Public Events
Where science meets community — sharing knowledge, sparking ideas, and driving environmental solutions.
At NCEAS, public events bring science into the community, fostering understanding and environmental stewardship. Across Santa Barbara, we create opportunities for dialogue that move research beyond our walls and into real-world impact.
Upcoming Events
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Spring Seminar Series| Wednesday, May 27
12:00 - 1:00 PM • Cesar Estien _______________________________________________________ This spring NCEAS is hosting the sixth iteration of our popular seminar series. This year our theme is 'Environmental Data Science and Its Impacts on Communities and Ecosystems.’
Zoom Registration -
Spring Seminar Series | Thursday, June 11
12:00 - 1:00 PM • Patricia Balvanera _______________________________________________________ This spring NCEAS is hosting the sixth iteration of our popular seminar series. This year our theme is 'Environmental Data Science and Its Impacts on Communities and Ecosystems.’
Zoom Registration
Past Events
Following the launch of the website, the index team hosted an informational webinar introducing new users to the index. Watch the recording to learn more about the tool, how it works, and how it can be used.
From satellites taking images from space to your phone recording bird calls, a growing suite of technologies is changing how we study life on Earth. These tools promise faster, more comprehensive ways to understand where species occur and track changes in their populations over time. But how well do these digital tools actually work, and what's standing in the way of their full potential? In this talk, Dr. Rachel King, postdoctoral scientist at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS), explored the current landscape of the digital monitoring of nature, revealed surprising gaps in what these technologies can tell us, and shared how scientists—and the public—are working to build a more complete picture of the natural world. Profs at the Pub is an event hosted by UCSB Affiliates.
2026 Theme: 'Environmental Data Science and Its Impacts on Communities and Ecosystems.’
Conner gave an overview of the key principles behind the NAACP’s Frontline Framework, including community-led decision-making, strategies, and playbooks for ways to approach data center policies and research moving forward. She examined how to properly integrate these principles into data center siting, energy sourcing, water usage, and regulatory processes. The NAACP Center for Environmental and Climate Justice Center’s approach is based on real world examples to illustrate both challenges and emerging best practices.
NCEAS Director Ben Halpern and Haveli Investments’ Chief Sustainability Officer Lucas Joppa debated the statement: AI will be a net benefit for the planet. Attendees voted before and after the debate on if they agreed, whoever swayed the most minds won the debate. This event was the first installment of Debates on Draft, in partnership with UCSB Affiliates and Validation Ale.
NCEAS Research Associate Dr. Cat Fong previewed Wildfire Resilience Index a free, open-access tool to measure wildfire resilience across both people and ecosystems, for every community and landscape in the U.S. and Canadian West, at 90-meter resolution. She gave the audience background on how and why the Index was built and how it can be used. Science by the Pint is a collaboration with the UCSB Undergraduate Research Symposium Committee highlighting cutting-edge UCSB research.