Home / 2012

2012 University News

January 07, 2013
Type and literature and poetry
UCSC's Cowell Press, a decades-old program, uses hands-on creativity to teach students the traditional arts of typography and printing.
December 21, 2012
UCSC astronomer Sandra Faber to receive the National Medal of Science
The White House announced Friday, December 21, that UC Santa Cruz faculty member Sandra Faber is one of a dozen eminent researchers selected to receive the National Medal of Science.
December 18, 2012
Closest single star like our Sun may have a habitable planet
An international team of astronomers has found that Tau Ceti, one of the closest and most Sun-like stars, may host five planets.
December 18, 2012
Brenda Romero named first game designer in residence at UC Santa Cruz
The Center for Games and Playable Media has appointed Brenda Romero (formerly Brenda Brathwaite) as a game designer in residence.
December 17, 2012
Top physicists gather at UCSC to honor Michael Dine and Howard Haber
UCSC physicists Michael Dine and Howard Haber are being honored for their contributions to theoretical high-energy physics.
December 17, 2012
Robotics project aims to develop systems for human-robot collaboration
$3.5 million NSF-funded project will use open-source robotic surgery platform developed at UCSC and UW.
December 11, 2012
Year of the Slug: A look back at 2012 at UC Santa Cruz
Higgs boson, condors, pumas, the Grateful Dead Archive … 2012 was yet another year of discoveries, breakthroughs, newsmakers, and honors for UC Santa Cruz. Here’s a look back at a few highlights of the year at UCSC.
December 10, 2012
Tracking pumas
UCSC students get first-hand scientific experience while monitoring the elusive big cats as part of the Puma Project.
December 10, 2012
The UCSC-Dave Brubeck connection
In the early '80s, jazz great Dave Brubeck slipped onto the UC Santa Cruz campus for a visit that would remain a nearly invisible slice of university history—until the pianist and composer's recent death.
December 10, 2012
ARPA-E grant supports UCSC research on high-power solar energy
UCSC leads research on the development of an innovative optical device for harvesting concentrated sunlight into an optical fiber.
December 07, 2012
Physicist Tesla Jeltema honored by Silicon Valley Business Journal
Physicist Tesla Jeltema is among 40 accomplished people under the age of 40 recognized this year by the Silicon Valley Business Journal.
December 07, 2012
UCSC graduate killed during tour of duty in Afghanistan
A weekend memorial is scheduled for Kevin Ebbert, a UCSC graduate and U.S. Navy SEAL, who was killed in Afghanistan late last month.
December 06, 2012
UCSC alumna wins 2012 HBO/NALIP Documentary Filmmaker Award
Kimberly Bautista--a 2009 graduate of the Social Documentation Program at UC Santa Cruz--has been named the winner of the 2012 HBO and National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) Documentary Film Award.
December 06, 2012
Working with families and students to create college-going communities
For some it was the distance from home, others the redwoods, and still others the chance to work in computer game design. Tuesday, 15 UC Santa Cruz students, all graduates of San Fernando High School, had the chance to tell one of the people responsible for their matriculation how they ended up at UCSC.
December 06, 2012
Insect-eating bat outperforms nectar specialist as pollinator of cactus flowers
Surprising study of bats that pollinate cactus flowers sheds light on coevolution of plants and pollinators.
December 04, 2012
UCSC sanitation activist speaks at World Toilet Summit in South Africa
A UC Santa Cruz Ph.D candidate in sociology and public toilet activist is scheduled to deliver a plenary session Thursday at the 12th World Toilet Summit in Durban, South Africa.
December 04, 2012
Mercury in coastal fog linked to upwelling of deep ocean water
Scientists have found clues to how mercury gets into coastal fog in California.
December 04, 2012
New literary magazine inspired by UCSC past and present
Beautifully and elegantly designed with an impressive array of fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry and art, Catamaran is a new literary magazine headquartered in downtown Santa Cruz.
November 30, 2012
In memoriam: Don Rothman, beloved teacher of writing
Don Rothman, a leading voice for writers and writing during a distinguished 39-year career at UC Santa Cruz, died in his sleep Wednesday night at his Santa Cruz home. He was 67.
November 30, 2012
Emerging vector-borne diseases create new public health challenges
Land-use change, globalization of trade and travel, and social upheaval are driving the emergence of diseases in many regions.
November 29, 2012
Two UCSC professors elected 2012 AAAS Fellows
Chemistry professor Ilan Benjamin and linguistics professor Sandra Chung were elected AAAS Fellows.
November 28, 2012
Scientists develop new approach to support climate projections
A recalibration of climate sensitivity based on records of past climates agrees with IPCC estimates for the future.
November 27, 2012
Philosophy Dept. to host state regional ‘Ethics Bowl’ at UCSC
California college students will compete on December 1 in a state regional Ethics Bowl tournament, hosted for the very first time on the UC Santa Cruz campus by the Philosophy Department.
November 27, 2012
Biologist Susan Strome wins Ellison Medical Foundation grant
The Ellison Medical Foundation has selected biologist Susan Strome as a Senior Scholar in Aging, providing $600,000 over four years to support her research.
November 26, 2012
BioMAP screening procedure could streamline search for new antibiotics
UCSC researchers have developed a new strategy for screening libraries of natural product extracts to find novel antibiotics.
November 21, 2012
Members of UCSC community among those to be honored by Chamber of Commerce
A number of people with UCSC connections will be recognized at the November 30 Chamber of Commerce ceremony.
November 21, 2012
Alison Galloway addresses budget challenges at web-streamed forum
While expressing gratitude and relief about the passage of Proposition 30, Campus Provost/Executive Vice Chancellor Alison Galloway spoke of the significant budget challenges the campus still faces during a web-streamed forum with the campus community last week.
November 20, 2012
A Night of Poetry and Music with M. NourbeSe Philip
The UC Presidential Chair in Feminist Critical Race and Ethnic Studies presents an evening with acclaimed poet, writer, and lawyer M. NourbeSe Philip, accompanied by a jazz duo led by UCSC music professor Karlton Hester.
November 19, 2012
Gift from Narinder Kapany establishes endowed chair in entrepreneurship
Narinder Singh Kapany has made a gift of $500,000 to UCSC to establish an endowed chair in entrepreneurship.
November 16, 2012
Biologist Pete Raimondi receives Outstanding Faculty Award
Biologist Pete Raimondi has received the 2011-12 Outstanding Faculty Award from the Division of Physical and Biological Sciences.
November 16, 2012
Techonomy 2012: David Haussler and the 'digital battlefront' against cancer
David Haussler, director of the Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering at UC Santa Cruz, spoke eloquently about the front lines of cancer research at the prestigious Techonomy 2012 conference in Tucson, Ariz.
November 15, 2012
Three environmental studies grad students win sustainable ag awards
Three UC Santa Cruz environmental studies graduate students are among 16 students nationwide awarded sustainable agriculture scholarships from Annie's Homegrown Inc., a natural foods manufacturer and distributor.
November 15, 2012
History grad student to study in Japan on Fulbright-Hays fellowship
Dustin Wright, a Ph.D. student in the UCSC History Department, has received a $43,800 Fulbright-Hays doctoral fellowship to pursue research in Japan.
November 14, 2012
Cowell alum elected president of the California Psychological Association
Robert deMayo (Cowell, psychology, '78) has been elected president of the California Psychological Association, one of the largest professional associations representing psychologists in the nation.
November 13, 2012
Got game: UCSC student holds astonishing college basketball scoring record
In 1986, a 5-foot-11 junior from UC Santa Cruz became the NCAA's lead scorer. John Saintignon beat out bigger and better-known players like UCLA's Reggie Miller and All-American Len Bias. He edged out hundreds of Division I and Division II players, and became the only Banana Slug before or since to hold the title.
November 09, 2012
UCSC event to reflect on cultural tolerance in wake of tragic shooting at Sikh Temple
Last August, a lone gunman opened fire at a Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, killing six people and wounding four others. On November 15, UCSC will present a panel discussion and dinner to explore what can be learned from the Wisconsin tragedy.
November 08, 2012
Shakespeare Santa Cruz holiday show opens Nov. 16
Shakespeare Santa Cruz and the UCSC Theater Arts Department kick off their 14th annual holiday co-production on November 16 with Honk!--a musical re-telling of “The Ugly Duckling” by Hans Christian Andersen.
November 07, 2012
New super-Earth planet found in habitable zone of six-planet system
An international team of astronomers has discovered a new super-Earth planet in the habitable zone of a nearby star.
