Schmidt Family Foundation Renews Funding for UCSB Environmental Solutions Fellows Program

The Schmidt Family Foundation has renewed a multi-year grant for the Schmidt Environmental Solutions Fellows Program at UC Santa Barbara, marking nine years of support. The program enables early-career scientists to conduct high-impact research on pressing environmental issues.

Over 200 UCSB students have received support to date, working on topics from agricultural sustainability to coral bleaching. The 2025-2028 expansion includes additional postdoctoral fellows and a focus on mentorship between senior and junior researchers.

A new field immersion program will send undergraduates to UCSB's Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory for hands-on training. Science communication workshops help fellows translate research for media and public audiences.

The funding comes amid federal cuts to university research, making the program critical for nurturing next-generation environmental leaders.