On October 28, 2021, the Berkeley Food Institute brought together a panel of Black farmers, organizers, scholars, and activists to bring awareness to the ongoing struggles of Black agrarians and share their stories of anguish, resilience, and hope. Because the majority of Black farmers reside in the southern United States, their battle is one that is rarely discussed among west coast academic institutions…
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California’s Gray Whales: Ripples of a Distressed Ecosystem
At roughly 90,000 pounds, the gray whale roams the shallow coastal waters of the North Pacific Ocean. This marine mammal usually migrates alone or in small pods, and their habitats range from the far western Pacific by east Asia, to the Arctic, and reproduce in the far east by Baja California.
Read MoreOriginal oyster illustration by Lia Keener
Digging up the History of East Bay Oysters and Ohlone Shellmounds
East Bay oyster banks are steeped in history rooted in the precolonial lives of Indigenous communities, and they are witnesses to the rise of what is now the modern day East Bay. Recent development projects and infrastructure have fundamentally altered the ecology of the oyster banks and have destroyed several traditional Ohlone shell mounds, formations composed of shell and soil formed by Indigenous groups once living along the coastal East Bay.
Read MoreMountain Lions in the Berkeley Hills
Hiking through the Berkeley Fire Trails always seems like a relaxing experience after a busy day of online classes, meeting, and projects. Coast live oak, deer, and other chaparral wildlife are certainly comforting sights. But during dusk and dawn, it is not uncommon for a crepuscular predator to roam through the hills.
Read MoreCorporate University: How Pour Out Pepsi is Democratizing UC Berkeley
In fall of 2019, UC Berkeley undergraduate students formed “Pour Out Pepsi,” (POP) a campaign dedicated to breaking UC Berkeley’s corporate partnership with PepsiCo, Inc. As UC Berkeley votes to renew their contract with PepsiCo, POP is showing the campus that when universities function like businesses, they betray their commitments to their students.
Read MorePeregrine Falcons: Berkeley's Resident Falcons Greet Three New Chicks
For five years, two peregrine falcons named Annie and Grinnel have been living peacefully in the Campanile on Cal’s campus. Peregrine falcons usually mate for life, and this couple has had five successful breeding seasons on campus, resulting in thirteen chicks being born. On April 19th, triplets hatched and can be seen on the livestream.
Fashion Revolution: Sustainable and Ethical Choices in the Era of Fast Fashion
When it comes to consumerism, nearly nothing represents wide scale materialism the way the fashion industry does. The fashion industry emits 10% of the world's carbon emissions, and 85% of all textiles go to landfills each year. In addition, people are buying more clothes and throwing them out at a faster rate…
Read MoreThe California Golden Bear
Go Bears! The chant for Cal’s mascot, the California Golden Bear, embodies passion, excitement, and even sarcasm. Inspired by the California grizzly bear (Ursus arctos v.californicus), the figure was the symbol of the Bear Flag Revolt, when American settler-colonists rebelled against the Mexican and Spanish rule to declare California an independent republic in the summer of 1846.
Read MoreYouth vs Apocalypse: The Fight of Young Activists Against Climate Change
In the last year, climate activism has become more prominent, especially among young people to make their voices heard seeing that they will be the generation that is highly impacted by global warming and climate change. Youth vs Apocalypse (YVA) is an environmental justice organization started by high school students from Oakland that have fought against inequities perpetuated by environmental issues.
Read MoreOriginal graphic made by Jakob Evans
Rejecting Rausser: The History Behind UC Berkeley Students’ Movement Against Private Donations
In March 2020, amid campus cries for a cost of living adjustment (COLA) for graduate students and the emergence of COVID-19, UC Berkeley’s College of Natural Resources (CNR) flaunted a 50 million dollar donation from former Dean Gordan Rausser that they would be accepting in exchange for the addition of his name to the College.
Read MoreThe 5th Annual Women in Tech Symposium Sheds Light on the Ag-Tech Field and Inclusivity
In order to share the experiences of women in the technological field, the Women in Tech Symposium selects a tech-related topic each year and holds panels and discussions to dive deeper into the area of focus. This year marked the 5th Annual Women in Tech Symposium titled The New Era in Human-Computer Interaction.
Read MorePhoto Credit to John Jekabson (c)1970
From Private to Public, Our Parks Are Our Histories
It has been a big year for parks. In the past twelve months of limited indoor activity, many people have rediscovered the joy of gathering in neighborhood and regional green spaces for leisure time, exercise, or a socially distanced hangout.
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