2018  Community News

Isaí Ambrosio named UCSC's inaugural "activist-in-residence"

Isaí Ambrosio is going back to school in January. The program director of the Davenport Resource Service Center (DRSC) has been named the inaugural activist-in-residence of UCSC's Research Center for the Americas (RCA).

Two new books published by UC Santa Cruz poet, lecturer, and alumnus Gary Young

UC Santa Cruz literature lecturer Gary Young has just released "That's What I Thought," a new poetry collection which has been honored with the Lexi Rudnitsky Editor's Choice Award from Persea Books in New York City.

Save the date—forum on the development of Early Education Services for students, faculty, and staff

Ocean fertilization by unusual microbes extends to frigid waters of Arctic Ocean

Researchers have documented nitrogen fixation by an unusual type of cyanobacteria in the cold waters of the Bering and Chukchi Seas.

Wild animals key to mediating landscape’s capacity to store carbon, researchers say

Advances in remote sensing technologies are helping scientists to better measure how global landscapes—from forests to savanna—are able to store carbon, a critical insight as they evaluate the potential role of ecosystems in mitigating climate change.

DVD box set curated by Shelley Stamp wins 2018 New York Film Critics Circle Award

"Pioneers: First Women Filmmakers"--a Kino Classics box set curated by UC Santa Cruz film and digital media professor Shelley Stamp and executive produced by actress, director, and screenwriter Illeana Douglas--has received a 2018 Special Award from the New York Film Critics Circle.

Art exhibit highlights the ubiquity of motors

“Motors Surround Us”—a collaboration between a physics lecturer, her students, and community artists—will be on display through Dec. 31 in the atrium of the Physical Sciences Building.

Kepler telescope captures extraordinary observations of a star's death throes

Kepler's observations of the supernova known as SN 2018oh showed an unexpected fast rise in brightness that may be an important clue to understanding the progenitors of Type Ia supernovae, which cosmologists use to study the expansion of the universe and dark energy.

Summer abroad programs offer hands-on learning opportunities

UC Santa Cruz has significantly expanded its faculty-led summer abroad programs, now offering seven different opportunities for students to further their education in other countries.

UC Santa Cruz receives significant Hunter S. Thompson collection

An 800-volume collection of works by famed author and journalist Hunter S. Thompson has been donated to Special Collections & Archives at UC Santa Cruz.

Last chance to see 'Forest Law' by Ursula Biemann and Paulo Tavares at UC Santa Cruz

Forest Law 2014, a 38-minute multi-channel video installation and photo text assemblage based on research carried out by Ursula Biemann and Paulo Tavares in the Ecuadorian Amazon, is currently on display at the Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery through December 1.

Entrepreneur and UC Santa Cruz benefactor Will Webster dies at 90

Webster, a major donor who invented revolutionary cardiac devices, established a foundation that spearheaded significant campus changes.

2018 photo contest winners

There were over 100 entries this year in the chancellor's holiday photo contest. Here are the winners.

Lit prof offers true love and dreams of miraculous escape

The latest book by UC Santa Cruz literature professor Micah Perks, is a unique anthology of her short stories that sometimes reads like a novel. Written over the past 15 years, it’s a linked collection of engaging tales about the same people--all set in Santa Cruz, California.

Oil and gas development off California's coast—Is more in our future?

The Ken Norris Memorial Lecture at the Seymour Center on Tuesday, November 13, features a moderated discussion with an expert panel.

SocDoc alumna’s film about Syrian women refugees to have world premiere at DOC NYC

We Are Not Princesses, the first feature film by UC Santa Cruz alumna Bridgette Auger (SocDoc ’11) will have its world premiere on November 14 at DOC NYC, the largest documentary film festival in the United States.

Beyond campaign rhetoric: What's really needed to secure California's economic future

With the world's fifth-largest economy, California has legitimate bragging rights as it proudly leads the "resistance" to federal attacks on immigrant rights, environmental policy, and progressive values in general. But that's not the whole story.

Hear the "Inside Story of the Apes" on Tuesday, Nov. 13

Adrienne Zihlman had a hunch 30 years ago that the study of human evolution would benefit from the analysis of more than skeletons. That hunch set her on a career path that established her as an internationally recognized authority on human origins.

Legendary poet Gary Snyder to read at UC Santa Cruz for annual Morton Marcus event

Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet, essayist, and environmental activist Gary Snyder will be the featured guest at the ninth annual Morton Marcus Memorial Poetry Reading on Thursday, November 15, at the Music Center Recital Hall on the UC Santa Cruz campus.

Exhibit showcases art inspired by the UC Santa Cruz Natural Reserves

'Reserves of Inspiration: Exploring UC Santa Cruz Natural Landscapes' opens November 6 at the Eloise Pickard Smith Gallery in Cowell College.

