UC leaders at the NRS Day Fair in Oakland. (From left): Vice President Theresa Maldonado, Provost Kathryn Newman, Executive Director Steve Monfort and President Michael V. Drake. (Photo: Lobsang Wangdu/NRS)

Last month, the 5th floor terrace in Oakland was transformed into an outpost of the UC Natural Reserve System (NRS) when students, researchers and staff from across the university gathered to celebrate NRS Day.

University leaders kicked off the Oct. 1 festivities. After an introduction from NRS Executive Director Steve Monfort, UC President Michael V. Drake, M.D., lauded the central role of the NRS in UC’s efforts to protect biodiversity and find nature-based solutions to climate change. Provost Katherine Newman recounted her visit to the NRS’s Younger Lagoon Reserve, Año Nuevo Island Reserve, Fort Ord Natural Reserve, and Hastings Natural History Reservation earlier this year, and reiterated her commitment to securing more resources for the NRS. Vice President for Research and Innovation Theresa Maldonado described the $1M in state funding her office set aside for NRS-based research Climate Action projects, and reminded guests of the value of reserves for science as well as the arts and humanities.

Attendees then dispersed to browse tables covered with pelts, bones, stuffed birds and mammals; pick up informational handouts; and check out environmental sensing instruments.

Representatives from multiple campuses and reserves, along with graduate and undergraduate students, shared their experiences of the reserves.

See more event photos here

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