Graduate Student News

A special look into art exhibition Seeing through Stone

August 27, 2024

For First Friday this September 6, Director and Chief Curator, Dr. Rachel Nelson will give a special curator-led walk-through of the major Visualizing Abolition exhibition, Seeing through Stone, at the UC Santa Cruz Institute of the Arts and Sciences Gallery on the Westside of Santa Cruz.

Planned power outage on residential campus on Saturday, September 7

August 27, 2024

UC Santa Cruz will experience a planned power outage Saturday, September 7, from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Planned power outage on residential campus on Saturday, September 7

August 27, 2024

UC Santa Cruz will experience a planned power outage Saturday, September 7, from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Distinguished Arts and History of Consciousness Professor Sir Isaac Julien elected as a Fellow of the British Academy

August 26, 2024

Sir Isaac Julien, University of California, Santa Cruz Distinguished Professor of the Arts and Humanities, has been named a Fellow of the British Academy, joining a prestigious group whose past members include Sir Winston Churchill and the celebrated poet and playwright Seamus Haney.

Bear DNA study to measure impact of conservation actions on genetic diversity

August 20, 2024

The National Science Foundation will fund research at UC Santa Cruz that will examine the DNA of brown bears in the lower 48 states, where the iconic beast’s numbers have seen catastrophic declines over the last century.

Update on campus budget

August 20, 2024

An update on our fiscal year 2025 budget and our continued work to address our structural deficit in core funds.

Singing from memory unlocks a surprisingly common musical superpower

August 14, 2024

UC Santa Cruz psychologists studied “earworms,” the types of songs that get stuck in your head and play automatically on a loop, to show that highly accurate pitch memory is much more common than might be expected.

UC Santa Cruz hosts HSRU Alliance conference to support Hispanic women in physical sciences and engineering

August 13, 2024

UC Santa Cruz hosted graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, faculty, and staff from HSRU member institutions for a conference focused on supporting the success of Hispanic women in academic and professional physical science and engineering careers.

UCSC alumni awarded large NSF grant to grow virtual reality physical rehabilitation startup Immergo Labs

August 13, 2024

The National Science Foundation awarded three Baskin Engineering alumni with a $1,000,000 Small Business Innovation Research grant to support the research and development of an extended reality platform for full-body physical rehabilitation.

Annual event at Lick Observatory links modern astronomy to native perspectives

August 9, 2024

In collaboration with the UC Santa Cruz American Indian Resource Center, the University of California Observatories (UCO) recently hosted the second annual Native Star Stories Night at Lick Observatory. Held this year on May 9, the special event is intended to show that this traditional way of engaging with the cosmos remains as relevant and valuable today to indigenous communities as it was thousands of years ago.

Endangered Santa Cruz salamander featured in National Geographic photo project

August 9, 2024

National Geographic Explorer and photographer Joel Sartore visited the Coastal Science Campus to take pictures of the Santa Cruz long-toed salamander, one of many endangered species that UC Santa Cruz researchers are working hard to save.

Fall 2024 exhibition highlights at UCSC’s Institute of the Arts and Sciences

August 7, 2024

The Institute of the Arts and Sciences (IAS) is pleased to announce exhibitions and events for Fall 2024, including the multi-sited exhibition Seeing through Stone, performances by sound artists, along with many other events.

Preparing California’s agricultural lands for climate change

August 7, 2024

Two UC Santa Cruz researchers won a total of more than $1.5 million in federal funding for their research that's helping to create sustainable "agroecosystems" in response to climate change and other increased environmental pressures.

Investigation into fatal bus crash concludes

August 6, 2024

Investigators concluded there was no evidence of any pre-existing mechanical conditions or failures of the bus that would have contributed to the crash or any direct evidence of any distraction.

Investigation concludes in fatal bus crash

August 6, 2024

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department has concluded its investigation of the Dec. 12, 2023, bus crash that resulted in the death of TAPS driver Dan Stevenson and moderate to severe injuries to the five students on board.

New research led by UC Santa Cruz fellow outlines framework for mainstreaming nature in U.S. federal policy

August 1, 2024

Our communities must combat climate change and nature loss, and prepare more for changing climates. A groundbreaking research paper led by Heather Tallis (M.S. '99, marine sciences), a Senior Fellow with the university’s Center for Coastal Climate Resilience (CCCR), presents a comprehensive framework for integrating nature into policy-making to help make that happen.

UC Santa Cruz alumnus named semi-finalist in Student Academy Awards

August 1, 2024

Despite having only graduated last June, John Ortiz (M.F.A. ‘24, Social Documentation) is already finding success in the film industry. His documentary, Jerhy, is in the running for a Student Academy Award. He and his film currently rank as semi-finalists in the documentary category.

Genomics Institute’s Research Mentoring Internship recognized with ‘Inspiring Programs in STEM’ award

July 31, 2024

The UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute’s Research Mentoring Internship program was recognized with the ‘Inspiring Programs in STEM’ award from Insight Into Diversity magazine.

UC Santa Cruz poised to welcome diverse and talented cohort for fall 2024

July 31, 2024

This fall, the University of California, Santa Cruz is preparing to welcome approximately 5,700 new undergraduate students to campus.

An overlooked side-effect of the housing crisis may be putting Californians at increased risk from climate disasters

July 29, 2024

In a new article for the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, UC Santa Cruz researchers laid out the foundation for their highly-anticipated upcoming study of how lack of affordable housing in urban areas of California may be driving increased development in and near wildlands, leading to more severe climate change impacts.

New grant funding will help UC Santa Cruz build and diversify a climate resilience workforce for the Monterey Bay region

July 26, 2024

UC Santa Cruz will receive more than $2 million in funding to support education and training programs for undergraduates, graduate students, and working professionals as part of a larger $71.1 million federal grant to the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation and a host of local partners.

Biochemist Carrie Partch selected as Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator

July 23, 2024

Carrie Partch, professor of chemistry and biochemistry at UC Santa Cruz, is among 26 top scientists chosen by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) to be HHMI investigators and receive the support needed to move their research in creative new directions and make groundbreaking discoveries.

UCSC’s Decarbonization & Electrification Work Advances

July 23, 2024

During the 2023-24 academic year, UC Santa Cruz continued to make consistent progress in accelerating the path to decarbonizing the University’s infrastructure focusing on the full decarbonization and electrification of the campus.

International body honors UC Santa Cruz physicists with Frontiers of Science Award

July 22, 2024

UC Santa Cruz physicists Stefania Gori and Wolfgang Altmannshofer were honored by the International Congress of Basic Science (ICBS) at a July 14 ceremony in Beijing with a Frontiers of Science Award in the category of particle-physics phenomenology.

A living legacy of student creativity and activism

July 18, 2024

The Merrill Moat—a stretch of concrete connecting residential buildings covered in colorful murals and student artwork—is a living monument to student creativity, past and present. The Moat isn’t just a pretty addition to Merrill College’s landscape; it's an interactive community art project rooted in the college’s history and commitment to promoting student activism.

U.S. ATLAS collaboration names UC Santa Cruz alum ‘Outstanding Graduate Student’

July 18, 2024

The organization representing the U.S. contingent of the international ATLAS experiment conducted with the world's most powerful particle accelerator has presented its 2024 Outstanding Graduate Student Award to Yuzhan Zhao, who graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a Ph.D. in physics this year.

Gaining professional experience and helping fellow Slugs through Chancellor’s Undergraduate Internship Program

July 17, 2024

In her last year at UC Santa Cruz, Jane Grantham tackled numerous challenges, but one project stands out: developing a resource to assist fellow students in preparing for their careers.

The Humanities Institute receives Global Public Humanities Award

July 17, 2024

The Humanities Institute at UC Santa Cruz was honored as one of the two inaugural winners of the “Public Humanities Award for Leadership in Practice and Community” at the Consortium of Humanities Centers and Institutes annual meeting in May 2024.

Scientists find that small regions of the brain can take micro-naps while the rest of the brain is awake and vice versa

July 16, 2024

For the first time, scientists have found that sleep can be detected by patterns of neuronal activity just milliseconds long

Loss of oxygen in lakes and oceans another sign of Earth systems under strain

July 15, 2024

New essay co-authored by UC Santa Cruz researcher says aquatic deoxygenation is intertwined with climate change and other 'planetary boundary' processes

Researchers win best paper award for introducing new AI method for minimum-effort materials engineering

July 12, 2024

UC Santa Cruz researchers devised a new method for materials engineering that incorporates novel mathematical and deep learning techniques which won them the prestigious 2024 O. Hugo Schuck Best Application Paper Award from the American Automatic Control Council.

Artist-led walk-through offers rare opportunity to hear a creator discuss their own work in relationship to peers'

July 12, 2024

Seeing Through Stone opened in April, but is now hosting a unique opportunity to walk through the exhibition with one of the artists.

Environmental toxicologist wins funding to use feathers to test for lead exposure in birds

July 11, 2024

Myra Finkelstein, adjunct professor in microbiology and environmental toxicology, was one of nine researchers nationwide honored on July 8 by the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) for developing humane solutions to human-wildlife conflicts. Each researcher will receive a grant of up to $15,000 as part of the Christine Stevens Wildlife Award, which honors AWI's late founder and longtime president.

UC Santa Cruz astrophysicists honored for advancing research on the mysterious FRB

July 9, 2024

Fast radio bursts are sudden flashes of radio waves coming from random parts of the sky. Each one is on only for a few milliseconds, but they are extraordinarily bright: In those few milliseconds, they put out more energy than our sun does in an entire year. We also know that they come from objects in distant galaxies, sometimes billions of light years away.

Search launches for UC Santa Cruz’s AVC for research computing

July 9, 2024

UC Santa Cruz is launching a national search for the newly created position of associate vice chancellor (AVC) for research computing. This pivotal leadership role will drive the strategic vision and oversight of the university’s research computing initiatives.

Iconic concert film ‘Stop Making Sense’ playing at the Quarry Amphitheater

July 2, 2024

Of the many iconic figures who’ve come to Kresge Hall, none seem to be remembered as widely or as fondly as Talking Heads. Their 1977 performance and its history is what, in-part, led Jose Reyes-Olivas, the events and facilities general manager of the Quarry Amphitheater, to host a showing of the bands 1984 concert film Stop Making Sense.

EmpowHer Sound: A seminar to help pave the way for women in music

June 26, 2024

UC Santa Cruz will be hosting EmpowHer Sound, a three hour exploration of a music production for women. The July 11 event is free for everyone. As an introductory course audience members will learn basic skills and tools to help that on their career journey in music.

