Faculty News

Fewer than 7% of global hotspots for whale-ship collisions have protection measures in place

A UC Santa Cruz scientist who specializes in research at the intersection of big data and marine-life conservation has contributed to a new study that shows the vast majority of “hotspots” where ships collide with whales in the world’s oceans lack protections for the majestic giants.

Shruti Kale, Crown College’s first Innovation and Entrepreneurship Pathway graduate, shares her story

This past summer, Crown College launched its Innovation and Entrepreneurship Pathway. The program's first graduate, Shruti Kale, reflects on her experiences and journey.

Support for undocumented members of our campus community

We write today to reaffirm our support and care for undocumented members of the UC Santa Cruz community.

Announcing the 2025 Deep Read book James

The Humanities Institute (THI) has recently announced the UC Santa Cruz 2025 Deep Read book. This year, we will read James by prolific author, Percival Everett.

Prescribed burns near campus starting Wednesday, Nov. 20

Student team wins ‘Excellence in Safety’ award at second Farm Robotics Challenge

A team of engineering students were recognized with the “Excellence in Safety” award at the second-annual Farm Robotics Challenge

How optogenetics can put the brakes on epilepsy seizures

In what could one day become a new treatment for epilepsy, researchers at UC San Francisco, UC Santa Cruz and UC Berkeley have used pulses of light to prevent seizure-like activity in neurons.

Traditional Mayan collaboration practices show both changes and resilience after decades of globalization

UC Santa Cruz psychologist Barbara Rogoff has been working with Mayan communities in Guatemala for decades to document traditional collaboration and learning practices. Her latest research follows up on an initial study from 30 years ago to see how practices have shifted or persisted over time within families.

UC Santa Cruz Music Department is gearing up for a holidays filled with music

One of the most important aspects of a music education is the ability to perform. At the University of California, Santa Cruz the Music Department arranges numerous events every quarter to make sure students have opportunities to show their skills and gain valuable experience on stage.

UC Santa Cruz announces a new 2,400-acre UC Reserve after Regents approval

The 2,400-acre oak-studded grassland property in San Benito County, which has served as a cattle ranch for most of the last 100 years, becomes the 42nd reserve within the University of California’s Natural Reserve System (NRS) and the seventh UC Santa Cruz reserve.

Labor strike announced for Nov. 20-21

The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Union (AFSCME)—which represents University of California employees who work in patient care, dining, custodial, transportation and other service areas—has announced it will hold a systemwide labor strike Nov. 20-21 at all UC campuses and medical centers.

$7.5 million awarded to UC Santa Cruz to support leadership in salmon-recovery science

UC Santa Cruz has received nearly $7.5 million from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) to vault scientific research on imperiled Pacific salmon populations into one of the nation’s most powerful collaborations between the agency and academia to save the vital species.

Computer engineering student builds cybersecurity solutions for Joby Aviation

UC Santa Cruz Computer Engineering student Shipra Ithal participated in an internship at Joby Aviation via the CITRIS Workforce Innovation Program

Team discovers ultra-massive galaxies in early Universe that challenge standard cosmology

An international team of astronomers has identified three ultra-massive galaxies—each nearly as massive as the Milky Way—already in place within the first billion years after the Big Bang. The discovery is surprising because it indicates that the formation of stars in the early Universe was far more efficient than previously thought, challenging current models of galaxy formation.

Physics Department improves undergraduate experience for non-majors

These fundamental teaching strategies—of making room for failure, and being explicit and transparent about how students’ knowledge will be assessed—combine to create an atmosphere that is more conducive to learning than traditional forms of physics instruction.

Bioluminescent proteins made from scratch enable non-invasive, multi-functional biological imaging

Assistant Professor of Biomolecular Engineering Andy Yeh is designing completely artificial proteins that produce bioluminescence to serve as a non-invasive method for bioimaging, diagnostics, drug discovery, and more.

2024 Notification of republication of the Clery Act Annual Security & Fire Safety Report

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act), an updated version of the 2024 Annual Security & Fire Safety Report is available for viewing.

Prescribed burns near campus starting Wednesday, Nov. 13

California State Parks plans to conduct prescribed burns at Wilder Ranch State Park beginning Wednesday, November 13 through Thursday, November 21.

New chemical process makes biodiesel production easier, less energy intensive

UC Santa Cruz chemists have discovered a new way to produce biodiesel from waste oil that both simplifies the process and requires relatively mild heat. This discovery has the potential to make the alternative fuel source much more appealing to the massive industrial sectors that are the backbone of the nation’s economy.

Championing Veteran Students: Bruce Lane Memorial Scholarship helps veterans succeed at UC Santa Cruz

Veteran students Nick Kuipers and Sammy Tesfai find community and opportunity at UCSC with tailored support and scholarships

American Mathematical Society names Professor Chongying Dong a 2025 Fellow

Chongying Dong, distinguished professor of mathematics at UC Santa Cruz, is among 41 mathematical scientists around the world who were recently named to the American Mathematical Society’s class of fellows for 2025.

UCSC Receives 2024 Catalyst Grant Award for climate action

UC Santa Cruz has been awarded a 2024 Catalyst Grant Award to support the campus’s climate action initiatives. The award from Second Nature will support two Sustainability & Environmental Justice Ambassador (SEJA) student workers .

Volunteering for democracy

UC Santa Cruz students, staff, and retirees are providing an essential service to the community by volunteering as poll workers in the 2024 election.

