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News + Events

 

The Department of Urban Studies and Planning is always evolving. Check back often for department news and events. For students, please check the DUSP blog for the latest information on department and affiliated student organization events.

 

 

 

Recent Updates

Take Me to the Water: Histories of the Black Pacific DUSP Faculty Caroline Collins’ exhibition highlights the lives of Black mariners who helped shape the maritime world across the Pacific, whose stories often go unrecognized. The exhibition will open on Memorial Day weekend. Opens May 23, 2026 at Maritime Museum of San Diego. Image description: Historical photo of Black mariners on a ship.

 

DUSP Faculty Caroline Collins spotlighted by San Diego ART Matters, "highlighting women working in the GLAM community - galleries, libraries, archives, and museums". Image description: Collins conducting archival research for Take Me to the Water in the Alaska State Archives. Photo credit: Caroline Collins.

 

Climate Reparations for Climate Disasters: A View from Architectural History A public talk with Esra Akcan, Professor of Architecture at Cornell University. Light refreshments will be provided. Thursday, Apr 23, 2026, 11am-2pm at RWAC 0116

  

Snapdragon Stadium Site Tour DUSP partnered with CREW San Diego's UCREW and CREW Careers committees on an engaging site tour and networking mixer at Snapdragon Stadium. Around 75 attendees were able to hear about the stadium's development, tour the site, and connect with CREW members. Special thanks to the CREW committee members and to JD Wicker for leading a great tour. Held on: Feb 5, 2026 at Snapdragon Stadium. Image description: Students sitting in Snapdragon Stadium, listening to a speaker.

 

UCSD Triton Center Site Tour DUSP students were able to return to UC San Diego's Triton Center development with a site tour hosted by McCarthy. Special thanks to RED Advisory Board member Suzy Cruden, Senior Vice President of Strategy for McCarthy’s Southern Pacific Region, for arranging the tour and to Mitchell Shibley, Senior Project Manager, for leading the tour along with other McCarthy staff. Held on Jan 16, 2026 at UCSD Triton Center. Image description: Students walking in hard hats and orange vests through on-going construction of UCSD Triton Center.

 

16th Annual NAIOP University Challenge: The NAIOP University Challenge invites student teams from UCSD, USD, and SDSU to participate in a business case study real estate competition on proposed site in San Diego county, judged by a panel of senior level real estate professionals. Wed, Apr 22, 2026, 3-6:30pm in Torrey Pines.

 

 

 

News

DUSP Faculty Caroline Collins spotlighted by San Diego ART Matters, "highlighting women working in the GLAM community - galleries, libraries, archives, and museums". Image description: Collins conducting archival research for Take Me to the Water in the Alaska State Archives. Photo credit: Caroline Collins.

 

DUSP faculty Wali named World's Top 2% scientists.

 

DUSP faculty Velasco named FAICP.

 

 DUSP Faculty Caroline Collins' project "Black Like Water" highlighting histories of exclusions along coasts, featured by BBC. his BBC story features UC San Diego's Black Like Water (co-founded and co-led by Caroline Collins, Assistant Professor of Social and Spatial Justice, Department of Urban Studies and Planning). Black Like Water is open to all UC San Diego affiliates who are interested in studying Black and African Diaspora relationships to land and water. Black Like Water is a scholarly research collaboration between Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the 8 Colleges, the Black Resource Center, UC San Diego Recreation, UC San Diego Outback Adventures, Black Diaspora and African American Studies Program, and the Office of the Vice Chancellor of Transformational Organization.

 

DUSP faculty Frank featured in "The Talking Headways" podcast. Real Estate and Development undergraduate program featured in "Practical Pathways."

 

 

Invited Speakers

Esra Akcan's talk, "Climate Reparations for Climate Disasters: A View from Architectural History," will take place on April 23rd from 11am-12pm in the Climate Action Lab.

 

 

 

Replumbing the City Event 

 

 

Events

"Take Me to the Water: Histories of the Black Pacific" DUSP Faculty Caroline Collins’ exhibition highlights the lives of Black mariners who helped shape the maritime world across the Pacific, whose stories often go unrecognized. The exhibition will open on Memorial Day weekend. Opens May 23rd, 2026 at the Maritime Museum of San Diego. 

Esra Akcan's talk, "Climate Reparations for Climate Disasters: A View from Architectural History," will take place on April 23rd from 11am-12pm in the Climate Action Lab.

 

Position 1 

16th Annual NAIOP University Challenge will take place on April 22nd from 3-7pm in Torrey Pines.

 

Climate Action Day will be held on March 6, 2026, from 9am-3pm at Sixth College.  

Replumbing the City Event