November 07, 2012
UCSC Arboretum holds annual Gift and Wreath Sale on Nov. 17 and 18
Holiday decorations and gifts will be available from the UCSC Arboretum at the annual Gift and Wreath Sale.
November 05, 2012
UCSC celebrates launch of new Ph.D. program in Feminist Studies
The UC Santa Cruz Feminist Studies Department officially celebrated the launch of its long-awaited Ph.D.program with a kick-off reception at the Chancellor’s house.
November 02, 2012
Chancellor cites student experience as top priority during staff forum
Chancellor George Blumenthal said his top priority at UC Santa Cruz remains the student experience in the face of existing budget cuts and an uncertain financial future.
November 02, 2012
American Mathematical Society honors three UCSC professors
Three UCSC professors have been named Fellows of the American Mathematical Society.
November 02, 2012
UCSC engineers tackle big data
Big data projects include energy-aware storage, efficient data processing, proactive information retrieval, and cancer genomics.
November 01, 2012
Deep learning
UCSC's scientific diving program provides crucial training for students who want to work in marine science fields
October 30, 2012
Early Education Services wins funding to expand hours, services for students
A $165,000 grant to Early Education Services at UC Santa Cruz has enabled the program to extend childcare hours for students' children and provide an observation room for developmental psychology research.
October 30, 2012
CASFS hosts author Michael Pollan before Santa Cruz benefit appearance
Author and UC Berkeley journalism professor Michael Pollan visited the UC Santa Cruz Farm on October 25 before taking part in the "Everybody Eats" benefit panel discussion later that evening at Santa Cruz High School.
October 30, 2012
Rainbow Theater kicks off its fall season on November 1
UCSC's renowned Rainbow Theater kicks off its 19th season of productions on November 1 at the Stevenson Event Center.
October 29, 2012
Image of hand shows progress toward proton radiography
Researchers developing a new medical imaging technology that uses protons instead of x-rays presented the first proton radiographic image of a hand.
October 26, 2012
UCSC's United Way Campaign: November 1–15
In the next few weeks, we have an opportunity to reach out to those in need of our help and make a difference in their lives through an annual gift to the United Way.
October 24, 2012
UCSC grad students launch cancer genomics company in Santa Cruz
The cofounders of Five3 Genomics, a new biotech company based in Santa Cruz, are former graduate students in the Baskin School of Engineering. Five3 Genomics offers genomics software and services for personalized cancer therapy
October 23, 2012
Interdisciplinary conference focuses on development and climate change
Conflicts between development and climate change will bring together researchers and practitioners in both areas for an all-day conference at UC Santa Cruz on Saturday, October 27.
October 23, 2012
ARCS Foundation scholarships support UCSC graduate students
Eight UC Santa Cruz graduate students have received scholarships worth a total of $80,000 from the ARCS Foundation this year.
October 19, 2012
Astronomers uncover a surprising trend in galaxy evolution
A comprehensive study of hundreds of galaxies has revealed an unexpected pattern of change that extends back 8 billion years.
October 17, 2012
Giant impact scenario may explain the unusual moons of Saturn
The middle-sized moons of Saturn may have been spawned during giant impacts in which several major satellites merged to form Titan.
October 16, 2012
UCSC professor premieres explosive documentary at Pacific Rim Festival
“The very first day of shooting the film there was a huge explosion,” said Gustavo Vazquez, UCSC professor of Film and Digital Media. Vazquez was high up in the Peruvian Andes filming "Playing with Fire," a kaleidoscopic portrait of the small town of Celendín...
October 16, 2012
Extraordinary achievement, social consciousness celebrated at gala event
Honorees of 6th annual Founders Celebration Dinner share one of UCSC's core goals: 'Leaving the world a better place'
October 16, 2012
Astronomer boldly addresses big issues in the cosmos
UK's Astronomer Royal Martin Rees discusses space and humankind's stewardship of our 'precious, pale-blue dot' at sixth annual Foundation Forum.
October 12, 2012
10th Practical Activism Conference coincides with College Ten's 10th anniversary
Angela Davis, UC Santa Cruz distinguished professor emerita, will be the keynote speaker at the 10th Practical Activism Conference Saturday, October 20 at Colleges Nine and Ten on the UCSC campus.
October 11, 2012
UCSC to host free public conference exploring philosophy in multicultural context
Is philosophical inquiry bound by history, geography or culture? Should the philosopher be responsible to the public? On October 20, UCSC will host a free public conference examining the relationship between philosophy and its multicultural context.
October 10, 2012
Forums, web pages explore candidates, issues as election approaches
With the state and national election less than four weeks away, several election forums and events are scheduled at UC Santa Cruz. In addition, the campus has prepared a comprehensive web page with information on candidates, state ballot initiatives, and deadlines for registering to vote.
October 10, 2012
UCSC chemist develops spray to detect poison oak's toxic oil
Researchers have developed a spray that can be used to detect poison oak's toxic oil on clothes and equipment, and potentially on skin.
October 09, 2012
Award-winning UCSC alumna celebrates publication of new memoir
After two acclaimed novels about the Mexican immigrant experience, UCSC alumna Reyna Grande is now celebrating the release of her new memoir--"The Distance Between Us"--with a reading at Bookshop Santa Cruz on Oct. 14.
October 09, 2012
Prostate cancer 'Dream Team' includes UCSC bioinformatics experts
Biomolecular engineer Joshua Stuart is part of a new "Dream Team" of cancer researchers working to develop personalized treatments for advanced prostate cancer.
October 09, 2012
Private giving climbs 9.4 percent at UCSC; alumni giving nearly triples
Private donors gave nearly $24 million in gifts and pledges to support UC Santa Cruz in fiscal year 2011-2012, an increase of 9.4 percent from the previous year. Alumni giving roughly tripled -- from $2.5 million to $7.3 million, and alumni giving increased from 11 percent of the total to 30 percent.
October 05, 2012
Terry Freitas Café honors memory of inspirational young alumnus
Café Revolucion has been rededicated as the Terry Freitas Café, commemorating a UCSC grad who died while in service to an indigenous people.
October 05, 2012
UCSC ranked second for research influence in world university rankings
In a new analysis of the world's top universities, UC Santa Cruz is ranked second in research influence.
October 03, 2012
UCSC alumna thrives promoting arts and humanities in Obama White House
“I often say, only partly facetiously, that I have the best job in Washington D.C.,” notes UC Santa Cruz alumna Rachel Goslins, executive director of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, an advisory committee to the White House on cultural issues.
October 03, 2012
Virtual anthropology uses digital copies to increase access for students
The trouble with working with bone fragments in an anthropology lab is they're often fragile and always one of a kind. What if you could create identical copies, enough for each student?
October 03, 2012
UCSC awarded $4.5 million NSF grant for renewable energy research and education
UCSC leads a cooperative research and education program on renewable energy involving universities in the United States and Denmark.
October 03, 2012
Arboretum's fall plant sale on Saturday, Oct. 13, features beautiful plants from around the world
The annual sale features an unusual selection of native and non-native species chosen to thrive in local gardens.
October 02, 2012
Baskin School of Engineering showcases research advances on Oct. 18
Big data, biomedical metrology, and human-centered robotics and computing are featured topics at the annual Research Review Day.
October 02, 2012
Onward California Tour touches down at UCSC
Throngs of UCSC students flocked to Quarry Plaza on Tuesday, braving high temperatures and cooling off with free ice cream during the Onward California Tour’s stopover on campus.
October 01, 2012
UCSC and Cabrillo music faculty collaborate for ‘Women Over the Edge’
The UCSC Arts Division’s first concert of the academic year kicks off on October 19 with "Women Over the Edge," an evening of song that deliberately blurs the boundaries between classical and popular music.
September 28, 2012
Shakespeare performance to benefit education and intern programs, Oct. 14
How does a 24 year-old fisherman with a thick New York accent become a Shakespearean actor? You can find out at Shakespeare Santa Cruz’s third annual fall benefit show--supporting the company’s education and internship programs—on Sunday, October 14.
September 28, 2012
White shark diets vary with age and among individuals
Many white sharks shift from fish to marine mammals as they mature, but individual sharks show surprising variability in a study by UCSC researchers.
September 27, 2012
Moore Foundation grant funds study of Tohoku earthquake fault
New grant funds seismologist Emily Brodsky's research on the devastating Tohoku earthquake that struck Japan in March 2011.
