UC Santa Barbara
Peter Alagona is an associate professor of history, geography, and environmental studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is an environmental historian and historian of science with additional interests and training in cultural geography, conservation biology, and science and technology studies.
Reminder of a 1969 Catastrophe In This Week’s Oil Spill Back in 1969 a pipeline along the Santa Barbara seafloor exploded, releasing millions of gallons of oil into the ocean. Thousands of birds, fish, and marine animals were killed. At the time it was the worst disaster of the kind and was the catalyst for the modern environmental movement, including the first Earth Day a year later. While subsequent spills were even more disastrous, the 1969 spill still reverberates with environmentalists.
Terrorism in London: Lessons for the US This weekend’s terrorist attack in London left seven people dead and almost 50 injured. London police fatally shot the attackers, and ISIS claimed responsibility.
Why did Jared Kushner want a back channel with Russians? News broke Friday that President Trump’s son-in-law and senior advisor, Jared Kushner, tried setting up a back channel between the Trump transition team and the Russian government. What are the consequences for Kushner, President Trump, and the investigation into Russian meddling?
Hua Hsu: A Floating Chinaman Author Hua Hsu stops by to discuss his book A Floating Chinaman, recounting the life of 1930's actor/writer H.T. Tsiang and his struggles entering the American literary world.
How do Trump supporters feel about the Paris Accord? Globally and around the U.S., there are strong opinions whether or not the Paris Climate Accord is a good idea. The American exit is either a horrifying abdication of American leadership or a forceful and long overdue statement about U.S. sovereignty.