Hydrothermal vents on seafloors of ‘ocean worlds’ could support life, new study says

June 24, 2024

Many lines of research suggest that some ocean worlds release enough heat internally to drive hydrothermal circulation under their seafloors. This heat is generated by radioactive decay, as occurs deep in the Earth, with additional heat possibly generated by tides.

UC Santa Cruz alumna receives prestigious Sundance Fellowship

June 24, 2024

Brenda Avila-Hanna, who finished her MFA in Social Documentary in 2013, has won a prestigious fellowship at Sundance as part of their Producer Program. Her new film which combines fiction and documentary is her second ever feature film.

Researchers run high-performing large language model on the energy needed to power a lightbulb

June 20, 2024

UC Santa Cruz researchers show that it is possible to eliminate the most computationally expensive element of running large language models, called matrix multiplication, while maintaining performance.

UC Santa Cruz’s Center for Coastal Climate Resilience partners with BIMS to incorporate perspectives from Black marine scientists

June 19, 2024

Today, UC Santa Cruz’s Center for Coastal Climate Resilience (CCCR) and Black in Marine Science (BIMS) announce a formal partnership to meet shared aims to expand opportunities for Black scholars, particularly for understanding risks to coastal communities from climate change and identifying solutions that reduce these risks.

New public archives will share wisdom, artifacts from Dolores Huerta’s lifetime of successful social change leadership

June 18, 2024

UC Santa Cruz received a $1 million grant from the Mellon Foundation to help establish new public archives documenting the legacy of social justice activist Dolores Huerta, through a partnership with the Dolores Huerta Foundation. UCSC will hire a project archivist and two new postdoctoral scholars to support development of Huerta’s archives and to produce related research and education materials. 

Associate Teaching Professor Nathan Altice wins Distinguished Teaching Award

June 13, 2024

Nathan Altice, an associate teaching professor of computational media at the Baskin School of Engineering, has been recognized with the UC Santa Cruz Committee on Teaching’s 2023-24 Distinguished Teaching Award.

Ph.D. student leads effort to open Kosovo's first observatory

June 13, 2024

Earth’s newest observatory will open to the public on June 20, 2024, coinciding with the summer solstice, thanks in large part to a UC Santa Cruz student from Kosovo who discovered her love of astronomy as a child amidst the chaos of the country’s brutal war for independence over 20 years ago.

Congratulations to the Class of 2024!

June 12, 2024

Knowing some of the challenges you’ve overcome, including over this past year at UC Santa Cruz, we want to provide a great experience at commencement and do all we can to prevent the ceremonies from being marred by disruption.

Fort Ord reserve inspires youth to consider careers in natural science, conservation

June 12, 2024

As the only full-time staff member at UC Santa Cruz's Fort Ord Natural Reserve, Director Joe Miller doesn't need to create more work for himself. And yet, he's managed to do just that by successfully partnering with a nearby charter high school that brings students onto the 610-acre property to teach them about local natural history and introduce them to career pathways in natural science and conservation.

The UC Santa Cruz Film and Digital Media Department celebrates 25 years

June 10, 2024

The Film and Digital Media Department at the University of California, Santa Cruz proudly marks 25 years, celebrating a legacy of success and innovation.

The Harrisons' 'Survival Piece #5: Portable Orchard' on display at the Whitney

June 10, 2024

Survival Piece #5: Portable Orchard conceived and designed in 1972 by leading pioneers of the eco-art movement and UC Santa Cruz emeriti professors Helen Mayer Harrison (1927–2018) and Newton Harrison (1932–2022) will be exhibited at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York starting on June 29, 2024.

Study offers guidance on state-of-the-art long-read RNA sequencing techniques

June 7, 2024

A new study evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of the two leading long-read RNA sequencing platforms and offers guidance for the field.

Important information about the California Whistleblower Protection Act

June 5, 2024

The University of California is committed to maintaining the highest standards of conduct in the fulfillment of its education, research, public service and patient care mission.

UC Santa Cruz to begin construction on new child care center, student housing

June 5, 2024

UC Santa Cruz is breaking ground in the coming weeks on a project to provide a new child care center that expands services for faculty and staff, and build new housing for students with families.

Supporting safety and access to our campus

June 4, 2024

These have been difficult days and I write to share more detailed information about the actions taken last week to support safety and access to our campus.

The print sale celebrates its 50th anniversary

June 3, 2024

The Art Department is celebrating the 50th anniversary of UC Santa Cruz’s annual print sale. The widely beloved event features unique, handmade works and it is open to the public.

In-person instruction for week of June 3

June 2, 2024

Now that the main entrance to our residential campus is open and we have two accessible entrances, we will return to in-person instruction on Monday, June 3.

Update on this morning’s actions at the main entrance

May 31, 2024

We continue to ask the campus and the community to avoid the main entrance.

Earliest, most distant galaxy discovered with James Webb Space Telescope

May 30, 2024

An international team of astronomers today announced the discovery using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) of the two earliest and most distant galaxies yet confirmed, dating back to only 300 million years after the Big Bang.

The UC Santa Cruz Film and Digital Media Department presents: 'Echoes of Home'

May 30, 2024

To celebrate their achievements over the past two years the graduate film students are showcasing their works. The presentation at the Del Mar Theatre marks years of progress and the end of their time at University of California, Santa Cruz.

Remote instruction for May 31 and instructional modality planning

May 30, 2024

With the main entrance of the residential campus now blocked by protesters and the West entrance alone serving all essential campus functions, we have again made the difficult decision to remain in remote instruction on Friday, May 31.

Researchers explain social media’s role in rapidly shifting social norms on gender and sexuality

May 29, 2024

A new paper by UC Santa Cruz psychologists describes how social media has supported an explosion of diversity in gender and sexuality in America by empowering authentic self-expression. However, these technologies have also equally enabled a cultural backlash.

UC Santa Cruz welcomes next AVC for Budget Analysis and Planning Amber Blakeslee

May 28, 2024

I am happy to announce the appointment of Amber Blakeslee as UC Santa Cruz’s next associate vice chancellor for budget analysis and planning. She will begin her position on June 24.

Engaging faculty through partnership development with institutions abroad

May 24, 2024

In spring 2024, UC Santa Cruz faculty participated in three delegation visits to institutions in Mexico, the UK/Northern Ireland, and India to explore partnership opportunities.

New study discovers tiny target on RNA to short-circuit inflammation

May 24, 2024

UC Santa Cruz researchers have discovered a peptide in human RNA that regulates inflammation and may provide a new path for treating diseases such as arthritis and lupus. The team used a screening process based on the powerful gene-editing tool CRISPR to shed light on one of the biggest mysteries about our RNA.

Planning to resume in-person instruction on Tuesday

May 23, 2024

New exoplanets catalog showcases diverse, exotic worlds

May 23, 2024

Our understanding of exoplanets, those strange worlds that orbit stars beyond our solar system, is now broader and deeper thanks to separate studies published this week featuring the work of researchers at UC Santa Cruz.

In Memoriam: Larry Polansky

May 23, 2024

Composer, theorist, and professor emeritus Larry Polansky passed away on May 9, 2024 at age 69. Following a successful career in the music industry, Polansky (‘77, math and music) returned to the UC Santa Cruz campus in 2013 to join the Music Department faculty. He retired in 2019, but his years here left a lasting impact on his colleagues, students, and campus as a whole.

Remote instruction on Thursday, Friday

May 22, 2024

In the interest of providing clarity and as much predictability as possible, we have decided to continue with remote instruction for Thursday and Friday, May 23 and 24.

The UCSC Arts Division & Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery present 'Material Matters'

May 21, 2024

Once a year the art department hands out its most prestigious award, the William Hyde Irwin and Susan Benteen Irwin Scholarship. Every year twelve students receive this merit scholarship to help them create work that will be presented in the Mary Porter Sesnon Gallery. This year the 38th annual Irwan Exhibition runs from May 29 through June 15.

Campus to adopt virtual parking permits

May 21, 2024

In the coming months, Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS) will begin the transition to a virtual permitting system for campus parking. With virtual permitting, TAPS will no longer issue physical parking permits in most situations.

VOTE NOW in 2024 Campus Elections Announcement

May 21, 2024

The "polls" are now open. Vote now in the 2024 Campus Elections.

Update about campus disruptions

May 20, 2024

Today, some students and employees blocked both roads on campus and the campus entrance, preventing access to campus and requiring transition to remote work and learning.

Remote instruction on Tuesday, Wednesday

May 20, 2024

Given today’s disruptions and the possibility of more challenges in the coming days, we have made the difficult decision, in consultation with the Academic Senate, to switch to remote instruction Tuesday and Wednesday.

The UCSC Arts Division presents Los Mejicas annual Spring show ‘Grupo Folklorico’

May 20, 2024

As one of the oldest organizations on campus, Los Mejicas has over half a century of bringing people together to celebrate their Mexican heritage. Their upcoming annual spring show, which marks the 52nd anniversary of the groups existence, celebrates traditional dance forms from six different regions in Mexico.

Announced systemwide labor strike beginning Monday, May 20

May 17, 2024

The International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW)—which represents academic student employees, postdoctoral scholars and academic researchers—has announced a systemwide labor strike that will begin Monday, May 20.

Ukraine blackouts caused by malware attacks warn against evolving cybersecurity threats to the physical world

May 17, 2024

A new paper presents the first study of how two major malware attacks in Ukraine operated and interacted with the physical power system equipment to cause blackouts.

Sea otters use tools when feeding to survive a changing world

May 16, 2024

Sea otters are one of the few animals that use rocks and other objects to access their food, and a new study has found that individual sea otters that use tools—most of whom are female—can eat larger prey and reduce tooth damage when their preferred prey becomes depleted.

Francis Nimmo elected to prestigious fellowship of UK's Royal Society

May 16, 2024

Francis Nimmo, professor of earth and planetary sciences, has been named a fellow of the Royal Society, the UK’s national academy of sciences. The society announced today the election of 90 researchers from around the world as new fellows, citing their "invaluable contributions to science."

Quarry Plaza encampment and campus demonstrations

May 16, 2024

As an academic institution, we encourage and depend on the robust exchange of ideas. We also strive to maintain a campus environment that is welcoming, open, civil, and mutually respectful of everyone and their views.

In Memoriam: David Draper

May 15, 2024

Remembering Professor of Statistics David Draper.

SlugSafe: Campus Transit is operating modified routes

May 15, 2024

UC Santa Cruz Arts Division Presents 'Find Your Path!'

May 15, 2024

Find Your Path! is a two-day experience that guides students through potential career pathways through both in person and online events.

UC Santa Cruz Arts Division presents "Iolanthe"

May 15, 2024

Iolanthe may not be Gilbert & Sullivan’s best known work but according to music lecturer Sheila Willey “I actually think the music is more interesting and a little bit more sophisticated, but not less accessible,” than their other productions. The upcoming performance of the operetta at UC Santa Cruz marks the first time in five years the music department has put on a Gilbert & Sullivan show since they did Pirates of Penzance in 2019.