Fall 2024 Emeriti Lecture: Black Musicians’ Fight for Labor Equality

The UC Santa Cruz Emeriti Association proudly presents its Fall Emeriti Lecture on November 12, 2024. The annual event features UCSC Professor Emerita Leta Miller, who will discuss how the formation and dismantling of monoethnic union chapters illustrate the complexities of combating systemic racism.

Red Flag Warning for Santa Cruz County

Legacy of helping minoritized students thrive in STEM careers faces uncertain future

If ultimately fully funded, the MPC2SC Program will start by identifying 10 students at the community college during their freshman year. They will then be guided through a targeted curriculum that will prepare them to transfer to UC Santa Cruz the fall of their junior year.

Distinguished leaders join inaugural Chancellor’s Advisory Board

With a goal of advancing the mission of UC Santa Cruz and broadening the university’s impact, Chancellor Cynthia Larive has announced the formation of an external Chancellor's Advisory Board.

Centering well-being as the national election approaches

Your well-being is our priority, and we encourage each of you to take steps to care for yourselves and find the support you need.

2024 UCSC United Way Campaign

Today we officially kick off this year’s UC Santa Cruz employee campaign in support of United Way of Santa Cruz County. Our 2024-2025 campaign, United We Thrive, highlights the collective power we have when we come together to build a stronger, more resilient community.

UC Santa Cruz faculty, alumnae joining in worldwide biodiversity conference

Government leaders, scientists, and policy experts from across the world, including UC Santa Cruz alumni and faculty, are gathered in Colombia for worldwide negotiations to protect endangered species, restore damaged habitats, and preserve ecosystems.

Decarbonization policy initiatives will require more data-based decision-making

A new article by UC Santa Cruz Associate Professor of Economics Peter Christensen and co-authors recommends how to collect and apply evidence in order to achieve the greatest possible impact from recent investments in decarbonization in the United States.

Open Enrollment 2024 for UC Faculty & Staff Starts Today

The University of California’s annual Open Enrollment (OE) period takes place from October 31 through 5 p.m. on November 22. All medical, dental and vision plans will be open for enrollment as well as Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Legal and Flexible Spending Accounts.

How researchers can maximize biological insights using animal-tracking devices

Biologgers allow us to see with unprecedented precision how animals move and behave in the wild. But that's only part of the picture, according to a UC Santa Cruz ecologist renowned for using biologging data to tell the deeper story about the lives of marine mammals in a changing world.

UCSC’s Season of Giving - Three ways to give

We’re about to enter a season of giving to various efforts that uplift folks in Santa Cruz County, both on and off campus.

UC Santa Cruz named a U.S. National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps Hub for the Northwest Region

UC Santa Cruz has been selected as one of eight partner institutions in the newly established U.S. National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Hub for the Northwest Region.

Gearing up for Giving Day

The ninth annual 24-hour crowdfunding campaign will host more than 175 project teams, 20 challenges and is poised to amplify and support thousands of students.

Winter Curtailment 2024-2025

Our 2024-25 winter curtailment will run from Monday, December 23, 2024, through Wednesday, January 1, 2025.

Professor A.M. Darke creates groundbreaking work in Black representation

A.M. Darke, an associate professor of Performance, Play, & Design at UC Santa Cruz, has spent her career becoming one of the leading voices of diversity in games, especially in the context of representing Black hair. For her latest work Darke has helped compile a program that better represents coily hair in animation.

Engineers awarded CDC contract to build pathogen-tracing public health tools

The CDC has awarded Corbett-Detig and his team at the UCSC Genomics Institute a two-year, $2.52 million contract to continue their work tracking the COVID-19 virus’s evolution and expand their software tools to track other pathogens.

Innovation Impact Award Nomination Deadline

The nomination window for the Innovator of the Year award closes on Friday, November 15.

Parking permit scams and anonymous citation information collection

It has come to our attention that some individuals are attempting to sell fraudulent parking permits to students.

Dolphins sense military sonar at much lower levels than regulators predict

For the first time ever, a team including several UC Santa Cruz scientists have directly measured the behavioral responses of some of the most common marine mammals to military sonar. And the finding that surprised them most was that these animals were sensitive to the sounds at much lower levels than previously predicted.

David Lee appointed inaugural Director of Research Pathways for Baskin Engineering

To increase undergraduates’ engagement with research opportunities within the Baskin School of Engineering at UC Santa Cruz, Assistant Professor of Computational Media David Lee has been appointed as the school’s inaugural Director of Research Pathways

Notice of open comment: Interim Conduct Regulations Policy

The division of Finance, Operations, and Administration is now accepting the campus community's feedback in advance of removing the interim status.

Renowned higher ed researcher Dr. Adrianna Kezar to visit campus November 7-8

Adrianna Kezar is the Dean’s Professor of Leadership, Wilbur-Kieffer Professor of Higher Education, at the University of Southern California and Director of the Pullias Center for Higher Education within the Rossier School of Education.

Fraud alert and security steps for Fidelity accounts

We want to inform you of recent reports of fraudulent activity involving UC Retirement Savings Program accounts maintained by Fidelity.

New book California Catastrophes challenges coastal communities to confront reality

It's no secret that Californians live with the reality of earthquakes, landslides, wildfires, and other natural disasters. This confronts those who choose to stay, and the many who move here, with the equally ominous question: What can we do about it?

Powerful new analyses improve breast cancer risk assessment on a massive scale

A new feature on the BRCA Exchange, a platform which consolidates data on the genes associated with breast cancer, is rolling out a new feature to make cancer risk much easier to assess.

