Long Beach State - College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Check out our May Research Snapshot, Dr. Jillian Pearse 🌋

Dr. Pearse and her student researchers focus on the broad area of Geophysics. Rooted in understanding the dynamics of our planet, including how mountains and basins are formed and evolve, and how volcanoes, earthquakes and landslides work, they also want to understand and look for solutions to some of the environmental challenges that we face, including ground subsidence from the extraction of water and energy resources, and changes to vegetation and soil from farming, mining, climate change and wildfires...

Learn more about Dr. Pearse's research here: https://www.csulb.edu/college-of-natural-sciences-and-mathematics/research/article/dr-jillian-pearse-may-2026-snapshot

Huge congratulations to the CNSM Student Council, which was recently awarded the Outstanding Event of the Year award for our Nobel Laureate event at the annual Celebration of Leadership hosted by the Lois J. Swanson Leadership Resource Center and Student Development!!

Student Council did an amazing job organizing and hosting this year's Laureate Lecture, featuring Physics Nobel Laureate Dr. Carl Wieman, and have set the stage for many great events to come!

If you missed the Laureate Lecture, you can watch Dr. Wieman's talk here: https://www.csulb.edu/college-of-natural-sciences-and-mathematics/laureate-lecturer-series

Nothing about the instructions sounds like a science lecture: "Get closer. Scrunch together. Now travel. Disperse."

Yet, standing in the middle of Studio 6 of the CSULB Dance Building, a group of physics students are taking these cues as they clasp hands and move in a rippling circle — an attempt to improvise a density wave. This is, as it turns out, a living model of what gives spiral galaxies their shape.

"Almost every star in the galaxy will pass through a spiral arm at some point," Physics and Astronomy Professor Joel Zinn tells the students. "The arm isn't made of the same stars. . . . It's more like a traffic jam."...

Read more about how CNSM professor Joel Zinn is bridging the gap between art and science in this revolutionary collaboration here: https://www.csulb.edu/news/article/where-astronomy-meets-the-dance-floor-csulbs-boldest-new-course

Check out our April Research Snapshot, Chemistry & Biochemistry's Dr. Vas Narayanaswami!

Dr. Vas and her research students employ a powerful combination of biochemical, biophysical, and cell biological approaches to understand events occurring at the neurovascular junction, the findings from which have potential to aid in devising therapeutic intervention strategies to treat Alzheimer's and other cerebrovascular diseases...

Learn more about Dr. Vas and her research here: https://www.csulb.edu/college-of-natural-sciences-and-mathematics/research/article/dr-vas-narayanaswami-april-2026

Dr. Benjamin Perlman, a lecturer in the Biological Sciences department, and his team of researchers in the STABB (Stingray and Butterfly Biomechanics) Lab study stingray behaviors and putting science to the “stingray shuffle”.

Some projects include descriptions of how round stingrays bury themselves in the sand to hide from predators like sharks, and how different water temperatures might affect a stingray’s ability to swim away when a person accidentally steps on them. STABB Lab use high-speed cameras, computer software, 3D printers...

Read more about STABB Lab and the Stingray Shuffle here: https://www.csulb.edu/college-of-natural-sciences-and-mathematics/research/cnsm-research-snapshots

A huge congrats to CNSM, and Whitcraft Mud Lab, alum, Dr. Rachel Wigginton who was recently appointed by the governor of California to Special Assistant for Planning and Science for the Delta Stewardship Council!

“This role is unique, providing dedicated leadership to our interagency coordination efforts,” said Executive Officer Jessica R. Pearson. “With her strong scientific background and experience working for two of our sister agencies, Rachel will play an essential role in coordinating and accelerating Delta Plan implementation efforts across the network of agencies that help us advance the state’s coequal goals for the Delta.”

We are so proud to see our CNSM grads making a difference in the world!!!

Read more about Rachel's appointment here:https://deltacouncil.ca.gov/pdf/news-release/2026-02-03-rachel-wigginton-appointed-special-assistant-for-planning-and-science.pdf

Check out our February Research Snapshot, Mathematics and Statistics Assistant Professor, Dr. Kathryn McCormick ➗🧮

If you've taken a high school science class, you've probably been exposed a little to what research looks like in the lab sciences, but most people don't have a picture in their heads of what theoretical mathematics research is (or even know that it exists)...

Learn more about Dr. McCormick's research here: https://www.csulb.edu/college-of-natural-sciences-and-mathematics/research/article/dr-kathryn-mccormick-february-2026

Join the CNSM DEIA Committee for a discussion about how to make Science & Math at the Beach more equitable and inclusive!

We will meet in HSCI-156 from 12-1pm on Wednesday, February 18 for conversation and pizza lunch 🎙️ 🍕

Listen to this 15-minute podcast episode before the meeting. If you aren’t able to listen, please join in the conversation anyway!

More information and podcast link here: https://www.csulb.edu/college-of-natural-sciences-and-mathematics/event/podcast-discussion-want-to-dismantle-racism

Research doesn't stop just because the semester is over!

Over the break Earth Science graduate student Hannah Fitzpatrick joined professors Matt Becker and Ben Hagedorn in French Polynesia to install 14 temporary monitoring wells, and gave us an inside look at what it's like to be an Earth Science researcher here in CNSM 🌴

"Just getting to Tetiaroa is part of the experience. The journey began with an eight-hour flight, followed by a two-hour ferry ride that stopped just outside the reef..."

Read more of Hannah's story here: https://www.csulb.edu/college-of-natural-sciences-and-mathematics/article/winter-break-means-more-just-relaxing-for-cnsm

So many great events and workshops this month from the Faculty Center!!

-Wed Feb 4, 9:00am-10:30pm 121A: Coffee and Community at CSULB’s Shark Lab

Please join us for a tour of the Lab followed by coffee and light breakfast.

Register here: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=m2d10dOsREa-gq8EGYKXegvpj0JRPwpCjcvojSkU5olUM0FXMDJVVk1NM0tYUFE0VEFIVTBFQ1kxNCQlQCNjPTEu&route=shorturl


-Thurs Feb 5, 12:30pm-2:30pm, Anatol Center: Finding and Winning Research Funding Workshop

Lunch included

Register here: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=m2d10dOsREa-gq8EGYKXegvpj0JRPwpCjcvojSkU5olUQ0sxUTY5VVJHTlg4MFQ5NUtCNjhETk5PUyQlQCNjPTEu&route=shorturl

-Thursday Feb 12, 10am-2pm, Anatol Center: Collaboration Through Movement led by Sharna Fabiano, Theater Arts

Includes Lunch catered by Bai Plu Thai

Space is limited!

Register here: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=m2d10dOsREa-gq8EGYKXegvpj0JRPwpCjcvojSkU5olUN0JOMDNZNlBVSjA1TUMxUzlYVzdUQlJMMiQlQCNjPTEu


-Fri Feb 27, 12:00pm-3:00pm, Anatol Center: Zine Making as Slow Scholarship

Facilitated by Dr. Sharla Berry, College of Education

Lunch included

Register here: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=m2d10dOsREa-gq8EGYKXegvpj0JRPwpCjcvojSkU5olURU1COEc1SVhITEszSjkwNkNJTFo3VUY3MyQlQCNjPTEu&route=shorturl