Stem cell study reveals distinct population of ‘troublemaker’ platelet cells that appear with aging and lead to blood clotting, disease

May 14, 2024

Professor of Biomolecular Engineering Camilla Forsberg and her research group have discovered a distinct, secondary population of platelets that appears with aging and have hyperreactive behavior and unique molecular properties, which could make them easier to target with medication.

Championing Native American DNA

May 14, 2024

Kimberly TallBear, this year’s recipient of the University of California, Santa Cruz Distinguished Humanities Graduate Student Alumni Award, is being honored for her work in championing indigenous rights and protecting Native American DNA from exploitation.

2024 Campus Elections Announcement

May 14, 2024

The ballot information for the Spring 2024 Campus Elections is now available for your review at elections.ucsc.edu.

Campus Exterior Lighting Walk

May 13, 2024

Everyone is invited to join an evening walk around campus to explore the current lighting and make suggestions for improvements and additional lighting that will make navigating the campus at night more safe.

$1M grant to help prepare students for impactful careers in the arts

May 10, 2024

The UCSC entity Moving Image Lab, a new partnership between the Isaac Julien Lab and The Humanities Institute, will receive the prestigious Mellon Foundation funding that will provide the hands-on experience and career-building training in production, curation, and research and publication that distinguishes this project.

New study discovers cellular activity that hints recycling is in our DNA

May 10, 2024

Introns are perhaps one of our genome’s biggest mysteries. They are DNA sequences that interrupt the sensible protein-coding information in your genes, and need to be "spliced out.”

K7 Agreement Ratified

May 10, 2024

The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees’s (AFSCME) Skilled Crafts (K7) employees have ratified a new contract with the University of California on May 3, 2024.

Baskin Engineering will lead regional hub of NSF Engineering PLUS Alliance to serve underrepresented students, faculty, and staff

May 8, 2024

The Baskin School of Engineering at UC Santa Cruz has been selected to lead the inaugural Western regional hub for the Engineering PLUS Alliance to serve underrepresented academics in engineering.

Thinking about Summer already? So is Summer Session.

May 7, 2024

As the dogwoods bloom across the UC Santa Cruz campus and we transition from spring to summer, it’s time for students to plan for Summer Session opportunities. Enrollment is now open, offering students an array of in-person and online academic opportunities.

California State Board of Food and Agriculture visits campus

May 7, 2024

On April 30, California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Secretary Karen Ross and members of the California State Board of Food and Agriculture held their April Board meeting at the Hay Barn on the University of California, Santa Cruz campus.

Improved nutrition, sanitation linked to beneficial changes in child stress and epigenetic programming

May 6, 2024

A new study led by a global-health researcher at UC Santa Cruz provides some of the clearest and most comprehensive evidence to date on what is known about stress physiology and “epigenetic programming.”

Prescribed burns in Big Basin Redwood State Park until May 9

May 2, 2024

California State Parks is conducting prescribed burns in Big Basin Redwood State parks until May 9, which is leading to a noticeable smell of smoke on campus.

Campus status updates

May 1, 2024

This page is being updated with important information for the UC Santa Cruz community.

May 11 is "Clean Up Day" throughout Santa Cruz County

April 30, 2024

Students, faculty, and staff are invited to participate in Santa Cruz County “Clean Up Day” on May 11. Organized by Trash Talkers, the goal is to make Santa Cruz County the cleanest county in the state. PitchinSantaCruz.org is inviting anyone interested in being part of the All County Clean-up Day to sign up.

Three UC Santa Cruz faculty members elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

April 26, 2024

Three professors at the University of California, Santa Cruz were elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honorary societies.

Anthropologists document how women and shepherds historically reduced wildfire risk in Central Italy

April 25, 2024

Fire management lessons from the past could help to improve resilience as the Mediterranean faces increased fire risk from climate change. UC Santa Cruz Anthropology Professor Andrew Mathews and his research partners show how traditional land management practices once dramatically reduced fuel for wildfires, and how these practices were forgotten, in part due to historical politics of classism and sexism.

UC Santa Cruz students partner with community groups for a service-learning spring break

April 25, 2024

On March 23, fifteen students from UC Santa Cruz decided to redefine the essence of spring break. Opting out of traditional activities, they immersed themselves in a week-long critical service-learning experience, partnering with environmental and economic justice organizations in Watsonville as part of the Colleges Nine and John R. Lewis Alternative Spring Break program.

UC Santa Cruz Arts Division presents Prahlad Singh Tipanya

April 23, 2024

University of California, Santa Cruz is happy to welcome Prahlad Singh Tipanya and his ensemble for a rare performance of Indian folk music featuring the poetry of singer-saint Kabir. The Sunday performance will include music that is rarely heard in the United States.

UC Santa Cruz researchers’ tool creates ‘synthetic’ images of cells for enhanced microscopy analysis

April 22, 2024

UC Santa Cruz researchers have developed a method to use an image generation AI model to create realistic images of  single cells, which are then used as “synthetic data” to train an AI model to better carry out single cell-segmentation. 

New research center studies interconnections between urbanism and the environment, with a focus on lessons from the Santa Cruz region

April 22, 2024

The Center for Critical Urban and Environmental Studies tackles converging 21st Century urban and environmental crises—like climate change and housing affordability—to show how the pursuit of sustainability and social justice are often intertwined.

Campus update: Celebrating Earth Day, thank you Spring Give supporters, Potential Slugs in their element

April 19, 2024

Our students have been powerful partners in our efforts to advance sustainability, and we’ve built an especially strong Sustainability Office that helps to keep us at the forefront of climate-action and sustainability trends.

UC Santa Cruz scientists reveal new path to increasing lactation for nursing mothers

April 19, 2024

Scientists at UC Santa Cruz have discovered a cellular process in the breast that can increase milk production by pregnant women, revealing a potential path to addressing lactation insufficiency syndrome—the inability of a nursing mother to produce sufficient milk to meet their infant’s nutritional needs.

Three UC Santa Cruz faculty members named 2023 AAAS fellows

April 18, 2024

Three UC Santa Cruz faculty members have been named 2023 fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science: Diane Gifford-Gonzalez, emerita distinguished research professor of anthropology; longtime journalist Robert Irion, emeritus director of UC Santa Cruz’s science communication master’s degree program; and acclaimed paleo-geneticist Beth Shapiro, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology.

UC Santa Cruz researchers receive grants for early-stage technology innovations and climate action solutions

April 18, 2024

Eight UC Santa Cruz research teams focusing on some of the most pressing issues of our time, such as cancer detection, data encryption, and climate change, received more than $350,000 in awards as part of this year’s Innovation Catalyst Grant program, administered by the university’s Innovation & Business Engagement Hub.

New grant supports UC Santa Cruz-led multi-UC campus effort to build network of open source program offices

April 17, 2024

A $1.85 million grant from the Sloan Foundation will serve to institutionalize the OSPO approach in the UC system by creating coordinated activities that support local campus OSPOs and building a network that can leverage multi-campus efforts. 

UC Santa Cruz ‘Shadow the Scientists’ program honored for astronomical DEI efforts

April 17, 2024

A science-inclusion program based at UC Santa Cruz that has allowed thousands of school-age children, educators, and inquisitive individuals to look through world-class telescopes alongside trained astronomers has been honored for opening up scientific exploration to those from underrepresented backgrounds around the world.

Arts Division alumnus and artist, Fritz Chesnut, teaches art workshop for students

April 16, 2024

Recently, the University of California, Santa Cruz Arts Division hosted a workshop with alumnus and noted artist Fritz Chesnut. For three days Chesnut worked with a group of Art students teaching them a technique for applying paint distinctively to canvas using unexpected tools and materials as a new mode of creating abstract art.

Notice of Open Comment Period: Draft Fire Protection Policy

April 16, 2024

The Division of Finance, Operations and Administration is proposing revisions to the Fire Protection policy.

Cal Fire Empire Grade Piles Burn

April 15, 2024

Cal Fire has announced it will be burning roughly 60 piles on Empire Grade Tuesday, April 16 and Thursday, April 18

Chancellor’s innovation awards honor excellence in research, creativity

April 15, 2024

The 2023 recipients include innovators who have created breakthroughs in knowledge and technology that are improving our world, creators bringing forgotten history to life by merging storytelling, augmented reality, and holographic filmmaking, and community partners transforming lives and providing nourishment through job training, transitional employment, and organic farming.

New study finds potential targets at chromosome ends for degenerative disease prevention

April 11, 2024

Published online today in Science, a new study finds that telomere lengths follow a different pattern than has thus far been understood. Instead of telomere lengths falling under one general range of shortest to longest across all chromosomes, this study finds that different chromosomes have separate end-specific telomere-length distributions.

Embracing identity: Tchad Sanger's advocacy and leadership at UC Santa Cruz

April 11, 2024

Tchad Sanger, UC Santa Cruz university registrar and alum, found his identity and purpose on campus. Now, he's an advocate for student rights and inclusivity. His journey from student to administrative leader reflects his commitment to the university's mission.

Power outage at the residential campus

April 11, 2024

The UC Santa Cruz residential campus is in the midst of intermittent power outages due to under voltage from Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E).

Scientists discover first nitrogen-fixing organelle

April 11, 2024

In two recent papers, an international team led by UC Santa Cruz scientists describe the first known nitrogen-fixing organelle within a eukaryotic cell. The organelle is the fourth example in history of primary endosymbiosis — the process by which a prokaryotic cell is engulfed by a eukaryotic cell and evolves beyond symbiosis into an organelle.

UC Santa Cruz researchers value salt marsh restoration as a crucial tool in flood risk reduction and climate resilience in the San Francisco Bay

April 11, 2024

Salt marsh restoration can mitigate flood risk and bolster community resilience to climate change in our local waterways, according to a recent study published in Nature by a postdoctoral fellow with UC Santa Cruz’s Center for Coastal Climate Resilience (CCCR).

UC Santa Cruz Digital Arts and New Media program presents the 2024 MFA exhibition: "Embodiments"

April 11, 2024

The Digital Arts and New Media (DANM) program is showcasing the students’ best work in its annual MFA exhibition. Entitled Embodiments, the show features multimedia exhibits including visual novels, games and virtual reality as explorations into identity.

New diagnostic tool achieves accuracy of PCR tests with faster and simpler nanopore system

April 10, 2024

A new diagnostic tool developed by UCSC's Holger Schmidt and his collaborators can test for SARS-CoV-2 and Zika virus with the same or better accuracy as high-precision PCR tests in a matter of hours.