California Academy of Sciences Honors Dan Costa with Fellows Medal

The California Academy of Sciences presented UC Santa Cruz’s Dan Costa, distinguished professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, with its highest honor at an awards ceremony on October 15.

Former UC Santa Cruz physicist Michael Riordan honored for historical narratives of his field

The American Physical Society awarded former UC Santa Cruz physicist Michael Riordan on October 15 with its Abraham Pais Prize for History of Physics.

UC Santa Cruz professor Anna Friz wins international prize in radio

Anna Friz, an associate professor of Film and Digital Media, has been raking in awards and honors. The multi-disciplinary artist who took a sabbatical last winter after receiving a Guggenheim fellowship, recently received the Karl Sczuka Prize for radio from SWR Germany.

Understanding landslides: a new model for predicting motion

Along coastal California, the possibility of earthquakes and landslides are commonly prefaced by the phrase, “not if, but when.” This precarious reality is now a bit more predictable thanks to researchers at UC Santa Cruz and The University of Texas at Austin, who found that conditions known to cause slip along fault lines deep underground also lead to landslides above.

Prepare for the Great California ShakeOut

International ShakeOut Day is an annual event that teaches earthquake preparedness and response activities for everyone.

Science Division debuts ‘degree-defining experiences’ drawing on UC Santa Cruz’s unique strengths

The Science Division has received a $1 million donation to begin a major new program on “degree-defining experiences.” The program will pilot 17 projects across campus that aim to profoundly inspire undergraduate students and fill them with the kind of optimism that forever changes how they see their time at UC Santa Cruz and their future careers.

Genomics Institute provides seed funds for six multidisciplinary projects

The Genomics Institute has awarded grants of up to $50,000 to six multidisciplinary research projects in the inaugural year of its seed funding program

Local Childcare Facility Openings Available to faculty and staff

UC Santa Cruz is happy to announce that openings are available for toddlers to preschool-aged children at two area facilities through the new Childcare Placement Waitlist Program.

Nominations open for Chancellor’s Innovation Impact Awards

2024 Notification of republication of the Clery Act Annual Security & Fire Safety Report

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act), an updated version of the 2024 Annual Security & Fire Safety Report is available for viewing.

Astronomy postdoc to develop technologies that mold starlight to better detect exoplanets

The Astronomy & Astrophysics Department welcomes postdoctoral scientist Emiel Por, who invents technologies that mold the starlight captured by ground- and space-based telescopes to improve imaging of planetary companions. His work will be supported by the Heising-Simons Foundation's 51 Pegasi b Fellowship program.

2024 CITRIS Interdisciplinary Innovation Program supports wide range of campus research

The CITRIS Interdisciplinary Innovation Program (I2P) provides UC Santa Cruz Principal Investigators with funding for projects focussed on developing information technology solutions to significant societal challenges.

Global warming is happening, but not statistically ‘surging,’ new study finds

The new study, published on October 14 in the journal Nature Communications Earth & Environment, confirms the broad consensus that the planet is getting warmer, but at a statistically steady rate—not at a sufficiently accelerated rate that could be statistically defined as a surge.

UC Santa Cruz professor Derek Conrad Murray appointed Editor-in-Chief of leading arts publication

Derek Conrad Murray, Professor of History of Art & Visual Culture (HAVC), has recently been appointed editor-in-chief of Art Journal. After previously serving on the journal’s editorial board, Murray will be taking on an expansive position where he can shepherd the journal’s distinguished mission for the next three years.

UC Santa Cruz and Hartnell College awarded grant to strengthen transfer pathway for Central Coast students

UC Santa Cruz and Hartnell College have long shared a commitment to empowering students from California’s Central Coast to achieve their educational and career goals. Now, thanks to a two-year, $250,000 American Talent Initiative (ATI) IDEAS Grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies, the two institutions will strengthen that partnership and expand opportunities for students.

UC Santa Cruz professor helps set national research agenda for atmospheric methane removal technologies that could help fight climate change

Environmental Studies Professor Sikina Jinnah was a co-author on a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) that recommends a national research agenda for atmospheric methane removal technologies and assesses potential atmospheric removal tools.

Welcome the new faculty in the Arts Division

As a new quarter starts, the Arts Division is welcoming eight new faculty members who represent the creativity, diversity, and thoughtfulness that are key pieces of the division’s identity.

Annual reminder of emergency preparedness

The start of a new academic year is a good time to review your emergency preparedness for a range of possible scenarios we might face as a community, to update your emergency contact information, and to think about your own role in supporting a safe environment for everyone.

New apps will enable safer indoor navigation for blind people

Two new apps will enable blind people to navigate indoor buildings with spoken directions from a smartphone app, providing a safe method of wayfinding where GPS doesn’t work.

Will AI tools revolutionize public health? Not if they continue following old patterns, researchers argue.

A new paper published in the journal Social Science & Medicine shares findings from an extensive literature analysis of AI’s current trajectory in health care.

In Memoriam: Professor Zsuzsanna (Zsuzsi) I. Abrams

Zsuzsanna I. Abrams, Professor of Applied Linguistics and German, passed away on Sept. 23, 2024. Abrams was an esteemed scholar, dedicated educator, and cherished colleague whose passing leaves an indelible void in the Humanities Division and at UC Santa Cruz.

Professor Stacy Philpott leads U.S. delegates for “Agri-Young Hackathon” at G7 Ministers’ Meeting on Agriculture

Environmental Studies Professor Stacy Philpott led the U.S. delegation for a youth hackathon at the recent G7 Ministers’ Meeting on Agriculture in Italy. Philpott was asked by USDA representatives to coordinate and support the country’s team, a reflection of her national leadership role in preparing the next generation of agriculture professionals.

