A joyful moment after the ceremony: Dr. Rebecca Vega Thurber smiles with Nobel Laureate and Academy President Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn, who presented her Fellowship certificate. Courtesy Image
The UC Santa Barbara Marine Science Institute is proud to share that Dr. Rebecca Vega Thurber, Professor of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology and Director of the Marine Science Institute, has been elected a Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences.
This prestigious honor, granted by unanimous vote of the Academy’s Board of Trustees, recognizes Dr. Vega Thurber’s outstanding contributions to the advancement of science. Her nomination, initiated by esteemed colleagues who are current Fellows, underwent a rigorous review process conducted by the Fellows Nominations Committee and the Academy’s Science Council.
Fellowship in the California Academy of Sciences is a lifetime appointment and is reserved for individuals whose work significantly enriches scientific understanding and discovery. As a Fellow, Dr. Vega Thurber joins a distinguished community of scientists and thought leaders dedicated to advancing science and sustainability in California and beyond.
The Academy looks forward to Dr. Vega Thurber’s continued insights and engagement as it embarks on a period of institutional transformation and renewal. She was formally recognized at the Academy’s Fellows Annual Meeting on October 7, 2025.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Vega Thurber on this well-deserved recognition of her leadership, scholarship, and impact, and in celebrating her continued dedication to advancing science and promoting marine conservation.
The mission of the California Academy of Sciences is to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration.