyan Che, Lily Heidger, and Jiahua Chen on their AAG awards!

#spatial #aag #geography #ucsb #awards #research

Why some rebel victories build states — and others break them In his new book, "When Rebels Win," political scientist Kai Thaler examines how ideology shapes what happens after rebel movements seize power.

When rebel movements win civil wars and take power, outcomes vary widely. In a new book, #UCSB's Kai Thaler argues that ideology plays a central role in shaping those divergent trajectories.

Full story: https://ow.ly/gL7T50YhMUr

Mosquitoes are the most dangerous animals in the world: A research team at #UCSB may have found a key to a new class of more effective, life-saving repellent 🦟

The team has identified the first known taste receptor in the mosquito gustatory system that detects fatty acids: https://ow.ly/trqt50YhfKR

🏆 #UCSB ranks #1 in scientific impact among public universities (#3 overall)!

Congratulations to our researchers!

@ucsantabarbara.bsky.social @ucsbengineering.bsky.social @uofcalifornia.bsky.social

Proud of our faculty, students, and the culture of excellence they've built. Go Gauchos! 💙💛 #UCSB