2023  Undergraduate News

A network for the future

UCSC Student Serena Campbell’s senior thesis leads to a comprehensive network between critical environmental researchers on campus.

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

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.

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

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

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).

W.M. Keck Observatory appoints Rich Matsuda as director

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Preparing the next generation of doctors

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

UCPath Direct Deposit Phishing Alert

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

New eDNA Explorer provides a powerful new resource for conservation

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.

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

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.

Dwarf planet Eris is squishier than expected

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.

Visits set for Director of Athletics & Recreation candidates

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.

Chancellor Larive elected to board of the Association of American Universities

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Environmental toxicologist Don Smith receives Outstanding Faculty Award

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.

Campus to eliminate enrollment adjustment fees effective January

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

François Monard honored with Calderón Prize for inverse problems work

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.

Fishing chimpanzees found to enjoy termites as a seasonal treat

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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."

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

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

Upholding community responsibilities

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

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

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

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

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

Celebrating Election Heroes

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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."

Coral reefs identified as national natural infrastructure

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Campus Fire Safety

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.”

Slugworks welcomes students across campus to new creative space

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

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

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.

UCSC Giving Day ignites philanthropy and community spirit

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

Three climate resilience projects supported by 2023 CITRIS Interdisciplinary Innovation Program

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.

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

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.

Cal-Bridge awarded $4 million to diversify STEM

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.

Statement on Israel-Hamas conflict

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.

Prescribed burns near campus beginning Oct. 10

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.

UCSC iGEM 2023 addressing harmful algal blooms through synthetic biology

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

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.

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

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.

Welcome Week brings events, energy and enthusiasm to campus community

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.

Launching our new strategic plan, Leading the Change

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

Research partnership will turn power plant emissions into fish feed

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.

New WiFi service for educational and smart devices

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

UC Santa Cruz welcomes new faculty to campus

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.

Downtown Day 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.

Campus air quality

Over the next several days, the air quality in the region is expected to reach “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” to “Unhealthy” overnight and into the morning.

Innovation Catalyst Grants help early-stage innovators with resources, training, and financial support

Two UC Santa Cruz research teams that can make impactful advancements in drug discovery and human health outcomes have been chosen as recipients of the university’s inaugural Innovation Catalyst Grants program. These new grants, administered by the Innovation & Business Engagement Hub, are designed to support and propel early-stage technology innovations developed by UCSC researchers.

Reimagining digital presence, UC Santa Cruz debuts new homepage

Creating a digital presence that reflects excellence and impact, UC Santa Cruz debuted today a new homepage with a modern and responsive design, crisp language, stunning photos, and compelling videos.

Fund your student research project or event with the 2023 CITRIS Tech for Social Good program

The Tech for Social Good program provides up to $5,000 in funding for research projects and up to $1,000 for events.

UC Santa Cruz Computer Game Design program ranked top five in the nation by U.S. News and World Report

The Computer Game Design program at the University of California, Santa Cruz, was listed in the top five best game/simulation development programs in the nation according to rankings released today by U.S. News and World Report.

Arivu, the massively popular and groundbreaking Indian rapper, will play an intimate outdoor show at UCSC’s Quarry Amphitheater, presented by the Center For South Asian Studies

Arivu, the Indian rapper, singer, and social activist whose image appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone India magazine, is playing a highly anticipated free concert at the Quarry Amphitheater at UCSC at 8 p.m. on Saturday, October 7.

2023 ARCS Foundation scholarships support UCSC graduate students in the sciences and engineering

Sixteen UC Santa Cruz graduate students have received scholarships worth a total of $175,000 from the Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation for the 2023-24 academic year.

Novel device combines nanopores with electronic signals for disease detection

Research led by UC Santa Cruz Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Marco Rolandi shows the power of bioprotonic nanopores for disease detection.

UCSC welcomes new Title IX director

Julie Lewis has been named UC Santa Cruz’s new Title IX director. She started her role on August 21, 2023.

Notice of policy action – Policy on Vaccination Programs

The Policy on Vaccination Programs – With Interim Revisions was updated with interim revisions effective August 16, 2023. A systemwide review of this policy will take place in Fall 2023, with an expected issuance/effective date in early 2024.

Campus leaders showcase innovation, entrepreneurship efforts to special Regents committee

UC Santa Cruz Chancellor Cynthia Larive and other campus leaders showcased the university’s innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives to a group of UC regents and external advisors on Monday.

GREAT program creates new opportunities for students to participate in research

This summer, the “Genome Research Experiences to Attract Talented Undergraduates into the Genomics Field to Enhance Diversity” (GREAT) programmed welcomed six students from California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB) to an intensive eight-week research program at UC Santa Cruz.

New blood test for noncoding RNA significantly improves cancer detection

Assistant Professor of Biomolecular Engineering Daniel Kim and his lab are developing more accurate and powerful liquid biopsy technologies that take advantage of signals from RNA “dark matter,” an understudied area of the genome.

Five UC Santa Cruz projects win California Climate Action Grant funding

Millions of dollars in new funding will support UC Santa Cruz and partners in tackling some of California's toughest climate change challenges through innovative research and community engagement.

Coastal fisheries show surprising resilience to marine heatwaves

Researchers found that fish biomass often increased or was unaffected in the year following a marine heatwave.

The sky’s the limit: Becca Fenwick gives research and education a new perspective with drone tech

The CITRIS principal investigator and director of the CITRIS Initiative for Drone Education and Research at UC Santa Cruz advances wildland management, ecology research and workforce development with uncrewed aerial vehicles and remote sensing systems

10 mysteries of the Y chromosome

Researchers have just completed the first full sequence of a Y chromosome — what will we learn?