Recognizing outstanding faculty and staff in the Division of Social Sciences

Social Sciences Dean Katharyne Mitchell and award committee members recently announced the recipients of the 2024 Social Sciences Division faculty and staff awards, which are dedicated to honoring significant contributions to teaching, research excellence, and student support.

Experts on drone research discuss future challenges and opportunities at UC Santa Cruz Silicon Valley campus

An interdisciplinary and multi-institutional group of academics, researchers, and practitioners discussed challenges and opportunities in using drones at an event hosted at the UC Santa Cruz Silicon Valley campus on Friday, September 27.

2025 CITRIS CIDER Pilot Training Program open for applications

The application period for the UC Santa Cruz CIDER Pilot Training Program is open through Nov. 4. In late November, 35 students will be selected to participate in an immersive experiential learning program centered around the use of drones and their application.

Notice of Open Comment: UC policy on Seismic Safety

The University of California Office of the President invites comments on a proposed Presidential policy on Seismic Safety.

UC Santa Cruz launches new degree program in Geographic Information Systems, Spatial Technologies, Applications, and Research

UC Santa Cruz is launching a new Master of Arts program in Geographic Information Systems, Spatial Technologies, Applications, and Research (GISTAR), designed to meet the growing demand for expertise in geospatial technologies.

Social Sciences Division welcomes new faculty

UC Santa Cruz’s Social Sciences Division is welcoming 10 outstanding new faculty members this academic year.

Baskin Engineering welcomes a cohort of 12 new faculty

Twelve new faculty members join the Baskin School of Engineering for the 2024-25 academic year.

Electioneering on Campus

New policy essay: subsidies’ hidden costs for the environment

Government subsidies for business practices and processes should be approached with caution, even when they seem to be environmentally friendly, a team that includes a UC Santa Cruz researcher concludes in this week’s “Policy Forum” in the journal Science.

New exhibition honors groundbreaking artist and professor emeritus Doyle Foreman

As part of the Mary Sesnon Porter’s Sesnon Art Gallery’s goal to place a greater emphasis on faculty, students, and alumni, they are opening the new school year with an exhibition featuring the work of Doyle Foreman.

A message from UC President Michael V. Drake: Working together toward inclusive excellence

We recognize and indeed cherish our responsibility to honor our free speech traditions. We are resolute in our commitment to cultivating academic spaces of intellectual curiosity and moral courage.

Sparking creativity: Clinch Fuentes’s lasting impact on arts education at UCSC and beyond

Clinch Fuentes, founder and president of nonprofit organization Chance to Excel, supports UC Santa Cruz’s ArtsBridge program, which connects university faculty and scholars with classroom teachers and diverse student populations across Santa Cruz County.

Be CyberSafe - Cybersecurity Awareness Month

October is UC Cybersecurity Awareness Month (UCCAM), the perfect time to protect yourself and our campus from cyber threats and to support our campus’s efforts to comply with new cybersecurity requirements.

UC Santa Cruz neuroscientist to provide rapid-response expertise for AI policymaking

Assistant Professor Dan Turner-Evans will spend the 2024-25 academic year in Washington, D.C., providing expertise to lawmakers as they develop federal policies on artificial intelligence (AI) as part of the rapid-response cohort of Science & Technology Policy Fellows chosen by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Fall 2024 Transportation Update

Chancellor’s Update: Celebrating the new academic year!

Whether you are just joining us at UC Santa Cruz or are returning to campus recharged after summer break–welcome to the new academic year!

2024-25 CITRIS Tech for Social Good Program student funding open for project and event proposals

The 2024-2025 CITRIS Tech for Social Good program at UC Santa Cruz is open for proposals.

UC Santa Cruz recognized for excellence in undergraduate teaching, social mobility in latest U.S. News & World Report rankings

The University of California, Santa Cruz has once again earned national recognition for its commitment to high-quality undergraduate education and advancing social mobility.

New initiatives to strengthen campus climate, combat hate

With funding from the UC Office of the President, UC Santa Cruz will be offering additional mental health resources, community-building events, educational programming, professional development, and opportunities to share feedback to improve its campus climate.

$1M NSF grant expands open source software mentorship program for HBCU students

A $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation will expand a program that enables students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities to gain coding experience and receive intensive mentorship in open source programming.

2024 Arts Division Convocation honors Eduardo and Alison Carrillo

The annual Arts Division Convocation brings together the community to celebrate the new school year. The Distinguished Banana Slug Awards in the Arts is given every year to an honoree who exemplifies excellence and a dedication to the Arts Division. This year’s recipients are (posthumously) former professor Eduardo Carrillo, and his wife Alison Keeler Carrillo.

Center for Archival Research and Training celebrates 10 years of success

This October, the University Library at UC Santa Cruz Elisabeth Remak-Honnef Center for Archival Research and Training (CART) marks its 10th anniversary, celebrating a decade of shaping graduate students’ careers through hands-on archival experience.

University Record Management Reminder

With the 2024-25 academic year underway, we would like to encourage all faculty to consider the safe, secure destruction of inactive, confidential university administrative records while adhering to the UCSC Records Management Program and policies.

Celebrating and observing the Jewish High Holy Days

As we welcome the beginning of the academic year, Jewish members of our community will also be ushering in the Jewish new year as they celebrate and observe the High Holy Days.

