2012  Community News

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.

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.

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.

Tracking pumas

UCSC students get first-hand scientific experience while monitoring the elusive big cats as part of the Puma Project.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Emerita professor wins prestigious educational anthropology award

Margaret A. "Greta" Gibson, professor emerita of education and anthropology at UC Santa Cruz, has won the 2012 George and Louise Spindler Award in Educational Anthropology.

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.

UC Santa Cruz receives Energy Efficiency Best Practice award for lighting design and retrofit

Campus wins best practice honors for a second year in a row.

Science educator Doris Ash wins University of Stockholm lecture award

Doris Ash, associate professor of education at UC Santa Cruz, has been awarded the Svend Pedersen Lecture Award from the University of Stockholm.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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...

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.

UC to California high school students: College is attainable

Two senior UC Santa Cruz officials will visit Harbor High School Thursday, October 18 as part of Achieve UC, a state-wide program to show high school students how they can achieve a University of California education.

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.

Professor Richard “Ed” Green will be featured on PBS science show

Season premiere of NOVA scienceNOW featuring UCSC professor will air at 10 p.m. October 10 on PBS station KQED Channel 9.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

UCSC students pilot sustainability project to eliminate the use of paper towels at Stevenson College

Initiative encourages the use of washable and reusable “PeopleTowels” on campus.

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.

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.

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.

Memorials honoring Aaronette White set for October 3 and 18

Memorial celebrations of the life of Professor Aaronette White are scheduled for October 3 and 18 on the UC Santa Cruz campus.

Farm-to-Fork dinner supports scholarships for farm apprentices

Late summer sunshine bathed rows of corn, pumpkins, salad greens, and strawberries as 125 guests enjoyed the recent Farm-to-Fork Benefit Dinner at the UC Santa Cruz Farm.

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.

Hubble produces deepest ever view of the universe

UCSC astronomer Garth Illingworth's team assembled the "eXtreme Deep Field" image of distant galaxies.

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.

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.

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.

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.

UC Santa Cruz receives Best Practice award for water efficiency and site water quality

UC Santa Cruz earned high honors at the tenth annual California Higher Education Sustainability Conference hosted by UC Davis on June 19, recognizing eco-friendly best practices across the UC system.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Dedication set for Terry Freitas cafe

A dedication ceremony is set for 5-7 p.m. Thursday, September 20 for the Terry Freitas Cafe at Colleges Nine and Ten on the UC Santa Cruz campus.

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.

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.

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."

Memorial honoring the life of M. Brewster Smith set for September 30

A memorial celebrating the life of UC Santa Cruz Professor Emeritus of Psychology M. Brewster Smith is set for Sunday, September 30, 2012, from 2-4 p.m. in the La Feliz Room at the Seymour Marine Discovery Center at Long Marine Lab.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

UC Santa Cruz ranked 12th for Outside readers

UC Santa Cruz has made Outside Magazine’s list of 25 colleges known for their adventurous students and outdoor enthusiasts.

Peabody Award recognizes video work of SciCom alumna Solana Pyne

A video series by GlobalPost featuring productions by Science Communication Program graduate Solana Pyne received a Peabody Award for distinguished achievement in electronic media.

UC Santa Cruz in top 3% of Princeton Review's 2013 'Green Honor Roll'

UC Santa Cruz is one of 21 colleges receiving the Princeton Review's highest score (99) in its fifth annual "Green Ratings."

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.

'Science Notes 2012' now available online

Science Notes 2012, published by UCSC's Science Communication Program, is now online.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

In-depth organic gardening course offered at UCSC Farm & Garden

A comprehensive organic gardening course is being offered this summer and fall by the Friends of the UCSC Farm & Garden at the historic Alan Chadwick Garden and UCSC Farm on the UC Santa Cruz campus.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Biologist James Estes honored by American Society of Mammalogists

Biology professor James Estes will receive the 2012 C. Hart Merriam Award from the American Society of Mammalogists.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

‘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.

Guthman's examination of obesity crisis wins a second book award

UC Santa Cruz professor Julie Guthman's latest book, Weighing In, Obesity, Food Justice, and the Limits of Capitalism (2011, University of California Press) has been selected by the Association for the Study of Food and Society (ASFS) for its annual book award.

Surf industry grant benefits Seymour Center

The Seymour Center at Long Marine Laboratory is among the 20 ocean-environmental organizations named as beneficiaries of the 23rd Annual Waterman's Weekend.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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'

Elephant seal tracking reveals hidden lives of deep-diving animals

UCSC researchers use satellite tags to monitor the migrations of elephant seals, revealing their movements and diving behavior at sea in unprecedented detail.

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.

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.

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.

Seed library holds its second seed exchange, Saturday, May 26

The UC Santa Cruz Demeter Seed Library invites community members from all over Santa Cruz and the Monterey Bay Area to its second exchange of 2012, happening on Saturday, May 26 from noon to 3 p.m. at the UCSC Farm.

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.

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.

UC Santa Cruz builds national data center for cancer genome research

UCSC has established a large-scale data repository and user portal for the National Cancer Institute's cancer genome research programs.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Haney joins commission to study high rates of incarceration

UC Santa Cruz professor of psychology Craig Haney has been named to a National Academy of Science panel of leading scholars and experts on corrections to study the causes and consequences of high rates of incarceration in the United States.

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.

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.

Physicist Peter Young elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Peter Young, distinguished professor of physics, has been elected a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the nation's most prestigious honorary societies.

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.

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.

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.

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)

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Washington Post highlights UC Santa Cruz as an 'up-and-comer'

The Washington Post highlights UC Santa Cruz as one of five universities that "really are up-and-comers."

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

Scholarships support student veterans at UCSC

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.

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.

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.

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.”

Julie Guthman's examination of obesity crisis wins book award

Anew book by Julie Guthman, associate professor of Community Studies at UC Santa Cruz, was named winner of the 2012 James M. Blaut Innovative Publication Award.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

'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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Phillip Hammack receives early career award in psychology

Phillip. L. Hammack, assistant professor of psychology at UC Santa Cruz, has been named recipient of the 2011 Early Career Award of the Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and Violence: Division of Peace Psychology, American Psychological Association (APA).

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

'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.

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.

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.