UC Santa Cruz Arts Division presents “Search Party”

April 10, 2024

The Environmental Art & Social Practice (EASP) MFA looks at the intersection of the arts in terms of climate change and other systemic conflicts. This year’s MFA show is the second ever and features work from seven artists.

The Institute of Arts and Science & the San Jose Museum of Art present "Seeing Through Stone"

April 10, 2024

The Institute of the Arts and Sciences at UC Santa Cruz (IAS) and San José Museum of Art (SJMA) are pleased to present Seeing through Stone, a multi-sited exhibition bringing together works by international artists whose works engage a history of struggle against prisons and their harms.

Global social change leaders gather at UC Santa Cruz for Right Livelihood International Conference

April 9, 2024

From April 23 through 27, UC Santa Cruz will host social change leaders and student activists visiting from around the world for the Right Livelihood International Conference, which includes a series of public events and will launch a new international student network and international research partnerships.

Art of hope: Celebrating the teaching and activism of Corita Kent

April 9, 2024

The latest exhibition at Cowell College’s Eloise Pickard Smith Gallery, "A Sign of Hope: The Art and Teaching of Corita Kent," reintroduces an artist who challenged societal norms and championed hope and love.

Good turnout at Annual Teaching Week

April 8, 2024

The Teaching and Learning Center and the Academic Senate held the 2nd Annual Teaching Week at UC Santa Cruz.

Ph.D. student takes gut-wrenching research to the stage

April 5, 2024

Natalie Pedicino, a Ph.D. student in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, will bolt up to San Francisco on May 3 to distill her past three years of research into a three-minute lightning talk that will test her stage presence and science-communication skills.

First results from DESI make the most precise measurement of our expanding universe

April 4, 2024

We now have the largest 3-D map of our cosmos ever created, thanks to DESI—a powerful instrument mounted atop a telescope in Arizona with a robotic array of 5,000 fiber-optic “eyes” that look into the night sky.

Santa Cruz County youth aim to improve community mental health through better support for immigrants

April 4, 2024

A three-year partnership between UC Santa Cruz and United Way to empower young change-makers is wrapping up this spring, with youth leaders from across Santa Cruz County preparing to distribute resource kits for local immigrants.

UCSC ranked #12 among top public colleges for high-paying tech salaries in new Wall Street Journal list

April 3, 2024

New rankings from the Wall Street Journal and the Burning Glass Institute place UC Santa Cruz as the number 12 school for high-paying tech salaries.

Join DroneCamp 2024 and learn how to use drones for mapping and field data collection

April 2, 2024

CITRIS and the Banatao Institute’s CIDER Program invites you to join them at the 2024 DroneCamp, a collaborative five-day training program that covers everything you need to know to use drones for mapping and field data collection.

Educator and champion: Professor Bruce Thompson inspires generations through teaching and philanthropy

April 1, 2024

Bruce Thompson has taught tens of thousands of students during his three-decade career at UCSC; now, he’s making an impact in a new way.

Championing inclusion: Nancy Kim’s leadership in UCSC’s resource centers

March 27, 2024

Nancy Kim graduated from UCSC in 1994, became the university’s founding Director of the Asian American/Pacific Islander Resource Center, and currently serves as the Executive Director of Resource Centers.

UC Santa Cruz joins consortium advancing Earth system science programs

March 27, 2024

UC Santa Cruz has joined a nonprofit consortium of 126 North American colleges and universities focused on research and training in Earth system science.

New research reveals steps California must take to capture more jobs from lithium battery boom

March 26, 2024

A new study from the UC Santa Cruz Institute for Social Transformation, New Energy Nexus, and the UC Berkeley Labor Center demonstrates the need for strategic investments and policy approaches to encourage build-out of the lithium supply chain within California in an environmentally friendly and economically inclusive manner.

Ten UC Santa Cruz speakers shine bright in TEDxSantaCruz lineup

March 25, 2024

Ten speakers affiliated with the University of California, Santa Cruz join the TEDxSantaCruz lineup on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at the Crocker Theater, on the Cabrillo College campus.

Research on understudied lung cancer drivers may improve treatments

March 21, 2024

Angela Brooks has been awarded a $2.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health’s prestigious R01 program to study how gene isoforms impact cancer progression and what treatments might be most effective or lead to drug resistance.

Kat Gutierrez wins LEAD California's 2024 Richard E. Cone Award for Emerging Leaders in Community Engagement

March 21, 2024

In acknowledgment of her dedication to community engagement, LEAD California awarded Kat Gutierrez, assistant professor of history at the University of California, Santa Cruz, the prestigious 2024 Richard E. Cone Award for Emerging Leaders in Community Engagement.

UC Santa Cruz names new, rare succulent species from Orange County

March 20, 2024

A new, rare species of succulent plant from Orange County has been named by Stephen McCabe, a researcher with the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum, with Kristen Hasenstab-Lehman and Matt Guiliams of the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. The naming of new species is part of an effort by multiple entities to help conserve the many threatened species in the genus Dudleya, which are also known, ironically, as liveforevers.

The Hindustani music concert featuring Uday Bhawalker accompanied by Sukhad Manik Munde

March 18, 2024

As a part of the (unofficially titled) Indian Music Series, University of California, Santa Cruz is welcoming Uday Bhawalkar to campus for a concert on Friday, April 12. The renowned vocalist will be performing Dhrupad music, one of the oldest musical genres in the Hindustani tradition.

April in Santa Cruz Creative Music and Arts Festival 2024: "A Time For Change"

March 18, 2024

The annual month-long celebration of the arts is back at UC Santa Cruz. There will be a dozen performances by talented professionals in art forms including dance, animation and much more.

Shaping tomorrow: Earth Futures Institute’s Frontier Fellows program amplifies student-led innovation

March 15, 2024

UCSC’s Earth Futures Institute's Frontier Fellows Program, wrapping up its second year, supported six undergraduate students engaging in groundbreaking interdisciplinary research aimed at improving the planet's future. The program is made possible through the generosity of multiple donors.

Frontier Fellows Program propels student's research, paving the way for sustainable solutions to carbon emissions

March 15, 2024

UCSC student Jennifer Valadez spearheads pioneering research on carbon sequestration in California coastal prairies, exploring the crucial role of restoration in recovering soil carbon stocks with the help of the Frontier Fellows Program.

Student leads innovative campus composting initiative for sustainable waste management

March 15, 2024

UCSC student Gabriel Schiering, supported by Earth's Future Institute's Frontier Fellows program, leads the innovative Oakes Community Composting Project, demonstrating a model for decentralized composting systems on campus.

Balancing carbon sequestration and community benefits

March 15, 2024

UCSC student Cole Seither addresses the delicate balance between agroforestry, carbon sequestration, and community benefits in combating climate change. His research is supported by the Earth Futures Institute’s Frontier Fellows program.

Deep Read 2024 gears up

March 13, 2024

With book giveaways, email explorations, salons, community conversations, and more, The Humanities Institute is preparing an immersive experience with its latest Deep Read selection, the bestselling and Pulitzer Prize–winning novel Trust.

UCSC Alumna Carolina Ixta debuts first novel

March 13, 2024

UCSC alumna Carolina Ixta debuts her powerful novel, Shut Up, This Is Serious: a coming-of-age story following two Latina teens in East Oakland.

Community encouraged to take precautions following a string of burglaries

March 12, 2024

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department is encouraging the campus community to take extra precautions following an attempted burglary and completed burglary of a campus mailroom and a string of car break-ins.

New gifts launch projects and experiential learning in Sikh studies

March 11, 2024

Two new gifts to UC Santa Cruz will raise awareness and understanding of Sikhism through two distinct projects. Each project includes paid internships for students.

Industrial fishing poses greater risk to marine life due to untracked activity, UC Santa Cruz researchers find

March 8, 2024

A new study led by a scientist at UC Santa Cruz's Institute of Marine Sciences finds that blue whales, tunas, and other top predators in the northeast Pacific Ocean face greater risk of harm from industrial fishing than previously thought.

Scientists find unexpected proteins in bacteria motors

March 8, 2024

A team of scientists, co-led by Karen Ottemann, a professor of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, recently found three unexpected proteins while studying the motors that power the flagella of a species called Helicobacter pylori. The proteins, which are normally found in another type of appendage on a separate group of bacteria, seem to exert control over the motion of the flagella. These proteins, known as PilN, PilO, and PilM, had never been found associated with a flagella before.

‘Digital twins’ project will help clean up space junk, repair and decommission spacecrafts

March 6, 2024

Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Ricardo Sanfelice and a team of researchers have been awarded $2.5M to model complex aerospace engineering problems.

UC Santa Cruz breaks records with increased applications for Fall 2024

March 6, 2024

The University of California, Santa Cruz has once again received a record number of applications highlighting the desirability of the educational experience the campus provides. Leading at the intersection of innovation and social justice, UC Santa Cruz is actively fostering a community of forward-thinkers committed to driving positive change. The campus draws a diverse and accomplished applicant pool, comprising scholars poised to catalyze positive change worldwide.

Notice of open comment period ALPR policy

March 5, 2024

The Division of Finance, Operations, and Administration is inviting comments on the proposed Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) policy through April 5, 2024.

Dean Celine Parreñas Shimizu launches her new book: "The Movies of Racial Childhoods"

February 29, 2024

To celebrate, Shimizu will be hosting a book launch on the University of California, Santa Cruz Campus at the Sesnon Gallery, where the book will be available for purchase from Two Birds Books. The book will be discussed in conversation with Shimizu and the Sesnon Gallery director Valeria Miranda.

UC Santa Cruz-based center leads system-wide commitment to White House food security initiative

February 29, 2024

The Center for Economic Justice and Action (CEJA) at UC Santa Cruz will lead the University of California’s participation in the White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities.

Open Educational Resources cut student costs and increase engagement

February 28, 2024

Many students face a financial challenge when it comes to covering the cost of course materials each quarter. To help reduce this financial burden, a growing number of instructors at UC Santa Cruz are using Open Educational Resources (OER).

Center for Research in Open Source Software welcomes James Davis as new faculty director

February 27, 2024

Professor of Computer Science and Engineering is the new faculty director of the Center for Research in Open Source Software (CROSS).

Mourning the tragic death of our student

February 26, 2024

It is with the deepest sorrow that I share the news that one of our students succumbed on Friday to fatal injuries she endured early that morning at Seabright State Beach.

The UCSC Music Department presents "The World Making Aura of Sonic Blackness" with Moor Mother & James Gordon Williams

February 26, 2024

On Wednesday, March 6, 2024, the University of California, Santa Cruz Music Department presents a very special performance by guest artist Moor Mother (Camae Ayewa) and James Gordon Williams, assistant professor of music composition at UC Santa Cruz in the Recital Hall of the Music Center.