$9.3 million education grant to support Pajaro Valley students in college journey

The grant, to the UC Santa Cruz Educational Partnership Center (EPC), will serve 1,630 underrepresented students in the Pajaro Valley beginning in their sixth and seventh grades and on through their first year of college.

Campus status updates

UC Santa Cruz received notice on Oct. 12, 2018 that there will be a labor strike beginning 4 a.m. on October 23 and ending at 3:59 a.m. on October 26, 2018 by AFSCME patient care technical workers.

Founders Celebration a night of powerful stories

Journalists Martha Mendoza, Mike McPhate, and Carrie Kahn regaled the audience with stories of hard work, staffing cutbacks, investigative reporting and on-the-ground journalism during Founders Celebration.

Visionary tech pioneer Jaron Lanier to deliver Peggy Downes Baskin Ethics Lecture

Computer scientist, composer, visual artist, and acclaimed author Jaron Lanier will deliver the 2018 Peggy Downes Baskin Ethics Lecture on Monday, October 29, at the Music Center Recital Hall. He will speak on the topic, "How the Internet Failed and How to Recreate It."

UC Santa Cruz receives Mellon Foundation humanities grant to explore Earth Futures

Catastrophic environmental breakdown, mass species extinction, financial collapse, racist separatism, global nuclear war…there is much speculation these days that we are living at the end of democracy, liberalism, capitalism, a cool planet, and civilization as we know it...

Getty Research Institute and PBS feature work by alumna book artist Felicia Rice

On October 20, The Getty Research Institute will present the world premiere screening of Visionaries, the newest episode from PBS's award-winning documentary series, Craft in America. UC Santa Cruz arts alumna Felicia Rice is featured in that episode.

Gary Griggs covers region's history of natural disasters in new book

Griggs puts the natural disasters of recent decades into historical context in his latest book, 'Between Paradise and Peril: The Natural Disaster History of the Monterey Bay Region.'

Arts professor to participate in Television Academy Foundation’s 2018 Faculty Seminar Program

UC Santa Cruz associate professor of film and digital media L.S. Kim is one of 25 professors from colleges and universities across the country selected for the Television Academy Foundation’s 2018 Faculty Seminar Program.

UCSC hosts free public forum Oct. 22 on the Santa Cruz housing crisis

Six UC Santa Cruz scholars will discuss rent control and other proposals to address the Santa Cruz housing crisis during a free public forum on Monday, October 22, in the Kresge Town Hall.

Nine in 10 Silicon Valley jobs pay less now than 20 years ago, new research reveals

The vast majority of workers in Silicon Valley have been excluded from the area’s enormous economic boom, according to the results of a new study that reveals that nearly nine in ten jobs pay less today than they did 20 years ago.

New twist on 'The Turn of the Screw' to have West Coast premiere at UC Santa Cruz

The West Coast premiere of a new interpretation of the Henry James Gothic classic, 'Strange Window: The Turn of the Screw'--directed by acclaimed stage director and UC Santa Cruz theater arts professor Marianne Weems--will take place October 12-14 on campus at the Experimental Theater in the Theater Arts Center.

Alumni Profile: Author-naturalist Christian Schwarz crusades on behalf of the planet

With his smart phone in hand, Christian Schwarz is empowering "citizen scientists" to document today's biodiversity in hopes of inspiring action before it's too late.

Oakes College Provost House name change honors visionary

The Oakes Provost House will be renamed to honor Emeritus Professor and founding Oakes College Provost J. Herman Blake at a ceremony this month.

Housing crisis impacting city and county employees, survey reveals

Those who work for and serve the city and county of Santa Cruz are being impacted by the housing crisis, according to researchers who surveyed nearly 500 people.

Central Valley Freedom Summer registers voters, changes lives

For most kids who grow up in the Central Valley, the goal is to get out. But this summer, 25 UC Santa Cruz and UC Merced students turned that narrative on its head and returned home, eager to give back to their communities.

19 UCSC film students collaborate on documentary about Santa Cruz housing crisis

"At Capacity"—a collectively-made documentary feature film by 19 students in a UC Santa Cruz film class--will screen twice at the 2018 Santa Cruz Film Festival, which takes place downtown October 3-7.

Campus abuzz as academic year kicks off

This past week, UC Santa Cruz welcomed 3,690 freshmen and 1,810 transfers, who begin instruction Thursday.

New faculty to advance campus teaching, research

UC Santa Cruz is welcoming more than 35 new faculty members this year, bringing the campus total to 603.

Reports of sexual misconduct by a professor

We expect everyone in our campus community to know that sexual harassment and sexual misconduct are at odds with the values of our campus.

