Nature & Conservation

From California to the Congo Basin, we use everything from advanced genomics to ancient tree rings to study the world’s complex, beautiful and dynamic ecosystems and how to protect them.

Magazine

Andy Kleinhesselink (left) prepares to give students a tour of Sage Hill at UCLA

Story

Polishing One of Westwood’s Hidden Gems

Maya Parra

UCLA Extension Landscape Architecture students took part in a hands-on charette to enhance Sage Hill, UCLA’s outdoor learning space. Their proposals aimed to improve accessibility while conserving native plants and wildlife, providing students with valuable real-world design experience.

In the News

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The 2025 La Kretz Center Postdoctoral Research Fellowship

Now accepting applications for our annual postdoctoral fellowship. Deadline November 25th, 2024.


Headline

Olivia Sanderfoot for KUOW FM – Wildfire smoke has gone to the birds

La Kretz Center Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Olivia Sanderfoot recently sat down with awarding winning radio journalist Patricia Murphy to discuss her groundbreaking research on the impacts of wildfire smoke on…

Olivia Sanderfoot

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Daniel Swain for International Fire & Safety Journal — Wildfires in North America generate thunderstorms as climate change worsens

UCLA climate expert Daniel Swain discusses the increasing occurrence of wildfire-generated thunderstorms for International Fire & Safety Journal, highlighting the role of climate change in exacerbating these events. Swain shares…

Purple lightning and thunderstorm

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Daniel Swain for Washington Post—Dry lightning, heat and wind could escalate fire activity in the West

UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain discusses the escalating fire risk in the West for Washington Post, highlighting the potential for dry lightning, heat and wind to intensify wildfire activity. Swain…

Firefighters work to control the Park Fire on Wednesday. (Cal Fire Amador-El Dorado Unit/via REUTERS)

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Daniel Swain for New York Times—Park Fire in Northern California Spreads to 360,000 Acres

UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain spoke with the New York Times about the prolonged nature of the Park fire in Northern California. Swain noted the fire’s rapid growth, with officials…

A firefighter working along Highway 32 in Butte County, Calif., on Saturday.Credit...Daniel Dreifuss for The New York Times

Videos

Climate chaos with climatologist Daniel Swain

UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain joined EarthSky’s Dave Adalian for a live discussion on the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events caused by climate change. Swain, known for…

Governor’s Climate and Forest Task Force: Remote Sensing Workshop at UCLA

The Governors’ Climate and Forests Task Force (GCF Task Force) held its first Remote Sensing Workshop at the University of California Los Angeles in June, 2023. The workshop was designed…

Publications