October 2007 News Archive

National engineering honor society approves UCSC chapter

Tau Beta Pi, the national engineering honor society, has approved the installation of a chapter at UC Santa Cruz.

Undergraduates tailor UCSC Genome Browser to aid malaria research

UCSC undergraduates have created a genome browser for studying the malaria parasite, enabling a team of UCSC researchers to discover previously unknown genes that could help in the search for antimalarial drugs.

UCSC earns high ranking for conservation biology research

When it comes to conservation research, UCSC ranks as the fourth most productive institution in North America, according to a study published in the October issue of <i>Conservation Biology.</i>

Faculty, staff, students eligible for Arts & Lectures discounts

Ways to help families affected by Southern California fires

UCSC in the News

UCSC in the News is a weekly column summarizing prominent media placements UCSC faculty, staff, and students have received.

Safety tips from Physical Plant

With the onset of winter, be careful walking and driving around campus.

American history lecture series focuses on race, ethnicity, and gender

Race, Ethnicity & Gender in American History is the title of a lecture series sponsored by Oakes College this fall.

Traffic delays at UCSC's main entrance

The installation of storm drains for the Ranch View Terrace housing project will require road construction in the Bay/High intersection at the campus's Main Entrance. Work is slated to begin Monday, October 29, and continue weekdays through Tuesday, Novem

Support for students affected by Southern California fires

UCSC astronomer Sandra Faber and chemist Jin Zhang elected 2007 AAAS Fellows

Two UCSC scientists--Sandra Faber, University Professor and chair of astronomy and astrophysics, and Jin Zhang, professor of chemistry and biochemistry--have been honored as 2007 fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

Rainbow Theatre to perform six works in November

Chancellor encourages support for those affected by Southern California fires

I know that I speak for all of us in expressing concern and sympathy for our UC colleagues and the many others who have been affected by this week's Southern California wildfires.

Regional History Project publishes oral histories of two visionary UCSC professors

Gift from botanist Jean Langenheim establishes Endowed Chair in Plant Ecology and Evolution

UCSC has appointed Ingrid Parker, associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, to the newly established Jean H. Langenheim Endowed Chair in Plant Ecology and Evolution.

Announcing UC Open Enrollment for 2008

Information about moth spraying

Helping the ocean, one bite at a time

With the growth of an innovative program created by a pair of UC Santa Cruz graduate students, colored signs on the offerings at the fish counter are helping food shoppers combat what scientists say is one of the world's most pressing issues: the decline

Founders Day dinner last week

Researchers cite limitations of genetic ancestry tests, urge consumers to use caution

Even as consumers embrace commercial genetic ancestry tests to trace ancestral roots or fill in gaps in the family tree, a team of researchers today (Oct. 19) is urging buyers to use caution when interpreting test results.

Salaries, parking, child care are topics for Blumenthal at fall staff brown bag

Chancellor George Blumenthal updated staff on a number of ongoing campus issues and answered questions about salaries and benefits, parking costs, and child care in his first staff brown bag forum as permanent chancellor October 17.

UC Santa Cruz economists discuss global capital markets during free public workshop Nov. 9 at NASA Research Park

Four economists will discuss the implications of turmoil in global capital markets, during a free public workshop Nov. 9 at UCSC's Silicon Valley Center.

UCSC in the News

UCSC in the News is a weekly column summarizing prominent media placements UCSC faculty, staff, and students have received.

New annual tradition launched with Founders Day

More than 350 people celebrated the founding principles of UC Santa Cruz and the achievements of four outstanding individuals at a gala dinner October 18 at the Cocoanut Grove in Santa Cruz.

Resource centers join forces to build bridges

The "Building a Culture of Collaboration" resource centers cluster fair on October 17 featured speakers including Chancellor George Blumenthal and Paul Ortiz, associate professor of community studies; skits; roundtable discussions; and workshops.

UCSC professor explores Northern California's 'kitsch monuments'

Small-scale fishing in Mexico rivals industrial fisheries in accidental turtle deaths

New research shows that a small-scale Mexican fishery--operated by hand from small open boats--can kill as many critically endangered loggerhead sea turtles as all of the industrial fishing fleets in the North Pacific Ocean put together.