September 26, 2012
Study reveals complex rupture process in surprising 2012 Sumatra quake
The April 2012 great earthquake near Sumatra involved a complicated faulting process unlike anything seen before.
September 25, 2012
Hubble produces deepest ever view of the universe
UCSC astronomer Garth Illingworth's team assembled the "eXtreme Deep Field" image of distant galaxies.
September 25, 2012
State of the Campus event spotlights community interactions
Chancellor George Blumenthal celebrated the achievements of this still-young university and described its regional and global impacts during a "State of the Campus" presentation to campus and community leaders.
September 24, 2012
Return of the students: new frosh, parents, families converge on campus
The sleepy days of summer are over at UC Santa Cruz. Welcome Week brought thousands of parents and new students onto campus in an annual tradition that ran from Wednesday through Saturday.
September 24, 2012
Onward California tour will touch down at UCSC
This fall the University of California is hitting the road—and the grand tour will include a stop at UC Santa Cruz on October 2 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Quarry Plaza.
September 24, 2012
Endangered Hawaiian monk seal is focus of Oct. 4 talk by biologist Terrie Williams
The annual Ken Norris Memorial Lecture at the Seymour Center features UCSC marine biologist Terrie Williams discussing her work with monk seals.
September 23, 2012
Study reveals genomic similarities between breast cancer and ovarian cancer
A UCSC bioinformatics team contributed to a study suggesting similar genetic origins for subtypes of breast and ovarian cancers.
September 21, 2012
Arts alum to present sneak preview of feature film at UCSC
UC Santa Cruz arts alumnus Jacob Estes ('94 Media Studies) will present a special advance screening of his latest film "The Details" on Thursday, October 4, at UCSC's Media Theater.
September 20, 2012
Unusual symbiosis discovered in marine microorganisms
Tiny single-celled algae and nitrogen-fixing bacteria exchange carbon and nitrogen in a mutually beneficial relationship that helps fertilize the oceans.
September 19, 2012
Art professor to showcase photos from New Orleans and Cuba
UC Santa Cruz art professor and photographer Lewis Watts will share photos from both New Orleans and Cuba in New Orleans Suite, an exhibition opening October 3 at the Porter College Sesnon Gallery.
September 19, 2012
Graduating Banana Slugs give back
Organizers for the Class of 2013 are carrying on an uncommon tradition of philanthropy by asking all graduating seniors to make a gift of $20.13 to the Senior Legacy Fund.
September 18, 2012
UC Santa Cruz prepares to welcome new students for fall 2012
UC Santa Cruz students are scheduled to begin moving into university housing on Wednesday, September 19, in anticipation of the 2012-13 school year. The first day of instruction in the fall quarter is Thursday, September 27.
September 14, 2012
Founders Celebration highlights research and ideals of UC Santa Cruz
The sixth annual Founders Celebration Friday, October 12 will feature a free public lecture by Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal of the United Kingdom, followed by a gala dinner honoring Rees, Gordon and Betty Moore, George and Gail Michaelis-Ow, UCSC alumnae Shannon Brownlee, and UCSC distinguished professor Gail Hershatter.
September 14, 2012
UCSC hosts 'Genomics Gets Personal: Property, Persons, Privacy' Sept. 27
UC Santa Cruz will convene a world-class panel of medical and legal experts September 27 at the UC San Francisco Mission Bay campus to discuss the fundamental ethical, social, and legal issues surrounding personal genomic research.
September 14, 2012
Linguistics grad off to Germany on Fulbright Scholarship
2012 UCSC Linguistics graduate Kelsey Kraus will spend the next year living and working in Germany as the recipient of a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship.
September 14, 2012
UCSC Farm & Garden hosts fall harvest festival September 30
Apples, corn, cider, and pumpkins take center stage at the 18th annual Fall Harvest Festival, Sunday, September 30, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at UC Santa Cruz’s 25-acre organic farm.
September 14, 2012
Microbiologist and UCSC administrator Eugene Cota-Robles dies at age 86
Eugene Cota-Robles, a professor emeritus of biology at UCSC who served in top administrative posts for UC and UCSC, died September 12.
September 13, 2012
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago presents work of John Jota Leaños
"Imperial Silence: Una Ópera Muerta"--a bilingual multi-media opera by UCSC assistant professor of film and digital media John Jota Leaños--will be presented at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, September 14-16.
September 12, 2012
Eminent astronomer Sandra Faber to deliver 2012 Maitra Lecture on October 3
Astronomer Sandra Faber will deliver the 12th annual Maitra Memorial Lecture October 3: "Modern Genesis and the Limits of Cosmic Knowledge."
September 07, 2012
UCSC’s DANM program to be featured at ZERO1 Biennial in San Jose
UCSC”s Digital Arts and New Media program (DANM) will showcase campus projects at the 2012 ZERO1 Biennial—an international festival featuring work at the intersection of art and technology—that takes place in Silicon Valley and around the Bay Area, September 12 to December 8.
September 07, 2012
UCSC study shows how urchin-loving otters can help fight global warming
A new study by two UC Santa Cruz researchers suggest that a thriving sea otter population that keeps sea urchins in check will in turn allow kelp forests to prosper and help reverse a principal cause of global warming.
September 05, 2012
UCSC provides access to encyclopedia of the human genome
The ENCODE project is giving biomedical researchers a solid genetic foundation for understanding how the body works in health and disease.
September 04, 2012
UCSC taps Tang Museum director to lead innovative museum project
The UC Santa Cruz Arts Division announced today that John Weber—currently Dayton Director of the Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York—has been hired to guide the development of a new institute of the arts and sciences.
August 30, 2012
Celebrating astronomical success at UC Santa Cruz
UCSC is a top institution in the fields of astronomy and astrophysics; Founders Celebration to highlight that distinction and others
August 29, 2012
History Dept. to host international conference on Chinese culture
A group of internationally renowned scholars will convene to explore and rethink aspects of modern Chinese culture, religion, and society from various Eurasian and global perspectives on September 7-8 at UC Santa Cruz.
August 29, 2012
Study suggests large methane reservoirs beneath Antarctic ice sheet
The Antarctic Ice Sheet could be an overlooked but important source of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
August 29, 2012
UCSC research funding tops $140 million for 2011-12
UCSC researchers attracted $140.3 million in external grants and contracts to the campus in the 2011-12 fiscal year.
August 28, 2012
Humanities professors awarded UC Presidential Chair
Feminist Studies professor Bettina Aptheker and Literature professor Karen Yamashita have been appointed to a UC Presidential Chair in Feminist Critical Race and Ethnic Studies on the UCSC campus.
August 23, 2012
Lick Observatory 'BBQ with the Stars' features renowned UC astronomers
Lick Observatory's "BBQ with the Stars" on Saturday, September 15, will feature a barbeque dinner, live music, and astronomy talks.
August 22, 2012
Crossing the boundaries of media-focused computer science, digital humanities and arts
Interaction between media-focused computer science, the digital humanities and digital arts have the potential to drive major progress in interactive media creation and understanding.
August 21, 2012
USDA grant aids organic farming training program at UC Santa Cruz
Training for beginning organic farmers on the Central Coast will get a significant boost from a three-year U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems (CASFS) at UC Santa Cruz.
August 21, 2012
Recovery slows for California's sea otters, 2012 survey shows
The southern sea otter population continues its pattern of tepid recovery, according to the latest population survey.
August 20, 2012
UCSC receives $1 million gift to support Center for Ocean Health expansion
A major gift from alumni Christine and Robert Holo will help fund the Center for Ocean Health's new education wing.
August 17, 2012
UCSC names Sarah Latham to oversee Business and Administrative Services
The UC Regents have approved the appointment of Sarah Latham as Vice Chancellor of Business and Administrative Services (BAS), at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
August 16, 2012
'Science Notes 2012' now available online
Science Notes 2012, published by UCSC's Science Communication Program, is now online.
August 14, 2012
In Memoriam – Aaronette M. White
Professor Aaronette M. White, a gifted professor of social psychology who loved teaching and was beloved by her students, has died unexpectedly at age 51.
August 14, 2012
UCSC alum’s third CD offers haunting ‘optimistic melancholy’
Rolling Stone magazine has described Emily Jane White’s songs as “melancholy as a rainbow glimpsed through the bars of a prison window.”
August 13, 2012
Photos reflect light like 3D objects with novel printing technology
A novel printing method yields photos that respond to different angles of light the same way a three-dimensional object does.
August 08, 2012
Paul Koch named dean of physical and biological sciences
UCSC has appointed Paul Koch to serve as dean of the Division of Physical and Biological Sciences.
