Qien Feng

An extensive collaborative project led by UC Santa Barbara studies unique and unusual microorganisms. Just like its name, the BioFoundry for Extreme & Exceptional Fungi, Archaea and Bacteria brings together distinguished professors from UCSB and collaborators from UC Riverside and California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, spanning departments such as bioengineering and geochemistry.

Thuc-Quyen Nguyen, an award-winning researcher at UC Santa Barbara and Director of Center for Polymers and Organic Solids, has made significant contributions to modern organic electronic devices as a means of improving global access to electricity. By using organic compounds and manipulating the packing of molecules, Nguyen and her team progress towards a future of cost-efficient solar devices. Not only is Nguyen a prolific pioneer in her field, but she is also making strides for AAPI women.

On March 4, SpaceX launched the Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base one hour away from UC Santa Barbara. On board the rocket was Vandenberg Space Force Base, a satellite capable of mapping methane emissions across the globe. The satellite was launched from SpaceX’s 10th transporter mission. It is a rideshare program that allows governmental or private entities to launch payloads into space via Falcon 9.