UC Santa Barbara is on top of the world – again. In Leiden University’s annual rankings of the 750 best major universities in the world in terms of impact in the sciences, UCSB was listed at No. 7. The university rose one spot from last year.
The Leiden Ranking offers insights into the scientific performance of 750 universities worldwide. A set of bibliometric indicators provides statistics on the scientific impact of the institutions and on their involvement in scientific collaboration. The 2015 ranking is based on Web of Science indexed publications from the 2010-2013 period. The rankings do not rely on subjective data that comes from reputational surveys or on data provided by the universities themselves.
The GradPost asked a few graduate students for their reactions to this prestigious honor. Here’s what they had to say.
Mary Toothman was a semifinalist in the 2015 Grad Slam. Credit: Patricia MarroquinMary Toothman
Ph.D. student, Ecology, Evolution,
and Marine Biology
“Wow, awesome! But I am not surprised. While I participate in just a small bit of the incredible breadth of science research at the university, I am also aware of just how much research there is. I am fortunate to be a member of Cherie Briggs' lab, where we study the ecology of natural populations and communities, usually in response to disease invasion. Cherie holds a Mellichamp Endowed Chair, which places her in a cluster of biologists, engineers, and chemists focused on systems biology. This results in a group of labs studying very different systems from very different disciplines collaborating to solve real world problems, using empirical and theoretical methods. This is important because science can sometimes happen in a bubble, with related work being done in different disciplines, and never linking up. Collaborations like this are one of the main reasons technological, medical, and conservation advancements happen so quickly these days. I am so happy and excited to be a part of it.”
Keith Avery, top, and Dhilung Kirat.
Keith Avery
Computer Science master’s student
“I am very proud to hear that Leiden University has again recognized the excellence of UCSB’s sciences research community. Our community produces truly amazing work that helps shape the scientific world of tomorrow.”
Dhilung Kirat
Computer Science Ph.D. student
“It is a great honor for our university to be placed at No. 7 worldwide in an independent, transparent, and data-driven ranking. It is nice to have historic reputational scores, but what really counts is a measurable present-day impact in the field of sciences. The data says UCSB has excelled in this front in the recent years.”
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For more information, read the Office of Public Affairs and Communications’ news release, the Leiden Ranking page, and the Leiden Ranking list.