August 07, 2012
UCSC alum helps guide Mars rover Curiosity to successful landing
Alumnus Steve Collins was featured in news coverage of the dramatic landing of NASA's robotic explorer Curiosity on the surface of Mars.
August 06, 2012
Professor emeritus M. Brewster Smith dies at 93
M. Brewster Smith, professor emeritus of psychology at UC Santa Cruz, whose research and testimony contributed to the landmark 1954 U.S. Supreme Court decision that banned school segregation, died Saturday in Santa Cruz.
July 27, 2012
Swords, wigs, and corsets: Shakespeare Santa Cruz by the numbers
Have you ever attended a Shakespeare Santa Cruz performance and wondered, "How on Earth do they do it?" Can the magic of Shakespeare Santa Cruz be broken down into cold, hard statistics?
July 27, 2012
Seymour Center offers guided tours on the Santa Cruz wharf
The Seymour Marine Discovery Center is leading free public tours on the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf every Saturday and Sunday.
July 26, 2012
Apple's software brings attention to mountain lion research
Apple's release of its "Mountain Lion" operating system is drawing attention to the real thing prowling just a few miles from the company's headquarters. Since 2008, UCSC researchers have captured 36 mountain lions as part of the UCSC Puma Project to better understand the cats' physiology, behavior, and ecology.
July 25, 2012
Ocean scientist Raphael Kudela to co-chair national committee on harmful algae
The National Harmful Algal Bloom Committee has elected ocean scientist Raphael Kudela as co-chair.
July 24, 2012
New observatory installed beneath seafloor at site of Tohoku earthquake
UCSC seismologist Emily Brodsky was part of an international team that installed an observatory on the Tohoku earthquake fault.
July 20, 2012
A joyous welcome to campus: Summer Orientation 2012
An enthusiastic crowd of 7,500 students and family members turned out for Summer Orientation, a time to register for classes, meet new friends and explore the wooded campus.
July 19, 2012
Spike Lee hires UCSC alum as designer for Mike Tyson solo Broadway show
Erik Pearson, a 2001 graduate of UC Santa Cruz in Film and Digital Media, has been chosen by director Spike Lee to design the media for "Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth," opening July 31 on Broadway
July 19, 2012
Past climate change linked to ancient alteration of seawater chemistry
A new study by scientists at the University of Toronto and the University of California, Santa Cruz suggests that changes in world ocean chemistry is one potential cause of the cooling trend of the past 45 million years.
July 17, 2012
Shakespeare Santa Cruz launches new season July 24
Shakespeare Santa Cruz (SSC) will kick off its 31st season on Tuesday, July 24. Nearly 60 UCSC students and alumni help make it happen.
July 11, 2012
Dark galaxies of the early universe spotted for the first time
For the first time, dark galaxies--an early phase of galaxy formation, predicted by theory but unobserved until now--may have been spotted.
July 11, 2012
Coastal ecosystems research project wins NASA Honor Award
The Coastal and Ocean Airborne Sensor Testbed project, involving UCSC and NASA scientists, has received a NASA Honor Award.
July 10, 2012
Undergrad finds clue to scientific mystery in ancient text
UCSC undergrad Jonathon Allen found a clue in historical archives that may explain unusual isotope levels in growth rings of Japanese cedars.
July 09, 2012
New book by UCSC biologist highlights efforts to save Hawaiian monk seals
Marine biologist Terrie Williams recounts how an abandoned pup named KP2 is helping efforts to save the most endangered marine mammal in U.S. waters.
July 06, 2012
Student refines skin-care product plan to win business design competition
Winner of the 2012 Business Design Competition at UC Santa Cruz is "Refine for Men," a complexion enhancer developed by sophomore Edgar Osorio who was a runner up last year.
July 04, 2012
Search for Higgs boson reveals new particle
Physicists involved in experiments at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) have presented evidence of a new particle that may prove to be the long-sought Higgs boson.
July 03, 2012
Social bats pay a price with new fungal disease
The impact on bat populations of a deadly fungal disease known as white-nose syndrome may depend on how gregarious the bats are during hibernation.
July 02, 2012
Mickey Hart talks about UCSC Archive in Sunday LA Times
The June 29 public opening of UCSC’s Grateful Dead Archive has generated widespread and extensive media coverage. As reporter Matt Stevens noted in a story published in the July 1 edition of the Sunday Los Angeles Times...
July 02, 2012
Michael Bolte to step down as director of UC Observatories
Michael Bolte has announced his decision to resign as director of UC Observatories at the end of July and will return to full-time teaching and research at UC Santa Cruz.
June 29, 2012
UC Santa Cruz launches the Grateful Dead Archive Online
The UCSC Library announced today that the public can now access the Grateful Dead Archive Online through the GDAO website at www.gdao.org.
June 27, 2012
Health sciences grad awarded Sutter scholarship for medical school
Health sciences grad Kaitlin Russon has won the Primary Care Physician Award from Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center and the Central California Alliance for Health.
June 26, 2012
Sunday SF Chronicle arts section features cover story on B. Ruby Rich
UC Santa Cruz professor of Film and Digital Media B. Ruby Rich was featured in June on the cover of the San Francisco Chronicle’s Sunday Datebook pullout arts section.
June 26, 2012
UCSC engineer wins R&D 100 Award for work on nanotechnology project
Electrical engineer Nobuhiko Kobayashi has received a 2012 R&D 100 Award for his role in developing a new system for producing high-tech materials.
June 25, 2012
Lead poisoning blocks recovery of California condor population
Study confirms lead-based ammunition as primary source of lead in condors and shows population cannot recover as long as lead contamination persists.
June 22, 2012
California sea level projected to rise at higher rate than global average
The sea level off most of California is expected to rise about 36 inches over the next century, an amount slightly higher than projected for global sea levels, according to a new report.
June 19, 2012
UCSC prison expert Haney testifies on the perils of solitary confinement
UC Santa Cruz psychology professor Craig Haney, the nation's leading expert on inmate mental health, told a U.S. Senate subcommittee Tuesday that, for many inmates, "solitary confinement precipitates a descent into madness."
June 18, 2012
Researchers find increase in Lyme disease mirrors drop in red fox numbers
A continued increase of Lyme disease in the United States, once linked to a recovering deer population, may instead be explained by a decline of the red fox, UC Santa Cruz researchers suggest in a new study.
June 18, 2012
A weekend in the sun for UCSC's Class of 2012
During a bustling weekend, more than 2,500 undergraduates and about 300 graduate students received degrees and celebrated their achievements.
June 15, 2012
UCSC's Psychology Department wins national award for public service
The Psychology Department at UC Santa Cruz has won a prestigious national award from the American Psychological Association (APA) for service in the psychological sciences.
June 14, 2012
Physicist Alexander Sher named Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences
Alexander Sher, assistant professor of physics, will receive $240,000 to support his research on how the retina heals itself after laser surgery.
June 14, 2012
Ham Slugs taking part in Emergency Communications Field Day, June 23-24
UCSC will host amateur radio operators ("hams") on the East Field for a public demonstration of emergency communications capabilities.
June 13, 2012
UCSC film prof to receive Frameline Award at SF LGBT Film Festival
UC Santa Cruz professor of Film and Digital Media B. Ruby Rich, will be awarded the 2012 Frameline Award at the 36th annual San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival, running June 14 to 24.
June 13, 2012
Daniel Press named executive director of CASFS
Environmental studies professor Daniel Press has been named executive director of the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems (CASFS) at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
June 13, 2012
Year of the Slug: Great UCSC moments in 2011-12
From the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame to cancer research to its ranking as one of the top “young” universities in the world, UCSC stood in the spotlight this year.
June 13, 2012
Astronomer Jerry Nelson receives Franklin Medal in campus ceremony
Astronomer Jerry Nelson was awarded the Franklin Institute's 2012 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Electrical Engineering on Friday, June 8.
June 12, 2012
Moonalice to help UC Santa Cruz open Grateful Dead Archive June 29
UC Santa Cruz will celebrate the public opening of the Grateful Dead Archive at the University Library on Friday, June 29, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
June 08, 2012
Spotlight on outstanding work: Student Achievement Week recognizes accomplishment
Computer programmers, actors, robotics students, apprentice astronomers and fine artists showed off their skills during this year’s Student Achievement Week celebration.