Arboretum director Daniel Harder advises Vietnam on plans for natural history museum

Daniel Harder, director of the UCSC Arboretum, traveled to Vietnam in September to take part in an international conference to discuss the development and planning of a museum of natural history in Ho Chi Minh City.

Join the Women at Work Retreat planning effort

The Women at Work Retreat planning team is looking for volunteers to help with fundraising and serve on planning committees.

Bioethics expert to speak on ethical, social issues

Distinguished Visiting Professor and bioethics expert Jonathan Moreno will present three lectures on ethical and social issues related to topics, including stem cell research, human experimentation and the brain.

Flu shots offered to staff and faculty

Holiday campus closure schedule

Avant-garde video-game blog earns art exhibition at UC Irvine's Beall Center

UCSC computer scientist Michael Mateas presents four works of artificial intelligence and empathy at a new art exhibit.

Film professor provides expert commentary in new box set of rare films

HP's Stanley Williams to discuss nanoscale computing at UCSC's Silicon Valley Center on October 25

R. Stanley Williams, a senior fellow at Hewlett-Packard Laboratories and founding director of HP's Quantum Science Research group, will discuss nanoscale computing in a free public lecture on Thursday, October 25.

Slug swim team braves cold, jellies in eighth annual bay crossing

Neither jellyfish nor sharks nor the stinging-cold waters of the Monterey Bay deterred the UC Santa Cruz swim team from spending a recent Sunday completing the eighth annual transbay swim--a grueling, 26-mile test of endurance the team does to raise funds

Openings in recreation classes

The Recreation Office still has openings in many activities and classes.

UCSC in the News

Craig Reinarman wrote an opinion piece for the Washington Post about a drug case before the Supreme Court . . . and more

Campus photography contest for Chancellor's holiday card

UARC team wins big at NASA Ames chili cook-off

The team from the UCSC University Affiliated Research Center took second place as the people's choice in the NASA Ames chili cook-off this year.

Controlled burns planned at Wilder Ranch

Arboretum concert series concludes with ukulele master Jake Shimabukuro

The concert series at the UCSC Arboretum concludes on October 18 with one of the world's top ukulele musicians, Jake Shimabukuro. He plays jazz, blues, funk, folk, flamenco, and rock, expanding the usual bounds of the instrument.

Four social scientists honored for teaching and research at UC Santa Cruz

Four social scientists at UC Santa Cruz were honored for teaching and research today (Thursday, October 11) during the annual fall convocation hosted by the dean of the Division of Social Sciences.

Global affairs expert to deliver UCSC's 2007 Maitra Lecture at Montalvo on Nov. 2

Discovery of retinal cell type ends four-decade search

Researchers have discovered a type of retinal cell that may help monkeys, apes, and humans see motion.

UCSC awarded $5 million grant for genome research

The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) announced a $5 million grant to UCSC as part of a four-year project to build a "parts list" of biologically functional elements in the human genome.

Lincoln Taiz named Fellow of the American Society of Plant Biologists

Lincoln Taiz, professor emeritus of molecular, cell, and developmental biology, has been named a Fellow of the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB).

Pradip Mascharak to discuss photodynamic therapy in fall Synergy Lecture

"Treating Skin Cancer with Light? Not a Fallacy Anymore!" is the title of the Fall 2007 Synergy Lecture by Pradip Mascharak, professor of chemistry and biochemistry.

Counseling and Psychological services available

Date and Location Change for Third Vice Chancellor for Information Technology Candidate Presentation

Campus honors Congressman Sam Farr for support of sustainable agriculture

UC Santa Cruz stands alone as a pioneer of sustainable agriculture, and the campus took a moment Friday afternoon to honor Congressman Sam Farr for his visionary support of its agroecology programs.

UC Santa Cruz anthropologist Nathaniel Dominy wins prestigious $625,000 Packard Fellowship

Nathaniel J. Dominy, a gifted young anthropologist at UC Santa Cruz, has received a prestigious Packard Fellowship for Science and Engineering from The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, it was announced today (Tuesday, October 9).

UCSC appoints associate vice chancellor for enrollment management

Groundbreaking celebration for new Digital Arts building set for Oct. 18

UCSC senior named women's rugby All-American

UCSC senior Amara Reddick has been named a Women's Collegiate All-American for the 2006-07 academic year by USA Rugby.