Community engagement enhances graduate education

Associate Professor Elliott Campbell and Professor Chris Benner co-taught a Spring Quarter class to connect first-year graduate students with environmental problems in the Salinas Valley Basin and to foster collaboration with off-campus stakeholders.

Chancellor Blumenthal announces plan to retire

In a message to campus, Chancellor George Blumenthal announced his plan to retire at the end of the 2018-19 academic year.

NSF funds UC Santa Cruz study of tech in agriculture

Researchers at UC Santa Cruz are leading a new, NSF-funded, multi-campus initiative to explore the intersection of agriculture, food, and technology.

Student Housing West environmental study

Student Housing West is crucial to the future of our university. It will give us more than 3,000 new on-campus beds, which we believe will pull upper-division students now in the local housing market back to campus, helping them while also easing pressure on the greater local housing market.

Library digitizes over 6,000 photos from Pirkle Jones/Ruth-Marion Baruch collection

Thousands of previously unseen photographs from The Pirkle Jones and Ruth-Marion Baruch Collection at UC Santa Cruz are now available online to the general public, thanks to a collaboration between the campus library and the California Digital Library.

Bay Area’s 'Soundwave' festival to feature work by UC Santa Cruz arts faculty and alumnae

"Soundwave ((8)) Infrastructure" runs September through October with six curated performances throughout San Francisco and Oakland. It kicks off on Sept. 8, at Counter Plus in San Francisco with "HVAC: Thermal Comfort," a new work by art lecturer and alumna Dana Hemenway and San Francisco media artist and composer Surabhi Saraf.

Gifts to UC Santa Cruz fund new presidential chair for diversity in astronomy

UCSC astronomer Sandra Faber and her husband made the lead gift to establish an endowed chair named in honor of Faber's mentor, distinguished astronomer Vera Rubin.

UC Santa Cruz researchers contribute to new assessment of Central Coast climate impacts

Nearly a dozen UC Santa Cruz researchers contributed to a new state-issued report that assesses the dire impacts of climate change throughout California.

Film professor Jennifer Taylor wins grant from the SFFILM 2018 Documentary Film Fund

UC Santa Cruz associate professor of film and digital media Jennifer Maytorena Taylor has received a grant from the SFFILM Documentary Film Fund to support her latest project, "The Gut."

Alumna Reyna Grande pens NY Times op-ed on immigration

Earlier this week, the New York Times published an op-ed by UC Santa Cruz alumna Reyna Grande titled "The Impossible Choice My Father Had to Make." The piece was a response to a statement by Ivanka Trump that appeared to blame immigrant parents for the separation of families this summer at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Voices from the Dickens Universe

Here's your chance to get an audio immersion in UC Santa Cruz's famed Dickens Universe—you'll feel like you're right there, uncovering new meanings in the text, drinking tea, and getting ready for the Victorian dance.

New book by UC Santa Cruz arts professor examines cultural impact of video games

In her new book, 'On Video Games: The Visual Politics of Race, Gender and Space,' UC Santa Cruz professor Soraya Murray goes beyond the technical discussions of games and instead offers a deep dive into their cultural dimensions.

UC Santa Cruz awarded two NEH grants for Humanities projects

UC Santa Cruz has received two grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to support humanities projects in the Literature Department.

Certificate program seeks to reframe sustainability

The certificate program seeks to examine sustainability not only through the lens of the environment, but also through the lens of people. Registration opens Aug. 14.

Coastal Science and Policy graduate program welcomes first cohort of students

The new graduate program in Coastal Science and Policy at UC Santa Cruz will welcome its first cohort of students in fall 2018.

Traffic control at Empire Grade Road from Aug. 13 to Aug. 31

As part of maintenance work on UC Santa Cruz sewer lines, the campus will have traffic control measures in place from Aug. 13 to Aug. 31, creating possible delays for motorists.

UC Santa Cruz ranks among most LGBTQ-friendly campuses

The Affordable Colleges Online ranking looks at academic rigor, affordability, and support for LGBTQ students. UC Santa Cruz came in at No. 30 overall and No. 5 among UC campuses.

In Memoriam: Ben Doniach

Ben Doniach, a former UC Santa Cruz employee, died on July 10, 2018 from injuries suffered in a collision with a car while riding his bike. He was 61.

Devastating events can drive human trafficking, paper shows

Researchers found an uptick in online ads for sexual services mentioning Jamaican and Caribbean ethnicities following a 2016 hurricane in the Caribbean.

Alumna author Kate Schatz spotlights ‘rad girls’ under age 20

'Rad Girls Can': Stories of Bold, Brave, and Brilliant Young Women is the title of the latest book by UC Santa Cruz alumna Kate Schatz, the New York Times best-selling author of 'Rad Women Worldwide' and 'Rad American Women A-Z.'

