Book in Common – Rosanna Xia: California Against the Sea: Visions for our Vanishing Coastline

The Book in Common is a shared, community read, designed to promote discussion and understanding of important issues facing the broader community. It is chosen each year by a group of Chico State University and Butte College faculty, staff, students and community members.

Pulitzer Prize finalist and Los Angeles Times environmental journalist Rosanna Xia brings her powerful storytelling to Chico State with California Against the Sea, the 2025–26 Book in Common. Through a compelling blend of science, investigative reporting, and human narrative, Xia explores California’s vanishing coastline, environmental justice, and the fight for community resilience in the face of rising seas. Her award-winning work has been featured in Best American Science and Nature Writing. In this urgent and inspiring lecture, Xia shares stories from Indigenous leaders, scientists, and coastal residents, offering a deeply personal lens on climate change and equity. Whether you’re a student, educator, planner, activist, or simply someone who cares about the future, this unforgettable evening invites us all to engage, reflect, and act.