New Asian American Writers Series kicks off this month

Francis Nimmo receives Urey Prize in Planetary Science

The Division for Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society will award the 2007 Harold C. Urey Prize in Planetary Science this week to Francis Nimmo, associate professor of Earth and planetary sciences.

Shakespeare Santa Cruz names new artistic director

Getting to Know You: A UCSC computer scientist's research is laying the foundation for the next generation of personalized search engines

In October 2006, the movie rental company Netflix announced a $1 million competition to develop a better movie recommendation system. Within a week, a team led by UC Santa Cruz computer scientist Yi Zhang had already developed a computer algorithm that pe

We Are What They Ate

Nathaniel Dominy calls himself a "food guy," because he explores the diet of hominins--the early human ancestors who lived 2 million years ago.

Merrill College to host 'devastating' film on Darfur

Merrill College will host Brian Steidle, former U.S. Marine captain and author of <i>The Devil Came on Horseback - Bearing Witness to the Genocide in Darfur.</i>

UCSC professor's documentary to premiere at Mill Valley Film Festival

Scientists study tiny galaxy halfway across the universe

A tiny galaxy nearly halfway across the universe, the smallest in size and mass known to exist at that distance, has been identified and studied by an international team of over a dozen scientists, including four at UCSC.

Bright idea: Campus to give away energy-efficient lightbulbs

UCSC and PG&E are partnering to join the Energy Star Change a Light, Change the World Campaign, a movement to encourage people to help make a difference one energy-saving step at a time.

Saving Endangered Languages

On a planet that seems to be growing smaller by the day, it's surprising to discover that people still use approximately 6,500 languages for their day-to-day communication. But linguists estimate that nearly half of these will be gone within the next hund

Fall Open Staff Forum with Chancellor Blumenthal

Stem cell start-up

UC Santa Cruz's programs in biomedical research have earned the campus a major role in one of the most exciting--and controversial--new areas of science.

Composed: A professional musician thrives as a student in UCSC's graduate program in composition

This past January, the <i>San Francisco Chronicle</i> identified Sylvain Carton as the "powerhouse alto saxophone player" in one of the Bay Area's "most provocative jazz ensembles." It was richly deserved praise for the up-and-coming co-leader of the Mitc

Baskin School of Engineering will showcase faculty research projects on Friday, October 12

Research Review Day at UCSC's Baskin School of Engineering will showcase groundbreaking research by the engineering school's faculty and graduate students.

James Estes appointed interim director of STEPS Institute

Marine biologist and ecologist James Estes has been appointed interim director of the STEPS Institute for Innovation in Environmental Research at UCSC.

Follow simple tips to boost cyber security

October--also known as National Cyber Security Awareness Month--is a good time to think about how to prevent everything from identity theft to e-mail scams, according to UCSC's Information Technology Services.

Graduate and professional school fair Oct. 15

Representatives from graduate and professional school programs will be on hand to answer questions and provide information regarding their programs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, October 15, at Stevenson Event Center.

Multiwavelength images of distant universe now available on Google Sky

A massive project to map a distant region of the Universe in multiple wavelengths--from x-rays through ultraviolet, visible, infrared, and radio waves--is releasing its data this week to both fellow scientists and the general public.

Grad student works with fishermen to save sea turtles and preserve livelihoods

A unique international program has brought together fishermen from across the Pacific Ocean to brainstorm solutions that will enable them to conserve sea turtles while maintaining livelihoods and traditional fishing practices.

Police stepping up enforcement October 2

Campus police will be hosting a countywide day of stepped-up enforcement of traffic laws throughout campus on Tuesday, October 2.

Regents Scholars, Pister Fellows welcomed

New Regent's Scholars and Karl S. Pister Leadership Fellows were welcomed by continuing Regent's Scholars, deans, provosts, faculty mentors, and staff at a luncheon hosted by the Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education William Ladusaw on Septembe

Three-way mating game of North American lizard found in distant European relative

New findings suggest "rock-paper-scissors" dynamic may be a fundamental evolutionary pattern among social animals.

Annual Computer Security Reminder