Anne and Nestor stand on opposite sides of a Southwest Regional Food Business Center poster describing the project, its impact and how federal disruptions harm California.
ANR Employee News
Article

UC rallies for California scientific research support

  • May 29, 2026
  • By Pamela S Kan-Rice
President Milliken, wearing a suit, speaks into mic as Scott Weiner looks on. A sign on the lectern reads, "Save Science."
UC President James B. Milliken, left, joined by California State Senator Scott Wiener, right, speaks about the impact that California’s investment in research has on California’s prosperity and global leadership.

Hundreds of people gathered in Sacramento on May 4 at the Rally for California Science. UC President James B. Milliken joined California State Senator Scott Wiener and United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain to urge lawmakers to pass SB 895, the California Science and Health Research Bond Act. This bipartisan legislation would place on the November 2026 ballot a $12 billion bond to fund scientific research across California.

Milliken shared remarks about the impact that California’s investment in research has on California’s prosperity and global leadership.

Anne and Nestor stand on opposite sides of a Southwest Regional Food Business Center poster describing the project, its impact and how federal disruptions harm California.
Anne Megaro and Nestor Lopez explained how the Southwest Regional Food Business Center helped small farms and food businesses by providing advice and grants before federal funding for it was terminated.

Anne Megaro, government relations director; Hannah Thompson, Nutrition Policy Institute director; Keith Taylor, associate professor of Cooperative Extension for community economic development; and Nestor Lopez, assistant director for government and community relations, attended the Rally for California Science in Sacramento. 

Rally participants advocated for lawmakers to help protect critical UC science and research. Attendees highlighted multiple projects that have recently lost funding, including UC ANR’s Southwest Regional Food Business Center. 

Hannah Thompson poses with Capitol behind her
Hannah Thompson visited legislative offices to discuss how Californians would benefit from SB 895 helping to fund research.

After hearing from researchers and President Milliken, the UC ANR team visited 120 legislators’ offices to share the impact of UC agricultural research and how SB 895 would help safeguard this work by funding open, competitive, peer‑reviewed research.