Journalism

This page spotlights my work for "The Bottom Line", an online newspaper hosted by the AS board of UCSB. I contributed as a staff writer in writing weekly to biweekly articles on relevant STEM-related news. My work includes research conducted by UCSB faculty and deep dives into animal/plant species that are found on campus.

Research

The Bottom Line UCSB • 20th May 2022

Mariculture and Expanding Ocean Food Production During Climate Change

One of the biggest concerns of today is food distribution and security to support an ever growing population of people on Earth. It is becoming increasingly difficult to mass produce food without hurting the climate, resulting in the issue of how to prioritize global food production while sustaining our planet.

The Bottom Line UCSB • 17th February 2022

COVID-19 Detection, Now Possible With Smartphones

In the past couple of years, the human population was rendered vulnerable to the spread of COVID-19 across the globe. New cases of the virus rising every day gave a need for more rapid, accurate, and accessible COVID-19 test kits. A research team of UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) scientists and Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital doctors have developed exactly this — a method of testing that couples smartphone technology with that of COVID-19 diagnoses. An interview with Professor Mahan — one of the project

Nature of UCSB

The Bottom Line UCSB • 15th April 2022

Dunedelions

Whether it be Campus Point or Depressions Beach, it is impossible to attend UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) and never once visit the beautiful, sandy dunes that spread around our campus. While visiting, you may come across clumps of yellow flowers surrounded by small patches of grasses. Not to be mistaken as dandelions, their more commonly known sister plant, these are the Malacothrix Incana, or more commonly known as dunedelions.

Dunedelions are an uncommon type of perennial herb mostly found in the s

The Bottom Line UCSB • 13th April 2022

Mallard Ducks

Whether it be in the early morning or the late afternoon, one may catch sight of green-headed birds floating on the surface of the lagoon waters. These are the mallard duck, one of the most commonly sighted bird species in the whole Northern Hemisphere. Their unique and identifiable color patterns make them a familiar sight; coming across one in the UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) lagoon may feel like meeting an old friend.

The mallard duck is arguably one of the most commonly sighted bird species in A

The Bottom Line UCSB • 24th February 2022

The Great Egret

When walking along the path circling the UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) lagoon, it takes a stroke of luck to spot a big white bird wading through the shallow waters. Arguably one of the most recognizable species living on campus, you may be unable to help but stare at the sight.

The great egret is found all around the world. They are part of the heron family and are slightly smaller than their sister species, the great blue heron, another inhabitant of the lagoon. They are tall, standing at almost thr

The Bottom Line UCSB • 2nd February 2022

California Killifish

The campus lagoon is home to a variety of organisms, ranging from distinct species of birds dipping their beaks in the water, to wild flowers and grasses growing near the shore. However, hidden beneath these waters is a whole ecosystem of unseen fish species. One of these fishes is the California Killifish.

The California Killifish are a non-migratory fish that are most often found in shallow waters, taking residence on beds of aquatic vegetation in estuaries and lagoons. They are small, with a