Scientists release the first complete sequence of a human Y chromosome

Scientists have completed the first full sequence of a human Y chromosome, completing the set of end-to-end human chromosomes and helping researchers to better understand human reproduction, evolution, and population change.

Campus acts to protect rare cave habitat

Earlier this month, as part of a new approach to protect this unique habitat, a crew from the campus carpentry shop installed a wildlife-friendly gate across the Empire Cave entrance. Access is now limited to education, research, and the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band.

Nearly $1 million in USDA grants will support 3 UCSC-led agricultural technology projects

Three UC Santa Cruz research teams led by engineering faculty will pursue innovative agriculture technology projects with the support of seed grants from the USDA's Agriculture and Food Research Initiative.

UCSC computer science student selected into Major League Hacking’s top 50 list

Rising second-year computer science student Marina Lee was chosen out of a community of 150,000 hackers for her outstanding work in developing accessible STEM education programming and building an inclusive hacking community.

Marine scientists explore the future of open data science

Alexa Fredston, an assistant professor of ocean sciences considers open science to be a vital part of their academic career and a key way to make the field of marine science more transparent and inclusive. They recently published an article in the journal Annual Review of Marine Science about improving open data science practices within marine science.

UC Santa Cruz’s Institute of the Arts and Sciences presents West Coast Premiere of Maria Gaspar: Compositions

UC Santa Cruz’s Institute of the Arts and Sciences, is opening a new exhibition beginning on September 26, 2023 that goes through March 3, 2024. Entitled Maria Gaspar: Compositions, it is the first West Coast solo exhibition by the Chicago-based, Guggenheim-winning artist.

Researchers’ tool finds bias in state-of-the-art generative AI model

UCSC researchers introduce a new tool to measure bias in text-to-image AI generation models, which they have used to quantify bias in the state-of-the-art model Stable Diffusion.

UC Santa Cruz welcomes vibrant and talented incoming class

The University of California, Santa Cruz is preparing to welcome more than 5,500 new Banana Slugs to campus this fall, reflecting its commitment to providing equitable access and a transformational experience.

A childhood cancer survivor becomes a cancer researcher

This summer, 15-year-old Robert McCabe helped to sequence and analyze a tumor sample in the lab of the UC Santa Cruz Treehouse Childhood Cancer Initiative.

Student-supported global research compares regional relationships with Big Pharma

Recent UC Santa Cruz graduates helped to author a study on the strategies governments use to attract and manage the biopharmaceutical industry, focusing in particular on the different types of economic value and health value that these efforts provide, or fail to provide, to citizens.

UCSC students behind bus tracking app selected as only U.S. team in Google Solution Challenge’s top 10

The competition, which invites thousands of students worldwide to compete, tasks students to come up with technical solutions that contribute to the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development goals.

Golden-crowned sparrows return to overwintering sites in part because of their friends

Golden-crowned sparrows return to the same wintering sites each year after migrating thousands of miles. But their precision — which is often within the tens of meters — depends in part on the return of their friends.

Engineering faculty take on innovative climate resilience projects

Engineering professors are leading three major projects to address climate crisis issues with funding from UCSC’s newly launched Center for Coastal Climate Resilience.

Latin American & Latino Studies students win big in awards, fellowships

Four doctoral candidates in the Latin American and Latino Studies Department received awards that will help propel them forward in their graduate trajectory.

NSF graduate fellowship winner reflects on successes at UC Santa Cruz

Graduating senior and NSF-GRFP recipient Valery Ortiz shares about her experience at UC Santa Cruz, her involvement with STEM Diversity, and what she hopes for the future.

First DNA analysis of Machu Picchu residents offers insight into Inca society

DNA analysis, conducted largely at UC Santa Cruz's Paleogenomics Lab and led by Anthropology Professor Lars Fehren-Schmitz, suggests that servants at Machu Picchu were a uniquely diverse group, and the geographic extent of ancestral origins may even challenge historical narratives about how and when the Inca Empire expanded.

St. Baldrick’s Foundation grant will expand pediatric cancer research at UCSC

A new $100,000 grant from the St. Baldrick’s Foundation will provide UC Santa Cruz’s Treehouse Childhood Cancer Initiative funding to expand efforts to study rare pediatric cancers.

To support Hispanic women in STEM, UC Santa Cruz hosts inaugural HSRU Alliance conference

Convened by the Alliance of Hispanic Serving Research Universities, an inaugural cohort from universities, government, foundations, and industry met at UC Santa Cruz to discuss and develop a framework to support the advancement of Hispanic women in their academic and professional STEM careers.

Announcing new AVC for Staff Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer

Kamala Green will be joining Staff Human Resources (SHR) as our next Associate Vice Chancellor for Staff Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer effective July 17.

Announcing Associate Campus Provost for Academic Success

Jody Greene, Professor of Literature, and Associate Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning in Academic Affairs, will join the Campus Provost's office as Associate Campus Provost for Academic Success, starting July 1, 2023.

Volunteer who helped keep the Seymour Center open is honored

Dale Bieser, one of the Seymour Marine Discovery Center's long-time volunteers, was recognized with the Be the Difference Award - Individual Honoree by the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County. Over the past 12 years, she has become a vital member of their team.

UCSC Earth and planetary sciences professor reflects on 35 years at UC Santa Cruz

After a very rewarding career at UC Santa Cruz, Susan Schwartz is retiring.

UC Santa Cruz’s global impact grows as campus becomes next leader of Right Livelihood College network

As the Global Secretariat of the Right Livelihood College, UC Santa Cruz students and faculty to work directly with some of the world’s leading advocates in social justice and sustainability on education, scientific research, and practical activities that spread and upscale their work.