June 08, 2012
‘Chimichangas and Zoloft’: alumna earns raves for off Broadway debut
UCSC alumna Fernanda Coppel has been garnering rave reviews for her latest play Chimichangas and Zoloft, now at the Tony Award-winning Atlantic Theater in New York City.
June 06, 2012
Sammy Awards showcase top video games from UCSC game design students
The second annual Sammy Awards on Friday, June 15, recognize the best games created by students in UCSC's computer game design program.
June 06, 2012
Climate more sensitive to carbon dioxide now than in past epochs
New evidence from the geologic record contrasts with today's close coupling of climate and atmospheric carbon dioxide
June 05, 2012
2012 commencement exercises, celebrations June 15-17
Commencement exercises at the University of California, Santa Cruz, are scheduled for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, June 15-17, hosted by UCSC's 10 colleges, as well as the graduate division and the Baskin School of Engineering.
June 05, 2012
Celebrated author Jonathan Franzen to deliver Cowell College commencement speech
Jonathan Franzen's appearance will be one of the highlights as UCSC's 10 colleges, Baskin School of Engineering, and graduate division hold commencement ceremonies June 15-17.
June 05, 2012
Engineering students present corporate-sponsored design projects
Low-cost LED light bulbs, a glass microphone, and an illuminated garment for bicycle riders were among the prototypes presented by engineering students.
June 04, 2012
Reign of the giant insects ended with the evolution of birds
Giant insects once ruled the prehistoric skies, but the evolution of birds ended their reign.
June 01, 2012
SF Giants thank Sammy the lucky Slug
It is not every day that a 2010 World Series Champion baseball team recognizes Sammy the Slug on live TV.
June 01, 2012
Grupo Folklórico Los Mejicas celebrates 40th anniversary with a spring concert
Grupo Folkórico Los Mejicas, the student-organized folklórico dance group at UC Santa Cruz, celebrates its 40th anniversary with a special spring festival. Performances are Friday, June 8th from 7-10 p.m. and Saturday June 9th from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the UC Santa Cruz Mainstage Theater.
June 01, 2012
From snails to mandolins: something for everyone during UCSC summer conferences
The UCSC summer conferences have a longstanding reputation for eclecticism and professionalism. Now a campus institution, the conferences bring an average of 10,000 people to campus each summer, serving 65 different conference clients.
June 01, 2012
A summary of summery things to do at UCSC
When the summer fog rolls in, UC Santa Cruz and its off-campus facilities roll out a long list of things to do and see. From Shakespeare to sea stars to exotic plants and astronomy, there is always something interesting and fun to experience at UCSC.
June 01, 2012
Astronomer Sandra Faber receives prestigious Bruce Gold Medal
The Astronomical Society of the Pacific has awarded the 2012 Catherine Wolfe Bruce Gold Medal to UCSC astronomer Sandra Faber.
May 31, 2012
UC Santa Cruz ranked 7th worldwide among younger universities
UC Santa Cruz is ranked seventh in the world among the 100 best universities less than 50 years old and first in research citations, according to an analysis by Times Higher Education (THE).
May 31, 2012
UCSC History Professor contributes cover story to The Nation magazine
The June 11 issue of The Nation magazine features a cover story by UC Santa Cruz history professor Dana Frank.
May 31, 2012
Milky Way destined for head-on collision with Andromeda galaxy
Our galactic neighbor the Andromeda galaxy is on a collision course with our own Milky Way galaxy, according to new observations.
May 30, 2012
Light-induced delivery of nitric oxide eradicates drug-resistant bacteria
UCSC researchers have developed a novel approach for eradicating drug-resistant bacteria from wounds and skin infections, using light to trigger the controlled release of nitric oxide.
May 29, 2012
Shakespeare Santa Cruz announces new collaboration with local theater
In an effort to expand its programming and partnerships in the community, Shakespeare Santa Cruz will collaborate with Jewel Theater Company in spring 2013 to co-produce two one-act plays by Harold Pinter.
May 25, 2012
Collaborative mural creates images, opportunities for understanding
UC Santa Cruz students are transforming a stark concrete retaining wall at the entrance to College Nine into a striking, colorful mural bearing a message of peace. Painting began this week near the Namaste Lounge. Dedication is set for 12:30-1 p.m. Tuesday, May 29.
May 25, 2012
Music of the Spheres draws summer visitors to Lick Observatory
Lick Observatory offers evening programs for music lovers and astronomy buffs featuring concerts, lectures, and opportunities to view the night sky through the observatory's history-making telescopes atop Mt. Hamilton.
May 24, 2012
Music Department’s Spring Opera ‘Little Women’ opens May 31
Each spring, the UCSC Music Department offers up a major opera production--the only fully staged, live opera presentation in Santa Cruz County. This year it presents composer Mark Adamo's Little Women, based on the popular novel by Louisa May Alcott.
May 24, 2012
UCSC earns new national and statewide honors for sustainability practices
UC Santa Cruz, long renowned for its sustainable energy practices, has earned two prestigious new laudations: a top spot on a national “Green Honor Roll,” and special recognition for recent energy and water-saving retrofits on campus.
May 24, 2012
Fledging season for owls means clumsy chicks on the ground
Experts says it's normal to see owl chicks on the ground, and they should be left alone.
May 23, 2012
Lemur extinctions and ecological retreat followed arrival of humans in Madagascar
A study of lemurs in Madagascar suggests that factors driving lemur extinctions have also sparked an ongoing "ecological retreat" by surviving species.
May 22, 2012
Recognizing excellence in teaching at UCSC
The 2011-12 Excellence in Teaching Awards honored eight caring professors who inspired their students at UCSC. UCSC Chancellor George Blumenthal presented the awards at the Stevenson Event Center on campus.
May 21, 2012
Update: Missing UCSC student has been found in good health
College Ten alerts members of the campus community to the fact that Yosemite National Park is searching for John Chaufan Field, a UCSC senior and College Ten student. UPDATE: He's been found and is in good health!
May 18, 2012
2012 Irwin Scholar student art exhibition kicks off on May 23
Twelve of UCSC's most promising artists will have their work on display at the 2012 Irwin Scholarship Exhibition, running May 23 to June 17 at the Sesnon Gallery.
May 18, 2012
Research team investigates biological methods to prevent bat extinction
Motivated by the prospect of conserving bat populations and species diversity, UC Santa Cruz researchers are investigating whether antifungal skin microbes can be used to help fight the deadly fungus that is causing a massive die-off of bats in eastern North America.
May 17, 2012
Acclaimed alum, writer, and web pioneer David Talbot comes to UCSC May 22
The UCSC Humanities Division will present An Evening with David Talbot, Tuesday, May 22. The best-selling author and founder of Salon will read from his new book,'Season of the Witch'
May 15, 2012
UCSC social scientists examine the economic crisis and its social impacts
UC Santa Cruz social scientists will examine and assess the causes and effects of the unprecedented global economic recession during a one-day forum Tuesday, May 22 at University Center.
May 15, 2012
Staying connected: UCSC launches iPhone app 'update'
UC Santa Cruz has 'updated' its free iPhone app to enable smartphone users to access the campus's online directory and check on the availability of library holdings. The app also includes redesigned emergency features. Two alumni developers have also worked with the campus on a first-generation Android version of the campus app.
May 15, 2012
Medical robotics expert Jacob Rosen named Health Care Hero
The Silicon Valley Business Journal honored robotics expert Jacob Rosen with a 2012 Health Care Heroes award.
May 14, 2012
The man behind the gift to ‘Dead Central’
Dead Central, the long-awaited 1,400-square-foot exhibit space for the Grateful Dead Archive at UC Santa Cruz, is now complete—thanks to Santa Barbara investor and philanthropist Scott Brittingham.
May 14, 2012
Grad students present impressive array of research projects at symposium
Graduate students from across the divisions presented their work at the 8th Annual Graduate Research Symposium.
May 12, 2012
Astronomy lectures spotlight rare astronomical event on June 5
Lectures on May 18, May 25, and June 1 will explain the scientific and historical significance of the transit of Venus.
May 10, 2012
Reporter who revealed undocumented status to speak at Chavez convocation
Jose Antonio Vargas, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist whose article "My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant," last year revealed his immigration status, will be the keynote speaker at the 9th annual César Chávez Convocation at UCSC.
May 08, 2012
Documentary by 20 UCSC students to premiere at SC Film Festival
Exit 426: Watsonville—a completely collaborative film made by 20 students in a UC Santa Cruz film class--will have its premiere on Sunday, May 13, at the Nickelodeon Theater in Santa Cruz.