UC Santa Cruz astronomer delivers keynote speech for Mexico's National Council of Humanities, Sciences and Technologies

The council chose Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz as the final speaker in the series, which leads up to the inauguration of Mexico's new president on October 1, in honor of his distinguished career and accomplishments that followed his public education and training in Mexico.

Postdoc Will Steinhardt wins early-career award for innovative earthquake-physics research

The American Geophysical Union (AGU) has presented UC Santa Cruz postdoctoral scholar Will Steinhardt with its 2024 Jason P. Morgan Early Career Award honoring outstanding and significant contributions to tectonophysics through a combination of research, education, and outreach activities.

"An Aesthetics of Resilience" fosters interdisciplinary conversations and research

Commencing last fall, An Aesthetics of Resilience is a collaborative research initiative between UC Santa Cruz’s Institute of the Arts and Sciences (IAS) and Friedlaender Lab that creatively addresses shared experiences of vulnerability in the face of ongoing climate crises.

Observing the Jewish High Holy Days and other religious holidays

Shortly after we welcome the beginning of the 2024-25 academic year, Jewish members of our community may observe the High Holy Days.

2023 astronomy Ph.D. graduate honored for dissertation work, mentoring and leadership

The Astronomical Society of the Pacific has honored recent UC Santa Cruz Ph.D. graduate Maggie Thompson for research "considered unusually important to astronomy."

UC Santa Cruz celebrates 60 years of leading change

Founded in 1965, the campus is preparing to mark six decades of educational excellence, groundbreaking teaching and research, and lasting accomplishments in 2025, while looking with anticipation toward an ascendant future.

A wobble from Mars could be sign of dark matter, new study finds

New simulations suggest that there are enough primordial black holes—potential dark matter candidates—in the universe for one to pass through the inner solar system every decade. The work builds upon an astrophysical theory that has growing popularity.

Students invited to participate in Downtown Day 2024

UC Santa Cruz students are invited to explore downtown Santa Cruz and discover all the vibrant areas it has to offer on Friday, September 27 from 2:00pm - 5:00pm. UC Santa Cruz is partnering with the Downtown Association, the City of Santa Cruz, and the Museum of Art & History (MAH) for this fun and interactive event.

UC Santa Cruz celebrates National Postdoc Appreciation Week

Postdoctoral scholars at UC Santa Cruz participate in cutting-edge research while in this ultimate phase of their academic training. Many are preparing to enter the academy, while some are preparing for non-academic careers or professions that merge the two domains.

ARCS Foundation 2024 scholarships support outstanding graduate students in science and engineering

Sixteen outstanding UC Santa Cruz graduate students in science and engineering fields earned scholarships worth a total of $180,000 from the Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation for the 2024-25 academic year.

Center for Coastal Climate Resilience to co-host event at New York Climate Week

UC Santa Cruz Center for Coastal Climate Resilience (CCCR) and California Ocean Science Trust will be co-hosting an event at New York Climate Week on policy and finance tools to accelerate nature-based solutions for climate adaptation.

Election forum series to foster dialogue and empower students for active democratic participation

This fall, the University of California, Santa Cruz will host the 2024 U.S. Elections Forum Series: Power, Politics, and Our Democracy, a six-part event series designed to foster open dialogue and engage students and the public in critical conversations about democracy, media, and voter participation.

Campus plan for transportation, parking, and traffic impacts during move-in

UC Santa Cruz is preparing to welcome more than 9,000 residential students to our community next week.

National Academy of Education awarded Josephine H. Pham the Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship

Josephine H. Pham, Assistant Professor of Critical Studies in Education at the University of California, Santa Cruz, has been awarded the prestigious National Academy of Education Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship.

Fall welcome and update

Let’s each take on the good work of fostering a positive community by assuming positive intent in others, demonstrating respect in our speech, writing and demeanor and practicing kindness and compassion.

Senate Bill 108: Rights and responsibilities of free expression

As we begin the new academic year, we seek to reaffirm our Principles of Community and share important information with our campus community about the rights and the responsibilities of free expression in the context of living, working, and studying at UC Santa Cruz.

Estimated $20 million gift to UC Santa Cruz for undergraduate scholarships to support educational excellence, access

The late Richard “Rick” Sabatte (Kresge ’75, psychology) established a scholarship fund that will provide full four-year scholarships and living expenses to hundreds of student-scholars with demonstrated financial need over the next three decades.

Power restored to campus

Power has been restored to all areas of the residential campus, following a planned outage for maintenance and repairs to an electrical substation.

Updates on planned power outage

The residential campus is experiencing an planned power outage so campus electricians can conduct important maintenance and repairs to a primary electrical substation.

Learn how to protect our oceans at Blue Innovation Day on Oct. 6

UC Santa Cruz’s Innovation & Business Engagement Hub is partnering with Santa Cruz Works on Blue Innovation Day 2024, an event featuring activities and exhibits from companies, artists, small businesses, non-profits, and researchers who are committed to combating the water and ocean challenges exacerbated by climate change.

New UCSF medical office in Santa Cruz - Meet & Greet on campus

In an effort to provide employees with more health care options, we are happy to announce that UC Santa Cruz partnered with UCSF Health to bring primary care services to employees with UC Health Plans in the Santa Cruz region.

UC Santa Cruz research will harness advanced AI to better measure, predict climate-change impacts

Two UC Santa Cruz research projects designed to leverage advanced forms of artificial intelligence to improve how scientists measure and predict the effects of climate change have won funding from a $20 million investment by the National Science Foundation.

Researchers to investigate genetic roots of autism, look for new treatments

A new award from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine will support a team of UC Santa Cruz researchers in exploring the genetic underpinnings of autism spectrum disorder.

