Awards and Honors

Math professor Alexander Gamburd wins Presidential Early Career Award

Alexander Gamburd, professor of mathematics at UCSC, has won a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the White House announced today.

Three UCSC professors elected AAAS Fellows

Three UCSC professors have been awarded the distinction of AAAS Fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Griggs, Reguerin named Community Heroes for 2008

Gary Griggs, director of UCSC's Institute for Marine Sciences, and Pablo Reguerin, deputy director of the Educational Partnership Center, have been named Community Heroes for 2008 by the Community Assessment Project of the United Way of Santa Cruz County.

Astronomy professor Douglas Lin receives Outstanding Faculty Award

The Division of Physical and Biological Sciences has given its 2007-08 Outstanding Faculty Award to Douglas Lin, professor of astronomy and astrophysics.

Biologists John and Vicki Pearse receive Lifetime Achievement Award

The Western Society of Naturalists has awarded its 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award to UCSC biologists John and Vicki Pearse.

UCSC earns top ranking for scientific impact of astronomy research

UCSC is the top-ranking university in the country for the quality of its research in astronomy and astrophysics, according to a new analysis of papers published in scientific journals and how often those papers are cited by other scientists.

Humanities dean receives award in Brussels

Georges Van Den Abbeele, dean of humanities, has been awarded the 2008 Blaise Pascal Medal for Social Sciences by the European Academy of Sciences. He received his award on Friday, November 7, in Brussels.

New Humanities building wins award

Hacker Associates AIA, the architectural firm UCSC collaborated with to create the Humanities buildings, was selected for a Merit Award by the Portland AIA for the campus's Humanities building complex.

Princeton awards Madison Medal to astronomer Claire Max

Princeton University will present the James Madison Medal, one of its top honors for alumni, to Claire Max, a professor of astronomy and astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz who has developed techniques to enable astronomers to more clearly observe the universe.

Earth scientist Gregory Rau is finalist for ConocoPhillips Energy Prize

Gregory Rau, a senior researcher at UCSC's Institute of Marine Sciences, was chosen as a finalist for the ConocoPhillips Energy Prize for his energy and carbon management proposal.

Biologist Daniel Costa appointed to Ida Benson Lynn Endowed Chair in Ocean Health

Daniel Costa is a leading authority on marine mammals, seabirds, and the impacts of humans on marine environments. His appointment to the Ida Benson Lynn Endowed Chair in Ocean Health recognizes Costa's important contributions in these areas and provides

Biologist John Thompson honored for contributions to ecology

John Thompson, Distinguished Professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, will receive the 2009 Per Brinck Oikos Award for contributions to the science of ecology.

Astrophysicist Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz wins prestigious Packard Fellowship

Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz, an assistant professor of astronomy and astrophysics, is the ninth young scientist at UCSC to receive a prestigious Packard Fellowship for Science and Engineering.

Physicists Sriram Shastry and Peter Young honored by American Physical Society

The American Physical Society has awarded two of its annual prizes to physics professors at UC Santa Cruz.

Four social scientists honored for teaching and research

Four social scientists were honored for teaching and research today (Tuesday, October 7) during the annual fall convocation hosted by the dean of the Division of Social Sciences.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

UCSC grad student receives Princess Grace award

UCSC graduate student Kimberly Bautista has been awarded a 2008 Princess Grace Honorarium. She is one of 44 recipients across the country who were recognized for distinction in the fields of theater, dance and film.

Two UCSC professors receive prestigious Humboldt Research Awards

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation has chosen Robert Coe and James Zachos, both professors of Earth and planetary sciences at UC Santa Cruz, to receive Humboldt Research Awards this year.

Health sciences grad awarded $10,000 scholarship for medical school

Sutter Maternity and Surgery Center has named Russell Witt, a June 2008 graduate of the Health Sciences Program at UCSC, as the recipient of this year's Primary Care Physician Award.

UCSC biochemist Seth Rubin named Pew Scholar in Biomedical Sciences

The Pew Charitable Trusts has named Seth Rubin, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry, a Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences.

Psychology professor M. Brewster Smith receives 2008 award for professional contributions

M. Brewster Smith, professor emeritus of psychology, has received the 2008 award for Distinguished Theoretical and Philosophical Contributions to Psychology from a division of the American Psychological Association (APA).

UC Santa Cruz awards $20,000 Pister scholarships to 11 community college transfer students

The University of California, Santa Cruz, has awarded scholarships to 11 community college transfer students who will enroll at UCSC this fall as recipients of Karl S. Pister Leadership Opportunity Awards.

UCSC Arboretum earns nonprofit of the year award

The Chuck Haugen Conservation Fund (CHCF) has selected the UCSC Arboretum for its 2008 Nonprofit of the Year Award.

Three UCSC graduate students win big grants for biotechnology research

Three UCSC graduate students have been selected to receive training grants intended to hasten innovations in a variety of biotechnology-related fields. The two-year grants provide $50,000 per year for each student.