Campus, Silicon Valley leaders celebrate Lick Observatory’s 130th anniversary

The University of California owns and operates the observatory, which was founded by a bequest from James Lick. It opened in 1888.

Staff member honored for outstanding leadership in college housing

Alex Belisario, senior director for college student life at Crown and Merrill colleges, has been honored with the Charles L. Miller Leadership and Service Award from the Western Association of College and University Housing Officers (WACUHO).

Professor’s new film 'Redneck Muslim' now streaming on PBS

Redneck Muslim, a new short film by associate professor of film and digital media Jennifer Maytorena Taylor, is one of 25 films currently screening in the 2018 PBS Online Film Festival as a presentation of the PBS series POV.

UC Santa Cruz receives grant from the Andy Warhol Foundation

The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts has awarded a $57,000 grant to the UC Santa Cruz Arts Division’s Institute of the Arts and Sciences.

New research calculates capacity of North American forests to sequester carbon

Researchers have calculated the capacity of North American forests to sequester carbon in an analysis that for the first time integrates the effects of natural forest growth and climate changes that are likely to alter the growth process.

Dickens Universe to offer public talk by alumnus on new novel ‘The Spirit Photographer’

2018 marks the 38th year of the Dickens Universe at UC Santa Cruz, and the event is nearly sold out. But fear not. A special feature of this year's program is a free day, Tuesday, July 17, when the conference will be open without charge to members of the local community.

Campus marks new record for transfer admissions offers

Faced with the largest applicant pool in campus history—67,000 applications—and a smaller enrollment target than the previous year, UC Santa Cruz increased its admission selectivity. UC Santa Cruz anticipates welcoming about 5,600 new undergraduates for fall 2018.

Alumna and film producer Stephanie Allain champions diversity

Stephanie Allain is a rare gem in the film industry. Not only is she brilliant and successful, but as an African-American woman who got her start over 25 years ago in a notoriously and overwhelmingly white and male-dominated business, she has charged ahead to break open established perceptions.

From Math Major to Renowned Hollywood Music Editor, Alumnus Bill Bernstein Knows All the Right Notes

Having been the music editor on over 60 outstanding films during the course of his career, Bill Bernstein’s musical talent is epic. From working on such movies as The Shawshank Redemption, American Beauty (for which he won a Grammy), The Help and Skyfall to many Pixar hits including Finding Nemo, Wall-E, and Finding Dory…it seems like every project he touches is a resounding success.

Gallery between North and South Korea features exhibition by art professor Jimin Lee

The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that separates North and South Korea is an unlikely setting for an art gallery. Established in 1953 as part of an armistice agreement that ended three years of brutal war, the DMZ is a 2.5-mile-wide band that runs 155 miles across the Korean peninsula, serving as a buffer zone between the two countries...

Learn how to grow and assemble beautiful bouquets

Learn how to create beautiful homegrown organic flower arrangements at a lecture and demonstration workshop on July 15.

Farm ranked among top college farms

The UC Santa Cruz Farm has been ranked among the top 15 college farms in the country by Best Value Schools.

Important new work on autism could change interventions

A new paper is pushing back hard on the notion that people with autism are not interested in socializing.

Thank Instagram and Snapchat for your fading memories

Research by UC Santa Cruz doctoral student Julia Soares has found compelling evidence that the act of taking a photograph impairs people’s memories of the event.

B. Ruby Rich invited to join Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

UC Santa Cruz arts dean's eminent professor of film and digital media B. Ruby Rich has been invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences this year. The world's preeminent film organization, it is best known for presenting the annual Academy Awards.

Five UC Santa Cruz students present futuristic game at IndieCade Showcase

A group of five students from UC Santa Cruz presented their game, "Meet Me in the Garden," at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles last week as part of the annual IndieCade Showcase.

Alumnus Dency Nelson's Brilliant Hollywood Career

With an amazing career in Hollywood spanning nearly 40 years, Dency Nelson has been the stage manager for almost every major award and event show for the past 25 years, including the Oscars, Grammys, Emmys, and Kennedy Center Honors.

Linguistics professor Jim McCloskey receives Dizikes Award for teaching in Humanities

Linguistics professor Jim McCloskey was presented with the John Dizikes Teaching Award in Humanities at the Humanities Division’s 2018 Spring Awards celebration held at the Cowell Provost House.

Graduates mark new era, seek to improve world for all

More than 3,200 students participated in commencement ceremonies in the colleges, Graduate Division, and Baskin School of Engineering.

The new queer teenager

Queer youth today are in a paradoxical situation, coming out earlier and becoming leaders even as they cope with the significant challenges of adolescence, Psychology Professor Phil Hammack told a panel convened by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine.

Instruments of good

Introductory physics students test their knowledge and get exposure to the wider world in a class project in which they create musical instruments to be donated to kids in need.