Getoor wins major data mining award

Lise Getoor, UC Santa Cruz Distinguished Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, was honored with the ACM SIGKDD Innovation Award.

Genomics Institute researcher Melissa Cline to lead efforts to facilitate diagnosis of genetic diseases

Genomics Institute associate research scientist Melissa Cline will serve as the co-lead of the Global Alliance for Genomics and Health’s Genomic Knowledge Standards Work Stream.

UC Santa Cruz professor honored by American Chemical Society for natural-products discovery

Phil Crews, distinguished research professor of chemistry and biochemistry, is being honored by the American Chemical Society for outstanding work in the analysis, structural elucidation, and chemical synthesis of natural products.

A special look into art exhibition Seeing through Stone

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

Mapping the mind

Ph.D student Asia Anderson focuses on the development of brain machine interfaces to model and study the development of the human brain, specifically those with neurodegenerative disorders.

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

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

Update on campus budget

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

Courtesy notice regarding annual systemwide payroll disclosure

As part of the university’s commitment to transparency and public accountability, including the way it compensates faculty and staff, UC is conducting its annual disclosure of systemwide employee compensation for calendar year 2023.

Singing from memory unlocks a surprisingly common musical superpower

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

Tech industry leader and UC Santa Cruz alumna Susan Wojcicki dies at 56

Susan Wojcicki, a visionary tech executive and former CEO of YouTube, passed away August 9, 2024, at the age of 56.

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

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

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

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

Annual event at Lick Observatory links modern astronomy to native perspectives

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

Endangered Santa Cruz salamander featured in National Geographic photo project

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

Preparing California’s agricultural lands for climate change

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

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

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

Investigation concludes in fatal bus crash

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

Investigation into fatal bus crash concludes

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

Latest Budget Update

As we prepare for the fall quarter, we will be providing additional updates on our budget situation, both directly to the campus and through unit leaders.

Fisheries Collaborative staff honored for excellence and impactful work

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is honoring multiple employees of UC Santa Cruz's Fisheries Collaborative Program for their contributions as members of NOAA's Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) community.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Biochemist Carrie Partch selected as Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator

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

UCSC’s Decarbonization & Electrification Work Advances

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

2023-24 Excellence in Teaching Awards announced

The award, launched in 1996, highlights the university’s long tradition of innovative and creative teaching and honors UC Santa Cruz instructors who have demonstrated exemplary and inspiring teaching.

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

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

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

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

UC Santa Cruz colleges awarded planning grant from Teagle Foundation

The UC Santa Cruz colleges have been awarded a $25,000 planning grant from the Teagle Foundation to enhance liberal education for all students using equity-minded, high-impact practices. Specifically, the project will develop a common reading list of transformative texts and common experiences that all UC Santa Cruz first-year students will share.

A living legacy of student creativity and activism

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

The Humanities Institute receives Global Public Humanities Award

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Students across the region invited to help shape the future of semiconductors

As AI weaves itself into more areas of life, scientists and engineers at UC Santa Cruz have come together to develop a better component that serves as the "neuron" in brain-inspired computing. The imperative to make such processing much more energy efficient, and faster, means that those who can design and build these next-generation devices will be in high demand on the job market.

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

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

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

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

UC Santa Cruz Foundation celebrates 50 years

Julie Packard, Narinder Kapany awarded Foundation Medals during gala event, while Packard also recognized with the University of California’s top honor, the Presidential Medal

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

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

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

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

Update on 2024-25 budget

I am confident that, working together, we will get through this current budget challenge and emerge stronger, supported by better budget processes, and spending and revenue practices.

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

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

UC Santa Cruz alumna receives prestigious Sundance Fellowship

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

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

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

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

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

G. William Domhoff and Catherine Cooper receive Dickson Emeriti Professorships

Distinguished Professor Emeritus G. William Domhoff, who was a member of both the psychology and sociology departments at UC Santa Cruz, and Professor Emerita of Psychology Catherine Cooper recently won Edward A. Dickson Emeriti Professorships.

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

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

Associate Teaching Professor Nathan Altice wins Distinguished Teaching Award

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

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

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

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

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

Kresge Presents PRIDE: 17th annual celebration of queer identity and community

On Saturday, May 11, 2024, the UC Santa Cruz community gathered to celebrate 17 years of recognizing and honoring queer identity and community at the annual Kresge Presents PRIDE march and festival. This student-led event, the largest annual queer gathering at UC Santa Cruz, showcases the university’s commitment to LGBTQIA+ visibility, dignity, and diversity.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Important information about the California Whistleblower Protection Act

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

Supporting safety and access to our campus

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

The print sale celebrates its 50th anniversary

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

Encouraging remote work during commencement and last call for volunteers

During 2024 Commencement ceremonies, Friday June 14 – Monday June 17, 2024, and with students moving out of the residence halls by Friday, June 14, heavy traffic is expected on campus over that four-day period.

In-person instruction for week of June 3

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

Update on this morning’s actions at the main entrance

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

Earliest, most distant galaxy discovered with James Webb Space Telescope

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

Remote instruction for May 31 and instructional modality planning

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Engaging faculty through partnership development with institutions abroad

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

In Memoriam: Larry Polansky

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

New exoplanets catalog showcases diverse, exotic worlds

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

Planning to resume in-person instruction on Tuesday

Remote instruction on Thursday, Friday

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

Campus to adopt virtual parking permits

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

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

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

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

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

Remote instruction on Tuesday, Wednesday

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

Update about campus disruptions

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

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

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

Announced systemwide labor strike beginning Monday, May 20

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

Statement on Jim Simons

The world has lost a great champion of math and scientific research with the death of Jim Simons, an award-winning mathematician, quantitative-investing legend, and inspired philanthropist.

