Parent & Family News

UC Santa Cruz recognized as a 2024 ALL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting

The University of California, Santa Cruz has been named a 2024 ALL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting, an honor awarded to 471 colleges and universities across the country for their efforts to increase nonpartisan democratic engagement.

UC Santa Cruz innovators recognized for impact at 2024 Santa Cruz Works Titans Awards

Two UC Santa Cruz faculty members, Richard (Ed) Green and Chris Benner, have been selected as awardees for the eighth annual Santa Cruz Works Titans Awards

Genomics Institute faculty and staff help create non-profit to center Indigenous Knowledge while accelerating conservation genomics research

Several current and former UC Santa Cruz faculty and staff have joined with leading experts in the field of conservation genomics to launch Wise Ancestors, a non-profit centering Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities as co-creators of biodiversity conservation projects

24 in 2024: list of most highly cited researchers includes UC Santa Cruz scientists and engineers

In a notable recognition of scholarly achievement, 24 scientists and engineers from UC Santa Cruz have earned a spot on the 2024 Highly Cited Researchers list, recently unveiled by Clarivate.

After 50 successful years, Feminist Studies faculty vote to disestablish the formal department, making way for more wide-ranging feminist scholarship across campus

Feminist Studies faculty and staff are committed to helping current students enrolled in the department's programs earn their degrees

2024 iGEM team’s foundational science project tackles infant formula affordability

The 2024 UC Santa Cruz iGEM team won a silver medal at the international Jamboree for a project focused on addressing the high cost of infant formula through a foundational synthetic biology approach.

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.

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.

Bringing Broadway to Santa Cruz with ‘Into the Woods’

Sheila Willey, a lecturer in voice and opera in the Music department, is bringing Broadway to Santa Cruz. Into the Woods is a three-time, Tony Award-winning Stephen Sondheim musical, and it’s coming to campus. This 75-minute production will feature lead staff accompanist Luke Shepherd along with a cast of students.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Timely Warning Crime Bulletin: Burglary

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

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.

New AI-driven multimedia lab bridges art and technology

This year the UC Santa Cruz Art Division is introducing a state-of-the-art AI multimedia lab. The Ai Art Augmentation and Acceleration Lab, also known as A4, is aimed at assisting students across the Arts Division and includes $50,000 dollars worth of state-of-the-art equipment.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Students fired up for Downtown Day

As the fall 2024 quarter begins, students wrapped up Welcome Week with Downtown Day, presented by campus and business leaders to connect students with downtown Santa Cruz businesses and job opportunities.

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.

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.

"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.

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.

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.

UC Santa Cruz receives funding to continue undergraduate STEM diversity program

UC Santa Cruz has secured funding to support 100 students in completing bachelor's degrees in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) through the California Alliance for Minority Participation (CAMP)—a program that has helped more than 300 students from historically underrepresented backgrounds earn undergraduate STEM degrees from the university over the past two decades.

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.

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.

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

I am delighted to share some wonderful news about the establishment of a new scholarship at UC Santa Cruz that will transform the lives of hundreds of our students.

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.

Building community, empowering students

UCSC parent Kayleen Maya brings families together to create care packages, offering students support and a sense of community.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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. 

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.

Congratulations to the Class of 2024!

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

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Fashion, community, and academics: First-gen student Izzy Zazueta’s path to graduation

Izzy Zazueta (John R. Lewis ’24, politics), a third year, dean’s honors, and first-generation student, will graduate from UCSC with extensive research experience, involvement with nearly a dozen organizations, and will be attending the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Sociology Ph.D. program.

First-gen student Renata Lopez reflects on community, career, and graduation

First-generation student Renata Lopez (Oakes ‘24, computer science) talks about finding her community with Chicanx and Latinx Resource Center, El Centro, and post-graduation plans.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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. 

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Diana Hernandez: From Hartnell College to UC Santa Cruz

Meet Diana Hernandez, a student parent who transferred to UC Santa Cruz from Hartnell College. Diana is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in literature, psychology, and Latin American and Latino Studies. In this Q&A, she discusses how she balances academics and parenting while staying involved in research and the Student Parent Organization on campus.

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.

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.

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.

‘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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Net wins

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

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.

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.

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.

Slugs in love: Celebrating love stories from UCSC alumni

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

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

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Plan for Summer this Winter

UC Santa Cruz Summer Session offers courses spanning various disciplines each summer. The various sessions run from June 24 through August 30 and attract a diverse community of continuing students, visitors, and high school students. Explore the available summer courses at summer.ucsc.edu now and prepare for open enrollment starting on May 1.

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.