Statement on Supreme Court decision on Biden’s student loan forgiveness

Today’s Supreme Court ruling rejecting President Biden’s plan to forgive more than $400 billion in student loan debt is deeply disappointing to the 26 million borrowers who stood to benefit — thousands of Banana Slug alumni certainly among them.

Statement on Supreme Court decision on equal rights

We are dismayed to see the U.S. Supreme Court chipping away at the legal protections and freedoms of same-sex couples and people in additional protected classes.

Study shows significant decline of snow cover in the Northern hemisphere over the last half century

Professor and Statistics Department Chair Robert Lund collaborated on a new study that uses rigorous mathematical models and statistical methods and finds declining snow cover in many parts of the northern hemisphere over the last half century.

Statement on Supreme Court decision regarding college admissions

Taken together with other federal and state actions across the country, today’s decision is not simply about admissions, but the latest attempt to dismantle evidence-based efforts aimed at reducing systemic barriers to opportunity experienced by historically marginalized populations, including communities of color.

UC Santa Cruz models accessible and inclusive admissions

The University of California, Santa Cruz has long employed holistic methods to recruit, evaluate, and support applicants through the decision making process, aiming to enroll a student body that reflects the diverse population of California to prepare alumni to become global citizens.

UCSC’s Center for Coastal Climate Resilience awards over $4.6 million to support California coastal projects

The UCSC Center for Coastal Climate Resilience has awarded over $4.6 million in funding to 23 UC Santa Cruz research groups for pilot projects and implementation projects supporting efforts to fight climate change in coastal communities across California and beyond. Funds for these grant programs came from the California State Budget Act of 2022-23.

Q&A with John MacMillan, vice chancellor for research

After nearly two years as the interim Vice Chancellor for Research (VCR) for UC Santa Cruz, John MacMillan was appointed to the permanent VCR role on June 1, 2023, after a nationwide search. Here he discusses his vision for UC Santa Cruz and its research enterprise.

White House cites economist Rob Fairlie’s research on Native American entrepreneurship

The Biden-⁠Harris Administration cited research by UC Santa Cruz Economics Professor Rob Fairlie on the coronavirus pandemic’s impact for Native American-owned businesses.

UC Santa Cruz receives $10 million grant to cultivate diverse food and agriculture professionals

The United States Department of Agriculture awarded the University of California, Santa Cruz a $10 million grant to lead a transformative five-year project. The funding will be leveraged to serve and uplift a broad range of students and community members, ensuring a lasting impact on the food and agriculture sector.

Katia Obraczka appointed director of CITRIS at UC Santa Cruz

Katia Obraczka, professor of Computer Science and Engineering, has been appointed director of the Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS) and the Banatao Institute at UC Santa Cruz

Interdisciplinary team wins Small Farm prize in first-ever Farm Robotics Challenge

An interdisciplinary team of students and researchers created an autonomous weeder which was recently recognized with the Small Farm prize at the inaugural Farm Robotics Challenge.

Campus update: Quarter ends today, congrats to new graduates, still time to enroll in Summer Session

Today marks the final day of spring quarter and the start of commencement!

Novel deep learning-based software detects and tracks individual cells with high precision

Assistant Professor of Biomolecular Engineering Ali Shariati and doctoral student Abolfazl Zarageri together with several student researchers in the Shariati lab have developed and released a new deep learning model called “DeepSea,” one of the only tools with the ability to segment cells, track them and detect their division to follow lineages of cells.

Important information about the California Whistleblower Protection Act

The University’s Whistleblower Policy provides multiple avenues for employees to bring forward concerns of potential employee misconduct.

UC Santa Cruz joins Hillel International’s Campus Climate Initiative

The initiative provides campus leadership with a comprehensive program to foster a campus climate in which Jewish students feel comfortable expressing their identity free of antisemitism, harassment, or marginalization.

UCSC team wins third place in first-ever Amazon SimBot challenge

A team of UC Santa Cruz computer science and engineering (CSE) Ph.D. students won third place in the first-ever Amazon Alexa Prize SimBot Challenge, a university competition focused on advancing virtual assistant technology.

Alumna Stephanie Foo discusses her newest book

Stephanie Foo, longtime journalist and radio producer released her first book, What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma, in February 2022

A career of educating

After 38 years of interdisciplinary teaching at UCSC, Professor David Brundage is retiring.

Astronomers observe giant tails of helium escaping Jupiter-like planet

Heat from the host star is evaporating the atmosphere from a “hot Jupiter” exoplanet, creating some of the longest gas tails ever observed around a planet.

New exhibitions at the Institute of the Arts and Sciences bring innovative, socially engaged art to the Central Coast

Carolina Caycedo and David de Rozas: The Blessings of the Mystery and Sadie Barnette: Family Business, a multi-sited exhibition with the San José Museum of Art, will be on view at the Institute of the Arts and Sciences April 28 - September 3, 2023.

Annual awards recognize outstanding students in the Social Sciences Division

The Division of Social Sciences’ annual Student Awards Luncheon was held on June 2 at College Nine’s Namaste Lounge.

UC Santa Cruz announces recipients of Chancellor’s Innovation Impact Awards

The Chancellor’s Innovation Impact Awards celebrate the university’s talented faculty, researchers, staff, students, and community partners for their outstanding contributions to innovation and creativity.

Latino Alumni Network returns to UCSC

The UCSC Latino Alumni Network aims to serve their community with the help of new Co-Chairs Amaris Trujillo and Guadalupe Sanchez.

