The Next Generation of Science Starts Here

Welcome to the Division of Mathematical, Life, and Physical Sciences! We are thrilled to celebrate your acceptance to UC Santa Barbara. Here, you aren't just reading about solutions — you are actively building them. You have been chosen because you are a trailblazer, an inquirer and a future leader in your field.

At UCSB, the coastline is your classroom and the entire campus is your lab. Whether you are exploring the "living lab" of our coastal ecosystem or conducting high-level research alongside world-class faculty, your journey as a scientist begins on day one. Explore the stories of our current student innovators below and see what your #NextStopUCSB looks like.

A wide-angle landscape photograph of the University of California, Santa Barbara campus. The foreground shows a sandy beach and the Pacific Ocean. Above the beach, light-colored sedimentary bluffs support lush green vegetation and several campus buildings, including a large multi-story research facility with palm trees lining the cliffside. In the far distance, the blue-toned Santa Ynez Mountains are visible under a bright blue sky with wispy cirrus clouds. Overlaid on the upper third of the image is the da

Meet the Future of Science

Discover how our undergraduates are bridging disciplines to solve global challenges.

Emely Valdez, a UC Santa Barbara biology student, smiling outdoors while holding her hand-illustrated field notebook.

Creative Science

The Artist-Scientist: Emely Valdez

Pre-Biology (Biological Sciences)
Colusa, CA | she/they

Emely Valdez originally came to UC Santa Barbara as a pre-biology major, assuming she would have to leave her art supplies behind. Instead, she found a way to turn her sketchbook into a scientific tool.

During a field course on plant biology and biodiversity, Valdez created a hand-illustrated field guide of 120 wild plant species found in Santa Barbara County. The notebook is a masterpiece of interdisciplinary work: detailed ink and colored pencil drawings of reproductive structures and leaf shapes sitting alongside rigorous scientific notes.

"It enhances the observational skills that are really important in understanding why a plant looks that way and how different they are from one another," Valdez says. "Not only are you learning the biology, but you're learning what observational skills are needed in the field."

A page from Emely Valdez's field notebook showing a detailed yellow colored-pencil illustration of a California Buttercup with scientific field notes.
A page from Emely Valdez's field notebook showing a detailed purple colored-pencil illustration of a Fiesta Flower with scientific notes on its habitat.

From Classroom to Botanic Garden

Her work caught the eye of her professors, leading to a meeting with the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden to discuss publishing her guide. She also recently showcased her work at the Art in Science exhibition at the campus Glass Box Gallery. Her exhibition featured botanical illustrations alongside the physical field guide. By scattering native species from the Campus Lagoon across a podium, Valdez gave viewers the opportunity to identify the plants themselves — turning an art exhibit into an interactive ecology lesson.

"It doesn't always have to be just STEM," Valdez says. "There are so many ways people can learn. STEM art is a great segue to make science understandable and accessible."

Advice for Future Gauchos

"Keep that drive going in art," she urges. "It can feel like you have to grind on the STEM, but taking the time to own a sketchbook — to go outside and sketch — is vital. It's totally possible to blend the two." For Valdez, science and art go hand-in-hand to elevate the university experience. She hopes incoming students realize that determination and passion make significant contributions to both artwork and research developed at UCSB.

Connect with Emely:
LinkedIn | Instagram

▶ Bonus: Watch Emely's field notes come to life in our January Reel

Photo Credits: Courtesy of Emely Valdez

Andrew Tolu, a UCSB Geography/Sociology triple major, holding a San Francisco MUNI bus stop sign during his internship

Real World Impact

The Polymath: Andrew Tolu

Geography, Sociology and the History of Public Policy
Junior | San Mateo, CA | he/him

Andrew Tolu admits it happened almost by accident. He arrived at UC Santa Barbara as a geography major who loved maps. Then he took a sociology class. Then a history class.

"I got out my big spreadsheet," Tolu says. "I went to the undergraduate advisors to map it out. I asked, 'Is it possible to pursue all three?' The answer was yes."

Real-World Science, Year One.

"You don't have to wait until grad school to change the world. At UCSB, your first year is your first opportunity to do groundbreaking research."

Putting Theory into Motion

Andrew put his academic toolkit to the test this summer as a transportation planning intern for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA). By translating classroom concepts into real-world city planning, he saw exactly how his degrees could shape the future of public transit.

"Geography gives me the technical know-how to analyze movement. Sociology gives me the underlying basis as to why people move. History gives me the context."

Mapping Equity in LA

Back on campus, Andrew's academic breadth produces rigorous analysis in the classroom. In a culminating technical GIS (Geographic Information Systems) class, his team mapped park accessibility across Los Angeles County.

By analyzing transit timetables and neighborhood walkability, they uncovered a nuanced reality: Census tracts within a 15-minute walk of high-quality parks had a median income averaging $13,600 more per year than those without access.

"It felt like worlds colliding. I could see the principles I learned in history classes — like the effects of redlining — come into play on the map I built using my geography skills."

Andrew Tolu taking a selfie with UCSB leadership and Chancellor Yang at a campus student success event.
Andrew Tolu and friends sitting on the Isla Vista bluffs at sunset overlooking the ocean.
Andrew Tolu smiling with a friend on the Goleta Pier.

Advice for Future Gauchos

For students worried about the workload, Andrew emphasizes balance over burnout. "If you're interested in exploring, just take the intro classes," he advises. "Make use of the resources. I'm a big advocate for the undergraduate advisors — they know their departments exceedingly well."

Connect with Andrew:
LinkedIn | Instagram

Photo Credits: Courtesy of Andrew Tolu