The Center for Creative Ecologies presents "Nuclear Nows: Contemporary Art, Radiation, and Militarized Ecologies”

February 26, 2024

This two-part symposium is the work of Zoe Weldon-Yochim, a Ph.D. Candidate in Visual Studies, in collaboration with T.J. Demos, Professor in the Department of the History of Art and Visual Culture and Director of the Center for Creative Ecologies, and will discuss the intersection of contemporary art, militarized ecologies, and nuclear nationalism.

Scientists begin to crack open climate-change riddles hiding in ancient coral

February 23, 2024

An international team of researchers on an expedition co-led by UC Santa Cruz Professor Christina Ravelo collected cores of fossil coral off the coast of Hawai'i to look for signs of climate and sea-level change over the past half million years.

Closer water monitoring needed as wildfires increase

February 23, 2024

UC Santa Cruz researchers warn that wildfires can change the chemistry of nearby streams that people and wildlife depend on for drinking water. But they found that the baseline water-chemistry data needed to detect such changes aren’t always available.

Stranger Things VR game co-written by UCSC’s Samantha Gorman launches in partnership with Netflix, Meta

February 22, 2024

A new virtual reality (VR) game set in the world of Netflix’s hit series Stranger Things launches today — and UC Santa Cruz Assistant Teaching Professor of Computational Media Samantha Gorman is a key creative mind behind it as the game’s co-writer and narrative director.

Annual notice on employees responsible for reporting discrimination, sexual violence or sexual harassment

February 22, 2024

To promote a healthy campus climate, we encourage everyone in our community to report incidents of sexual violence, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation to EEP.

Net wins

February 20, 2024

The UC Santa Cruz table tennis team, an informal group formed only in 2022, quickly began finding success at tournaments—but its biggest wins may be the community, friendship, and leadership skills the team has built along the way.

Two UC Santa Cruz scientists named 2024 Sloan Research Fellows

February 20, 2024

Assistant Professors Roxanne Beltran and Jacqueline Kimmey have been awarded Sloan Research Fellowships, one of the most prestigious honors bestowed on early-career scientists, each receiving $75,000 to delve into new areas of research in their respective fields of marine ecology and microbiology.

Community Voices Series event remembers Santa Cruz's fourth Chinatown

February 20, 2024

The second UC Santa Cruz Community Voices Series event featured a conversation between UC Santa Cruz Community Archivist Rebecca Hernandez and local philanthropist and developer George Ow Jr.

Office of Equity and Equal Protection announces new systemwide anti-discrimination policy

February 20, 2024

The Office of Equity and Equal Protection (EEP) is pleased to announce the issuance of a new systemwide policy on Anti–Discrimination.

Chemists use peptides from Alzheimer’s and Type II diabetes to describe five new rippled beta-sheets

February 20, 2024

Scientists from the University of California, Santa Cruz, synthesized peptides from proteins associated with Alzheimer’s and Type II Diabetes and described five new rippled beta-sheet structures.

UC Santa Cruz awarded SEA Change Bronze Award for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

February 20, 2024

UC Santa Cruz has been awarded a 2024 STEM Equity Achievement (SEA) Change Initiative Institutional Bronze Award. The award recognizes the university’s commitment to long-term, sustainable institutional transformation in support of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM) through self-assessment.

UC Santa Cruz earns national acclaim: awarded NAFSA’s 2024 Senator Paul Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization

February 15, 2024

In recognition of excellence in internationalization efforts, the University of California, Santa Cruz has been selected to receive the prestigious 2024 Senator Paul Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization from NAFSA: Association of International Educators.

Legal Studies major Lauren Elscott found her passion with music and events on campus

February 15, 2024

Lauren Elscott is senior in the legal studies program whose true passion lies in music and events. At UC Santa Cruz she discovered the electronic music minor and how to be involved on campus.

Student Gabriella Goss wins $500 Alumni Leadership Award from Ecology Project International

February 14, 2024

Her project draws inspiration from her Ecology Project International (EPI) course experience in the Galapagos Islands, where she witnessed the thriving wildlife in an ecosystem largely spared from human interference. This prompted her to explore the negative impact of human activities on animal habitats, specifically focusing on the millions of animals killed annually by vehicles.

Slugs in love: Celebrating love stories from UCSC alumni

February 14, 2024

Fourteen alumni share how they found love as students at UC Santa Cruz.

Protein designer awarded $2.5M to develop bioluminescent protein for deep tissue imaging

February 13, 2024

Assistant Professor of Biomolecular Engineering Andy Yeh was awarded a nearly $2.5 million grant from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to develop completely artificial enzymes that can produce bioluminescence in the body for deep tissue imaging.

Join the Banana Slug art contest

February 13, 2024

Get ready to unleash your inner artist and celebrate creativity like never before. The Assembly Bill 1850 (AB 1850) Banana Slug Art Contest is here to bring a splash of color and imagination into your life.

UC Santa Cruz Physicist Joel Primack wins 2024 AAAS Abelson Prize

February 13, 2024

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has awarded the prestigious 2024 Philip Hauge Abelson Prize to Joel R. Primack, distinguished professor of physics emeritus at the University of California, Santa Cruz and a key architect of the Cold Dark Matter theory.

In Memoriam: Frank Andrews, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry

February 13, 2024

With enormous gratitude, we celebrate the life of UC Santa Cruz Professor Emeritus Frank Andrews, who died of cancer on January 31, 2024, at age 91.

UC Santa Cruz welcomes new AVC for planning, design, and construction

February 13, 2024

I am happy to announce the appointment of Emil Zordilla as UC Santa Cruz’s new associate vice chancellor for planning, design and construction. He will begin his position on February 26. 

Widespread machine learning methods behind ‘link prediction’ are performing very poorly, study shows

February 12, 2024

New research from UC Santa Cruz Professor of Computer Science and Engineering C. “Sesh” Seshadhri published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences establishes that the metric used to measure link prediction performance is missing crucial information, and link prediction tasks are performing significantly worse than popular literature indicates.

Commencement schedule announced

February 12, 2024

This spring’s ceremonies will be held on the East Upper Field from June 14–17, 2024.

After Man: Alterhuman Ethics and Poetics at the Climate Change Tipping Point

February 12, 2024

Join associate professor micha cárdenas for her talk about the meeting point between the end of humanity and contemporary art.

UCSC Central Asian Ensemble honors traditional Uzbek music with special guest master dutarist Rozibi Khodjaeva

February 9, 2024

UC Santa Cruz is home to the only Western dutar ensemble. They will be playing along with Rozibi Khodjaeva, a master dutar player who is visiting from her home in Uzbekistan. Under the instruction of associate music professor Tanya Merchant, the show will be a culmination of what her students have learned so far.

The UCSC’s African American Theater Arts Troupe presents Clyde’s by Lynn Nottage

February 9, 2024

Light-hearted comedy captures the struggles of the formerly incarcerated staff as they hope for a better life

Addressing Bias and Bigotry: Call for Ideas

February 8, 2024

The University of California Office of the President (UCOP) is providing each campus with on-time funds to combat bias, bigotry and discrimination stemming from recent global events.

Breaking Records and Feeding Hope

February 8, 2024

Bioelectronics enable precise control of organoids for better understanding of neuro diseases, neuron circuits

February 7, 2024

UC Santa Cruz researchers have developed a new plug-and-play bioelectronics system that enables researchers to precisely control neuronal activity in cortical organoids, which will help unlock new discoveries on how brains form neural circuits and the underpinnings of neurodevelopmental and degenerative diseases.

To plan a sustainable future for seafood access in small island developing states, researchers highlight solutions hiding in plain sight

February 7, 2024

To better understand how fisheries-based food systems might respond to change, a research team led by UCSC Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Katherine Seto took a deeper look at the strategies that people in the small island developing state of Kiribati currently use to access seafood.

The Department of Performance, Play, and Design depends on crucial funds from Measure 11

February 6, 2024

Many are hoping for an adjustment to Measure 11, which dictates the quarterly ticket price for all shows. If the measure makes it onto the ballot and passes it will bring in hundreds or thousands of dollars in revenue.

Bryant Terry touts power of food and community at 2024 Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation

February 6, 2024

Food justice advocate, chef, and author Bryant Terry called on people to seek alternatives to the industrialized food system during his keynote address for UC Santa Cruz’s 40th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation.

UC Santa Cruz Summer Session offers exclusive tuition discount to California Community College students

February 6, 2024

UC Santa Cruz Summer Session is launching a new 50 percent per-credit Summer Session tuition discount exclusively for California Community College students.

Undergraduate Public Fellows Program connects humanities studies with real-world impact

February 6, 2024

The Humanities Institute's Public Fellows Program offers a mutually enriching opportunity for students to bring the humanities skills and knowledge they acquire in their university courses to diverse roles at non-profit organizations, museums, cultural institutions, and publishing venues.

UC Santa Cruz's second annual Teaching Week Feb. 26 - March 1

February 6, 2024

The Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) and the Academic Senate are delighted to present UC Santa Cruz’s second annual Teaching Week which will take place February 26–March 1, 2024. This is an opportunity for the entire campus to celebrate the many changes to the culture and practice of teaching and learning on our campus and to shine a light on all of the work so many of you have put into transforming your educational practices.

March 5 is Election Day in California

February 6, 2024

Space Management Policy Update

February 6, 2024

Our plans for Commencement 2024

February 5, 2024

This spring’s ceremonies will be held on the East Upper Field from June 14–17, 2024.

Promoting safe campus transit services

February 1, 2024

The safety of our campus community is our utmost priority and we want every rider to be confident that our drivers and shuttles are meeting or exceeding expectations in the delivery of transit services.

Crafting smiles and setting records on the track: An alumnus’s unique dual-pursuit

January 31, 2024

Alumnus Leo Merle is juggling two major life goals: graduate from the University of Michigan with a doctorate in dentistry, and be the first American with cerebral palsy to run the 1,500 meter race in less than four minutes at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.

Preparing for storms on Wednesday and Thursday

January 30, 2024

Over the coming days, we expect a major winter storm to affect Santa Cruz County alongside much of California.

Music Professor Russell Rodriguez wins the Américo Paredes Prize

January 30, 2024

The American Folklore Society awarded UC Santa Cruz professor Russell Rodriguez the annual Paredes prize in recognition of his work in the arts with the local community and his contributions to folklore and tradition.

Renowned Sitarist Nishat Khan playing at UC Santa Cruz

January 30, 2024

The classical Indian musician will play at Music Center Recital Hall along with tabla player Nitin Mitta. The two are internationally recognized musicians. We will be welcoming Khan back after he last played in 2015.