Standing tall and giving back

For graduating senior Asante Nkosi, a double major in sociology and history allowed him to connect his experiences with his interest in black U.S. history, the Civil Rights Movement, and the contemporary moment.

SocDoc graduate documentary films to be screened June 13 at Del Mar Theater

UC Santa Cruz will present the premiere of thesis films by three graduating students in the field of social documentation on Wednesday, June 13, at the Del Mar Theater in downtown Santa Cruz.

New Grateful Dead Archive exhibit opens at McHenry Library

"Put Your Gold Money Where Your Love Is, Baby: Counterculture, Capitalism, and the Grateful Dead" is the title of a new exhibition now open to the public at UC Santa Cruz.

Help from the wizarding world

A gift from a Harry Potter–themed virtual running club enables a UC Santa Cruz professor to observe whales in Antarctica

Chancellor’s awards recognize achievement in diversity, inclusion

Underscoring the commitment by UC Santa Cruz to promote diversity, inclusion, and excellence, Chancellor George Blumenthal recognized the people and programs making contributions to these goals through their work.

Campus phone service restored

UC Santa Cruz is currently experience an outage in its campus phone service.

Diverse campus landscapes are ideal outdoor laboratories—and classrooms

UC Santa Cruz is known for its beautiful landscapes, but its meadows, forests, farm fields, and coastal bluffs also support a range of scientific research and hands-on learning opportunities for students.

Sammy Showcase features VR and video games from UCSC game design students

The public is invited to a fun, family-friendly game festival on Saturday, June 9, at the UC Santa Cruz Silicon Valley Campus in Santa Clara.

Bettina Aptheker to lead 'Women In the Arts' panel at Kuumbwa

The Peggy and Jack Baskin Foundation Presidential Chair for Feminist Studies and The Humanities Institute at UC Santa Cruz will present "Always Moving Uphill: Women in the Arts," on Tuesday, May 29, at Kuumbwa Jazz Center in downtown Santa Cruz.

Astrophysicist Jedidah Isler will give annual Mandel Lecture on June 7

Award-winning astrophysicist Jedidah Isler will give a free public lecture entitled "Blazars: Nature's particle accelerators" on Thursday, June 7, at the Rio Theatre in Santa Cruz.

Cowell Ranch Hay Barn website debuts

The popular Cowell Ranch Hay Barn now has its own website with information about how to rent the facility and adjacent Ocean View Field.

'Future Garden' environmental art installation opens at Arboretum

The Institute of the Arts and Sciences presents the opening of "Future Garden for the Central Coast of California"--a site-specific environmental art installation by emeritus arts research professors Newton Harrison and his late wife Helen Mayer Harrison at the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum and Botanic Garden.

Extending comment on the Student Housing West EIR

We have decided to extend the comment period to June 27, 2018. We will hold additional information sessions in May, as well as two more public hearings, on June 6 and 7.

UC Santa Cruz collaborates with SF Academy of Arts for spring production of 'The Magic Flute'

The UC Santa Cruz Music Department will present a fully-staged production of Mozart’s comic fantasy: Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), May 31 through June 3, on campus at the Music Center Recital Hall.

Sue Carter named provost for Rachel Carson College

Professor Sue Carter said her vision for Rachel Carson College is to strengthen its role in supporting students as they seek to create a more sustainable future and make it a place for them to gain skills needed for green careers in which they can develop sustainable innovations to preserve the environment.

UCSC Night at the Museum to explore global impact of 1968 protest movements

The Humanities Institute at UC Santa Cruz will present "UCSC Night at the Museum: Global 1968—Race and Revolution around the World," a free public event at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, on Wednesday, May 16.

The bone whisperer

Forensic anthropologist Alison Galloway will retire from teaching this year, but her wisdom will live on through new online course that teaches both technical skills and the things you don’t find in textbooks.

Undergraduate Eric Medina wins $15,000 Strauss Scholarship to reinvigorate Oakes Garden

Eric Medina, a fourth year at UC Santa Cruz double majoring in ecology and evolutionary biology and Latin American and Latino studies, has received a $15,000 public service scholarship to reinvigorate the garden at Oakes College.

Cowell Ranch Hay Barn recognized for energy-efficient systems

The newly restored Cowell Ranch Hay Barn continues to reap recognition and awards, the latest from professionals in the field of building systems design.

Dancing into a community

The Pagkakaisa Dance Troupe, which promotes Pilipino cultural history and performs traditional folk dances from the Philippines, helps students build both camaraderie and stronger ties to their heritage.

Award-winning biologist and writer Sean B. Carroll to speak at UC Santa Cruz

Carroll will give the 2018 Sinsheimer Lecture on Thursday, May 10, followed by a free screening of the film 'The Serengeti Rules' on May 11 at the Rio Theater.

