Science, Solutions, Santa Cruz

Hosted by Jonathan Hicken, Executive Director of the Seymour Marine Discovery Center, this podcast spotlights groundbreaking research in Santa Cruz, California, and shares actionable, positive environmental news from the region. Featuring in-depth conversations with scientists from UC Santa Cruz and beyond, along with local leaders and environmental experts, the show makes complex science accessible while highlighting real progress and tangible solutions protecting our unique coastal community.

Science, Solutions, Santa Cruz is a education podcast hosted by Jonathan Hicken, with 34 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Jonathan Hicken hosts Science, Solutions, Santa Cruz, a education show with 34 episodes published.

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  Episode #34

  Fires, Floods, Earthquakes, & Storms with Dave Reid

  Sep 23, 20261 hour

  Santa Cruz County faces wildfire, floods, earthquakes, and coastal storms nearly every year. Dave Reid, director of the Office of Response, Recovery and Resilience, explains how local leaders prepare for disasters, coordinate emergency responses, and help communities like Santa Cruz rebuild after catastrophic events. He shares lessons from the CZU fire, the power of Cruz Aware alerts, and the difficult choices behind Measure Q investments in wildfire reduction, water, parks, and infrastructure. This conversation explores natural disasters, evacuation planning, grant funding, everyday preparedness, and offers practical ways residents can protect their households while strengthening the resilience of the entire community over time. Sign up for Cruz Aware alerts at Login | CruzAware Portal and learn more about Measure Q funding at Measure Q Funding Distribution ! Chapters: 00:00 — Why Santa Cruz County Needs Disaster Readiness 01:24 — Building a New Office After the CZU Fire 03:21 — Rebuilding the Community’s Disaster Memory 06:15 — How Cruz Aware Alerts Protect Residents 08:57 — What Response, Recovery, and Resilience Mean 13:54 — Why Disaster Recovery Takes Years 18:35 — Prioritizing Limited Resources 24:23 — Making Wildfire Projects “Shovel Ready” 37:08 — Measure Q and the Future of Resilience Funding 54:36 — What Residents Can Do to Prepare Now

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  Episode #33

  Sunflower Stars, the Urchin Roombas with Reuven Bank and Andrew Kim

  Sep 16, 202656 min

  Description: California’s kelp forests are in crisis, but an unexpected solution may be making a comeback: the sunflower star, a giant sea star that once helped keep urchin populations in check and kelp forests healthy. In this episode, Reuven Bank and Andrew Kim of the Sunflower Star Laboratory explain how their grassroots conservation effort grew from a volunteer project in a garage into a serious scientific initiative.They discuss the devastating effects of sea star wasting disease, marine heat waves, and unchecked urchin populations, along with the sunflower star’s unique role as a keystone predator. They also explore why restoration must move quickly but responsibly, including the importance of genetic diversity, permitting, survivorship studies, and long-term funding. If you want to donate or learn more about Reuven and Andrew’s work, go to sunflowerstarlab.org ! Chapters: 00:00 - Meet the Sunflower Star Recovery Team 01:45 - From Garage Startup to Conservation Lab 05:47 - What Caused California’s Kelp Decline? 08:22 - Why Sunflower Stars Matter 16:41 - Raising Sea Stars in the Laboratory 20:48 - How Sunflower Stars Reproduce 24:20 - Preparing for Responsible Restoration 26:28 - Outplanting Experiments in Monterey Bay 46:12 - New Tools for Conservation 52:55 - How Everyone Can Help

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  Episode #32

  Santa Cruz Surfing Turned into Climate Strategy with Nik Strong-Cvetich

  Sep 9, 202658 min

  Description: What if a surf break was more than a wave? Nik Strong- Cvetich reveals why surf ecosystems are worth protecting, how they shape local economies, and why Santa Cruz could become a model for coastal conservation everywhere. Save the Waves CEO Nik Strong-Cvetich unpacks the idea behind a newly defined category: the surf ecosystem. It is not just the break itself, but the geology that creates it, the marine life it supports, and the community built around it. That definition is already helping conservationists make the case for policy, stewardship, and climate planning in Santa Cruz and beyond. Nik also shares how Save the Waves uses coalition-building, research, and local partnerships to protect surf-dependent places in places like Peru, Costa Rica, Indonesia, Chile, and California. Along the way, he explains why Cowells Beach went from one of the dirtiest beaches in the state to a stewardship success story, how innovative insurance ideas could one day fund reef and coastline restoration, and how surf communities in Santa Cruz and across the world are fighting climate change. Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction to Nik Strong Cvetich and Save The Waves 02:22 - Defining the term “surf ecosystems” 05:34 - How local communities fit into surf ecosystems 09:19 - What real protection requires: coalition, policy, and stewardship 13:12 - How sea level rise and infrastructure can reduce surfability 14:50 - Climate uncertainty, El Niño, and why surfer observations matter 20:23 - How Save the Waves is thinking about long term stewardship funding 31:15 - Generational knowledge and in surf communities 33:27 - Awards, innovation recognition, and what matters most to the mission 39:31 - Why impact matters more than recognition 43:38 - What’s next in Santa Cruz, Malibu, and across California 47:53 - Future projects across the world 51:26 - Why surfers and other users of wild places can be conservation allies 55:51 - How listeners can get involved with Save the Waves

