Robert "Bear" N. Ulrich, Ph.D.

Rob “Bear” N. Ulrich is a scientist, storyteller, and movement strategist working at the intersection of identity, research, and justice. Trained as a chemist, Rob now applies data science and machine learning to tackle big questions in geochemistry, from environmental change on Earth to the search for life on other planets. Outside the lab, Bear is the Assistant Director of UCLA’s CDLS, which helps lead nationally recognized programs that support environmental justice leaders and fight for equity in science. Bear co-founded the Reclaiming STEM Institute, a nonprofit that’s trained over 500 early-career researchers in inclusive science communication and policy. You may have heard Bear on podcasts like Ologies, ExoLore, and StoryCollider, or seen them speaking at events like AGU, CA Academy of Sciences, and community forums across LA. Their superpower? Translating complex science into stories that spark curiosity, build community, and drive change.