Film professor Jennifer Taylor wins fellowship for summer residency at MacDowell Colony

Assistant professor of film and digital media Jennifer Maytorena Taylor has received a fellowship for a summer residency at one of the nation’s leading contemporary arts organizations.

Making airwaves

Celebrating 50 years of broadcasting, KZSC continues to offer homegrown programming to the greater Monterey Bay region. The station will have a number of Alumni Weekend events to celebrate the milestone.

Bill McKibben, Daniel Ellsberg headline Right Livelihood Laureates' Conference at UC Santa Cruz

Climate change activist Bill McKibben and whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg are two of the crusading global leaders gathering May 15-17 at UC Santa Cruz for the Right Livelihood Conference, a three-day series of public events focused on advancing social and environmental justice.

DANM 2018 MFA student exhibition culminates two years of intensive study and creative work

Nine graduate students from the Digital Arts and New Media M.F.A. program (DANM) will conclude two years of artistic study at UC Santa Cruz with "Interstices"--an exhibition of their work running April 27-29, at the UCSC Digital Arts Research Center.

South County housing crisis to be discussed May 2

University researchers and community leaders will host a public forum about the affordable housing crisis on Wednesday, May 2, at 7 p.m. in the Community Room of the Watsonville Civic Center.

Spring Plant Sale Takes Place April 28-29

The UC Santa Cruz Farm & Garden's Spring Plant Sale takes place Saturday, April 28 and Sunday, April 29, in the Barn Theater parking lot at the base of the UC Santa Cruz campus, near the intersection of Bay and High Streets.

Lick Observatory expands evening programs for the public this summer

Tickets for the popular concert and lecture series and new evening tours on Mount Hamilton go on sale at noon on Wednesday, April 18.

Building a feminist psychology of resistance

On a fateful trip to Nicaragua in 2005, Shelly Grabe, now an associate professor of psychology, met women who were organizing to fight domestic violence, and she saw what real and lasting social change looked like.

Hip-Hop Hesteria heading to Music Center Recital Hall on April 20

The UC Santa Cruz Music Department will present an evening of new hip-hop with live experimental jazz featuring music professor Karlton Hester and his band, Hesterian Musicism, on Friday, April 20, at the Music Center Recital Hall. The concert will include performances by winners of the 2018 Hip-Hop Hesteria Contest.

Coastal stream restoration projects concentrated where residents are 'whiter, wealthier, and more educated,' researchers find

Stream restoration efforts along the coast of Central California are unevenly distributed, with activity more likely to occur in areas that are more highly populated and dominated by residents who are "whiter, wealthier, and more educated," according to an analysis by researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Sesnon Gallery exhibition to celebrate family’s influence on the arts in Santa Cruz County

In 1968, a gift from Barbara Sesnon Cartan established the Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery at UC Santa Cruz, in memory of her mother. Beginning April 12, the gallery will present a special exhibition celebrating the life of Mary Porter Sesnon (1868-1930) and her influence on the arts in Santa Cruz County.

2018 Osterbrock Lecture will focus on the role of science in public policy

Rush Holt, CEO of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, will speak at UC Santa Cruz on Thursday, April 19 .

UC’s secret energy source: retirees

For University of California staff and faculty, retirement does not mean retreat

UC Santa Cruz honors alumni: bestselling author Hector Tobar and historian Virginia Espino

Award-winning journalist and author Héctor Tobar and filmmaker Virginia Espino are the 2018 recipients of the Social Sciences Division's Distinguished Alumni Award.

Community Studies class showcases public health leaders in 'Year of Alumni'

Eight alumni are returning to campus this spring as guest lecturers in a special-edition public health class offered by Community Studies.

Student Housing West environmental study now available for review and comment

By Sarah Latham, Vice Chancellor, Business and Administrative Services — Student Housing West—our effort to further increase on-campus housing for our existing students—is entering the next stage of project review.

UC Santa Cruz graduate programs rank among best in nation in U.S. News survey

The U.S. News and World Report's 2019 Best Graduate Schools guide evaluates graduate schools in business, education, engineering, law, medicine, nursing, social work, criminology, public affairs, and the sciences.

Understanding shari’a

Mark Fathi Massoud, associate professor of politics and legal studies at UC Santa Cruz, will delve into the realities, subtleties, and richness of Islamic law and ethics at this year's Noel Q. King Memorial Lecture during Alumni Weekend.

What does a forest hear? Canadian artists bring epic sound art project to Arboretum

"FOREST (for a thousand years...)", a 28-minute sound installation by renowned Canadian artists Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller, will open April 7, outdoors in the redwood grove of UC Santa Cruz's Arboretum and Botanic Garden.

