Summer Research Expeditions: UCSD Scientists Explore China and Greenland

This summer, researchers from UC San Diego in La Jolla will be conducting field research in various locations. One such scientist, economist Ruixue Jia, will be traveling through China to gain insights into the economic and cultural landscape of the world’s second most populous nation. Jia will focus on how industries in China are adapting to worker shortages and technological advancements, particularly in the use of robotics.

While engaging in conversations with members of the public, Jia will steer clear of sensitive political topics and instead connect with people on a personal level. She plans to attend music festivals to interact with young people who express themselves through subcultures that explore topics like feminism and LGBT rights, which are otherwise forbidden in public discourse in China.

Meanwhile, oceanographer Fiamma Straneo, from UCSD’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography, will be conducting research off the coast of Greenland. Straneo will be collecting baseline data on ocean temperature and salinity in the northwestern region of the island to better understand the effects of Earth’s warming on glacier ice loss. Her research will involve navigating a research ship through sea ice and glaciers, posing some risks but also offering valuable scientific insights into the interaction between ocean warming and glacier melt.

Straneo’s ultimate goal is to study the impact of ocean warming on Greenland’s glaciers and to strike a balance between conducting cutting-edge scientific research and maintaining safety protocols while working in challenging and remote environments. Through their fieldwork this summer, both Jia and Straneo will contribute valuable knowledge to their respective fields of study.