About

Christina M. Richardson is an Assistant Professor of Cooperative Extension through UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, with an affiliation in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at UC Santa Cruz. She holds a BS in Marine Biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, an MS in Geology and Geophysics from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and a PhD in Earth Sciences from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Her research uses geochemical tracers, ranging from elemental and molecular composition to radioisotopes and stable isotopes, along with chemical sensors and hydrologic measurements, to better understand water, nutrient, and trace element cycling. She applies these tools across diverse landscapes, including systems shaped by wildfire, wastewater, and agriculture, with a focus on understanding impacts and informing practical solutions.