Leander Anderegg, Kelly Caylor, and David Valentine recipients of recognition from the American Geophysical Union. Photo Credit: UC Santa Barbara
Three UC Santa Barbara researchers have been recognized this year by the American Geophysical Union (AGU) for their contributions to Earth and environmental science.
Photo Credit: Ingrid Bostrom, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
David Valentine: Science Beyond the Lab
David Valentine, a professor of Earth Science and a Principal Investigator at UCSB’s Marine Science Institute, received the 2026 AGU Ambassador Award, recognizing contributions to scientific leadership, service, societal impact and the development of talent. He was also selected to deliver the William S. and Carelyn Y. Reeburgh Lecture, which honors contributions to global biogeochemistry and marine geochemistry.
Valentine studies the ecology and biochemistry of hydrocarbons, including natural oil seeps in the Santa Barbara Channel. His expertise has also contributed to investigations of major oil spills, including Deepwater Horizon and Refugio.
His research into toxic waste dumped off Southern California helped lead to Out of Plain Sight, an award-winning documentary about the discovery and investigation of DDT contamination along the Southern California coast.
For Valentine, the Ambassador Award reflects not only scientific discovery but also the responsibility of researchers to explain their work and its broader significance to the public. Science communication has become an important part of his career, and he encourages his students to develop their own approaches to communicating science.
His mentorship emphasizes independence and support, allowing students to take ownership of their research and careers. His approach was influenced in part by his own mentor, William Reeburgh, making the Reeburgh Lecture especially meaningful.
Leander Anderegg: Plants in a Changing Climate
Leander Anderegg, an assistant professor and Principal Investigator at the Marine Science Institute, received the James B. Macelwane Medal, which recognizes significant achievements by early-career Earth and space scientists.
Anderegg studies how plants respond to climate change and how variation within plant species affects ecosystem resilience. His research examines how much plants can adjust to changing environmental conditions and what happens when they reach their limits.
His work can also help inform land management, including efforts to identify areas where plants are particularly vulnerable to drought and where restoration or other interventions may be most beneficial.
Kelly Caylor: Science Where It Matters
Kelly Caylor, a professor of Geography and the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management and UCSB’s associate vice chancellor for research, innovation and entrepreneurship, was elected an AGU Fellow for 2026.
Caylor’s research focuses on dryland ecosystems, particularly in East and Southern Africa. His work explores how climate and environmental changes affect ecosystems and the people whose livelihoods depend on them.
Over the course of his career, his research has expanded from plant and ecosystem science to collaborations involving human geography, economics and social science, reflecting the close relationship between environmental systems and the communities that depend on them.
Celebrating UCSB’s Researchers
The three honors recognize different stages and dimensions of scientific achievement—from Valentine’s leadership and public engagement to Anderegg’s early-career research and Caylor’s sustained contributions to Earth and environmental science.
Congratulations to David Valentine, Leander Anderegg and Kelly Caylor on these well-deserved recognitions and on their continued contributions to science, their students and the broader community.
Adapted from original reporting by Harrison Tasoff, “Three UCSB researchers recognized for contributions to the earth sciences,” The Current, UC Santa Barbara, 2026.