Judit Moschkovich joins two national leadership programs for mathematics education

Moschkovich is now a member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's U.S. National Commission on Mathematics Instruction and a co chair of the National Academy of Education's Equity in Math Education Research Grants (EMERG) Program.

Crucial organic farming issue addressed by UC workshops, collaborations

UC Santa Cruz-based organic production specialist Joji Muramoto collaborated on a UC Cooperative Extension workshop series for organic vegetable and fruit growers on how to manage nitrogen.

Students find support, success through Next Generation Scholars in Applied Mathematics program

Students have found success through the Next Generation Scholars in Applied Mathematics program, which provides students scholarships and additional support such as counseling and career readiness workshops

A career of service

After 16 years on campus, Dan Tokar will retire on June 30. His current position is Unit Manager, running the entire Porter/Kresge Dining Hall operations.

UC Santa Cruz engineers join major transportation cybersecurity project

Researchers from UC Santa Cruz will play an important role in protecting the United States’ transportation systems against cybersecurity threats as part of a new national center

Sign up to participate in the Santa Cruz Pride Parade on June 4

Members of the UC Santa Cruz community are invited to join in this year's Santa Cruz Pride parade, which starts at 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 4.

Advancing Student Food Security

The university’s multi-pronged approach—including field-to-plate food security, expanded access and food pantry resources, holistic CalFresh support, student-centered basic needs research and assessment, and Slug Support program—works to ensure a safety net for UCSC students.

Karen Miga named 2023 Searle Scholar to study uncharted regions of the human genome

Karen Miga, assistant professor of biomolecular engineering at UC Santa Cruz, has been named a 2023 Searle Scholar.

Campus update: Quarter winding down, commencement plans in place, enroll in Summer Session now

The next few weeks are among the busiest of the academic year. Instruction ends June 9, followed by finals, commencement, and then it’s on to summer!

Comb jellies proven to be the sibling group to all other animals

New research proves comb jellies are a unique lineage or “sibling group” whose ancestors diverged before the common ancestor of all other animals.

UCSC ranked number two on Wall Street Journal list for top public colleges for high-paying jobs in engineering

New rankings from the Wall Street Journal place UC Santa Cruz as the number two public school for high-paying jobs in engineering, just behind UC Berkeley, and the number nine public school for high-paying jobs in data science and software.

Excellence in Action: Celebrating UCSC’s 2023 Distinguished Graduate Alumni Award Recipients

Now in its seventh year, the Distinguished Graduate Alumni Award welcomes its 2023 cohort.

Meeting with California lawmakers, UC Santa Cruz leaders highlight impact of teaching, research

UC Santa Cruz leaders met last week with California lawmakers to highlight the University of California's critical role in educating the state's students, conducting cutting-edge research, and ensuring the state remains a worldwide economic powerhouse.

New director of Labor & Employee Relations

We are pleased to announce that Andrew Slobodien will be joining Staff Human Resources (SHR) as our next Director of Employee and Labor Relations.

Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor talk will address the history of African American studies

On Wednesday, May 24 at 7:30pm, engaging education (e2) is honored to bring Professor Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor to UCSC. The event will be held at Classroom Unit 2.

UC Santa Cruz ranked No. 2 Best Public University for Making an Impact by Princeton Review

For the second year in a row, UC Santa Cruz has been ranked as the No. 2 Best Public University for Making an Impact by Princeton Review.

Human pangenome reference will enable more complete and equitable understanding of genomic diversity

UC Santa Cruz scientists, along with a consortium of researchers, have released a draft of the first human pangenome—a new, usable reference for genomics that combines the genetic information of 47 individuals from different ancestral backgrounds to allow for a deeper, more accurate understanding of worldwide genomic diversity.

Campus researchers make history with release of first human pangenome

We are extremely proud to share the news that UC Santa Cruz scientists played a critical role in an enormous scientific achievement that boosts our understanding of human biology and genomic diversity, and will ultimately help diagnose disease and guide treatments for people worldwide.

UCSC part of regional partnership bringing bike share to Santa Cruz County

UC Santa Cruz community members will soon have access to a new bike share system that stretches across the county. Starting this June, e-Bikes will be available to rent through the Regional Electric Bike Share Program.

UC Santa Cruz honored for innovative online Orientation Course

UC Santa Cruz’s online summer Orientation Course has been recognized for its innovative and inclusive approach to preparing entering students. The Orientation Course was awarded the 2023 Regional II Innovative Program Award from the Association for Orientation, Transition and Retention in Higher Education.

UC Santa Cruz to lead data collection center for major federal project on genetic underpinnings of neurological conditions

The UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute will run the Data Coordination Center for the Scalable and Systematic Neurobiology of Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Disorder Risk Genes (SSPsyGene) Consortium.

Strategic Plan Update: Feedback requested by June 30

We are pleased to announce a critical milestone in our campus community’s work on Leading the Change: the UC Santa Cruz Strategic Plan.

UCSC prepares alumna for Peace Corps path

Alyssa Scarsciotti (Stevenson ’20, Sociology and Linguistics) dreamed of joining the Peace Corps since she was a child. After graduating from UCSC, Scarsciotti is making her dream a reality.

Statement from Chancellor Larive on antisemitic and anti-LGBTQIA+ incidents

These acts are abhorrent and antithetical to our values and commitment to access to higher education.

Changes in Back-up Care Tax implications 

Effective, May 12, 2023, employees or students who use the Back-up Care Program will be required to pay taxes on the imputed or miscellaneous income corresponding to the hours of care used. 

Center for Agroecology will support new USDA Regional Food Business Center

The University of California, Santa Cruz will support the establishment of a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Regional Food Business Center to support resilient food systems.

