Environmental design professor Emily Schlickman studies land use in the Big Chico Creek watershed, which has been devastated by the Park Fire in California.

This past year, California experienced record-breaking amounts of rain, easing some of the effects of drought. These effects could be beneficial during the upcoming summer season when wildfires pose a threat to watersheds and communities across the state.

In an innovative effort to green up and cool down our concrete jungle, the Seed Pile Project empowers citizen botanists to color outside the lines (and inside sidewalk cracks) throughout our region. With a goal of expanding statewide and beyond, the nascent urban environmental movement hopes to spread like wildflowers.

Bus stops, bike paths, sidewalks and other spots often overlooked in the community will become areas of beauty — for the sake of science.

Wildlife biologist Justine Smith’s goal in Patagonia is to find wildlife conservation solutions that work because both ranchers and nonprofits have a seat at the table, not in spite of it.