The University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) is a public research university on a 1,022-acre coastal campus in Santa Barbara, California, with the Pacific Ocean lagoon at its heart. Founded in 1909, UCSB joined the UC system in 1944. With about 23,000 undergraduate and 3,000 graduate students, UCSB is one of the most distinctive UC campuses for its beachside location. Notable academic strengths include physics (multiple Nobel laureates), engineering, marine biology, environmental sciences, and the Bren School. The Gauchos compete in NCAA Division I in the Big West Conference. UCSB's res…