RESEARCH

How can we conserve natural resources while meeting the rising demands of the human species? The Campbell Lab is addressing this question using climate change science. With a focus on regional and global models of food, energy, and water systems we are leading the following projects:

Local Food

Our models showed that local food could grow to a big piece of the American diet.  Now, in the FRESH Study, we are exploring the sustainable benefits.  Capital Public Radio

Global Greening

We detected a surge in global plant growth. Now we are exploring what this means for climate change. New York Times

Redwood Resilience

Coast redwoods rely on fog for water, but fog is on the decline. We lead the Summen Project to measure the regional response of these charismatic forests. San Jose Mercury News

Solar Canals

The complex interactions between food, energy, and water create grand challenges to sustainability. Our energy canals project explores a novel solution. Wired

Fishery Emissions

What diets are best for you and the planet? Our research on fishery emissions reveals where the industry is now and the effect of emerging policies. Science

Global Croplands

We’re tracking abandoned farms as a potential resource for meeting the global land crunch. Christian Science Monitor

“The care of the Earth is our most ancient and most worthy, and after all our most pleasing responsibility. To cherish what remains of it and to foster its renewal is our only hope.” -Wendell Berry

TEACHING

The results of our scientific research are channeled into courses at the Environmental Studies Department at UC Santa Cruz. In particular, see recent project-based courses on the food, energy, water nexus for graduates (201B) and undergraduates (196).

OUR SPONSORS

This research is possible due to financial support that covers graduate student salaries, equipment, and other critical expenses. Some of these grants are linked below.

nsf

doe

nasa

uc gfi

keck

CONTACT US

We welcome inquiries of all kinds. Please use this form to reach out to us. In the past we have heard from students interested in joining a research project, researchers wanting to share data, members of the public wanting to learn about the science, and many others. We want to hear from you!

OFFICE

Natural Science 2 - Room 461
University of California Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
USA

CONTACT US