Influential historian Hayden White dies at 89

Hayden V. White, professor emeritus in the History of Consciousness Department at UC Santa Cruz, died at his Santa Cruz home on March 5, 2018, at age 89. He was a 40-year resident of Santa Cruz who traveled the world.

Alumna and Renowned Actress Adilah Barnes Returns to Campus for A Raisin In The Sun

Being very successful for over 50 years in the entertainment industry is no small feat. But actress Adilah Barnes takes it all in her stride.

Silicon Valley Campus raising profile

By Scott Brandt, Vice Chancellor, Office of Research — The role of UC Santa Cruz in Silicon Valley—an extension of our mission of education, research, and service—is focused on four key areas.

'And Then They Came for Us' brings history into the present

The Humanities Institute and Cowell College will present a special screening of "And Then They Came for Us," winner of the Accolade Global Film 2017 Humanitarian Award, on March 14 at the Del Mar Theater in downtown Santa Cruz.

Grant to transform upper floor of Science and Engineering Library

A $5 million grant will kick-start the Science and Engineering Library’s transformation and name floor to honor legendary astrophysicist Sandra Faber

Student Housing West—What is happening now?

By Sue Matthews, Associate Vice Chancellor, Colleges, Housing, and Educational Services — The campus is invited to attend open forums to learn more about Student Housing West.

Campus receives Mellon Foundation grant to help create new forms of digital publication

UC Santa Cruz is the lead institution on a $100,000 grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the National Historical Publications and Records Commission to help build a sustainable system for the digital publication and discovery of historical records.

From Student Artist to Hollywood Producer, Alumnus Brian Kavanaugh-Jones Has Always Been Passionate About the Arts

From his passion for the arts and accompanying his father on travels around the globe, to his keen enthusiasm for collaboration and bringing outstanding creative projects to fruition, it’s no wonder that Brian was destined to become such a successful Hollywood film producer.

Gun control advocate Gabby Giffords joins fundraiser for Gabe Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship

Former Arizona Congresswoman and gun control advocate Gabby Giffords attended a fundraising event to support the Gabriel Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship.

Robin Hunicke to host Game Developers Choice Awards

Associate arts professor Robin Hunicke is set to host this year’s Game Developers Choice Awards, which will take place on March 21 during the 2018 Game Developers Conference in San Francisco.

Community Studies founder William H. Friedland dies at 94

William H. “Bill” Friedland, professor emeritus of community studies and sociology at UC Santa Cruz, whose life and career encompassed the major social movements of the 20th century, from labor struggles during and after World War II, to farm worker and youth movements of the 1960s, to the agriculture-food awareness of today, died at his Santa Cruz home Feb. 20 at age 94.

Online, in-person opportunities to provide insight on Long-Range Development Plan

Members of the campus and local community have online and in-person opportunities to provide input and feedback as UC Santa Cruz works on a new Long-Range Development Plan that will guide the campus from 2020–2040.

USDA funds efforts to bring underrepresented students into agriculture

A unique collaboration between UC Santa Cruz and the U.S. Department of Agriculture is supporting underrepresented students who are interested in agriculture-related fields.

At the nexus of food, energy, and water: Elliot Campbell bridges the research gap

Elliott Campbell is an environmental engineer who is drawn to research at the nexus of food, water, and energy.

Alumna Adilah Barnes joins cast of 'A Raisin in the Sun' at UC Santa Cruz

The Theater Arts Department and the African American Theatre Arts Troupe at UC Santa Cruz will present Lorraine Hansberry’s groundbreaking play, A Raisin in the Sun, on campus, March 2-11, at the Theater Arts Second Stage.

UC Santa Cruz tech incubator offers convenient access to Silicon Valley

A new program from the University of California, Santa Cruz, offers campus and other UC entrepreneurs the opportunity to launch their startup companies from its Silicon Valley Campus.

Alley-oops for the OLLI Hoops

For this basketball team made up of women in their 60s and 70s, getting exercise, enjoying camaraderie, and learning a new skill has been a slam dunk.

24-hour online Giving Day returns to UC Santa Cruz

Scheduled for February 28, Giving Day 2018 is a playful competition. Generous donors will vie to help their favorite projects win challenges before the clock ticks down to midnight.

UC Santa Cruz named one of best colleges to study 'Film, Video & Photographic Arts'

UC Santa Cruz has been ranked No. 6 in the country by College Factual for the best colleges and universities in the U.S. to study for a Film, Video & Photographic Arts degree.

The Cowell College Love Bank

When Rich Vicenti and Alesa Lightbourne were students at Cowell College in the 1970s, he courted her, but she was not available. They took separate paths after graduation. Nearly four decades later, finding themselves both single they finally began the romance that was not possible in their youth.

UC housing funds to support students

With $3 million from UC Office of the President, UC Santa Cruz is taking a multi-pronged approach to help students as the region and state grapples with an unprecedented housing shortage.

