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 MoreLos Angeles is one of the largest cities in the United States and is widely known due to its portrayal in the media: a place people should visit if they aspire to be movie stars, Instagram models, or have a high social media following. It is this portrayal that has accelerated the green gentrification that is occurring to attract the young adult population.
Read MoreHiking 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 MoreThe year is 2070. The location, Berkeley, California. It’s a warm summer evening, and a humid breeze blows through the grass. The sun is setting over the hills, and the sky is ablaze with orange, red, and purple streaks. You’re content, the temperature soothing and the fabric of your shirt and shorts soft.
Read MoreIn recent years, and especially during quarantine, electronic device usage has seemingly overtaken the world. LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, are responsible for illuminating many electronics that are currently in use such as computer and phone screens. Artificial lighting has seriously impacted many types of wildlife, from trees to frogs to migratory birds and beyond, and many organisms are suffering as a result.
Read MoreIn 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 MoreFor 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.
Read MoreWhen 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 MoreIn the wake of a global pandemic that has disproportionately impacted Black Americans and repeated acts of police brutality against people of color, a renewed sense of awareness around systemic racism in the United States has emerged. As a result, activists have been calling for consumers to purchase from Black-owned businesses in an attempt to combat the racial injustices suffered by the Black community.
Read MoreOffshore wind energy has incredible potential to meet California’s climate change goals, invest in renewable energy jobs, and improve air quality in frontline communities. Floating turbines built off the coast can facilitate economic recovery and meet peak energy demands with solar energy.
Read MoreIt is becoming increasingly evident that climate change is rapidly changing the Earth humans inhabit. Places like Guatemala and Indonesia have long periods of drought, followed by flooding that destroys their homes and environment. In the United States, California is experiencing extended fire seasons, while Florida and Louisiana have hurricane after hurricane.
Read MoreGo 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.
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