Dates: June 22–26, 2026
Location: Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics (KITP), UC Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara, CA)
Housing: San Joaquin Villages, 650 Storke Rd, Goleta, CA 93117
Workshop Online Resources#
Links:
Accommodation and conference shuttles#
UCSB accomodation check-in#
The San Joaquin Village Apartments are located on the corner of Storke and El Colegio Roads at:
650 Storke Road, Goleta, CA 93117
We will be staying in Ramona Court (top right corner of the property).
Attendees will check in at the 24 Hour Front Desk located at the same property in the Santa Catalina South Tower at:
6850 El Colegio Road, Goleta, CA 93117
The Santa Catalina 24 hour front desk phone number is 805-893-7202.
If you are driving, attendees can park temporarily (with a valid parking permit) in a green timezone spot in Lot 59 to check in and get room keys, and then move your car to park overnight/long term: see the section on parking for more info on lots and how to purchase parking passes.
Breakfast#
For those staying at the San Joaquin villages, breakfast will be served 7:30-8:30am at the Portola Dining Commons.
Shuttles to and from KITP#
Shuttles from the the San Joaquin Villages shared apartment complex to KITP will depart at 8:15am and 8:35am. The shuttle pick point is on the road between the Portola Dining Room and Romona Court (see map above). Please make an effort to be on the first shuttle so that we have enough room for everyone to get a ride: it is a 1.8 mile (2.9 km) walk to KITP.
At the end of each day, shuttles will be provided back to San Joaquin.
Dining & groceries#
Weekday breakfasts (for those staying in the San Joaquin villages) and lunches are provided by the workshop. We hope participants will also plan to attend the catered dinners at KITP on Tu/Th, and the beach barbecue (0.4 miles walk from KITP) on Wednesday night. For Sunday/Monday/Friday evenings, participants are at their own leisure.
- Campus and surrounding areas have cafés and restaurants; options increase downtown Santa Barbara. Grocery stores (e.g., Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods) and convenience stores are nearby.
- If you have dietary restrictions, inform organizers (for conference meals).
Parking on campus#
The closest parking lot to the accommodation is Lot 60. You need a permit to park. If the Lot 60 permit is purchased in the online portal (named:Summer Conference (SCH/SJV/SMV) permit) it is also valid in campus visitor lots 18 & 22. (BUT NOT Parking 10, which is the closest to KITP). You should purchase this permit online. If you purchase the physical permit via the dispenser in Lot 60, that permit will only be valid in Lot 60.
Parking Portal Information: https://conferences.ucsb.edu/summer-conferences/attendee-information/guestparking
Permit Dispenser: https://conferences.ucsb.edu/summer-conferences/attendee-information/guestparkingdispenser
Attendees are responsible for their own parking fees, they are not included.
Travel-related#
When should I travel to the workshop?#
We plan 5 full days of programming, and provide 6 nights (arriving Sunday, departing Saturday) of accommodation, so you should plan to arrive in Santa Barbara on Sunday June 21 and leave on Saturday June 27.
Where exactly is the workshop?#
All workshop activities will be in KITP on the UCSB campus, near the lagoon and oceanfront. Most navigation apps will list “Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics” or “KITP UCSB.”
Whom to contact with travel questions?#
Email Zach Eilon ( eilon@ucsb.edu). For urgent local issues during the workshop, a phone number will be provided in the final attendee email.
How should I get to Santa Barbara?#
Air travel options:
- Santa Barbara Airport (SBA): ~5–10 minutes to campus. Most convenient. No international flights, but several links to US air hubs.
- Los Angeles International (LAX): ~90–150 minutes by car depending on traffic.
- San Francisco (SFO): ~5+ hours by car or 1+ hour flight to SBA.
- San Jose (SJC) and Burbank (BUR) are alternatives with longer drives.
Recommended: If available, fly into SBA for the shortest transit. If flying into LAX, allow a large time buffer for LA traffic (often heavy, though not terrible on weekends).
Car pooling from LAX: Car pools can be arranged, read your iSTRUM “Welcome” email for more information.
Ground options from airports: rental car, rideshare (Uber/Lyft), airport shuttles, or private car services. SBA has limited taxis; rideshare is generally reliable.
Ground transportation#
- From SBA: taxi or rideshare to KITP or your hotel; some hotels offer shuttle service. Lyft and Uber both are good options. There are also local taxi companies you can look up.
- From LAX: Santa Barbara Airbus, taxi/rideshare, or rental car. Trains (Amtrak) require transfers and are much slower - avoid (unfortunately).
Train & bus#
- Amtrak trains serve Santa Barbara. Main station is downtown (~15–20 minutes from campus). Some Amtrak routes stop at the Goleta train station (~5-10 minutes from campus). Taxi/rideshare recommended from the station to KITP.
- Regional transit (MTD) serves UCSB; check schedules for local routes between downtown Santa Barbara and campus - there are two express buses for transit to the downtown.
What if I am traveling from overseas?#
International attendees / US arrivals
- Allow extra time for immigration and customs at your arrival airport.
- Bring passport and visa documents (if required). Check current US entry/visa requirements with your consulate well before travel.
- Currency: US dollars. Credit cards are widely accepted. ATMs available in Santa Barbara.
- Power plugs: standard US Type A/B, 120V, 60Hz.
Local logistics & what to pack#
- Time zone: Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) in June.
- Weather in late June: typically mild to warm (60s–70s°F / ~16–25°C) with cool evenings and possible marine layer (fog) in mornings—bring layers. Pack a light jacket and comfortable shoes.
- If you plan to bike, bring a helmet and lock; UCSB is bike-friendly.
What if I have accessibility concerns or special needs?#
KITP and UCSB have accessible facilities. If you have accessibility requirements (mobility, dietary restrictions, interpreter, etc.), notify organizers ahead of time so accommodations can be arranged.
Safety & emergency#
- In an emergency on campus, call UCSB Police/University Police at (+1)805-893-3446 or emergency services at 911
- Nearby hospitals and urgent care centers are in Goleta and Santa Barbara.