THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF URBAN ECOLOGY AT CAL STATE LA
A one-day event that brings together scholars, students, and community partners to explore how urban environments are shaped by history, current practices, and future possibilities. Through a keynote address, interdisciplinary panels, and interactive discussions, the program examines topics such as historical landscapes, contemporary biodiversity, Indigenous knowledge and seed stewardship, and student-led environmental initiatives.
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 | 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Golden Eagle Ballrooms
California State University, Los Angeles
5151 State University Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90032
Confirm your attendance by 5 p.m. on Friday, May 1, 2026 by clicking on the Register Here button. Lunch will be provided to attendees who registered to attend while supplies last.
Questions about the event? Contact the College of Natural and Social Sciences at [email protected].
Schedule of Events
T U E S D A Y, MAY 5, 2 0 2 6
Location:
Meet at the Golden Eagle Statue by 8:00 a.m.
University Main Walkway by University Library
Dr. Eric Wood will guide students, faculty, and guests on an immersive bird-watching experience, showcasing the diverse and vibrant bird species that call Cal State LA home. This guided tour offers a unique opportunity to observe these birds in their natural habitat and learn about their role in the campus ecosystem.
Location:
Golden Eagle Ballrooms
Golden Eagle Building, 3rd floor
9:00 – 9:30 AM
Coffee and Check-In
9:30 – 9:45 AM
Welcome Remarks
Urban Ecology Center Co-Directors, Dean, Provost, and President
9:45 – 10:45 AM
Keynote Address: Past to Present
Emily Roehl (Keynote presentation followed by moderated Q&A)
10:45 – 11:00 AM
Break
Location:
Golden Eagle Ballrooms
Golden Eagle Building, 3rd floor
Panel 1: Seeing the Past with the Present: Mapping Contemporary Biodiversity onto Historical Landscapes
- Travis Longcore (Historical Ecology)
- Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (Contemporary Biodiversity)
- Moderated Q&A
Location:
Golden Eagle Ballrooms
Golden Eagle Building, 3rd floor
Lunch* and Student Organization Tabling
Featuring student groups and campus organizations
* Lunch will only be provided to attendees who registered to attend, or while supplies last.
Location:
Golden Eagle Ballrooms
Golden Eagle Building, 3rd floor
Panel 2: Seed Libraries and Indigenous Recovery: Land Memory, Loss, and Renewal
- Nina Raj, Altadena Seed Library
- Jesus Escandon, Cal State LA (artist, archivist, and seed librarian)
- Moderated Q&A
Location:
Golden Eagle Ballrooms
Golden Eagle Building, 3rd floor
Panel 3: How Does the Environment Sustain Us? Students, Nature, and the Urban Ecology Future of Cal State LA
- Edin Madrid, Cal State LA (Project Rebound / GreenGrow partnerships)
- Alec Zapata, Cal State LA (Wildlife Cam initiative; Environmental Justice Club)
- Extended moderated Q&A
Location:
Golden Eagle Ballrooms
Golden Eagle Building, 3rd floor
Closing Discussion
Panel moderators with audience discussion
Location:
Los Angeles Rooms
University-Student Union, 3rd floor
Reception and Research Showcase
Student and faculty poster session and networking