May 07, 2012
Santa Cruz Arts Commission names Humanities lecturer Artist of the Year
UC Santa Cruz humanities lecturer Gary Young has been named 2012 Artist of the Year by the Santa Cruz County Arts Commission
May 07, 2012
Graduate students present research at annual symposium May 11
Graduate student research will be on display at the University Center on Friday, May 11, during the annual Graduate Research Symposium.
May 04, 2012
Indian finance experts visit UCSC for advice on reforming India's economic system
Two experts investigating ways to reform India's financial system visited UCSC for a workshop on economic systemic risks as they provide technical support to a commission that is advising India's ministry of finance.
April 30, 2012
Record crowd returns for a spirited Alumni Reunion Weekend
UCSC's Alumni Reunion Weekend was filled with inspiring, surprising, and hilarious moments. And it didn't hurt that the weather was perfect for all three days.
April 30, 2012
Zimmerman scholarship ceremony leads to discussion of public service
Two families, linked by sorrow and promise, met for the first time as the Gabe Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship was presented to Yethzéll Díaz. A panel discussion on Careers with a Conscience followed the ceremony.
April 30, 2012
McHenry Rededication celebration attracts hundreds to newly renovated library
Several hundred alumni, students, faculty, and community supporters joined University Librarian Ginny Steel and Chancellor Blumenthal last Friday for the official Rededication of McHenry Library.
April 30, 2012
Lasting friendship, enduring inspiration: J. Herman Blake and Don Rothman move crowd at forum
On Friday night, when emeritus writing lecturer Don Rothman and Oakes College founding provost J. Herman Blake sat down to talk about the transformative power of education, they made than 40 years of UCSC history feel intimate, personal and immediate.
April 30, 2012
Teaching luminaries share classroom secrets at Academic Forum
The large crowd that attended the Academic Forum at the Humanities Lecture Hall —one of the cornerstones of the UCSC Alumni Reunion Weekend—had a rare opportunity to hear these and other teaching secrets of renowned educators, ranging from social psychologist Elliot Aronson to noted feminist studies professor Bettina Aptheker.
April 26, 2012
Walking and talking: Learning outside the classroom door
In her essay, UCSC lecturer Candace Calsoyas discusses the Aristotelian method of conversation and learning while on foot, a practice she introduced in Albania and brings to the College Eight core course.
April 25, 2012
Huffman Prize winner helps develop better tools for analyzing "big data"
Senior Joshua Rosen, winner of the 2012 Huffman Prize, worked on a project to develop better tools for large-scale data processing.
April 24, 2012
DANM 2012 MFA Exhibition: ‘I've got something on your mind’
Eleven graduate students from UCSC's Digital Arts and New Media M.F.A. Program (DANM) will conclude two years of artistic study with "I've got something on your mind"--an exhibition of their work running April 28 through May 6 at the UCSC Digital Arts and Research Center.
April 24, 2012
Watsonville High names UCSC’s Bill Doyle to alumni hall of fame
UC Santa Cruz Professor Emeritus of Biology Bill Doyle knows what it’s like to grow up hard. But the founder and long-term director of UCSC's Institute of Marine Sciences, says even though times were tough, those years—especially the ones at Watsonville High—became “the basic, grounding platform” of his life.
April 23, 2012
UCSC cycling standouts: See how they ride
UC Santa Cruz is both bike-conscientious and eco-friendly—despite a killer climb from town to class. It’s no coincidence, then, that the university boasts strong participation in annual Bike to Work Week festivities and that a number of Slugs have gone on to make careers out of their biking obsessions.
April 17, 2012
UCSC's fall class is increasingly selective and includes more first-generation students
UC Santa Cruz has offered admission to 60.5 percent of high school seniors who applied for the fall 2012 quarter, a prospective class that includes more California residents and a higher number of students who would be the first in their family to earn a four-year degree.
April 17, 2012
Environmental studies researchers take studies to new heights
UC Santa Cruz environmental studies associate professor Jeff Bury and Adam French, an environmental studies Ph.D. candidate, were among 31 high-altitude scientists and researchers from around the world who traveled to Nepal last September to study and find solutions for destructive glacial floods.
April 17, 2012
Physics undergrad makes the most of research opportunities
Senior physics major Melinda Soares has won honors for her research presentations at two conferences in the past year.
April 17, 2012
Oakes College founding faculty trace UCSC's roots in upcoming forum
Herman Blake,founding provost of Oakes College, and his old friend and UCSC senior lecturer emeritus in writing Don Rothman, will discuss the enduring values of UCSC and the history of Oakes during Alumni Reunion Week.
April 16, 2012
UCSC film professor John Jota Leaños wins 2012 Guggenheim Fellowship
UC Santa Cruz assistant professor of film and digital media John Jota Leaños has been awarded a 2012 Guggenheim Fellowship for the creative arts.
April 16, 2012
Earth Week and Earth Day Festival 2012: Finding Room to Bloom
Earth Week, from April 16-22, includes a number of activities on campus, culminating in the Earth Day Festival, sponsored by College Eight on Sunday, April 22.
April 11, 2012
India film star to appear at screenings hosted by UCSC’s Satyajit Ray Film Center
Actress and filmmaker Aparna Sen to speak at UCSC Media Theater (April 21) and Nickelodeon Theater (April 22)
April 11, 2012
Aronson, Palca win Social Sciences division awards
The UC Santa Cruz Social Sciences Division has named NPR science correspondent Joe Palca and psychology professor emeritus Elliot Aronson as winners of its distinguished alumni and emeriti faculty awards.
April 10, 2012
Why letting salmon escape could benefit bears and humans
Researchers at UC Santa Cruz and in Canada suggest that allowing more Pacific salmon to spawn in coastal streams would mean a long term win-win for ecosystems and humans.
April 10, 2012
Exhibition documents anthropology's focus on emerging worlds
Emerging Worlds, a new faculty exhibition now open at Porter Sesnon Gallery on the UC Santa Cruz campus, documents and illustrates the research theme of UCSC's anthropology department.
April 09, 2012
UCSC dean taking Arts Division in new direction
Renewed outreach efforts include partnership with alumnus Randall Grahm to create wines with student-designed labels that support UCSC arts scholarships
April 09, 2012
Arboretum holds annual Spring Plant Sale on Saturday, April 21
Since 1977, the Arboretum's plant sales have been providing gardeners with colorful and unusual plants for creating dynamic central coast gardens.
April 09, 2012
UCSC scientist reports stormy start to JFAST expedition
Typhoon-strength winds and 30-foot waves greeted the JFAST expedition off the coast of Japan on April 4.
April 09, 2012
Anne Callahan wins 2012 Alumni Association Outstanding Staff Award
Anne Callahan, academic human resources manager for the Humanities Division, is this year’s recipient of the UCSC Alumni Association Outstanding Staff Award, honoring employees who go above and beyond.
April 05, 2012
In Memoriam: Charles Selberg
Charles Selberg, who died last month, is remembered by two UCSC alumni, Angela Dracott and Mark Headley. Dracott and Headley were two of the many students on campus who learned fencing (and many other things) from the revered master.
April 04, 2012
DANM students and alums project digital light on museum’s ‘Glow’ festival
More than 2,500 people showed up for the Museum of Art & History’s “GLOW” festival held in downtown Santa Cruz. Drew Detweiler, a 2010 graduate of UCSC’s DANM program, organized the digital arts portion of the program.
April 03, 2012
Kepler Explorer app puts distant planets at your fingertips
Kepler Explorer, an innovative app for iPads and iPhones, provides interactive displays of planetary systems discovered by the Kepler Mission.
April 02, 2012
Peregrine falcon chicks hatch on San Francisco high-rise
Four fluffy, white peregrine falcon chicks have hatched in a nest on the San Francisco skyline where they can be viewed via a web cam hosted by UCSC's Predatory Bird Research Group.
April 02, 2012
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame exhibit draws from UCSC Grateful Dead Archive
On April 12, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum will launch a major exhibition on the Grateful Dead, featuring a significant number of items on loan from The Grateful Dead Archive at UC Santa Cruz.
April 02, 2012
UCSC Nabs Gold and Platinum awards for United Way and Second Harvest workplace campaigns
Despite uncertain economic times, UC Santa Cruz once again made it into the Top-5 list of workplace contributors to the United Way of Santa Cruz County and also earned a Platinum Can Award from Second Harvest Food Bank for its donations.
