Biology@Berkeley
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Barton and Vance awarded HHMI Emerging Pathogens Initiative grant
MCB Professors of Immunology and Molecular Medicine, Greg Barton and Russell Vance, are two of the recent grant recipients of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) new Emerging Pathogens Initiative. The initiative involves 13 project teams of over 70 scientists from 29 institutions collaborating on basic research to target future emerging pathogens that could impact human health. Barton and Vance will collaborate on a team with researchers from Duke University, University of Victoria, and Harvard Medical School on their project entitled Akkermansia muciniphila as a mucosal vaccine platform for emerging pathogens.
Recognizing Indigenous land rights reduced deforestation in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest

New research suggests formal recognition of rights of Indigenous peoples to ancestral territories could protect and restore a threatened biodiversity hotspot covering 17 states outside the Amazon.
Were galaxies much different in the early universe?
Climate change likely to uproot more Amazon trees
David Ackerly reappointed for second term as Rausser College Dean

During his first five years as Dean, Ackerly has advanced student support, DEI efforts, fundraising goals, and more.
Student Spotlight: Jade Marum

The third-year environmental science major and African American studies minor recounts her experience at the 2022 UN Climate Change Conference.
New ‘chain mail’ material of interlocking molecules is tough, flexible and easy to make
Monitoring biodiversity in the post-fire Santa Cruz Mountains

ESPM professor Kip Will is leading a SPUR project to help monitor the effects of tree and underbrush removal on arthropod biodiversity in the post-fire Santa Cruz Mountains.
A big step toward ‘green’ ammonia and a ‘greener’ fertilizer
Speciesism, like racism, imperils humanity and the planet
Rausser College faculty and affiliates among the most highly cited in their fields

The selected researchers rank in the top 1% in the number of scholarly citations worldwide over the last decade.
Would you pay more for “COVID Safe” meat?

Two recent ARE undergraduates break down their research on consumer choice and willingness to pay during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Droughts pose additional challenges to endangered Russian River coho salmon

Research led by Brian Kastl, a PhD candidate in ESPM, outlines a deadly mismatch in water flows and temperatures for young salmon headed to sea.
Speciesism in Biology and Culture: How Human Exceptionalism is Pushing Planetary Boundaries

Former IB postdoc Brian Swartz and IB professor Brent Mishler, present their new book entitled Speciesism in Biology and Culture: How Human Exceptionalism is Pushing Planetary Boundaries. It includes 9 chapters containing wide-ranging discussions about the sociopolitical, cultural, and scientific ramifications of speciesism and world views that derive from it, integrating natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities.
Farmworkers at risk for obesity, high blood pressure, say UC researchers

Led by NST cooperative extension specialist Susana Matias, the study examines the health of the people who help plant, nurture and harvest food in California.
Mapping your neighborhood emissions

Research by UC Berkeley’s CoolClimate Network helped New York Times reporters map neighborhood emissions across the United States.
Happy Holidays from all of us at MCB!
As the year comes to a close, MCB has a lot to be thankful for. Most importantly, we are grateful for our extraordinary community of our students, postdocs, staff, faculty, alumni and friends. We hope you enjoy our year-end video highlighting some of our 2022 memories together.
Rausser College 2023 Photo contest

Contribute to telling the Rausser College story by entering our 2023 photo contest! Submit your original photos for a chance to win prizes and to have your work featured in Rausser College publications.
Teaching Kitchen course helps improve college students’ food security

The Personal Food Security and Wellness course was recently highlighted on the UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources Food Blog.