UCSC humanities dean wins international award

Georges Van Den Abbeele, dean of humanities at the University of California, Santa Cruz, has been awarded the 2008 Blaise Pascal Medal for Social Sciences by the European Academy of Sciences.

Chancellor conveys awards for achievements in diversity

Four individuals and two campus units were honored for their efforts in supporting and increasing diversity at UC Santa Cruz. Chancellor George Blumenthal conveyed the awards during a luncheon May 21 at University House.

UC Santa Cruz research team earns NASA award

The outstanding performance of the University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) will soon be recognized with a prestigious NASA Public Service Group Achievement Award.

UCSC alumnus wins annual student-journalism award from Chronicle of Higher Education

Sam Laird--a 2007 UCSC graduate with a degree in American Studies--has been awarded the fifth annual "David W. Miller Award for Student Journalists" by the <i>Chronicle of Higher Education</i>. Laird received the $2,500 prize for three articles he had pu

Sharon Daniel honored by Tribeca Film Institute for artistic excellence

EPA names UC Santa Cruz sixth-largest campus purchaser of 'green power' for second year in a row

For the second year in a row, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has identified the University of California, Santa Cruz, as the sixth-largest campus purchaser of "green power" in the country.

Two UCSC humanities professors win President's Research Fellowships

Two UC Santa Cruz professors have won UC President's Research Fellowships in the Humanities. Noriko Aso, assistant professor of history, and John Bowin, assistant professor of philosophy, are among 15 fellows selected for 2008-2009.

Two UCSC faculty members elected to prestigious academic societies

Renee Tajima-Peña's film wins documentary prize at film festival, premieres May 4

Renee Tajima-Peña's film <i>Calavera Highway</i>, named the best television documentary by the San Francisco International Film Festival, will premiere during the festival on Sunday, May 4, at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas.

Three environmental studies graduate students win Fulbright Awards

Environmental studies graduate students Timothy Krupnik, Michelle Olsgard, and Anna Zivian have received 2008-2009 Fulbright Awards that will help fund their overseas research.

Research on optical data transmission earns best paper award

A research project that grew out of an international exchange program at UCSC's Baskin School of Engineering won the Best Paper Award at a recent conference.

David Haussler honored by International Society for Computational Biology

The International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB) has awarded its Senior Scientist Accomplishment Award to David Haussler, professor of biomolecular engineering in the Baskin School of Engineering at UCSC.

IMS researcher Adina Paytan appointed Ocean Leadership Distinguished Lecturer

Adina Paytan, an associate research professor in UCSC's Institute of Marine Sciences, has been appointed as a 2008-09 Ocean Leadership Distinguished Lecturer.

Social psychologist Thomas Pettigrew receives faculty award from Division of Social Sciences

Social psychologist Thomas Pettigrew's pathbreaking research on racism has earned him international honors as well as the admiration of his peers at UC Santa Cruz, who have named him the recipient of the 2008 Distinguished Social Sciences Emeriti Faculty

UCSC computer scientist Phokion Kolaitis earns 'Test-of-Time' award

Phokion Kolaitis, professor of computer science at UCSC, published a paper in 1998 that has now been recognized as a major influence in the field of database systems.

UC Santa Cruz honors Joseph Berney with Distinguished Social Sciences Alumni Award

Innovative educator and social justice advocate Joseph Berney has received the 2008 Distinguished Social Sciences Alumni Award from the Division of Social Sciences at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Felicia Rice honored with Rydell Visual Arts Fellowship

Professor honored by Society for American Music

Alumna Dana Priest wins major journalism award for Walter Reed exposé

Pulitzer Prize-winning <i>Washington Post</i> reporter Dana Priest (B.A. politics, 1981) and her colleague Anne Hull have won the prestigious 2008 Selden Ring award for their exposé of deplorable conditions at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Earth scientist James Zachos elected fellow of the American Geophysical Union

James Zachos, professor of Earth and planetary sciences at UCSC, has been elected a fellow of the American Geophysical Union (AGU).

Ocean scientist Mary Silver to give Rachel Louise Carson Lecture at AGU meeting

Mary Silver, professor of ocean sciences at UCSC, has been chosen to give the Rachel Louise Carson Lecture at the Spring American Geophysical Union Joint Assembly in May.

John Mock receives grant to document traditions in Afghanistan

Judith Aissen named Fellow of Linguistic Society of America

Graduate student's film featured at Sundance Film Festival

Documentary filmmaker Tadashi Nakamura can't wait to see his film screened at the Sundance Film Festival. He just wishes he could get his hands on enough tickets for all his friends and family.

Nobuhiko Kobayashi wins Best Paper Award from International Association of Engineers

A research paper by Nobuhiko Kobayashi, an associate professor of electrical engineering, was selected for the Best Paper Award of the International Conference on Chemical Engineering 2007.