Sustainable California

Global warming due to CO2 emissions from fossil fuels remains an urgent issue that must be addressed. With the largest share of energy-related CO2 emissions in the US from coming transportation, it is critical to replace fossil fuels for powering vehicles. A team of researchers from UC Merced is developing hydrogen and fuel cell technologies for powering vehicles at TEEL, the Thermal and Electrochemical Energy Laboratory. Working on novel catalyst synthesis, membrane electrode assembly integration, multiphysics simulation, cell design and diagnostics and system integration, the goal of TEEL is to enable hydrogen and fuel cell technologies to achieve sustainable energy use in the future. Series: "UCTV Prime" [Science] [Show ID: 33837]

A look at The UC Water Academy, an experiential educational component inaugurated in 2017 by The University of California Water Security and Sustainability Research Initiative that aims to train the next generation of water leaders in the state. After three months of studies, the students from four UC campuses visited key water infrastructure sites, met with experts in agriculture, conveyance, and natural resources management, and finally rafted the South Fork of the American River. Series: "UCTV Prime" [Science] [Show ID: 33531]

Because periodic droughts will always be a part of life in California, the UC California Institute for Water Resources (CIWR) produced a series of videos to maintain drought awareness and planning, even in years when water is more abundant. This episode addresses citrus cultivation with Lisa Brenneis of Churchill Brenneis Orchards and Ben Faber, UCCE Advisor from Ventura County explaining strategies to sustain citrus through drought. Series: "UCTV Prime" [Science] [Show ID: 33306]

The long California drought forced many growers to pump groundwater to irrigate their crops. With the establishment of California's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act replenishment of California's groundwater supplies is of utmost importance. To develop replenishment strategies, Professor Helen Dahlke joins fellow UC Davis researchers, UC Cooperative Extension and California farmers to test the impacts of irrigating almond orchards in the winter to recharge groundwater aquifers and to help manage water resources sustainably. Series: "UCTV Prime" [Science] [Show ID: 32526]

Because periodic droughts will always be a part of life in California, the UC California Institute for Water Resources (CIWR) produced a series of videos to maintain drought awareness and planning, even in years when water is more abundant. Raj Meena of Meena Farms shares how they collaborated with UCCE Advisor David Doll to implement new irrigation strategies to continue production. Series: "UCTV Prime" [Science] [Show ID: 33305]

Because periodic droughts will always be a part of life in California, the UC California Institute for Water Resources (CIWR) produced a series of videos to maintain drought awareness and planning, even in years when water is more abundant. This episode addresses alfalfa with Cannon Michael of Bowles Farming in Los Banos and UCCE specialist Dan Putnam explaining some of the strategies for alfalfa crops during drought. Series: "UCTV Prime" [Science] [Show ID: 33304]

The largest non-commercial marine mass mortality event on record (as of 2013) created a ‘natural experiment’ and an opportunity to study genomic changes in wild populations with unprecedented detail. Rather than observing only the aftermath—a team of researchers from UC Merced is reconstructing the population and genetic consequences of an epidemic outbreak of sea star wasting disease. The team measured the abundance and genetic variation of Pisaster ochraceus, a keystone species, in the year preceding mass mortality. They then repeated sampling of adults and juveniles in subsequent years, measuring population dynamics and genomic shifts during and after the disease outbreak. At a time when marine diseases and mass mortalities are on the rise, this study documents the impact of little-known wildlife diseases and potential trajectory of recovery in a keystone marine species.

Series: "UCTV Prime" [Science] [Show ID: 33101]

See how California farmers and UC agricultural researchers are working to merge both conservation tillage practices and precision irrigation to save time, labor, and water while reducing the cost of producing crops for California agriculture. Series: "Sustainable California" [Science] [Show ID: 32368]

Farmers can't control the costs of seed, fertilizers, chemicals, water or the price they can get for their crops - but they can control tillage costs. Learn how California's farmers, ag industry and UC researchers are working together and finding ways to cut costs with minimum tillage practices. Series: "Sustainable California" [Science] [Show ID: 32367]

Explore how California dairy farmers are working together to perfect techniques to maximize the benefits of conservation tillage in producing dairy feed to reduce inputs and costs, increase quality and ensure healthier more productive and sustainable agricultural soils and production. Series: "Sustainable California" [Science] [Show ID: 32363]