Ed Green named QB3-Santa Cruz Scientific Director

Richard (Ed) Green, professor of biomolecular engineering, has been selected to serve as the next director of the California Institute of Quantitative Biosciences (QB3) at UC Santa Cruz.

Deep neural network provides robust detection of disease biomarkers in real time

Holger Schmidt's lab has developed a deep neural network that improves the accuracy of their unique devices for detecting pathogen biomarkers.

Second Decarbonization & Electrification Town Hall Meeting

Join us next week for the Decarbonization & Electrification (D&E) Task Force's second town hall gathering.

Meet UCSC’s new Chief of Police Kevin Domby

UC Santa Cruz’s newly appointed Executive Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police Kevin Domby credits his high school art teacher with introducing him to the idea of a career in public service. "Throughout my career, whether it was when I was a teacher or as a peace officer, I've enjoyed mentoring, training and teaching," Domby said.

UC Santa Cruz and United Way invest in youth perspective in researching mental health throughout local communities

Beginning in early 2021, UC Santa Cruz partnered with the United Way of Santa Cruz County’s Youth Action Network, seeking to support youth empowerment and leadership. As part of that vital work, the partners were recognized as the United Way Partner of the Year.

Rejecting hate on our campus

We unequivocally condemn these – and all – antisemitic and anti-LGBTQIA+ actions.

Enhancing communication across communities

UCSC Ph.D. candidate Andrew Guydish pursues psychology and conversational dynamics with the help of the Fredrico and Rena Perlino Memorial Scholarship

Summer Session is launching Pay for Only 10

UCSC Summer Session is launching Pay for Only 10, in which payment is capped at 10 credits in tuition—making summer degree progress less expensive .

New annual testing program to verify our water quality

In an effort to promote openness related to our drinking water and provide assurance that it continues to meet or exceed state and federal quality standards, I am pleased to share that we will begin a new annual testing program.

Peter Bratt announced as 2023 Social Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award recipient

Rockefeller Fellow, Peabody Award winner, Emmy-nominated film producer, writer, director, community organizer, and social justice activist Peter Bratt is UC Santa Cruz’s 2023 Social Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award recipient.

Electrical engineer wins award to support improvement of efficient, low-cost agricultural soil sensor systems

UC Santa Cruz Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Colleen Josephson is a recipient of the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research’s (FFAR) 2022 New Innovator in Food & Agriculture Research Award.

From the ground up: UCSC Men's Rugby finishes historic season

Jeremy Sanford, Patrick Halpin, Guido Bordignon, Simon Nicholls, and Marcus Viscardi are the forces behind one of UCSC's most historic and competitive sports teams on campus: Rugby. UCSC Men’s Rugby finishes their inaugural season in D1A.

New stable isotope map of Angola helps archaeologists trace individual life histories across the African Diaspora

UCSC researchers' methods could provide significantly more detail and certainty in identifying first-generation enslaved individuals in the Americas and tracing back their origins within Africa than was previously possible through strontium isotope analysis work or genetic analysis.

Two film and digital media faculty receive 2023 Guggenheim Fellowship Awards

Sharon Daniel and Anna Friz were among 171 artists, scholars, scientists and writers selected from nearly 2,500 applicants for the award.

No lead detected in water samples

We're happy to report that this sensitive and accurate testing of our water samples did not detect any lead. The tests conducted were extremely rigorous.

Banana Slugs seek to advance conversational AI in all three Amazon Alexa Prize challenges

Three teams of UC Santa Cruz Baskin School of Engineering students are developing next-generation, multimodal AI-powered systems for a chance to win $500,000 or more per challenge.

Annual climate change event takes aim at heat and human health for 2023

The ninth annual Confronting Climate Change event gathered top scholars to discuss the health impacts of climate change and the social and economic transformations needed to address them.

Ensuring our water quality

We take seriously the health and safety of students, faculty, and staff, and want to do all we can to ensure our water quality continues to meet or exceed all regulatory requirements. We will provide updates as we learn more.

Rebecca London testifies in support of bill that would guarantee recess for California students

Associate Professor of Sociology Rebecca London testified before the California State Senate Education Committee on April 12 in support of SB 291, which would guarantee at least 30 minutes of recess per day for California students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Campus Update: Celebrating Earth Day, thanks for Spring Give supporters, astrophysicist on ‘60 Minutes’

Our campus has long championed environmental justice and sustainability, and continues to teach and train some of the nation's top environmental professionals and practitioners.

Naming system for transfer RNA fragments will increase research productivity, standardization

UC Santa Cruz Professor of Biomolecular Engineering Todd Lowe and his group created a new naming scheme for tRNA fragments aimed at standardizing research.

Representing her community

A daughter of a Vietnamese refugee and a Mexican immigrant, Kim Bernice Nguyen advocates for her community as the youngest person to hold a seat on the Garden Grove City Council. In Jan. 2023, Nguyen announced her run for Congress.

Colombian all-female team uncovers naturalist Elizabeth Kerr’s long-forgotten legacy

Many fields of study have long been dominated by men but a team of eight female Colombian researchers are committed to uncovering the story of naturalist pioneer Elizabeth Kerr, whose legacy had remained invisible despite her vast contributions to ornithology.

Fireworks not allowed on campus, pose significant fire risk

On Saturday evening, an unknown person set off a firework in a grassy area near the West Remote Parking Lot.

Two major stem cell research projects supported with more than $2.6 million in funding

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) will provide more than $2.6 million in total funding for two major stem cell research projects led by scientists at UC Santa Cruz, the organization announced.