We are all in this together: Favianna Rodriguez and the ecology of social movements

January 30, 2024

The redwood trees that tower over the UC Santa Cruz campus are glorious manifestations of an ecosystem built on symbiotic relationships. The mighty redwoods, the iconic banana slug, the small sorrel are all interwoven in their existence and survival.

2023-24 CITRIS UC Santa Cruz Tech for Social Good Program's student project teams kick off

January 30, 2024

The 2023-24 CITRIS Tech for Social Good program at UC Santa Cruz started in January with kick-off meetings with the winning technology development track teams.

A new cohort of drone pilot students start in the 2024 CIDER Drone Pilot Training Program

January 30, 2024

The CITRIS Initiative for Drone Education and Research (CIDER) welcomed its 2024 Drone Pilot Training Program cohort in an orientation session on January 8.

UC Santa Cruz provides international travel support to campus community

January 30, 2024

UC Santa Cruz is now providing expanded services to faculty, staff, and students traveling internationally.

Decarbonization & Electrification Town Hall Meeting

January 30, 2024

Add/Drop/Swap and Undergrad Part-Time Deadline Extended

January 29, 2024

Do tree-planting campaigns follow best practices for successful forest restoration?

January 29, 2024

Environmental Studies Professor Karen Holl's latest research reviewed publicly available information to see if there have been improvements in recent years in whether tree-planting organizations apply best practices for successful reforestation.

Demonstration at the base of campus today

January 26, 2024

UC Santa Cruz is anticipating a demonstration at the base of campus from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today (Friday, January 26).

Coastal Science & Policy Program celebrates five years at UC Santa Cruz

January 25, 2024

Coastal Science and Policy Program Director Anne Kapuscinski reflects on the last five years and looks ahead to the future.

National Endowment for the Humanities gives $60,000 award to two UCSC faculty members

January 24, 2024

The National Endowment for the Humanities included two UC Santa Cruz professors in their most recent round of grants and awards. Drs. Jennifer Derr and Stacy Kamehiro are using their newly awarded funding to continue in the projects that focus on diverse groups and global impacts.

Institute of Arts and Sciences announces new interdisciplinary initiative on climate change

January 24, 2024

A new multi-year initiative will bring together arts and science to start a conversation about marine biology and the effects of climate change. The new exhibit is set to premier in 2025, and the project is already in progress as the Friedlaender lab collaborates with nationally recognized artists.

Section of Hagar Road closed

January 23, 2024

A section of Hagar Road between Steinhart Way and just above the East Remote Parking Lot will remain closed until further notice. The heavy rain appears to have caused damage to the road.

Tech insider Guy Kawasaki to moderate panel featuring Jeremiah Owyang and Luca de Alfaro

January 23, 2024

“Artificial Intelligence in the Academic and For Profit Environments” will be hosted at UC Santa Cruz’s Silicon Valley campus on Jan. 30, beginning with a reception at 5:30p. The panel will start at 6p. More details are available here.

Renowned chef, food activist Bryant Terry to deliver keynote address at 40th Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation

January 23, 2024

Acclaimed chef, author, and food justice advocate Bryant Terry will deliver the keynote address at UC Santa Cruz’s 40th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation. The event, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 31, at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Innovative PET technology will enable precise multitracer imaging of the brain

January 22, 2024

UC Santa Cruz Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Shiva Abbaszadeh is developing technology that will enable precise multitracer positron emission tomography imaging of the human body’s most complex organ with the support of a $4 million NIH grant.

Institute of the Arts & Sciences announces inaugural artists in the Coha Nowark Art + Science Residency Program

January 22, 2024

Duke University Press publishes Arts Dean Celine Parreñas Shimizu’s new book: The Movies of Racial Childhoods

January 22, 2024

UC Santa Cruz’s Dean of the Arts Division, award-winning filmmaker and author publishes her fourth sole-written book, exploring contemporary representations of Asian American youth.

Call for participation: Campus roads Bike and Pedestrian Safety Study

January 22, 2024

The University of California, Santa Cruz has recently launched the Campus Roads Bike and Pedestrian Safety Study to identify safety enhancements and develop conceptual street designs for key campus corridors.

Terrie Williams honored with 2024 National Academy of Sciences Daniel Giraud Elliot Medal

January 22, 2024

The National Academy of Sciences will honor 20 individuals with awards recognizing their extraordinary scientific achievements in a wide range of fields spanning the physical, biological, social, and medical sciences. Among the esteemed awardees is Terrie M. Williams, a comparative ecophysiologist from the University of California, Santa Cruz, who will be honored with the 2024 NAS Award in the Evolution of Earth and Life - Daniel Giraud Elliot Medal.

Students search for hidden black hole activity

January 18, 2024

When stars get too close to the supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies, the black holes shred them apart in a process called a tidal disruption event (TDE). These TDEs cause bright flashes, but recent models suggest that scientists should see more of them than have been observed.

UC Santa Cruz will lead development of next-generation telescope alignment system

January 18, 2024

The National Science Foundation recently awarded $3.9 million to researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz as the lead institution for the development of a next-gen telescope alignment system. The researchers will work with an international team to build and test systems in Santa Cruz and eventually install the final designs in seven telescopes at three ground-based observatory sites around the world.

UC Santa Cruz’s Center for Coastal Climate Resilience partnering with EY on Open Science Data Challenge on Coastal Resilience for students

January 18, 2024

Climate change is here, and so are its impacts on our communities. Globally, coastal hazards produce increasing costs, often to the most vulnerable populations. That’s why UC Santa Cruz’s Center for Coastal Climate Resilience (CCCR) and the University of California Disaster Resilience Network (UCDRN) are partnering with EY on its 2024 Open Science Data Challenge, focused on coastal resilience. CCCR will be hosting an event on campus on Jan. 25 for interested undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty to learn more about this significant opportunity.

Insights from UCSC-made COVID-19 tracking tool will guide the future of studying pathogens in real time

January 17, 2024

A new paper by a team of UCSC pathogen genomicists offers guidance for the future of web tools for tracking pathogen evolution.

UC Santa Cruz Humanities Division secures $1 million grant for Employing Humanities initiative

January 16, 2024

Investment from the Mellon Foundation will propel new program focused on experiential learning and career readiness for humanities students.

Training program helps prevent harassment in fieldwork environments

January 11, 2024

Fieldwork often puts researchers and students in remote environments that have unique challenges. The unusual setting of fieldwork can make sexual harassment and assault more likely, and it also calls for distinct approaches to prevent and respond to it. To address this systemic problem, University of Santa Cruz scientists developed a sexual harassment prevention and awareness training program specifically tailored to fieldwork environments.

UC Santa Cruz Division of Undergraduate Education appoints Shelly Grabe as new Provost of Rachel Carson College

January 9, 2024

The Division of Undergraduate Education at UC Santa Cruz proudly announces the appointment of Shelly Grabe as the new Provost of Rachel Carson College, effective July 1, 2024. Dr. Grabe, a Professor of Social Psychology at UC Santa Cruz, brings a depth of experience in research, activism, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

UC Santa Cruz Division of Undergraduate Education appoints Soraya Murray as new Provost of Porter College

January 9, 2024

The Division of Undergraduate Education at UC Santa Cruz is pleased to announce the appointment of Soraya Murray as the new Provost of Porter College, effective July 1, 2024. Murray, an esteemed interdisciplinary scholar with a passion for mentorship, will bring a unique perspective to her new role.

Transfer Summit will convene to discuss transfer student experience

January 9, 2024

You are invited to attend the 2024 Transfer Summit on Friday January 12 from 2-5 PM at the Stevenson Event Center. The goal of the summit is to create a high-level shared understanding amongst faculty and staff of the many aspects of the transfer student experience.

Global study shows extreme short-term drought has even greater impacts on grasslands and shrublands than previously thought

January 8, 2024

UC Santa Cruz scientists supported a new global study showing that the effects of extreme short-term drought have been greatly underestimated for grasslands and shrublands.

UCSC joins as founding member of new Action Collaborative to improve pathways for women of color in tech education and careers

December 20, 2023

UC Santa Cruz has joined a new Action Collaborative on transforming trajectories for women of color in tech which was launched by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and 35 other institutions representing higher education, national laboratories, and government.

Scholar, philanthropist Peggy Downes Baskin dies at 93

December 20, 2023

Peggy Downes Baskin, educator and scholar, advocate for women’s rights, and longtime philanthropic supporter of UC Santa Cruz, died at her home surrounded by her family on Dec. 11. She was 93.

J. Mijin Cha testifies on solutions to energy poverty before congressional subcommittee

December 18, 2023

Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies J. Mijin Cha shared her insights on solutions that could make electricity more affordable for low-income families across America.

Nobuhiko Kobayashi elected to the 2023 National Academy of Inventors

December 15, 2023

Nobuhiko (Nobby) Kobayashi, professor of electrical and computer engineering at UC Santa Cruz, has been named a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI).

Resources for academics experiencing online harassment

December 15, 2023

A new campus guide provides information on potential steps that can be taken to prepare for and mitigate targeted online harassment and resources to support those targeted and department administrators in navigating these situations safely.

W.M. Keck Observatory appoints Rich Matsuda as director

December 14, 2023

The W. M. Keck Observatory today announced the appointment of Rich Matsuda as its next director, effective January 1, 2024.

Gender Recognition and Lived Name Policy

December 12, 2023

In November 2020, UC announced a systemwide Gender Recognition and Lived Name (GRLN) Policy. The deadline for full compliance with the policy is December 31, 2023. There will be some changes to the current UCSC Preferred Name process which the campus will communicate in the new year.

Building community through Slug Stories at College Nine and John R Lewis

December 7, 2023

More than 200 students gathered on November 28 for Slug Stories, an annual College Nine and John R. Lewis College tradition. Live and in-person for the first time in three years, the event showcased nine impassioned students who told stories of life experiences that have shaped who they are today.

Cloud technologies bring organoids into undergraduate classrooms for the first time

December 5, 2023

For the first time, remote education tools have allowed undergraduate students to gain direct experience experimenting with cortical organoids grown at UC Santa Cruz.

Preparing the next generation of doctors

December 5, 2023

The University of California, Santa Cruz, an institution renowned for innovation, social justice, and sustainability, announces a unique Premed Postbaccalaureate Program focused on bridging looming healthcare gaps in California.

THI Graduate Public Fellows champion the relevance of Humanities education in a changing world

December 5, 2023

An innovative Public Fellowship Program at the Humanities Institute (THI) is showing the important real-world impact of doctoral students’ humanities skills and expertise and offering exciting possibilities for the future of graduate education and career pathways.

$50k Match for UCSC’s Holiday Food & Fund Drive

December 4, 2023

The UCSC Staff Advisory Board is excited to share with you that our UCSC community has received its largest Holiday Food & Fund Drive (HFFD) matching gift ever - a $50,000 matching gift from Tibi McCann and Eric Jensen!

