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College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences

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Hands-On Experience. World-Renowned Scientists.

Research Excellence
29,000
acres and more serve as a real-life laboratory for plant research
36,683
alumni and counting making a difference
2
Nobel Laureates and 18 National Academies members on the faculty
Marko Spasojevic
Science Lecture Series 2026
Join us for a talk on What’s Wild in Riverside with Dr. Marko Spasojevic.
April 22, 2026 (Earth Day)
UCR Main Campus
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Apply to be a CNAS Science Ambassador
Become a CNAS Science Ambassador
Apply now to become a CNAS Science Ambassador!
Deadline to Apply is Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM PT
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CNAS Scholarships
CNAS Student Scholarships are open. Apply now!
The deadline is May 1, 2026.
Visit cnasscholarships.ucr.edu
Riverside Insect Fair
Riverside Insect Fair
Saturday, April 25th, 2026
10am–4pm
Downtown Riverside
Learn More about the Riverside Insect Fair
CNAS Dean Peter Atkinson's Office Hours
Dean's Office Hours
Dean Peter Atkinson holds regular office hours
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CNAS Student Research Opportunities
Student Research Opportunities
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CNAS Learning Communities
CNAS Learning Communities
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Graduate Programs
Opportunities for graduate students abound at CNAS
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Student in Science - Pursuing Advanced Degrees at CNAS
Pursuing Advanced Degrees at CNAS
CNAS’ graduate degree programs for M.S. and Ph.D. students
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Career Resources
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I chose UCR due to the collaborative atmosphere, countless research opportunities, and student support programs ...
Joel, biochemistry major
I am motivated by my desire to understand life ... and to educate the next generation of scientists ...
Xuemei Chen, Distinguished Professor of Plant Cell and Molecular Biology
A large part of the UCR community is the support you receive from both your peers and professors.
Oscar, biochemistry major

CNAS Science News

Hawaiian 'I'iwi bird on a branch
April 15, 2026
Birds caught stealing from their neighbors
High in the forests of Hawai‘i, songbirds are stealing twigs and moss from one another’s nests. Researchers find this quiet canopy crime is surprisingly common and could threaten species already struggling to survive.
Read More »
Blue and red abstract nebula with bright stars
April 13, 2026
Self-interacting dark matter may solve three cosmic puzzles
Findings point to SIDM as a promising candidate for explaining small-scale cosmic structure
Read More »
honeybee in lavender flower
April 10, 2026
SoCal honeybees can fend off deadly mites
A unique hybrid honeybee found only in Southern California has demonstrated the ability to survive attacks from deadly mites.
Read More »
orchard robot monitoring soil
April 02, 2026
Watering smarter, not more
Better farming through technology: A new UC Riverside system can map soil moisture tree by tree, so growers water only where and when it’s needed.
Read More »
View Latest Science News Stories

A Message from Dean Peter Atkinson

On behalf of the faculty, staff, and students from the College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences at UC Riverside, I welcome you to our college and campus.

 

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Explore the UCR Botanic Gardens
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More College News

CNAS faculty and students at FFA California Leadership Conference 2026

CNAS Connects with Future Agricultural Leaders at California FFA Conference

The 98th Annual California FFA State Leadership Conference, held March 21–24, 2026, in Ontario, California, brought together more than 7,000 high school students, advisors, and guests—making it one of the largest statewide events dedicated to developing the next generation of...
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2026-Regional-Celebration

CNAS Welcomes Future Highlanders Across California—and Invites Them to Campus

Over the past two weekends, UC Riverside brought the Highlander experience on the road—welcoming newly admitted students and their families at Regional Celebrations in Oakland, San Diego, and Los Angeles. For many, these events marked their first introduction to the...
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UCR Natural Reserves

Tim Higham Appointed Director of the UCR Natural Reserves System

I am very pleased to announce the appointment, after an internal search, of Professor Tim Higham as the new Director of the UCR Natural Reserves System. Professor Higham will succeed Professor Kimberly Hammond, who is stepping down from this position...
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UCR students and staff at the R'Garden

Where students grow more than food: R’Garden’s new chapter takes root at UC Riverside

