In Their Words: Ayesha Peterson

Name: Aysha Petersonayesha Peterson

Department: Environmental Studies

What Scholarship or Award did you receive? David Gaines Award in Environmental Studies

What year are you (1st year, 3rd year)? Ph.D. student, 1st year

College: Graduate Division

Where do you call home? I grew up in Carlisle, MA, but I feel most at home in the Sonoran Desert.

What is your field of focus? I study agroecology with a specific focus on soils.

With all of the choices for college, what made UC Santa Cruz stand out? When I first began pursuing agriculture at a small fruit and vegetable farm near my childhood home, I dreamed of studying at UC Santa Cruz where the agroecology movement has been so fiercely cultivated. Many years later, I was excited to see this movement in action when I made my way to UCSC for the 2016 Sustainable Agriculture Education Association conference. I chose UCSC for the opportunity to work with the many scholars and activists here who advocate for food and land justice.

What do you hope to do once you graduate from UC Santa Cruz? I hope to pursue research at both the farm and community levels, applying my understanding of agricultural soils to support rural communities. I also hope to teach and learn about agroecology as
a professor that collaborates with scholars from other disciplines.

What is one memorable moment that stands out for you as a student here? I will always remember my experience participating in Dig In!, a food justice conference held on March 2, 2018 at Colleges 9 and 10. I was amazed not only by the content of the event but by the structure, as conference-goers were encouraged to be participants rather than audience-members. This collaborative space opened my eyes to a new way of sharing knowledge that I hope to bring into classroom environments.

What does this scholarship/award mean to you? David’s commitment to raising awareness about water sustainability motivates me to consider agricultural water use. The David Gaines Award provides funding so that I can research how novel soil amendments might reduce farmers’ need to irrigate.

For research awards, please include a one paragraph description of your research written for a general audience. Global awareness of freshwater limitation is becoming widespread, with a variety of economic, social, and political pressures encouraging reduced water use in all walks of life. In California’s agricultural systems, this awareness is coupled with increasing uncertainty about climate patterns and rainwater availability. Soil management practices have long been important for crop irrigation due to their ability to mediate water holding and release. My current research project investigates a new soil amendment, biomass-derived charcoal known as “biochar,” which has a huge potential to reduce on-farm water use. Results from this project will contribute to freshwater conservation efforts while simultaneously supporting farmers.

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