Sea otters use tools when feeding to survive a changing world

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

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

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

Student Kristi Truong finds home in UCSC’s soccer program

Kristi Truong (Stevenson ’26, global community health) played soccer since she was seven years old. When choosing where to attend college, she overcame pressures to attend a school with a D1 program, and chose UC Santa Cruz.

UC Santa Cruz biologist tapped to contribute to national report on nature's role in society

For America's first-ever report on nature’s inherent worth, and its contributions to the economy, our health and well-being, UC Santa Cruz's Malin Pinsky will co-author a chapter on nature and climate change. He is a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology and one of 10 authors contributing to the chapter.

Quarry Plaza encampment and campus demonstrations

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

In Memoriam: David Draper

Remembering Professor of Statistics David Draper.

UC Santa Cruz Arts Division presents "Iolanthe"

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

SlugSafe: Campus Transit is operating modified routes

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

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

Continuity of Instruction and Research

I am writing today to update and inform you about developments regarding our academic student employees (ASEs). On May 3, 2024, the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) filed Unfair Labor Practice charges against the University of California, related to ongoing campus protests and arrests that followed at other UC campuses. UAW 4811 is conducting a strike authorization vote from May 13-15. If the strike vote is successful, UAW’s Executive Board will have the authority from their members to call a systemwide strike.

Campus Exterior Lighting Walk

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

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

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

K7 Agreement Ratified

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

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

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

UCSC will lead a Regional Hub of the NSF Eddie Bernice Johnson INCLUDES Alliance: the Engineering PLUS Alliance to serve those underrepresented in STEM

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

California State Board of Food and Agriculture visits campus

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

Thinking about Summer already? So is Summer Session.

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

UC Santa Cruz continues to pursue ambitious plan to increase student housing by 40 percent by 2030

Within walking distance to other UC Santa Cruz facilities and direct bus routes to the residential campus, the Delaware Avenue project will provide housing for about 400 upper-division undergraduate students and more than 60 employees.

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

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

Prescribed burns in Big Basin Redwood State Park until May 9

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

Campus status updates

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

Ecological Society of America names Dan Costa a lifetime fellow

Dan Costa, distinguished professor of ecology and evolutionary biology and director of UC Santa Cruz's Institute of Marine Sciences, has been named a 2024 Fellow of the Ecological Society of America.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

UC Leave options expanded to include protected time off for reproductive loss

Beginning Jan. 1, 2024, UC’s leave options expanded to provide eligible employees with up to five days of protected leave following a reproductive loss. This change aligns with California legislation that became effective Jan. 1, 2024.

UC Santa Cruz Arts Division presents Prahlad Singh Tipanya

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

UC Santa Cruz physics department honored for improving undergraduate experience

The Physics Department has been honored by the American Physical Society (APS) for improving undergraduate physics education. At its April meeting, APS announced UC Santa Cruz as one of just three universities nationwide whose physics departments share in this year’s award.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Three UC Santa Cruz faculty members named 2023 AAAS fellows

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

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

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

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

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

Spring Give 2024 amplifies student success

The third annual Spring Give saw more than double the number of project team participation this year and triple the number of donors.

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

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

Slug 48: The new 48 hour film challenge for students

The Department of Film and Digital Media is introducing the first event of its kind, Slug 48. Participating undergraduates will have 48 hours to create a film from start to finish including script writing, filming, and post production. Students can participate in groups or sign up alone, it all starts this Friday April 19.

Humanities program provides rewarding research experience—and also crucial career prep

Employing Humanities–funded undergraduate students have begun working with faculty in paid research opportunities that connect their classroom curriculum with hands-on training.

Notice of Open Comment Period: Draft Fire Protection Policy

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

Chancellor’s innovation awards honor excellence in research, creativity

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

Cal Fire Empire Grade Piles Burn

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Scientists discover first nitrogen-fixing organelle

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

Power outage at the residential campus

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

UC Santa Cruz Arts Division presents “Search Party”

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

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

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

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

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

Good turnout at Annual Teaching Week

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Science Division announces recipients of Distinguished Alumni Awards

Dr. José de Jesús González, Dr. Maximiliano Mateo Cuevas, and Dr. Charles A. Lawson are this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award recipients for the Science Division.

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

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

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

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

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

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

UC Santa Cruz joins consortium advancing Earth system science programs

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

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

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

Ten UC Santa Cruz speakers shine bright in TEDxSantaCruz lineup

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

Hahn Parking Lot 101 closure April 1 – April 19 

Between April 1 and April 19, as UC Santa Cruz welcomes over 10,000 admitted and prospective students and their families to campus, access to the Hahn Parking Lot 101 will be restricted during business hours.

Research on understudied lung cancer drivers may improve treatments

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Student leads innovative campus composting initiative for sustainable waste management

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

Innovating agriculture for a greener world

UCSC's Earth Futures Institute's Frontier Fellows Program, wrapping up its second year, supported six undergraduate students engaging in groundbreaking interdisciplinary research aimed at improving the planet's future. Eric Vetha uses his passion for robotics to hone in on soil moisture management practices.

Balancing carbon sequestration and community benefits

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

Equity, civic-mindedness drive UC Santa Cruz’s Global and Community Health Program

Many of UC Santa Cruz’s core values are embodied in the Global and Community Health Program, which draws students who seek to study real-world problems encountered locally and worldwide, preparing them for a career in health care, policy, research or advocacy.