Food system researcher Julie Guthman wins distinguished career award

Professor of sociology and community studies Julie Guthman was recognized with the Distinguished Career Award by the Cultural and Political Ecology speciality group of the American Association of Geographers. 

White House cites Rob Fairlie’s research in annual economic report

Economics Professor Rob Fairlie’s research on race and ethnicity in higher education was cited in the 2023 Economic Report of the President.

Milestone land acknowledgement event brings campus, local tribe and community members together

On Wednesday, April 12, the campus will host its first Land Acknowledgment event, recognizing the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band and its place in the local history of the land and the creation of UC Santa Cruz. The event will aim to answer the community’s questions about land acknowledgments, and the importance of such events moving forward.

April in Santa Cruz Music Festival goes beyond the norm

This year's April in Santa Cruz Contemporary Music Festival takes up forces of dedication and imagination featuring wide-ranging musicians. The festival opens on Thursday, April 13, 2023 and continues with performances on April 14, 17, 21 in the UC Santa Cruz Music Center Recital Hall, and closes on April 30th at The Lab in San Francisco. All live, in-person performances are free and open to the public.

New program advises UCSC Ph.D. students on their path to entrepreneurship and venture capital

Many student-led innovations never make it out of the lab. A new program at UC Santa Cruz aims to change that by mentoring Ph.D. students in the life sciences on alternative career pathways outside academia: entrepreneurship and venture capital.

Community health guidance for returning from spring break

As you prepare to return to campus and begin spring quarter, we write to share community health guidance as related to COVID-19.

Spring 2023 Emeriti Lecture: Peace Teachers In and From Soledad Prison

John Brown Childs began offering courses on transcommunality at Soledad Correctional Facility eighteen years ago. Almost two decades later, his teachings continue to transform the lives of incarcerated men in Soledad.

A scholar in his own community: Kevin Weatherwax

Computational Media Ph.D. student Kevin Weatherwax's research is supported through the Piatt Fellowship, a scholarship for doctoral students from Santa Cruz County.

Humans and housing density are the leading cause of death for local pumas

Two new studies involving UC Santa Cruz researchers are shedding light on the challenges facing local pumas where humans are encroaching on their natural habitats.

Grant funds Sarker's aquaculture sustainability research

Pallab Sarker received a foundation grant fund from the Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation, amounting to $170,947 over three years to strengthen his lab’s ecological aquaculture work.

Pedroza received Russell Sage Foundation Pipeline Grant

Assistant Professor Juan Manuel Pedroza aims to learn more about these challenges and speak to them, with the help of a recently awarded grant from the Russell Sage Foundation.

Thankful for our community

We are so proud to be part of our outstanding Banana Slug community.

Center for Labor and Community opens on UC Santa Cruz campus

Scholars studying the economic and social impacts of a variety of labor and employment issues facing workers in Santa Cruz and the Monterey Bay Area just announced the opening of a new center on campus that will provide timely and policy-relevant labor research, will educate the next generation of labor and community leaders and will advance labor, community, and occupational health initiatives.

Computer engineering research prompts bug fixes, updates to major GPU frameworks

A new suite of GPU tests developed by Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Engineering Tyler Sorensen and his students led to changes to an important GPU framework for programming web browsers.

Black Studies minor builds momentum 

The Black Studies minor at the University of California, Santa Cruz has grown in size and influence at a time when the United States continues to grapple with its long history of racism.

Supporting our neighbors in need

The university has reached out to students from the Pajaro area offering support and campus resources.

Regent action advances Student Housing West

UC Santa Cruz, following finance and project approvals earlier today by the UC Board of Regents, is now able to move ahead with construction of our long-planned 3,000-bed Student Housing West project.

Researcher solves nearly 60-year-old game theory dilemma

Dejan Milutinovic has solved a nearly 60-year-old game theory dilemma called the wall pursuit game, with implications for better reasoning about autonomous systems such as driverless vehicles.

Local educators shared expertise at the first STEM Education Central Coast Conference

The conference, which was organized by California State University Monterey Bay in collaboration with UC Santa Cruz, was designed by and for local educators in science, technology, engineering and math. The goal was to share expertise.

Where is your squid coming from? Most likely unregulated waters, according to a new international study

Scientists and policymakers have voiced growing concerns about the decline of global squid stocks, but little has been done to date to target squid fishing activities that are expanding into unregulated spaces, according to a new international study.

New project will develop safer, highly accurate GPS alternative

Ricardo Sanfelice, UCSC professor of electrical and computer engineering, and his team of graduate students and researchers are designing a new and resilient Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) system.

Incoming Storm Thursday and Friday

The National Weather Service is forecasting heavy rains and strong winds in Santa Cruz beginning Thursday and continuing into Saturday.

UCSC wins prestigious Highly Established Action Plan Seal for voter engagement

UC Santa Cruz has become one of only three University of California campuses awarded a Highly Established Action Plan Seal as part of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN) for its voter engagement efforts.

Indigenous land management focus of this year’s Conversations on Climate Justice

Wildfires. Flooding. Drought. The nation has faced these climate issues for centuries. Yet, there’s still a lot that can be learned from pre-colonial indigenous food and land management techniques to combat our current climate problems, according to Dr. Lyla June Johnston, the keynote speaker for UC Santa Cruz’s third annual Conversations on Climate Justice event, coming up this Monday, March 13.

SpikeGPT: researcher releases code for largest-ever spiking neural network for language generation

Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Jason Eshraghian and two students recently released the open-sourced code for the largest language-generating spiking neural network ever, named SpikeGPT.