Women leaders inspire undergrad during UCDC internship in Nancy Pelosi's office

For Courtney Zuniga, the sight of powerful women like Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi made a lasting impression during her Fall Quarter UCDC internship in Washington, D.C.

Surfing into the history books

If the right conditions arrive this winter, alumna Sarah Gerhardt could be among the first women to compete in the Mavericks big-wave surf contest.

MLK Convocation: For racial equality, we must hear women

Kimberlé Crenshaw, a law professor known for the development of intersectional theory, praised the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. but noted that the civil rights movement and the Obama era left out the perspectives and voices of women.

Arts professor to premiere film at 2018 Berlin International Film Festival

UC Santa Cruz film and digital media professor Irene Lusztig will premiere her new film, 'Yours in Sisterhood,' at the 2018 Berlinale, running February 15-25 in Berlin, Germany.

Monetary economist Carl Walsh to deliver 52nd annual UC Santa Cruz Faculty Research Lecture on February 22

Carl Walsh, distinguished professor of economics at UC Santa Cruz, will deliver the 52nd annual Faculty Research Lecture on Thursday, February 22.

'Spoken/Unspoken: Forms of Resistance' to open Feb. 8 at Mary Porter Sesnon Gallery

The Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery will present Spoken/Unspoken: Forms of Resistance, a new public exhibition running February 8 through March 17 at UC Santa Cruz.

Alumnus Michael Shipley's Creative Brilliance Continues to Shine

Santa Cruz native and UC Santa Cruz alumnus, Michael Shipley, found Santa Cruz to be an idyllic place to grow up during the 1970s and ‘80s. It was the place where he discovered his creative passion, eventually leading him to become not only a very talented photographer and musician, but also an award-winning television writer and producer for highly successful television shows, including Family Guy and American Dad!.

New feature highlights campus events

In an effort to showcase exciting campus events, UC Santa Cruz has launched "The LineUp," a weekly calendar feature in the GoodTimes.

As tax time approaches, UCSC students volunteer to help low-income filers

As April 15 looms, a team of UC Santa Cruz undergraduate volunteers is getting ready to provide free tax-preparation assistance to low- and moderate-income residents of Santa Cruz County.

CruzHacks keeps growing

In its fifth year, CruzHacks drew hundreds of collegiate coders from across the country.

Men's tennis eyes return to championships

Along with a core group of seasoned returners, new talent will help solidify the Banana Slugs as they try to regain their footing in the national picture.

Field trip of a lifetime

When he transferred to UC Santa Cruz, Ray Gutierrez didn’t foresee he’d soon be in India making a documentary about youths with disabilities at a crossroads between globalization and tradition.

Karen Yamashita's memoir explores Japanese-American internment

Award-winning author and UC Santa Cruz literature professor Karen Tei Yamashita will read from her new memoir on Thursday, February 1, as part of the 2018 winter installment of the Living Writers Series.

Elliott Campbell appointed to chair in water resources and food system sustainability

Elliott Campbell, associate professor of environmental studies, was honored as the inaugural holder of the Stephen R. Gliessman Presidential Chair in Water Resources and Food System Sustainability.

Pell Grant, campus resources key in transforming student lives

Roughly 40 percent of UC Santa Cruz students receive Pell Grants, which help to give every student an opportunity for a higher education, regardless of their economic background.

Judge relies heavily on Haney's testimony in case banning solitary confinement

In a landmark court ruling that prohibits solitary confinement in Canada, a Canadian judge relied heavily on expert testimony by Psychology Professor Craig Haney.

New book, The Postgenomic Condition: Ethics, Justice, and Knowledge After the Genome, assesses progress since 2000

Sociologist Jenny Reardon evaluates the promise and pitfalls of genomics in her new book The Postgenomic Condition: Ethics, Justice, and Knowledge After the Genome (University of Chicago Press, 2017).

Questions That Matter public humanities series to explore 'Freedom and Race'

The Humanities Institute at UC Santa Cruz will present "Freedom & Race"--the fourth installment of its signature "Questions That Matter" series--on January 30, at Kuumbwa Jazz Center in downtown Santa Cruz. The evening will feature a conversation with humanities dean Tyler Stovall and history of art and visual culture professor Jennifer González.

Trump environmental watchdog group issues third report

The Environmental Data and Governance Initiative (EDGI), a grassroots watchdog group monitoring the Trump administration's performance on the environment, today (January 10, 2018) issued its third report.

David Dunn awarded Rydell Visual Arts Fellowship

UC Santa Cruz assistant professor of music David Dunn has been selected for a Rydell Visual Arts Fellowship for 2019. He is one of four local artists who will receive $20,000 grants from the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County in 2018-19.