On a quiet stretch of campus near Lot 30, something different is happening. There are rows of vegetables pushing up through the soil, pollinators drifting between native plants, and students kneeling in the dirt—talking, learning, laughing, working side by side...
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College News Archive
Dr. Barry C. Barish (c) UCR
Dr. Barry C. Barish
2017 NOBEL PRIZE WINNER IN PHYSICS
Meet the Faculty
Dr. Richard R. Schrock (c) UCR
Dr. Richard R. Schrock
2005 NOBEL PRIZE WINNER IN CHEMISTRY
UCR ALUMNUS
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CNAS Events

 
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Start your #UCRScience journey today
Start your #UCRScience journey today
Learn more about being a CNAS graduate and undergraduate student

Inside UCR

Rodolfo Torres & Yadong Yin
April 09, 2026
UCR scholars named AAAS fellows
​ The American Association for the Advancement of Science, or AAAS, has named UCR faculty members Rodolfo Torres and Yadong Yin as 2025 Fellows, a distinction that ranks among the highest scientific honors in the nation.  ​
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Lindau in Germany
April 08, 2026
Four researchers selected for prestigious Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting
Postdoctoral scholar and doctoral students to join global cohort of young scientists in Germany
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Inchara Jagadeesh
April 03, 2026
Sophomore Inchara Jagadeesh awarded prestigious Goldwater Scholarship
Physics major recognized for cosmology research and exceptional promise as a future scientific leader
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Mycologist Sydney Glassman holding a mushroom
March 11, 2026
A rising star in fungal science
UC Riverside mycologist Sydney Glassman wins national early-career award
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More "Inside UCR" CNAS News
looking through a digital microscope, Dr. Manuela Martins-Green
Give to the College
Donor support has a direct impact on CNAS students, empowering them to delve into research, stay curious, and prepares them to fill the gaps in the job market as research-minded scientists.
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CNAS in the Media

New 'unifying theory' may explain how Alzheimer's emerges in the brain

SCIENCE ALERT - The origins of Alzheimer's remain contentious, but a new study suggests the disease may emerge as two key proteins compete inside brain cells. Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, has long been associated with the...
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Massive worldwide seawater study finds human-made chemicals prolific

UNIVERSITY OF HAWAIʻI - An analysis of more than 2,300 seawater samples from more than 20 field studies around the globe indicates that human-made chemicals—from plastic additives and industrial lubricants to pharmaceuticals and pesticides—are widespread in the marine environment, particularly...
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Plants pause their own growth to survive stress

EARTH.COM - Scientists have identified a single molecule that surges inside stressed plant cells and rapidly chokes off a growth pathway they cannot live without. The study recasts stunted growth as an active survival response, and it points to a...
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Plants can stop growing within minutes to survive sudden stress

EARTH.COM - Plants can’t run from danger. When sunlight suddenly becomes too intense, temperatures spike, or conditions turn hostile, they have to survive exactly where they are. To cope, they rely on rapid internal changes. One of the most important...
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CNAS Blog

Science Ambassadors Panel at Highlander Day 2026

Apply to Become a Science Ambassador

If you love your major, enjoy connecting with people, and want to make an impact beyond the classroom, this is your moment. The CNAS Science Ambassador program is now accepting applications—and it’s one of the most meaningful ways to get...
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SEEDS Mentorship Program

The CCB-SEEDS Mentorship Program is Recruiting Mentors

The CCB-SEEDS Mentorship Program is recruiting mentors for the Spring 2026 cohort! Please sign up by Wednesday, April 15, 2026 if your research is in the fields of Ecology, Evolution, and/or Conservation Biology, and you have a desire to foster...
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Hoori Ajami at the WRCOG Women’s Day Forum

Celebrating Leadership and Community at WRCOG Women’s Day Forum

The Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG) hosted its annual Women’s Day Forum on March 10 at the Moreno Valley Conference Center, bringing together more than 200 attendees from across the Inland Empire for a half-day of connection, reflection, and...

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Attendees of the Dinner with Alumni: Science Careers Beyond Healthcare event

Inside the Expanding World of Science Careers: Insights from CNAS Alumni

Panel and dinner conversations highlight the breadth of opportunities available to science graduates. Students, alumni and campus partners gathered Feb. 18 at the UC Riverside Alumni and Visitors Center for “Dinner with Alumni: Science Careers Beyond Healthcare,” an evening designed...

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