Leaf wetness sensor will enable better plant disease forecasting and management

An interdisciplinary team of researchers created a new type of sensor for more accurately measuring leaf wetness which will enable better plant disease forecasting and management.

Severe weather | Stay informed about campus impacts

The National Weather Service has issued a High-Wind Warning for Santa Cruz County and much of the San Francisco Bay Area through 1 p.m. Wednesday.

UC Santa Cruz sees record number of first-year applications

The University of California, Santa Cruz has begun the process of building the fall 2023 class of students seeking to learn and thrive at an institution that leads at the intersection of innovation and social justice. The competition to earn a spot at UC Santa Cruz remains strong this year, with a record number of applications received.

MLK Convocation speaker points way to STEM success

The key to persevering in STEM careers is to find joy in the struggle, discover yourself in the process and lead with passion and purpose, Talithia Williams said at UC Santa Cruz’s online 39th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Convocation Feb. 21.

Slug Safe | Preparing for possible impacts from severe weather

The National Weather Service is forecasting heavy rains and strong winds in Santa Cruz beginning this evening and continuing into Friday.

Leading and learning to save the world

CalEPA Secretary Yana Garcia heads California’s fight against the ongoing climate crisis with her UCSC education as her foundation.

Researcher wins inaugural NHGRI award for DEIA Innovation in the Genomics Workforce

Ann Mc Cartney received the National Human Genome Research Institute’s (NHGRI) inaugural Staff Award for DEIA Innovation in the Genomics Workforce. 

Slug Safe: Power outages, high-wind advisory through 1 p.m. Wednesday

Power is out at the residential campus, the Westside Research Park, and the Coastal Science Campus. PG&E has not yet offered an estimated restoration time.

Power restored to residential campus; classes to meet Wednesday

Power has been restored to the residential campus, and classes can meet Wednesday as anticipated.

Speaking his soul: John Rickford to speak at Distinguished Alumni Lecture

Stevenson College Distinguished alumnus John Rickford returns to UC Santa Cruz for a reading of a chapter of his memoir, “Speaking my Soul: Race, Life, and Language.”

UCSC professor building collaborations to shape future minds through ethnic studies

Many believe we are at a pivotal moment in this country regarding anti-racist reforms, police abolition, and restorative justice. And according to Rekia Jibrin, an assistant professor in critical studies of education within UC Santa Cruz’s Education Department, engaging local communities is vital to bringing about transformative change.

Information about reporting abusive conduct in the workplace

The University of California issued a new Presidential Policy that defines and prohibits Abusive Conduct in the Workplace, effective Jan 1, 2023. This policy applies to all University of California employees, including student employees.

Pursuing social justice

Elena Losada received the Jessica Roy Memorial Scholarship in 2022. Learn more about how scholarships support students at UC Santa Cruz.

Arts Division to break ground on new state-of-the-art Social Documentation Lab

UC Santa Cruz’s Division of the Arts will soon begin construction of a world-class production and post-production facility in support of its Social Documentation (SocDoc) MFA program.

Designing the digital user experience to meet research needs - Meet Jessica Waggoner

Jessica Waggoner, the user experience librarian, and her students work to understand information-seeking behaviors so the campus community can easily access the resources they need to be successful in their classes and push the boundaries of research.

Timely Warning Crime Bulletin: Sexual assault

This Timely Warning crime bulletin is being issued in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act.

Big data expert to headline MLK Convocation

Dr. Talithia Williams, a mathematician and big data expert who seeks to “STEMpower” underrepresented groups to enter STEM fields, will address the 39th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Convocation, a virtual event on February 21.

Bots and Broadway: Technology and theater go hand-in-hand for UCSC professor

Using AI-generated text to produce dialogue during a live performance may seem like a wild idea to some, but not to performance and new media professor Marianne Weems. Weems, co-founder and artistic director of New York-based multi-dimensional theater company The Builders Association, is used to pushing the envelope with her ground-breaking work at the intersection of technology, media, and theater arts.

Legal Studies Program, Santa Cruz County Public Defender’s Office partner for National Public Defense Summit

Interested in learning about the importance of public defense and criminal law? The UC Santa Cruz Legal Studies Program, in partnership with the Santa Cruz County Office of the Public Defender, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), and the National Association for Public Defense, will host its first-ever National Public Defense Summit on February 24-25 at the Stevenson Event Center.

The wonder of our natural reserves, update on strategic planning, new space for IAS

February updates from the chancellor.

Campus safety strengthened with new programs, services

Restoring the late-night Safe Ride program, forming a mobile crisis intervention team, and increasing security patrols are just a few of the changes this academic year.

Visits set for finalists for Chief Campus Counsel

The Chief Campus Counsel is a key leadership position at UC Santa Cruz, providing the campus with advice on a broad range of legal, regulatory and governance issues.

UCSC joins FAA/ UAS Collegiate Training Initiative

UC Santa Cruz is now the first UC- or CSU-member of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)/ Unmanned Aircraft Systems’ (UAS) Collegiate Training Initiative program.

Pursuing cultural anthropology

Gabriel Ephraim Kaplan Wall was awarded the Jeremy Demian Marx Scholarship in 2022. Learn more about how scholarships support students at UC Santa Cruz.

Welcoming our new Vice Chancellor for Finance, Operations and Administration

Ed Reiskin has spent more than 20 years as a public sector administrator, most recently as the city of Oakland’s top administrative officer.

UCSC receives NEH awards that will further research in anthropology and musicology

On January 10, the NEH announced $28.1 million in grants toward 204 humanities projects nationwide. Two of this year’s recipients are part of the Slug family themselves, and their new grants will help to further their research in both anthropology and musicology at UC Santa Cruz.