March 29, 2012
Alumni Reunion weekend: embracing tradition, celebrating innovation
UCSC grads will have many opportunities to reminisce at the Natural History Field Quarter 40th Reunion, a Black Alumni Alumni Reunion, an Oakes College’s 40th Anniversary brunch, a Cowell College reunion and the UCSC Class of 2002’s 10-year Reunion.
March 27, 2012
Astrophysicist Michael Turner speaks April 16 on what came 'Before the Big Bang'
Eminent cosmologist Michael Turner will discuss the origins of the universe in a free public lecture on Monday, April 16, at the Rio Theater.
March 26, 2012
International drilling expedition to probe Japanese fault zone
UC Santa Cruz scientists are involved in an ambitious drilling project to measure properties of the fault that caused the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.
March 22, 2012
Researchers win grant to explore commercial potential of sensor technology
A new class of biomedical diagnostic devices are among the possible uses for the optical sensing technologies developed in Holger Schmidt's lab.
March 21, 2012
UCSC professor joins acclaimed writers for new Passover 'users manual'
Two weeks ago, author Jonathan Safran Foer (Everything Is Illuminated, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close) went on the Stephen Colbert show to promote his latest book New American Haggadah...
March 21, 2012
UCSC forest research site joins Global Earth Observatory, nearly triples in size
The nearly 15-acre Forest Ecology Research Plot located within the UC Santa Cruz Campus Natural Reserve has been accepted into the global network of the Smithsonian Institution's Center for Tropical Forest Science / Global Earth Observatory.
March 18, 2012
The Art of Teaching: UCSC professors share their secrets
A panel of highly regarded UCSC professors will share their classroom secrets at a special panel focusing on the Art of Teaching. Those attending the forum in April will hear a spirited discussion about how talented professors help students develop critical thinking, make informed choices and engage more with the world.
March 14, 2012
Nesting eagles highlight success of restoration program
Discovery of a pair of bald eagles building a nest near Watsonville's Pinto Lake highlights the success of a wildlife conservation effort begun 26 years ago, according to Glenn R. Stewart a UC Santa Cruz alumnus and director of the Santa Cruz Predatory Bird (SCPBRG) Research Group at UCSC's Long Marine Lab.
March 13, 2012
UCSC to showcase UC-wide research in Humanities at Museum of Art & History
The UC Santa Cruz Institute of Humanities Research will host the 2nd annual gathering of the UC Society of Fellows in the Humanities on April 21, at the Museum of Art and History. A free public event, it will showcase the exceptional research efforts underway in the field of Humanities--both at UCSC and throughout the entire UC system.
March 13, 2012
Biochemist Glenn Millhauser honored for protein structure research
Glenn Millhauser, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, has been chosen to receive the 2012 Silver Medal in Biology/Medicine from the International EPR Society.
March 12, 2012
UCSC alumna Maya Rudolph featured on NPR’s ‘Fresh Air’
A 1995 graduate of UCSC’s Porter College with a B.A. in Art, Maya Rudolph spent seven seasons on Saturday Night Live, and has since gone on to star in the hit comedy film, Bridesmaids, her new movie, Friends with Kids, and the TV series Up All Night.
March 12, 2012
Pirate droids battle in student robotics competition March 14
Robotic pirate "ships" built by UCSC engineering students will face off in battle in a free public demonstration on March 14.
March 12, 2012
Chancellor signs 'real food' commitment for campus
Chancellor Blumenthal has signed the UC Santa Cruz Real Food Campus Commitment.
March 09, 2012
Bridgeman named winner of Dickson emeriti award
Bruce Bridgeman, professor emeritus of psychology and psychobiology at UC Santa Cruz, has been named the Edward A. Dickson Professor of Psychology for the 2012-13 academic year.
March 08, 2012
Origami exhibit at Cowell College opens April 8 with public talks
"Origami: Art + Mathematics" features internationally known origami artists and honors the late David Huffman, UCSC computer scientist and a pioneer of mathematical origami.
March 08, 2012
Seismologist Thorne Lay reflects on anniversary of Tohoku earthquake
A spate of huge earthquakes in the past seven years has provided humbling lessons for seismologists, according to UCSC prof Thorne Lay.
March 07, 2012
Peter Kenez to deliver annual UCSC Spring Emeriti Faculty Lecture
A Holocaust survivor and native of Hungary, Peter Kenez is a scholar of the history of Russia and the former Soviet Union. On March 15, he will present the annual UCSC Emeriti Lecture on the topic: “The Coming of the Holocaust.”
March 06, 2012
Research center wins grant to study ethics of community research
The Center for Collaborative Research for an Equitable California (CCREC), based at UC Santa Cruz, has been awarded a $277,550 grant to conduct a 15-month study on the ethics of research in local communities.
March 05, 2012
Second annual Arts Dean’s research lecture spotlights media and race
If you were around in the 1960’s, you’re probably familiar with the iconic photos of the Civil Rights movement that made the daily news—images of African Americans being sprayed by firehoses, attacked by dogs, and beaten by police with batons...
March 05, 2012
UCSC ranked among top 10 graduate schools for game design
Princeton Review's list of the top game design programs in the country recommends UCSC's graduate and undergraduate programs.
February 28, 2012
New York alumni artist returns to campus to mentor students
Katerina Lanfranco has come a long way since she graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 2001 with a BA degree in art.
February 28, 2012
Two UCSC marine scientists awarded Pew Fellowships in Marine Conservation
Two scientists affiliated with UCSC's Institute of Marine Sciences have been awarded 2012 Pew Fellowships in Marine Conservation.
February 28, 2012
Budget Forum on campus: UCSC administrators provide update on cuts
UCSC Chancellor George Blumenthal and Campus Provost Alison Galloway gave audience members a detailed update about potential future cuts and a brief history of past reductions, at a campus budget forum on February 27.
February 28, 2012
Scholarship Benefit Dinner highlights innovation, looks toward the future
A crowd of 400 turned out for the ninth annual UC Santa Cruz Scholarship Benefit Dinner that took place Saturday night at the Fairmont in downtown San Jose with the theme of 'Taking on the Future.'
February 27, 2012
Coral reef study traces indirect effects of overfishing
A study of the tropical coral reef system along the coastline of Kenya finds that overfishing could threaten the long-term health of the reefs.
February 23, 2012
Ray Collett, founding director of UCSC Arboretum, dies at age 79
Ray Collett, the founding director of the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum, died on Wednesday, February 22.
February 21, 2012
New Theater Arts drama a ‘grand experiment’ in arts and technology
The Thinning Veil—an unusual new play at UCSC featuring some of Greek tragedy’s most prominent characters—literally takes place in two different worlds.
February 19, 2012
New brain connections form in clusters during learning
A new study reveals details of how brain circuits are rewired during the formation of new motor memories.
February 17, 2012
New DNA sequencer uses nanopore concepts pioneered at UCSC
A British company announced plans to market the first commercial DNA sequencer using nanopore technology pioneered at UCSC.
February 16, 2012
Winner selected for first Gabe Zimmerman scholarship
Yethzéll Díaz, a senior majoring in Latin American and Latino studies and sociology, is the recipient of the first Gabriel Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship at UC Santa Cruz named for the UCSC alumnus and slain congressional aide.
February 15, 2012
UCSC professor named second Poet Laureate of Santa Cruz County
UCSC emeritus professor of education and creative writing David Swanger has been named the second Poet Laureate of Santa Cruz County.
February 14, 2012
Big cats on campus: mountain lion sightings prompt UCSC expert forum
Excited by two recent mountain lion spottings on and near campus, a large crowd attended a UCSC forum on these powerful but shy and elusive predators.
February 13, 2012
Investor behavior expert to describe investors' worst enemy
Finance professor Terrance Odean, an expert on investor behavior, will speak on "The Investor's Worst Enemy," Tuesday, February 28, 2012 from 2-3:30 p.m. in Room 180, the Simularium, in the Engineering 2 building on the UCSC campus. His lecture is free and open to the public.
February 13, 2012
Planet hunter Steve Vogt to give annual Faculty Research Lecture on Feb. 28
Astronomer Steve Vogt will discuss the search for other worlds in the annual Faculty Research Lecture.
February 13, 2012
'Prom Week' breaks new ground in computer game design
Nominated for a technical excellence award at the Indie Games Festival, 'Prom Week' is a game about social relationships driven by an innovative artificial intelligence system.
February 10, 2012
Black History Month continues at UCSC
A video of the recent Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation, featuring a keynote presentation by acclaimed poet Nikki Giovanni, can now be viewed. A podcast of the event is also available. A number of other exciting events are taking place at UCSC during Black History Month. All of them are sponsored by UCSC's African American Resource and Cultural Center.
