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College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences

Painted Lady butterfly (c) UCR Stan Lim

Welcome to the CNAS Blog

RISE Program 2024

Riverside City College students explore research through RISE

When asked how she's enjoying UC Riverside's Research in Science & Engineering (RISE) program this summer, Riverside City College student Kat McVeigh doesn't hold back. "It's been a great experience!" she says. "Being in an actual lab [and] getting to know the other people in the lab has been pretty cool. Meeting new people is...

| Transfer Student
Nicolas Sanchez Stephanie Dingwall

Making Beautiful Music: Nicolas Sanchez on Biochemistry, the Violin and CNAS

Like many students before him, Nicolas Sanchez '24 has learned that finding the proper outlet can circumvent the pressure of a tough academic course load. For Nicolas, who graduated from the UC Riverside College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences with a Biochemistry degree with an emphasis in Medical Sciences, that outlet was music. “I wanted...
| Science Ambassador
Rivera Walkway UC Riverside

Doubling down: Assal and Sadaf Sadighian on the long journey from Iran to UC Riverside...and what lies in the future

To say that twin sisters Assal and Sadaf Sadighian are used to long commutes would be an understatement. The twins, who will graduate next spring with Biology degrees, live “a very short drive” away from campus, and will readily tell you that using Google Calendar is an immeasurable help in ordering their days and, metaphorically...
| Science Ambassador, Transfer Student
UCR Bell Tower and Academic Buildings

For recent CNAS graduate Briana Baldovinos '24, UCR was a whole new dance

For the past year and a half, Briana Baldovinos has worked at the “Happiest Place on Earth”...Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, where she dances in the Main Street Parade. Before enrolling at UC Riverside, she used to dance ballet, jazz and tap – “everything” – for an average of five hours a day. She’s been dancing...
| Science Ambassador
Andrea Bajaras Elia Scudiero Digital Agriculture Fellowship UC Riverside

Andrea Barajas wins National Student Recognition award for Digital Agriculture Fellowship research

Andrea Barajas, a fourth-year Environmental Sciences student at the UC Riverside College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences (CNAS), has been awarded the National Student Recognition award in recognition of her work with the Digital Agriculture Fellowship (DAF) by the American Society of Agronomy (ASA), the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), and the Soil Science...

UC Riverside Bell Tower

Triumphing over Adversity: John Perna’s Journey to Academic Excellence

RIVERSIDE, CA - John Perna has a story to tell, and it’s not one many undergraduates share. It’s an underdog tale that would have warmed the heart of author Horatio Alger who, two centuries ago, wrote stories about underprivileged youth that triumphed over adversity through diligence and hard work. “I grew up very poor,” says...
| Transfer Student
Highlander Day UCR sign with students

Highlander Day welcomes admitted CNAS students to campus

RIVERSIDE, CA - On Saturday, April 13, UC Riverside hosted the first of two spring open houses for admitted students and their families, giving future generations of UC Riverside students the chance to explore campus and learn more about the university's commitment to student success. Highlander Day brought 8,918 guests to campus, including 2,702 admitted...
What I Love About CNAS

What I Love About CNAS...

Check out the video below to hear what they had to say: From its cutting-edge research and accomplished faculty to its warm, supportive academic community, there sure is a lot to love about CNAS! PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS
UCR-students-walking-along-pathway

Teamwork is Key to Undergrad Success says UCR First-Year Med Student, Nathaniel Co

Nathaniel Co ’27, a first-year medical student at the UCR School of Medicine, is highly motivated and eager to develop skills as a clinician with an eye toward pursuing a career in internal medicine. So motivated, in fact, that when he graduated from the UC Riverside College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences (CNAS) in Fall...
| Science Ambassador
Students Walking on Campus

UCR students are always "there for each other," says recent graduate Ashley Trinidad '23

“To this day, I don’t think I would’ve been able to earn my degree if it weren’t for the amazing people I found at UCR, who were cheering me on and inviting me to their study groups,” says Ashley Trinidad, who graduated from the UC Riverside College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences (CNAS) last June...
| Science Ambassador
CalTeach-SMI Homecoming Reunion Group

California Teach-Science & Math Initiative celebrates 18 years at Homecoming reunion