COVID-19 community health guidance and reminders

We write today to ask for your help in promoting community wellness by following these important reminders.

Three UCSC faculty named 2022 AAAS fellows

Three UC Santa Cruz professors received the distinction of 2022 fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the association announced today.

Improving the student experience: aligning Colleges, Housing, and Educational Services within the Division of Student Affairs and Success

In an effort to improve the student experience, Colleges, Housing, and Educational Services (CHES) is moving from the Division of Finance, Operations, and Administration (FOA) to the Division of Student Affairs and Success (DSAS).

University launches new center, Campus + Community, to facilitate engaged scholarship

After more than 50 years of engagement in the region, UC Santa Cruz is launching a new center to coordinate campus and community connections for action-oriented scholarship that advances social justice.

John Bollard named associate vice chancellor for student health and wellness and chief well-being officer; joins Division of Student Affairs and Success

The Division of Student Affairs and Success is excited to announce John Bollard has been hired as the associate vice chancellor for student health and wellness and chief well-being officer. He will begin his appointment Thursday, February 2.

Learning-Aligned Employment Program Launches; provides 100% funding for on-campus, student research positions

LAEP is a nine-year, state-funded, work-based learning program similar to federal work-study. The program offers eligible students the opportunity to earn money to help defray their educational costs while gaining education-aligned, career-related employment.

The university invites campus community to come together for SlugUnity: A Space for Healing

In the wake of numerous, horrific acts of violence that have recently unfolded across the country, UCSC invites students, staff, and faculty to gather together in the Quarry Amphitheater this Thursday, February 2 from noon to 1 p.m..

UCSC alumna and special advisor to the chancellor earns international recognition for contributions to science, community building

Matlock, a cognitive science professor at UC Merced and special adviser at UC Santa Cruz, studies language use in real world contexts, including climate change, politics, technology, and health.

Support and resources following video released by Memphis Police of beating

Resources and support in the face of recent gun violence

We are devastated by the tragic and senseless mass shootings on Saturday in Monterey Park and on Monday in Half Moon Bay

Five student teams embark on tech for social good projects

Five student teams will take on tech for social good projects with funding from the UCSC CITRIS and the Banatao Institute and the UCSC Institute for Social Transformation.

2023 Campus Elections

The Dean of Students Office is pleased to announce the 2023 campus elections process.

Reminder - Decarbonization & Electrification Task Force Town Hall

Join the Decarbonization & Electrification (D&E) Task Force and the Climate Coalition at the inaugural D&E Town Hall gathering. Get an update on the task force’s work and join a discussion on how to plan the next steps for the decarbonization of the campus.

Leading the Change survey launching today

The strategic plan is our opportunity to chart a path for progress on our campus goals of advancing student success, amplifying our research profile, fostering an inclusive campus climate, and becoming more sustainable and resilient. The strategic planning process will include establishing metrics by which success will be measured over the next decade.

Researchers produce first-ever toolkit for RNA sequencing analysis using a ‘pantranscriptome’

Researchers at UC Santa Cruz introduce the first-ever method for analyzing RNA sequencing data genome-wide using a “pantranscriptome.”

UC Santa Cruz’s Institute of the Arts and Sciences to open new, off campus galleries

The state-of-the-art facility will showcase the Institute of the Arts and Sciences’ groundbreaking exhibitions and programs, highlighting the work of major national and international artists working to address the most pressing issues of our day at the intersection of the arts and social justice.

Announcing Teenie Matlock as special adviser to the chancellor for Indigenous matters

Teenie Matlock, most recently Vice Provost for Academic Personnel at UC Merced, has officially joined UC Santa Cruz as Special Adviser to the Chancellor on Indigenous Relations.

Sensorium, a new project of UC Santa Cruz’s Center for the Study of the Force Majeure, to be an unprecedented experience of the world ocean

A new project in development by UC Santa Cruz’s Center for the Study of the Force Majeure will give the public a transformative opportunity to interact with the world’s ocean ecosystem in a fully immersive work of environmental art entitled Sensorium.

Stay informed about campus impacts from severe storm

In-person instruction resumes Wednesday, Jan. 11

Support for our community during severe storms

Our thoughts are with all who are facing the challenges this severe weather has wrought.

In-person instruction to resume Wednesday

With improving weather conditions, in-person instruction will start on Wednesday, with UC Santa Cruz lifting the requirement for uniform emergency remote instruction.

Championing opportunity: Alumnus sponsors graduate student fellowships

UCSC alumnus and Stone Brewing Co-Founder Steve Wagner has funded summer research fellowships for four humanities graduate students over the course of four years.

Tuesday classes to use remote instruction, stay informed on storm impacts

All classes on Tuesday, January 10, will be delivered using online or emergency remote instruction, and we continue to encourage our campus community to limit nonessential travel.

Monday classes to use remote instruction, stay informed on storm impacts

All classes on Monday, January 9, will be delivered using online or emergency remote instruction, and we encourage our campus community to limit nonessential travel.

Guidance for the beginning of winter quarter

Below you will find important information and resources on the start of instruction, including information about possible health and weather impacts.

LastPass security breach, how to protect yourself

LastPass notified its customers of a cybersecurity incident that may put passwords stored in LastPass at risk.

UC Santa Cruz Cal Teach program connects area STEM majors with local public schools

Established in fall 2005, the UCSC Cal Teach program is one of nine in the UC system, with a goal to recruit and support undergrads in the STEM field to become teachers in K-12 schools.

Winter Storm Warning

The National Weather Service is forecasting a significant winter storm for the Santa Cruz area beginning early Wednesday and continuing through Thursday afternoon.