Indigenous scientists awarded $9M to establish the first RADx Tribal data repository that upholds Indigenous data sovereignty

December 1, 2023

The National Institutes of Health announced funding for an Indigenous Data Repository led by Native scientists to help improve health in tribal communities and for all Indigenous Peoples.

Smart microgrids can restore power more efficiently and reliably in an outage

November 30, 2023

A new AI model that optimizes the use of renewables and other energy sources outperforms traditional power restoration techniques for islanded microgrids, a new paper from Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Yu Zhang shows.

Funding opportunities to develop UC Santa Cruz innovations

November 29, 2023

The Innovation & Business Engagement Hub is now accepting applications for two funding opportunities to advance innovations being developed at UC Santa Cruz.

UCSC’s 2023 iGEM team grabs fourth consecutive gold medal and nomination for best software tool at international competition

November 29, 2023

A team of UC Santa Cruz students won a gold medal at the 2023 International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Grand Jamboree, marking their fourth consecutive year of bringing home the prize, and were nominated as best software tool for the first time.

UCPath Direct Deposit Phishing Alert

November 29, 2023

There is an ongoing phishing attempt targeting UC employees that aims to gain access to your paycheck and reroute your direct deposit.

2023 list of most highly cited researchers includes 18 UC Santa Cruz scientists and engineers

November 29, 2023

In a notable recognition of scholarly achievement, 18 scientists and engineers from UC Santa Cruz have earned a spot on the 2023 Highly Cited Researchers list, recently unveiled by Clarivate.

New eDNA Explorer provides a powerful new resource for conservation

November 28, 2023

CALeDNA has launched a prototype of their new eDNA Explorer, an open-source tool that provides a powerful and easily accessible platform for sharing, exploring, and analyzing data from projects that use environmental DNA.

Chancellor Larive elected to board of the Association of American Universities

November 28, 2023

UC Santa Cruz Chancellor Cynthia Larive has been elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the Association of American Universities (AAU).

Visits set for Director of Athletics & Recreation candidates

November 28, 2023

Beginning Monday, December 11 and continuing through Friday, December 15, campus will conduct final in-person interviews in the search for the director of Athletics & Recreation.

Dwarf planet Eris is squishier than expected

November 28, 2023

University of California, Santa Cruz Professor of Planetary Sciences Francis Nimmo recently co-authored a Science Advances paper about the internal structure of the dwarf planet Eris.

UC Santa Cruz Silicon Valley Professional Education upgrades its Semiconductor and VLSI Engineering Certificate to address skilled professional shortage and industry growth

November 28, 2023

UC Santa Cruz Silicon Valley Professional Education is proud to announce the upgrade of its Silicon Chip Design & Semiconductor Engineering Certificate program (Formerly known as VLSI and Semiconductor Engineering), aimed at alleviating the shortage of skilled professionals in the industry and meeting the growing demands of the semiconductor sector.

UCSC Alumnus Leo Merle wins Gold for Team USA at the 2023 Parapan American Games

November 27, 2023

UC Santa Cruz alumnus Leo Merle (Rachel Carson ’20) won the gold medal in the Men’s T38 1500-meter race at the Parapan American Games on Nov. 21.

Campus to eliminate enrollment adjustment fees effective January

November 21, 2023

UC Santa Cruz is eliminating three long-standing enrollment adjustment fees, including the $10 Removal of Incomplete Fee.

Environmental toxicologist Don Smith receives Outstanding Faculty Award

November 21, 2023

Don Smith, distinguished professor of microbiology and environmental toxicology, has been awarded the 2022-2023 Outstanding Faculty Award from the Division of Physical and Biological Sciences. The annual award is the division’s highest honor for faculty achievement, recognizing combined excellence in research, teaching, and service.

UC Santa Cruz faculty member elected president of Sociologists for Women in Society

November 21, 2023

Associate Professor of Latin American and Latino Studies (LALS) Sylvanna Falcón was recently elected president of Sociologists for Women in Society (SWS). Falcón’s term in the position will start at the beginning of 2024.

New book shares expertise from UC Santa Cruz and beyond on preparing students to tackle environmental justice issues

November 21, 2023

A new book developed by UC Santa Cruz faculty and staff offers teaching examples, strategies, and classroom tools to help integrate environmental justice into courses in ways that center equity.

Fishing chimpanzees found to enjoy termites as a seasonal treat

November 17, 2023

A UCSC-led research team that copied chimpanzee tools and techniques showed that chimpanzees living in western Tanzania can only reliably fish for termites in the early wet season.

François Monard honored with Calderón Prize for inverse problems work

November 17, 2023

University of California, Santa Cruz professor of mathematics François Monard has received the prestigious Calderón Prize for his work in the field of inverse problems.

UCSC doctoral graduate wins prestigious Science & SciLifeLab Prize for Young Scientists

November 16, 2023

Jessica Kendall-Bar, who received her Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology last year from UC Santa Cruz with co-advisors Terrie Williams and Dan Costa, was named a recipient of the prestigious Science & SciLifeLab Prize for Young Scientists for her research on elephant seal sleep habits while they are at sea.

Brain-inspired AI code library passes major milestone, new paper offers perspective on future of field

November 16, 2023

UCSC Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Jason Eshraghian's open source code library for brain-inspired deep learning, called “snnTorch,” has surpassed 100,000 downloads and is used in a wide variety of projects. A new paper details the code and offers a perspective on the future of the field.

UC Santa Cruz will lead new systemwide basic needs consortium to bring together researchers and practitioners

November 16, 2023

UC Santa Cruz’s Blum Center on Poverty, Social Enterprise, and Participatory Governance will become the UC Santa Cruz Center for Economic Justice and Action, taking on a new leadership role in University of California basic needs efforts that enhance students’ access to food, housing, and other essential resources.

Worldwide leaders convene to protect, advance global biodiversity

November 15, 2023

With a focus on sustaining and strengthening global biodiversity in the face of climate change, UC Santa Cruz hosted the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation University Leaders' Forum, bringing together nearly 100 international leaders in education, industry, and government.

UC Santa Cruz welcomes new director of Audit and Management Advisory Services

November 14, 2023

Amy Kozak has been named UC Santa Cruz’s new director of Audit and Management Advisory Services. She started her role Monday, November 13.

A major new site expansion at Lick Observatory is on the horizon

November 14, 2023

Lick Observatory's positioning in the Northern Hemisphere enables observation of a substantial portion of the Milky Way galaxy where there are a multitude of stars, billions of potential sites for life. Making Lick Observatory a perfect home for PANOSETI, or "Panoramic SETI or Pulse All-sky Near Infrared Optical SETI."

Central Coast K-16 Education Collaborative receives $18.1 million grant to revolutionize student pathways and bridge equity gaps

November 14, 2023

The Central Coast K-16 Regional Collaborative has been awarded an $18.1 million, three-year grant through California’s Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF) to establish new or expand existing pathways for career opportunities and to address long-standing equity gaps for students across the region.

New open access course – data-driven animation for science communication

November 14, 2023

The Teaching & Learning Center at UC Santa Cruz is delighted to announce that Dr. Jessica Kendall-Bar has created an open access version of her Data-Driven Animation for Science Communication course, which is now freely available on the Coursera platform.

Policies regarding academic freedom and political advocacy in the classroom

November 13, 2023

I write today to draw attention, and provide references, to University of California policy regarding academic freedom and political advocacy in the classroom and other instructional spaces.

Upholding community responsibilities

November 13, 2023

As our community members seek to have their voices heard and to engage in protest, it is crucial not to let the overwhelming nature of the pain we feel cause us to abandon our obligations to each other.

Giving Day 2023 breaks records

November 9, 2023

Giving Day, UC Santa Cruz’s biggest fundraising event of the year, wraps up on a high note.

Veteran students excel with Bruce Lane Memorial Scholarship

November 9, 2023

The Bruce Lane Memorial Scholarship was established to support veteran students at UC Santa Cruz. Devin Burkland and Dan Palance are this year's recipients.

Prescribed burns near campus today and tomorrow

November 8, 2023

California State Parks has announced that it will be conducting prescribed burns in Wilder Ranch today, November 8, and tomorrow, Nov. 9.

Award winning composer and television producer Ken Corday returns to campus for music recital

November 7, 2023

UC Santa Cruz alumnus Ken Corday will perform a solo piano recital on Nov. 17 at UCSC’s Music Center.

UC Santa Cruz students win three categories at Orange County Sustainability Decathlon

November 7, 2023

An interdisciplinary team of UC Santa Cruz students, many from the Rachel Carson College Sustainability Minor program, designed and built EcoHus, an innovative, affordable, net-zero house. The EcoHus team was selected to receive a $100,000 grant to participate in the 2023 Orange County Sustainability Decathlon (OCSD) held on Oct. 5-15, where they won first place in three categories, and secured second and third place in other categories.

Celebrating Election Heroes

November 7, 2023

November 6 was Election Hero Day, a civic holiday honoring the heroes of American democracy. UC Santa Cruz wants to celebrate the tremendous contributions our students have made, ensuring a safe, secure, and accessible voting experience for everyone in the campus community.

True or false? How uncertainty about the accuracy of information affects learning

November 2, 2023

UC Santa Cruz postdoctoral scholar Karen Arcos, Assistant Professor of Psychology Hannah Hausman, and Department Chair of Psychology Benjamin Storm published new research that explores how the process of guessing whether information is true or not might affect learning.

Immigrants targeted by scams are seeking justice. Here’s how to help them get it

November 1, 2023

Assistant Professor of Sociology Juan Manuel Pedroza's research has identified trends in what types of justice immigrants who have been targeted by scams are seeking and offers recommendations for policymakers and law enforcement agencies on how to expand access to justice.

Irene Lusztig’s Film Richland Explores a Town Grappling with its Ties to the Atomic Bomb

November 1, 2023

Irene Lusztig's latest film, Richland, tells the story of the town of the same name. The film opened at Tribeca and at the prestigious International Documentary Festival Amsterdam, it was selected to be part of the program "Signed."

Seeing “One Too Many Racist Musicals” is What Led Preston Choi to be a Playwright

November 1, 2023

Rebecca Wear, professor of Performance, Play and Design, will direct the student production of "You'll Get Used to It" at UC Santa Cruz on Nov. 3-12, 2023.

Coral reefs identified as national natural infrastructure

October 31, 2023

The U.S. Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF) approved a resolution on Oct. 26 that designates coral reefs along U.S. states and territories as national infrastructure. This resolution makes it easier to direct federal funding, particularly infrastructure, hazard mitigation, and disaster recovery monies, to reef conservation and restoration to protect people, property, and livelihoods.