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  Episode #31

  Sarah Gerhardt’s Life Lessons in Chemistry and Big Wave Surfing

  Sep 2, 202657 min

  Prepared to feel charmed by chemistry professor and big wave surfer Sarah Gerhardt in this episode. Sarah steps into her role as a teacher in this conversation to walk listeners through the itty bitty, nitty gritty details of how materials we interact with every day are just miraculous strings of molecules that shape our lives. As the first woman to ride the giant waves of Mavericks, Sarah knows the importance of a good wetsuit. She breaks down the science of neoprene and reflects on the evolution of gear she’s used across a lifetime of cold water surfing. Sarah also shares how surfing has carried her through the challenges of life, from caring for a parent with muscular dystrophy to navigating the world of academia and becoming a parent herself. Her infectious enthusiasm for paddling into waves and talking about polymers is driven by her unshakable sense of wonder and curiosity. For lessons on life and chemistry, lock in for the full episode today. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Dr. Sarah Gerhart and her dual passions for surfing and science 01:30 First surfing experiences and the significance of that moment 03:13 Challenges with wetsuit fit and the evolution of wetsuit technology 05:27 The chemistry of wetsuits: polymers, natural rubber, and materials science 07:32 Surfers' ear: causes, effects, and protective strategies 09:48 History and innovation in wetsuit materials, including neoprene 11:09 The chemistry of polymers and natural plastics in wetsuit development 16:30 Environmental issues: microplastics, forever chemicals, and sustainability 21:00 The impact of oil-based polymers and efforts for eco-friendly wetsuits 24:59 Community and industry efforts toward sustainable wetsuit production 28:53 The intersection of science, surfing, and community in Santa Cruz 33:42 The role of wisdom, fear, and curiosity in big wave surfing 37:24 The cultural and community identity of Santa Cruz and its connection to nature 41:24 The importance of humility, diverse knowledge, and community collaboration 45:45 The motivation behind the podcast and the role of science in community solutions 52:09 Closing remarks and appreciation for the guest Keywords: surfing, wetsuits, ocean science, sustainability, Santa Cruz, marine biology, polymers, climate resilience

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  Episode #30

  Flying Drones to Monitor Air Quality with Javier González-Rocha

  Aug 26, 202659 min

  Javier González-Rocha grew up with his feet on Watsonville soil and his mind on aerospace engineering. He knew from an early age that he wanted to apply his penchant for math and science to helping people and solving real world problems. Now a professor of applied mathematics at UCSC, Javier’s research focuses on designing drones that can improve measurements of air quality in agricultural areas. Growing up in a family of farmworkers inspires him to work closely with Pájaro Valley community groups like Regeneración and the Center for Community Advocacy in Salinas to ensure that people can access and understand the data he collects. Javier joined us in the studio to chat about gaps in air quality data following events like the CZU fires and the Vistra battery storage fire, how climate and seasonal changes affect the behavior of particles in the air, and what it feels like to “win the lottery” by having an academic career in his hometown. He also discusses opportunities for high school and undergraduate students to get involved with his research. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Javier González-Rocha and his work in Watsonville 02:12 The origin of the ATMOS lab and its mission 04:35 Using drones to measure wind and atmospheric conditions 07:03 The potential of drone-based sensing for community health 08:46 Personal motivations and lived experiences shaping the research 13:13 Air quality issues in agricultural communities 16:13 Monitoring air pollution during wildfires and prescribed burns 19:54 Findings on particulate matter and health impacts 22:21 Understanding pollution patterns and community perceptions 27:52 Sensor deployment, calibration, and data challenges 36:49 Future directions: policy, community engagement, and technology innovation Keywords: air quality, drones, environmental monitoring, community health, Pajaro Valley, UC Santa Cruz, air pollution, sensor technology, climate resilience

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