With a federal plan updating oil and gas drilling rules on Central Coast public lands now open for public comment, attention in Santa Cruz County has turned to whether any local federal lands could be vulnerable to drilling.
Cassidy Beach
Originally from the Midwest, Cassidy earned her bachelor of science degree in earth and environmental science, with a minor in oceanography, from the University of Michigan. She had the opportunity to conduct hands-on research across the country, from spearing lionfish in the Caribbean Sea to collecting water chemistry samples in the Great Lakes. Through these experiences, she discovered her passion for making science feel tangible and relevant to everyday life.
Eventually shifting into communication work with the hope of making science more accessible to the public, she gained experience in community-based conservation education and even spent a spring teaching science programs aboard a sailboat.
Now a master’s degree student in science communication at UC Santa Cruz and an intern with Lookout, she uses her storytelling abilities to highlight the complex relationships between humans and the natural world. She is particularly drawn to stories that reveal the hidden dynamics of coastal ecosystems and the people working to protect them.
Posted inLatest News
Ask Lookout: Why are beach hazards more frequent and dangerous in winter?
Storms in the North Pacific Ocean deliver sneaker waves, rip currents and longshore currents to Santa Cruz County’s shores in winter, making it a dangerous time for beachgoers.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Exploring hidden light: Steven Haddock brings ocean’s radiant secrets to life
In “The Radiant Sea,” scientists from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute bring together a lifetime of research and photography of deep-sea creatures. A book event Friday will dive into the role of light in the ocean’s depths with a presentation, demonstration, videos and a Q&A session.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Santa Cruz County doubles down on opposition to federal offshore drilling plan
Santa Cruz County made its opposition to offshore drilling official, with a letter to the Interior Department and pleas to the public to get involved to stop the Trump administration’s move to drill off the coast of California.
Posted inHousing & Development
Santa Cruz County opens seasonal groundwater testing window
Santa Cruz County has opened its annual groundwater monitoring period for properties that rely on on-site wastewater treatment systems. The testing period runs through Jan. 31.