Crystal Cove Conservancy invites you to a thought-provoking evening exploring the intersection of ecology and engineering.

Join us Thursday, July 10, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., featuring a conversation between Kate Wheeler, president & CEO of Crystal Cove Conservancy and Dr. Magnus Egerstedt, dean of engineering at UC Irvine and director of the UCI Robot Ecology Lab.

Together, they will discuss the groundbreaking research behind RaccoonBot—a solar-powered, bio-inspired robot now operating at Crystal Cove State Park. Designed in collaboration with UCI’s Robot Ecology Lab, RaccoonBot is helping scientists and educators better understand ecological changes through innovative robotics modeled after natural behaviors found in species such as birds, fish, and sloths.

This evening will offer insights into how nature can inform advanced technologies and how cross-disciplinary partnerships can lead to impactful conservation solutions. Guests will learn how this collaborative project is enhancing environmental monitoring efforts and advancing hands-on STEM education for students across Southern California.

When: Thursday, July 10, 2025
Price: $15 for non-members, $10 for members
Time: 5:30PM to 7:30PM
Where: Education Commons in the Crystal Cove State Park Historic District (Across the creek from the Bootlegger Bar)
Parking: Please park in the Los Trancos Parking Lot across PCH. There will be a $15 Day Use fee per vehicle; free with State Parks annual pass.

Event Schedule:
5:30-6:30PM: Guest welcome, Presentation and interview style discussion, audience Q&A
6:30-7:30PM: Reception with light bites and drinks until the sun sets

Sign-up using the form below. 

About 

Dr. Magnus Egerstedt is the Dean of Engineering and a Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of California, Irvine. Prior to joining UCI, Egerstedt was on the faculty at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He received the M.S. degree in Engineering Physics and the Ph.D. degree in Applied Mathematics from the Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden, the B.A. degree in Philosophy from Stockholm University, and was a Postdoctoral Scholar at Harvard University. Dr. Egerstedt conducts research in the areas of control theory and robotics, with particular focus on control and coordination of multi-robot systems. Magnus Egerstedt is a Fellow of IEEE and IFAC, and is a Foreign member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Science. He has received a number of teaching and research awards, including the Ragazzini Award, the O. Hugo Schuck Best Paper Award, the Georgia Tech Outstanding Doctoral Advisor Award, and the Alumni of the Year Award from the Royal Institute of Technology.