The California Air Resources Board, or CARB, has signed memorandums of understanding to work with faculty and students at UC Riverside and other Riverside schools to advance research and inspire students at all levels to learn more about air quality, the impacts of climate change, and CARB’s efforts to clean the air.

In its agreement, the University of California, Riverside notes how both CARB and UCR can leverage their facilities and staffing resources to conduct air quality and climate change research. UC Riverside is already partnering with local school districts and community colleges to offer training programs for local residents to become scientists and technicians in the environmental arena, with an emphasis on educating disadvantaged and underrepresented populations, including women and people of color. The agreement also underscores CARB’s commitment to providing educational opportunities and developing a synergistic relationship with the Riverside community.

The agreements were developed by staff and educators as CARB prepares to move its Southern California headquarters from El Monte to Riverside in early 2021. When completed, the state-of-the-art,  380,000-square-foot building will be home to one of the largest and most advanced vehicle emissions testing and research facilities in the world, offering multiple opportunities for local students to engage in internships and research.  

“The University of California, Riverside has had a long-standing relationship with the California Air Resources Board,” said UCR interim provost and executive vice chancellor Thomas Smith. “With CARB now being a part of the Riverside community, we are excited that UCR’s education pipelines and research partnerships with CARB are poised to grow to a higher level.”

“As the state agency directly responsible for California’s programs to fight global warming and protect public health against air pollution, CARB depends on a scientifically literate public,” said CARB chair Mary Nichols. “From our new Southern California headquarters, we have an opportunity to reach a new generation of people who will be part of this effort, whether as activists, professionals or students. The relationship we are building with the Riverside community through these agreements will serve as a solid foundation for an exciting and fruitful relationship for generations to come.”