SPRING 2025
Impactful Climate Solutions
for Nature and People
Letter from the Director
Hi Folks,
We hope that you are well. As usual, spring is a very busy time of year and that is true for the Center for Coastal Climate Resilience. We also want to acknowledge that this has been a period of high uncertainty for many of our colleagues and partners across campus, federally and even internationally. These first days of this new administration have and will continue to increase risks to our communities at many levels.
While there have been direct impacts to the Center and researchers, we are nonetheless fortunate to be able to press forward on many fronts to reduce them. Just a few of those examples include: providing new support to 17 graduate students across campus, and playing a leadership role through Center Senior Fellow Dr. Heather Tallis (and other campus authors) in helping to ensure that the National Nature Assessment continues forward after being canceled by the new administration.
We also see areas of hope. While the federal government and some states are pulling back from efforts to address climate change, California is pressing forward for example through the Climate Bond which will help to build resilience in areas like coastal protection, wildfire prevention, clean energy, and sustainable agriculture. CCCR research also holds promise for the future, like our recent Viz Lab workshop which showcased emergent technologies for visualizing climate risk and adaptation. In June, we are heading to the UN Oceans Conference in Nice, France to join in the global discussion on the future of ocean and climate health.
Our CCCR Fellows have also been busy. We recently appointed Patrick Barnard as our Research Director. As a longtime collaborator in his time at USGS, he will bring passion and expertise on climate adaptation, environmental justice and innovative communication to help us on our mission of supporting coastal communities.
Though 2025 has remained challenging, there are patches of progress ahead. And CCCR is proud to be at the forefront of that charge. As always, thank you for joining us in building resilience and community.
– Michael W. Beck, Director
Project updates
Forum captures urgency to use ecosystems now to keep people safe from looming natural disasters
Read about the National Practice Forum on Nature-Based Solutions that happened in early February. We sponsored and helped lead the event, which brought together more than 500 participants from across the country to explore how ecosystems can play a critical role in protecting communities from natural disasters.
Elkhorn Slough Project Video
Check out the new trailer from one of our Principal Investigators, Adina Payton, about her research in Elkhorn Slough. Her research explores the key processes that influence how wetlands capture and store carbon, offering insights into their potential as powerful nature-based solutions for climate mitigation.
This Tiny California Town Is Flooded, Broke—and Reimagining Climate Insurance
Read the story by our fellow, Anna Guth, that spotlights a small town in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta as it pioneers a community-based flood insurance program to address escalating climate risks. The program’s success could serve as a model for other towns seeking innovative solutions to the growing challenges posed by climate change.
Facing the storm: UC Santa Cruz researchers model a new line of coastal defense
A group of UC Santa Cruz researchers have published a paper examining “horizontal levees”—traditional levees retrofitted with a sloping, wetland border. While reinforcing existing flood barriers can be a costly challenge for at-risk communities, it can also be an innovative solution providing both flood prevention and coastal habitat creation.
Innovative and artful rainwater harvesting nourishes gardens and hope
A team of scientists, artists, engineers, and students have joined forces at UC Santa Cruz to promote the use of stored rainwater as a resource for growing food close to home and develop educational resources to help guide anyone through the process of building their own sustainable garden irrigation systems.
OUR FACULTY ACHIEVEMENTS
Failure to communicate
Read what our Principal Investigator Sikina Jinnah had to say about the importance of public involvement for ensuring that geoengineering research is conducted responsibly.
Biologist Erika Zavaleta receives Science Division’s Outstanding Faculty Award
Erika Zavaleta, professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, was honored with the 2023–24 Outstanding Faculty Award from the UC Santa Cruz Science Division.
Climate Week – Baskin School of Engineering
The Center’s fellows and faculty spoke at the inaugural Baskin Engineering Climate Week last month. Throughout the week, faculty integrated climate-focused lectures into engineering courses, highlighting diverse contributions to real-world climate solutions.
Associate Professor Joji Muramoto wins award for leadership in agricultural sustainability
The Center’s Principal Investigator Joji Muramoto has been honored with the 2025 Eric Bradford and Charlie Rominger Agricultural Sustainability Leadership Award. Muramoto has spent nearly three decades advancing sustainable farming practices in California.
Research on dry-farmed tomatoes will better equip organic growers to adapt to climate change
A new CCCR-funded project at UC Santa Cruz is advancing climate-resilient agriculture by investigating the physiological traits that enable tomatoes to thrive without irrigation. Led by Darryl Wong and Professor Jarmila Pittermann, the study focuses on dry-farmed tomatoes.
UC Santa Cruz ocean scientist Adina Paytan honored for international research leadership
The Center’s Principal Investigator Adina Paytan has been awarded the 2025 Tommy and Yvette Edmondson Distinguished Service Award. This prestigious honor recognizes her leadership in advancing international research collaborations for early-career scientists.
Acclaimed evolutionary biologist Beth Shapiro elected to National Academy of Sciences
Beth Shapiro, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences, one of the highest honors in American science. A pioneer in paleogenomics, Shapiro uses ancient DNA to study the evolution of species and ecosystems over time.
SAVE THE DATE
Communicating Climate Solutions Symposium in Santa Cruz
We invite you to attend our Communicating Climate Solutions Symposium in Santa Cruz on September 16–17, 2025, hosted by the Science Communication Program and the Center for Coastal Climate Resilience. Follow the link above for details about the schedule, speaker information, and to register for this event.