Management of complex systems Professor Crystal Kolden will focus on the intersection of agriculture and wildfire, public health Professor Andrea Joyce will work on sustainable, environmentally friendly agricultural insect management and life and environmental science Professor Josh Garcia will examine plant-soil-microbe interactions.
UC Merced and UC Santa Cruz received AES designations in 2022, the first UC campuses so named in 50 years. An AES is a scientific research center at a land-grant university that explores challenges and develops improvements to agriculture by working with farmers, ranchers, suppliers, processors and others. Work at the AES advances innovation, fosters sustainability and builds climate resilience to meet the needs of the San Joaquin Valley and beyond.