Learning by doing

Dear Cal alums, parents, and friends,

Urban inequality is often taught through theory and statistics. But for Seth Lunine, a geography lecturer, the most meaningful insights come from spending time with the communities that students are studying, helping them link abstract information to real people.

Lunine’s courses, available through the American Cultures Engaged Scholarship (ACES) program, encourage students to explore topics such as gentrification, criminalization, and community solutions. One class partnered with Oakland’s Canticle Farm, an educational center and urban garden that works at the intersections of faith, social justice, and environmental remediation. The students analyzed old newspaper articles, archeological reports, and city documents to develop story maps representing the site’s history. Their research revealed, for example, how Indigenous peoples cared for the land and the impacts of redlining, a longstanding banking practice that blocked people of color from getting mortgages.

Second-year student Mari Garcia-Vandegrift said the farm project was the best thing she’s been a part of at Berkeley so far. “The ability to participate in something that truly has a healing effect on the things we learn about in class makes me feel a kind of hope that isn't abundant in our current climate,” she said. “Feeling like your contribution isn't insignificant breeds the desire to do more.” 

“A lot of our community-engaged scholarship is novel,” Lunine said. “There’s no template or equation. It’s a lot of learning by doing.”

Lisa García Bedolla, vice provost for graduate studies and an education professor, said in this video that community-engaged research is not the same thing as service learning or traditional research that takes place inside the academic ivory tower. “It’s really about not just going into the community and thinking you can help people,” she said, “but believing that we can’t actually learn without actually including not only the voices but the knowledge of the people in the community.” She shared examples happening across campus.

Not only does this style of research draw upon students’ energy and passion for making a positive difference, it is improving their education and helping to create stronger, more resilient communities. Thank you for supporting research of all kinds.


Fiat Lux,
Chancellor Rich Lyons

Exhibit: Theresa Hak Kyung Cha — Visit BAMPFA to see the largest retrospective to date of the Korean American artist and UC Berkeley alum Theresa Hak Kyung Cha (1951–1982). This multimedia exhibition gathers over 100 artworks across performance art, conceptual art, film, and ceramics, as well as works by other artists she inspired. Related programs include a poetry workshop (Feb. 22), a marathon book reading (Feb. 28), and lectures. Running through April 19. Visit BAMPFA’s website for exhibit and program details. 

Video: A student’s musical journey at Berkeley — A double major in music and chemical biology, Momoka Yanagisawa started playing the violin at age 4 and is the assistant concertmaster of the UC Berkeley Symphony Orchestra. In this video, learn about her musical journey, including being able to play a Pressenda violin made in 1834, and the power of a world-class musical education.