UCSC Alumna Carolina Ixta debuts first novel

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

Deep Read 2024 gears up

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

Community encouraged to take precautions following a string of burglaries

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

New gifts launch projects and experiential learning in Sikh studies

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

From start to finish: Alumni Association Scholarship paves the way for students in financial need

The UCSC Alumni Association Scholarship Fund stands as a steadfast pillar of support, offering comprehensive financial assistance to students in need from their first year through graduation, ensuring every student's journey at UCSC is marked by opportunity.

Celebrating and Observing Ramadan, Easter and Passover

With the end of winter quarter instruction this week and final exams starting on March 18, this is a stressful time. Students observing these holy days may miss classes and/or request extensions for assignments. Some will also limit or avoid the use of technology, including virtual learning platforms.

Scientists find unexpected proteins in bacteria motors

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

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

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

Important changes to UCSC Google service

In February 2021, Google announced changes to Google Workspace for Education ending unlimited free storage.

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

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

UC Santa Cruz breaks records with increased applications for Fall 2024

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

Nominations for the UC Women's Initiative for Professional Development are open until March 22

Designed for mid-career faculty and staff participants, and sponsored by the Office of the President, the program is open to all employees who are committed to the initiative's mission.

Notice of open comment period ALPR policy

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

Annual Pre-Retirement Planning Series for July 1 retirements and those within 5 years of UC retirement

UC Santa Cruz’s Benefits Office is offering the 2024 Pre-Retirement Planning Workshop series through March 22.

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

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

United for Equity: Central Coast K-16 Regional Collaborative launch event celebrates a groundbreaking collaboration

On Feb. 9, leaders from the Central Coast K-16 Regional Collaborative, representing 30-plus educational institutions and industry partners across the Central Coast, gathered to launch an initiative aimed at addressing long-standing inequities and streamlining educational and career pathways.

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

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

Open Educational Resources cut student costs and increase engagement

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mourning the tragic death of our student

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

UC National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement Webinar Series

I write on behalf of Michelle Deutchman, executive director for the UC National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement, to make you aware of a webinar series for UC faculty and staff that is occurring right now.

Closer water monitoring needed as wildfires increase

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

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

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

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

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

Kimberly Lau appointed provost of College Nine and John R. Lewis College

The Division of Social Sciences has selected Literature Professor Kimberly Lau as the new provost of College Nine and John R. Lewis College.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Community Voices Series event remembers Santa Cruz's fourth Chinatown

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

Two UC Santa Cruz scientists named 2024 Sloan Research Fellows

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

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

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

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

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

Slugs in love: Celebrating love stories from UCSC alumni

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In Memoriam: Frank Andrews, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry

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

UC Santa Cruz Physicist Joel Primack wins 2024 AAAS Abelson Prize

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

Innovation at the intersection: An alum’s trailblazing ventures in tech, film, and social change

Dr. Kortney Ryan Ziegler is an award-winning tech entrepreneur, a filmmaker and producer, a social justice advocate, and a scholar.

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

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

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

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

Commencement schedule announced

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

Update on the campus budget

Campus leadership has been involved in discussions to address a projected growing structural deficit in our core budget in a timely manner.

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

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

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

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

Breaking Records and Feeding Hope

Addressing Bias and Bigotry: Call for Ideas

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

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

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

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

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

Space Management Policy Update

March 5 is Election Day in California

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Our plans for Commencement 2024

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

Important Update on Preferred, Primary, Lived, and Legal Names in MyUCSC

We are excited to share important updates regarding the implementation plans for the UC Gender Recognition and Lived Name (GRLN) Policy announced on December 12, 2023, by CP/EVC Lori Kletzer.

Promoting safe campus transit services

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

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

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

UC Santa Cruz provides international travel support to campus community

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Renowned Sitarist Nishat Khan playing at UC Santa Cruz

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

Music Professor Russell Rodriguez wins the Américo Paredes Prize

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

Preparing for storms on Wednesday and Thursday

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

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

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

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

Demonstration at the base of campus today

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Information security statement on generative AI

Although AI offers new and powerful capabilities for research and education, it also poses a potential risk to institutional data that UC Santa Cruz is legally and ethically obligated to protect.

Section of Hagar Road closed

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

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

Innovative PET technology will enable precise multitracer imaging of the brain

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

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

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

Call for participation: Campus roads Bike and Pedestrian Safety Study

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Students search for hidden black hole activity

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

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

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

Smarter Balanced Unveils Initiative with IBM Consulting to Promote Responsible Use of AI in Educational Measurement

Today, Smarter Balanced announced a new initiative to develop measurement-focused principles and guidelines for the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in educational assessments. With experience creating scalable, trustworthy AI strategies, IBM Consulting will collaborate with Smarter Balanced to build a foundational AI framework that can help accelerate enhancements in accessibility, accuracy, and fairness while minimizing bias.

Alumni and professor authors return to UCSC

Ten alumni authors and two former professors will be featured in the Creative Writing Program’s Living Writers Reading Series in Jan. through March.

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

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

Leading the Change: Call for Interdisciplinary Proposals

I write to invite you to apply for the Leading the Change Collaborative Series. This series will support approximately two events per quarter from Spring 2024 through Winter 2025 that provide opportunities for collaborative, interdisciplinary conversations.

Training program helps prevent harassment in fieldwork environments

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

Transfer Summit will convene to discuss transfer student experience

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

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

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

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

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

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

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