RIVERSIDE, CA - The California Teach-Science & Math Initiative (CalTeach-SMI) at UC Riverside celebrated its 18th anniversary with an inaugural alumni reunion during last month's Homecoming festivities. Established on UC Riverside's campus in 2006, CalTeach-SMI is a community of STEM undergraduate students exploring and preparing to become future STEM educators through partnerships with local school...
Highlander Invitational Science Olympiad at University of California, Riverside

Highlander Invitational: Science Olympiad returns to the University of California, Riverside

On January 28, 2023, the national Science Olympiad competition returned to the University of California, Riverside for the first time in over 10 years. The tournament, dubbed “Highlander Invitational,” was part of the national track-meet style competition where middle and high school students competed in events surrounding all areas of science. Highlander Invitational was organized...
Del Vallejo Middle School Visit Campus Tour

Del Vallejo Leadership & STEAM Academy tour CNAS

RIVERSIDE, CA - Middle school students and teachers from Del Vallejo Leadership & STEAM Academy visited the UC Riverside College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences (CNAS) last week, touring CNAS facilities, exploring laboratories, and interacting with current CNAS faculty and students. Located in San Bernardino, CA, Del Vallejo Leadership & STEAM Academy is home to...
UCR bell tower with fall leaves

For recent graduate Erica Garcia Silva '23, UC Riverside has been a "transformative experience."

Erica Garcia Silva ’23 graduated last June from UC Riverside with a degree in Biology, and plans on taking a gap year before enrolling in medical school…also, ideally, at UC Riverside. “I want more clinical experience, so I am volunteering at Glendale Adventist Medical Center as a COPE Health Scholar,” she says. Erica is also...
| Science Ambassador
Bell Tower with Fall Leaves

Meet the 2023-2024 CNAS Department Chairs!

With the beginning of the Fall 2023 quarter, we wanted to introduce you to the 2023-2024 College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences (CNAS) department chairs: Biochemistry Xuan Liu Professor & Chair Botany & Plant Sciences Patricia Springer Professor of Genetics & Chair Chemistry Leonard Mueller Professor & Chair Check out my lab Earth & Planetary...
Annular Eclipse Through Telescope October 14, 2023

CNAS Department of Physics & Astronomy Hosts Annular Eclipse Viewing Party

RIVERSIDE, CA - Hundreds of visitors flocked to UC Riverside last Saturday for an annular solar eclipse viewing party hosted by the College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences' (CNAS) Physics & Astronomy department. Unlike a total eclipse, an annular eclipse in one in which the moon does not cover the entire disc of the sun...
Finding Her Hive - A Summer RISE Student's Story

Finding Her Hive: A Summer RISE Student's Story

Melissa Arellano, her first name translating to "honey bee" in Greek, signifies the impact of research experiences on students' academic paths. As a 4th-year Environmental Science major that transferred from City College of San Francisco, Melissa found her passion for bees through the Summer RISE program at the University of California, Riverside. Melissa is in...
By John Perna and Karina Quevedo |
Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso exterior

Research Abroad: A CNAS Story

Jared Hudnall '24, a physics major at the College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences at UC Riverside, spent his summer abroad doing research in Italy. We asked Jared a few questions about his experiences: (Part 1 of 5) What research topic are you working on and where? I'm working at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran...
| Science Ambassador, Transfer Student
RISE 2023 Orientation

UCR Research in Science & Engineering program launches 2023 cohort

RIVERSIDE, CA - The University of California, Riverside (UCR) officially kicked off its Research in Science & Engineering (RISE) program today, with 97 students attending the 2023 research cohort orientation. Established at UCR in 2010, RISE is a 10-week program designed for rising sophomores, juniors, incoming transfers, and seniors. Participants work under the supervision of...
CNAS 2023 Commencement Ceremony at Toyota Arena

Bold Hearts, Brilliant Minds Characterize CNAS Class of 2023 at Commencement

In her remarks, Kathryn Uhrich, Dean, College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences and Professor of Chemistry, asked for a show of hands of students graduating with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology. “If you look around,” she said, “we should have about 735 students raising their hands.” She added that another 74 students were graduating...
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