Slug Gaming looks to level up presence on campus

October 31, 2023

Slug Gaming, a student group for casual and competitive esports players, want to increase campus support for their players and foster a strong sense of community for gamers at UCSC.

Multidisciplinary team will develop advanced rhizosphere carbon imaging for climate change research with support of major DOE grant

October 30, 2023

A team of researchers at UC Santa Cruz and Stanford University are leading a new project in which they aim to use dynamic imaging and modeling of carbon in the rhizosphere to answer longstanding questions about how carbon moves through the soil and plant root interface.

Supporting our campus community amid the ongoing Middle East conflict

October 30, 2023

The days to come will continue to be difficult, and we hope we all can continue to search for common ground, strive for respectful dialogue, and seek support from friends, family, and the campus community.

Bacteria can enhance host insect’s fertility with implications for disease control

October 24, 2023

New research led at UC Santa Cruz reveals how the bacteria strain Wolbachia pipientis enhances the fertility of the insects it infects, an insight that could help scientists increase the populations of mosquitoes that do not carry human disease.

Cruzin' to Campus: Five Essential Bicycle Safety Tips for Slugs

October 24, 2023

Safety should always be a top priority when pedaling your way across campus and around the city.

Remembering the grave injustices to Japanese-Americans in the 1940s through female activism

October 24, 2023

On Tuesday, Oct. 3, Cowell College’s Eloise Pickard Smith Gallery launched a two-month exhibition entitled “Never Again is Now: Japanese American Women Activists and the Legacy of the Mass Incarceration.” The exhibit — on display through Dec. 2 — features artwork and historical renderings of women’s memories surrounding this time period, including challenges to racial and gender stereotypes, promotions of intergenerational ties, and developed coalitions of years past.

Sara Ruhl’s Eurydice is the perfect play for a college campus

October 24, 2023

In Sarah Ruhl’s play, Eurydice, coming to the UC Santa Cruz on November 10, the story is about the title character.

Working to improve clarity for patients assessing their genetic breast cancer risk

October 23, 2023

A project to expedite the analysis of variants on the BRCA 1 and 2 genes, the most commonly affected genes in breast cancer cases, will help more people to better understand their cancer risk.

Creative Technologies, new online major in Arts Division, first of its kind on any UC campus

October 23, 2023

The Arts Division’s new Creative Technologies online major is the first of its kind on any UC campus.

Rebates can offer solutions to California’s groundwater woes

October 18, 2023

Many aquifers in California and around the world are being drained of their groundwater because of the combined impacts of excess pumping, shifts in land use, and climate change. However, a new study by scientists at UC Santa Cruz and UC Berkeley, published on Oct.18 in Nature Water, may offer a solution - it describes the development and operation of a novel incentive program that uses water rebates to pay for some of the costs of getting stormwater runoff into the ground. The program is called recharge net metering (ReNeM).

Recognizing outstanding faculty and staff in the Division of Social Sciences

October 18, 2023

The Social Sciences Division’s annual fall breakfast gathered faculty and staff to celebrate the winners of four major divisional awards.

Campus Fire Safety

October 17, 2023

For more than a decade, UC Santa Cruz has been a smoke-free campus. Under California law, “unlawfully causing a fire that recklessly sets fire to or burns or causes to be burned, any structure, forest land or property is a felony punishable with both imprisonment and fines.”

Long-term plan to end use of fossil fuels at UCSC is released

October 17, 2023

The Decarbonization and Electrification (D&E) Task Force has released a long-term campus plan to end the use of fossil fuel at UC Santa Cruz and move to 100 percent clean and renewable energy sources.

Slugworks welcomes students across campus to new creative space

October 16, 2023

Slugworks, a new creatorspace on campus located in the Jack Baskin Engineering building, is open to the campus community.

UCSC Giving Day ignites philanthropy and community spirit

October 12, 2023

UC Santa Cruz’s biggest fundraising event, returns on Wednesday, November 8, 2023.

FUTURE in Biology program receives NSF grant to explore field courses as a tool for equity

October 12, 2023

A group of researchers at UC Santa Cruz recently received a $1.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation to study the impacts of these field courses and develop best practices for making them more accessible.

Three climate resilience projects supported by 2023 CITRIS Interdisciplinary Innovation Program

October 10, 2023

CITRIS and the Banatao Institute and the Innovation & Business Engagement Hub collaborated to fund three projects focused on climate resilience and that align with developing solutions that address some of the California's most pressing climate challenges.

Prescribed burns near campus beginning Oct. 10

October 9, 2023

California State Parks has announced that it will be conducting prescribed burns in Wilder Ranch and Año Nuevo State Parks October 10-13 and potentially beyond those dates throughout the month of October.

Statement on Israel-Hamas conflict

October 9, 2023

We have watched with deep sadness the unfolding violence in Israel and Gaza, and we are gravely concerned at the escalating conflict across the region. Our hearts go out to everyone in harm’s way and all who have been affected.

Cal-Bridge awarded $4 million to diversify STEM

October 9, 2023

The Cal-Bridge program, which supports students from historically underserved backgrounds in STEM, was recently awarded $4 million in the 2023-2024 California state budget. The funding will provide scholarships, mentorship and professional development opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students around the state in physics and astronomy, computer science, and math.

System-wide leaders visit campus to discuss next steps in Agricultural Experiment Station designation

October 9, 2023

A group from University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources visited UC Santa Cruz to discuss implementation for the campus’s official designation as an Agricultural Experiment Station.

UCSC iGEM 2023 addressing harmful algal blooms through synthetic biology

October 4, 2023

A team of UCSC undergraduate students is designing and assembling a plasmid that targets the toxic genes of a type of freshwater bacteria responsible for harmful algal blooms.

From tech to arts, new leaders elected to join UC Santa Cruz Foundation Board of Trustees

October 4, 2023

The UC Santa Cruz Foundation has elected six new trustees who are established leaders across a range of industries, from fiber optics and scientific operations to media, arts, and community service.

Launching our new strategic plan, Leading the Change

October 3, 2023

We are thrilled to launch Leading the Change: The UC Santa Cruz Strategic Plan, the culmination of a campuswide conversation during the 2022-23 academic year to craft a collective vision for our future.

Welcome Week brings events, energy and enthusiasm to campus community

October 3, 2023

In celebration of the start of the fall quarter and in an effort to empower a new class of students to connect with campus, UCSC hosted an array of high-energy and highly attended, Welcome Week activities. This story provides highlights from those activities and events.

UC Santa Cruz releases new strategic plan, forms implementation executive committee

October 3, 2023

Marking the culmination of a year-long campuswide conversation to craft a shared vision for the future, UC Santa Cruz today is launching "Leading the Change: The UC Santa Cruz Strategic Plan" and has formed an executive committee to guide and support its implementation.

Biotech founder and hero of the Human Genome Project joins UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute as Executive Director

October 2, 2023

The UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute has selected scientist, entrepreneur, and executive Lauren Linton as their new Executive Director.

Genome study reveals 30 years of Darwin’s finch evolution

October 2, 2023

A study led by UC Santa Cruz postdoctoral scholar of Genomics & Bioinformatics Erik Enbody paints a dynamic picture of how species adapt to changing environments.

Free Arivu concert, Festival of Monsters, and special exhibitions: celebrating National Arts & Humanities Month at UCSC

September 29, 2023

UCSC will celebrate National Arts & Humanities Month in October with an array of cultural and artistic happenings, including a free open-air concert by the massively popular Indian rapper Arivu on October 7. Another highlight will be the annual Festival of Monsters, which starts on Friday the 13th.

Kresge College celebrates first phase of renovation

September 28, 2023

Ribbon-cutting event marks the official opening of new residential halls and academic center.

Anthropology faculty members partner on new National Science Foundation Center for Braiding Indigenous Knowledges and Science

September 28, 2023

UC Santa Cruz anthropology faculty members Tsim Schneider and Jon Daehnke received a more than $500,000 subaward through a new National Science Foundation (NSF) center that aims to address climate change by equitably combining insights from Indigenous knowledges and mainstream "Western" sciences.

US Department of Agriculture visits UC Santa Cruz to learn about research and workforce development projects

September 28, 2023

UC Santa Cruz faculty, staff, and students shared information about USDA-funded research and education projects on campus with special guests from the USDA.

Chancellor’s Update: Celebrating the start of a new academic year!

September 28, 2023

This fall feels especially energized, as in addition to welcoming new and returning students, we are swinging open the doors to our stunning new Rachel Carson/Oakes College Dining Hall, and unveiling phase one of our Kresge College revitalization and expansion.

UCSC’s David Deamer and Mark Akeson honored for invention of nanopore sequencing

September 27, 2023

UCSC's David Deamer and Mark Akeson won the AAAS Golden Goose award for the invention of nanopore sequencing, a transformational technology for reading DNA and RNA.

New WiFi service for educational and smart devices

September 27, 2023

Information Technology Services (ITS) is pleased to announce a new campus WiFi service for educational and smart devices.

Research partnership will turn power plant emissions into fish feed

September 27, 2023

UC Santa Cruz’s ecological aquaculture research team will partner with the company Global Algae Innovations to test whether a microalgae grown using captured carbon dioxide emissions could be an effective feed ingredient for rainbow trout.

Downtown Day 2023

September 26, 2023

UC Santa Cruz students are invited to explore downtown Santa Cruz and discover all the vibrant areas it has to offer on Friday, October 6 from 10:00am - 6:30pm.

UC Santa Cruz welcomes new faculty to campus

September 26, 2023

UC Santa Cruz welcomes 54 new faculty members to campus who bring a wide array of expertise in research and creative scholarship that will open new areas of investigation and expression and expand existing areas of work.

UCSC Graduate Student Awarded Yale Ciencia Academy Fellowship

September 22, 2023

The competitive fellowship provides professional skill development to doctoral students from underrepresented backgrounds who are ~2 years away from graduation.

CITL and Online Education are now the Teaching and Learning Center

September 19, 2023

The merger officially brings together the expertise of both units to support the campus as it navigates the contemporary instructional landscape and strives to become a learner-centered research university.

Game on! Tune in to watch UC grad students explain their research in three minutes flat at the 2022 Grad Slam.

April 15, 2022

Game on! Tune in to watch UC grad students explain their research in three minutes flat at the 2022 Grad Slam.

Call for Applications: UC Santa Cruz Campus Fellow Award 2020-2021

July 16, 2020

The UC Santa Cruz Campus Fellow Award recognizes outstanding graduate students with research & service projects that will positively impact our community.

New online resource for UC Santa Cruz student parents

January 15, 2020

Science & Justice Training Course Available Winter 2020

December 10, 2019

The program will train science and engineering graduate students alongside social science, humanities and arts graduate students.