February 10, 2012
Van Jones featured at 'Rebuilding the Dream' event on February 21
On Tuesday, February 21, UC Santa Cruz will host Van Jones from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Stevenson Event Center. In honor of Black History Month, this event is designed for members of the campus community.
February 09, 2012
UC Santa Cruz named a top best-value public university
The Princeton Review has named UC Santa Cruz as one of the top 75 best-value public undergraduate schools in the nation, according to a list published this week in the book "The Best Value Colleges: 2012 Edition."
February 09, 2012
New book traces UCSC’s role in organic and sustainable farm movement
A new book published by the UCSC Library’s Regional History Project offers a window into the 40-year history of how UC Santa Cruz--and California’s Central Coast—became leaders in the organic farming and sustainable agriculture movement.
February 08, 2012
Hatchery fish mask the decline of wild salmon populations
Only about 10 percent of the fall-run Chinook salmon spawning in the Mokelumne River are naturally produced wild salmon.
February 08, 2012
Smith Renaissance Society supports achievement of independent students
As the cost of a University of California education has tripled since 1999, a modest but unique program at UC Santa Cruz has shown remarkable success in helping retain and graduate independent students – former foster youth, wards of the court, homeless youth, orphans, or others who are on their own.
February 08, 2012
New images capture 'stealth merger' of dwarf galaxies
Images of a nearby dwarf galaxy show the remains of an even smaller companion galaxy in the process of merging with its host.
February 08, 2012
Banff Mountain Film Fest a celebration of adventure, adrenaline
The world-renowned Banff Mountain Film Festival will make its 20th annual visit to Santa Cruz this February, hosted once again by UCSC's Recreation Department.
February 07, 2012
Library’s book conservator contributes to project for Japan’s tsunami survivors
The University Library’s Hisako Nakazawa has joined the OKAERI PROJECT, an international effort initiated by the Tokyo Bookbinding Club.
February 03, 2012
Community Studies alumna brings one-woman show to Santa Cruz
UC Santa Cruz alumna Taren Sterry returns to Santa Cruz as Hospice of Santa Cruz County and the UCSC Community Studies department co-sponsor her one-woman show, 180 Days, Thursday, February 16, 7-9 p.m. at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320-2 Cedar Street, Santa Cruz.
February 03, 2012
Nikki Giovanni stirs up Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation crowd
Poet, activist and distinguished professor Nikki Giovanni had a crowd of nearly 1,000 people clapping, shouting and busting up laughing at the 28th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation and 4th annual Tony Hill Awards.
February 02, 2012
Grateful Dead Archivist headed to Dead Studies Conference
On February 8, UCSC’s Grateful Dead Archivist Nicholas Meriwether will head to Albuquerque, New Mexico, for the "Southwest Texas Popular Culture and American Culture Conference."
February 02, 2012
New super-Earth detected within the habitable zone of a nearby star
An international team of scientists has discovered a potentially habitable super-Earth orbiting a nearby star.
February 01, 2012
Shakespeare Santa Cruz announces lineup for 2012 season
Shakespeare Santa Cruz (SSC) artistic director Marco Barricelli today announced the line-up for the acclaimed UCSC theater company’s 31st season--including the premiere of a new play commissioned by SSC.
February 01, 2012
UCSC's veteran students honored at University House reception
Fifty staff and faculty members turned out to support and honor UCSC’s veteran students at an afternoon reception last Thursday at the University House.
January 31, 2012
UCSC partners with Hartnell in education program with sustainable energy focus
A partnership between UCSC and Hartnell College strengthens the regional education pipeline for Hispanics and low-income students.
January 30, 2012
UCSC history professor contributes latest op-ed on Honduras to NY Times
One of the top academic experts on Honduras in the United States, Dana Frank has spent the past decade researching the area. Her latest op-ed was published in the New York Times on Jan. 26.
January 30, 2012
In evolution of body size, 24 million generations from mouse to elephant
The first study to measure how fast large-scale evolution can occur in mammals found that it takes 24 million generations for a mouse-sized animal to evolve to the size of an elephant.
January 26, 2012
Legendary oceanographer Sylvia Earle presents 6th Keeley Lecture
Legendary oceanographer, explorer, and author Sylvia Earle will present the sixth Fred Keeley Lecture on Environmental Policy Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. at the UC Santa Cruz Music Recital Hall. Free and open to the public.
January 26, 2012
NASA's Kepler mission announces 11 planetary systems hosting 26 planets
A UCSC astronomer is involved in the Kepler mission's discovery of 11 new planetary systems hosting 26 confirmed planets.
January 26, 2012
Youth advocate and former foster child Deutron Kebebew to receive 2012 Tony Hill Award
Deutron Kebebew (Kresge, ’03, electrical engineering), former foster child and tireless advocate for teens and children, is this year’s winner of the fourth annual Tony Hill Memorial Award. Kebebew will receive the award as part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Convocation on Feb. 2.
January 25, 2012
UCSC grad creates Rock Band-like video game for the blind
UC Santa Cruz graduate Rupa Dhillon hopes to change the face of gaming with Rock Vibe—a Rock Band-style electronic musical video game for people who are both blind and sighted.
January 23, 2012
UCSC to host ‘What is a Reader?’ day of events, Jan. 26
On Jan. 26, UC Santa Cruz will host a full day of "What Is A Reader?" events, with workshops plus a free public lecture by novelist, essayist, and book historian Alberto Manguel
January 20, 2012
UCSC's Paul Lubeck provides analysis on insurgency in Nigeria's north
Bombings Friday (January 20) struck the northern Nigerian city of Kano where UCSC sociology professor Paul Lubeck conducted research last summer and where many UCSC students have worked as interns as part of the Global Information Internship Program (GIIP).
January 19, 2012
9th annual Scholarship Benefit Dinner to support UCSC students
UC Santa Cruz will host its ninth annual Scholarship Benefit Dinner--one of UCSC's premier fundraising events--on Feb. 25 in San Jose. The proceeds provide significant undergraduate scholarships and fellowships for students.
January 17, 2012
CruzAlert - Two mountain lions sighted near campus
CruzAlert - Two mountain lions reported stalking hiker near southern edge of campus.
January 17, 2012
Conference focuses attention on Labor Across the Food System
A free public conference at UC Santa Cruz February 3 and 4 will address the question of "Labor Across the Food System." Scholars, researchers, and activists from California and beyond will gather to discuss the role of labor and social justice in reshaping the contemporary global food system.
January 13, 2012
Iraqi-born Israeli bringing Jewish Mid-East music to UCSC
Yair Dalal--who creates music that bridges both Arab and Israeli cultures--is coming to campus for both an academic lecture and a public concert, presented by Jewish Studies in collaboration with the Music Department.
January 13, 2012
Joel Primack and Nancy Abrams honored by Chopra Foundation
Physicist Joel Primack and his wife Nancy Abrams have been chosen to receive the 2012 Spirit of Rustum Roy Award from the Chopra Foundation.
January 12, 2012
UCSC receives more than 40,000 undergraduate applications for fall 2012
More than 40,000 prospective undergraduates – the most ever – have applied for admission to UC Santa Cruz for the fall 2012 quarter. California residents submitted 90 percent of UCSC's freshman applications for fall 2012 – 29,639 – a 13.4 percent increase over 2011, the highest in the UC system.
January 12, 2012
'Open-source' robotic surgery platform going to top medical research labs
Robotics experts at UCSC and UW have built seven advanced robotic surgery systems for use by major medical research laboratories.
January 10, 2012
Remembering Martin Luther King Jr. with acclaimed poet Nikki Giovanni
Nikki Giovanni, renowned poet, writer, commentator, activist, and University Distinguished Professor at Virginia Tech, will speak at UC Santa Cruz's 28th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Convocation on February 2.
January 10, 2012
Plant scientist Jean Langenheim honored by Graduate Women in Science
The Graduate Women in Science organization Sigma Delta Epsilon has awarded its highest honor to botanist Jean Langenheim.
January 09, 2012
Wandering stars offer clues to history of our galaxy
Some stars have orbits that take them to interesting places, and they have interesting stories to tell about how they were formed.
January 05, 2012
UCSC receives $247,000 gift to support Sikh and Punjabi Studies program
UC Santa Cruz has received $247,000 to establish an endowed fund in support of the Humanities Division’s Sikh and Punjabi Studies program.