September 2008 News Archive

Alumnus Brent Constantz aims to reverse global warming with "green cement"

Alumnus Brent Constantz has a new venture--green cement--and like his highly successful invention of a paste for healing broken bones, it was inspired by his thesis research on coral reefs.

Election 2008

UCSC experts go beyond "red state/blue state" rhetoric to shine a spotlight on critical issues that need airing during the presidential campaign.

Potential traffic delays on and off campus during early October

UCSC in the News

<i>BusinessWeek</i> featured a Q & A with economist Rob Fairlie about the barriers blacks and Latinos face starting their own businesses and making them succeed.

Baskin School of Engineering will showcase faculty research on Friday, October 17

Advances in sustainable energy, information systems, DNA sequencing, and video-game design are among the highlighted topics in a day of UCSC engineering faculty presentations.

Defusing the nuclear threat will be topic of 2008 Maitra Lecture on Saturday, October 18

Martin Hellman, an eminent engineer whose latest project focuses on reducing the risk of nuclear war, will give the eighth annual Sidhartha Maitra Memorial Lecture on Saturday, October 18.

Mr. President . . .

The 44th president will have tremendous challenges before him. UCSC experts offer their advice on topics ranging from education to climate change.

Media Advisory: Statement from Chancellor Blumenthal in response to adoption of AB 2296

Washington Mutual bank information

Letters to the Editor

Shakespeare Santa Cruz wraps up successful season

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month

Information Technology Services (ITS) provides cyber security tips about email scams and passwords.

Settlement provides $457,000 in financial aid for students in computer game design major

Students at UC Santa Cruz majoring in computer game design are the lucky beneficiaries of a settlement reached in a class action lawsuit involving video gaming employees at Sony.

UCSC named campus with 'greenest cafeterias'

UC Santa Cruz has been named the campus with the "greenest cafeterias" in a survey published by Plenty magazine.

Biologist Marm Kilpatrick honored by American Ornithologists' Union

The American Ornithologists' Union has awarded its Ned K. Johnson Young Investigator Award for 2008 to UCSC biologist A. Marm Kilpatrick.

Draft UC accountability framework released for review

The new UC accountability framework, initiated by President Mark G. Yudof and presented to the Board of Regents in draft form on Sept. 21, 2008, is the first attempt to comprehensively assess and share the University's progress in meeting key teaching, re

In Memoriam: Office of Cashier Manager Andy Vasquez

Students move in, parents say goodbye

UCSC's new freshman class, which is projected to include about 3,850 students, began the process of moving away from home, hauling their stuff into dorm rooms, meeting new roommates, getting acquainted with the campus, and spreading their wings.

Campus provost writes about approved state budget

And Trevor makes four! All four Sughrue kids choose UCSC

Trevor Sughrue is following in the footsteps of his three older siblings and enrolling at UCSC this fall.

Campus contributes to Bay Street project

Nancy Cox-Konopelski honored by Santa Cruz County Women's Commission

Nancy Cox-Konopelski, director of UCSC's Academic Excellence (ACE) Program, was honored by the Santa Cruz County Women's Commission at an awards ceremony on Saturday, September 20, in Watsonville.

UCSC in the News

Water expert Brent Haddad of environmental studies was featured in a <b><i>New York Times Magazine</i></b> article about water reuse, and more.

Catch UCSC prof's awardwinning film on PBS this month

The film <i>Calavera Highway</i>, an award-winning saga of a Mexican American family, debuts on public television this month.

UCSC wins NSF grant to train more math and science teachers

Regional schools in need of qualified math and science teachers will benefit from a $750,000 grant to UCSC from the National Science Foundation's Robert Noyce Teacher Scholars Program.

Valley networks on Mars formed during long period of episodic flooding, study finds

A new study suggests that ancient features on the surface of Mars called valley networks were carved by recurrent floods during a long period when the martian climate may have been much like that of some arid or semi-arid regions on Earth.

Native of East Los Angeles marvels at opportunities in Washington, D.C.

As part of a prestigious fellowship, undergraduate Angel Martinez spent 10 weeks this spring and summer learning about health policy in Washington, D.C.

Robin Toma: executive director of Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission

UCSC graduate Robin Toma says the values of social justice and equality he gained at Santa Cruz have guided his decisions and shaped his life's work.

Campus traffic rerouted to help students during 'Move-in' weekend

Campus traffic being redirected to help students move in

Grant provides funds for high-throughput DNA sequencer

UCSC scientists will be able to sequence DNA using next-generation high-throughput instrumentation, thanks to new funding from the California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences.

Catherine Cooper honored for contributions to field of human development

Psychology professor Catherine Cooper traveled this summer to Germany, where she was honored for her contributions to the field of human development.

Bay Street Repaving Progress

Getting ready for the new academic year: facts & figures

UCSC students began moving into university housing on Friday, September 19, in anticipation of the 2008-09 school year. The first day of instruction in the fall quarter is Thursday, September 25. The fall-quarter "move-in" for students living on campus wa

Private donors step forward; giving up by 25 percent

Private donors gave $31.6 million to UC Santa Cruz during the 2007-08 academic year, a 25 percent increase over the previous year.

Slug tennis nets awards

Slug tennis received team and player awards when the Intercollegiate Tennis Association announced its 2008 ITA All-Academic Teams and Scholar-Athletes.

Chancellor provides progress report at Partners in Community event

UC Santa Cruz achieved a number of significant milestones during the last academic year and is poised to continue that progress in the coming year, Chancellor George Blumenthal reported at the second annual Partners in Community event, held last wee

Arts Leadership

Iterim leadership for the Arts Division

Preview Day is Saturday, October 11

Helping minority entrepreneurs succeed would reduce wealth inequality, economist says

African Americans aren't getting the same boost from self-employment that Asians and whites enjoy, and the racial disparities demand new policy initiatives, says economist Robert Fairlie.

Student Union Assembly wants to get out the vote

The Student Union Assembly (SUA), together with a coalition of other organizations, has embarked upon its annual voter registration drive.

Alumnus Joseph DeRisi wins $250,000 Heinz Award

UCSC alumnus Joseph DeRisi, whose breakthrough creation of a viral detection platform for malaria and other infectious diseases has helped advance biomedicine's ability to detect both existing and new viruses, has been selected to receive the 14th annual

Bay Street Repaving

Researchers attract record $131 million in funding in 2007-08

UCSC researchers attracted a record $131 million in external grants and contracts to the campus in the 2007-08 fiscal year.

Mr. President . . .

Pharmacy offering free disposal of medicines and sharps

The UCSC Student Health Center Pharmacy can now provide safe and free disposal of personal unused and expired medications as well as household sharps, such as needles, lancets, and scalpels.

Student Health Center Closure on September 17, 2008

Linguistics professor receives grant to help preserve endangered language

UCSC professor of linguistics Sandra Chung has been awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation for a collaborative project to help preserve the endangered Chamorro language.

Bay Street Closure

Bay Street Now Open

UCSC art professor presents exhibit in subways and galleries of Japan

"Are We There Yet?" is the title of UCSC assistant art professor Dee Hibbert-Jones' new public artwork and interactive sound installation--on exhibit in Japan throughout September.

UC Santa Cruz team developing a high-tech dictionary for the classroom

Dictionaries in the classroom may go the way of typewriters if researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, have their way.

UCSC plant sale kicks off fall gardening season

UCSC's annual plant sale to take place September 12-13, 2008.

NSF grant provides scholarships for UC Santa Cruz engineering students

A new scholarship program will provide financial and academic support for students in the Baskin School of Engineering, thanks to a $600,000 grant from the National Science Foundation.