Adapting oak trees for climate change, one acorn at a time
La Kretz postdoc Ryan Buck, an evolutionary biologist working in the Sork Lab, is a co-author on recent studies that use cutting-edge gene sequencing to save oak trees.
La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science
News
Announcing Winners of the 2026 La Kretz Center and Stunt Ranch Reserve Research Awards
Congratulations to our 2026 awardees!
La Kretz Center Partners with Turtle Survival Alliance on Joint Initiative to Transform Turtle Conservation
The Atlas of Turtle Genomes for Conservation is a national effort to generate high-quality genomic reference maps that will revolutionize conservation and support the repatriation of trafficked turtles.
In memoriam: Morton La Kretz, 100, alumnus, environmental champion and lifelong supporter of UCLA
Morton La Kretz served on the IoES advisory board and established the UCLA La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science. Administered through the IoES in partnership with the National Park Service, the center is a pioneer in science aimed at preserving California’s rich biodiversity.
Joseph Curti for UCLA Newsroom – Bats aren’t bloodsucking monsters.
ChatGPT said: The UCLA Newsroom interviewed La Kretz Center Postdoctoral Fellow Joseph Curti about his efforts to reshape public perceptions of bats through evening bat walks held across the City of Angels.
Postdoctoral Fellow Joey Curti interviewed on UCLA’s Cabinet of Curiosities podcast
La Kretz Center Postdoctoral Fellow Joey Curti was featured on the UCLA podcast to talk about his work on the short film Bat Boy and to help dispel common misconceptions about bats.
How two Bruins used film and science to reframe a ‘spooky’ species
UCLA College’s new “Cabinet of Curiosities” podcast explores the fang-tastic North-South collaboration
La Kretz Center/Stunt Ranch 2026 Research Awards
Now Accepting Applications from UCLA Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students, & Postdoctoral Researchers. Deadline to Apply: December 1st, 2025
The 2026 La Kretz Center Postdoctoral Fellowship
The UCLA La Kretz Center is excited to be accepting applications for the 2026 UCLA La Kretz Center Postdoctoral Fellowship! Applications will be accepted until September 15th, 2025.
The UCLA La Kretz Center 2024 Annual Report
We're pleased to report on the exciting La Kretz Center research & project updates that happened in 2024.
Bradley Shaffer for Gizmodo—Has the Dire Wolf Truly Been Resurrected? We Asked the Experts
Has the dire wolf truly been resurrected? UCLA professor and evolutionary biologist Bradley Shaffer discussed the recent scientific breakthrough for Gizmodo. The company Colossal Biosciences claims it has achieved the…
Project Phoenix 2024 Annual Report
The community birding initiative is thrilled to present its 2024 Year-End report!