2012  Prospective Student 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.

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.

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.

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.

Tracking pumas

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Two UCSC professors elected 2012 AAAS Fellows

Chemistry professor Ilan Benjamin and linguistics professor Sandra Chung were elected AAAS Fellows.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

American Mathematical Society honors three UCSC professors

Three UCSC professors have been named Fellows of the American Mathematical Society.

UCSC engineers tackle big data

Big data projects include energy-aware storage, efficient data processing, proactive information retrieval, and cancer genomics.

Deep learning

UCSC's scientific diving program provides crucial training for students who want to work in marine science fields

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

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.

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.

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.

CP/EVC Galloway explains forensic sciences to high school students

In a talk at Scotts Valley High School Thursday night (October 4), Alison Galloway, UC Santa Cruz campus provost and executive vice chancellor, described how scientists assist in homicide investigations.

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.

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.

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.

Education graduate student wins prestigious internship

Saúl I. Maldonado, a third-year doctoral student in the education department at UC Santa Cruz, has been awarded an internship with the American Evaluation Association's Graduate Education Diversity Internship program.

Hubble produces deepest ever view of the universe

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

Friedland named Distinguished Rural Sociologist

William H. Friedland, professor emeritus of community studies and sociology at UC Santa Cruz, had been named Distinguished Rural Sociologist by the Rural Sociological Society.

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.

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.

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.

Move-In Schedule for Fall 2012

New and returning students will move into University Housing from September 19-23

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

UCSC is recognized for exemplary environmental practices

UC Santa Cruz has received a prestigious Acterra 2012 Business Environmental Award for the sustainability of the recently expanded and redesigned Student Health Center.

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.

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.

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.

UCSC psychology society holds first undergraduate research conference

The UC Santa Cruz chapter of Psi Chi is highlighting undergraduate research in psychology this week as it hosts the department's first Undergraduate Research Conference.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Farm & Garden market cart opens Tuesday, June 5

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.

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.

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.

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.

Anthropology Ph.D. student wins Newcombe Fellowship

Adding to the awards for her innovative research into religious minorities, UC Santa Cruz anthropology Ph.D. candidate Sarah Bakker is one of 21 national winners of a coveted fellowship for scholars working on dissertations that involve religious themes.

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.

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.

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.

33rd Multicultural Festival set for Saturday, May 19 on Oakes lower field

The 33rd annual Multicultural Festival will take place Saturday, May 19, from noon to 6 p.m. on the Lower West Field - Oakes Lower Lawn at UC Santa Cruz. The band Balance and the Traveling Sounds headlines.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Celebrate the Great 88

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.

UCSC's Hollenbeck named CVC Coach of the year

Todd Hollenbeck, head coach of the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs, has been named the Continental Volleyball Conference (CVC) Coach of the Year as voted on by CVC head Coaches.

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.

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.

UCSC Farm & Garden’s annual spring plant sale slated for May 5-6

White House names College Ten alumna a Pacific Islander champion of change

Terisa Tinei Siagatonu, (College Ten,'11, community studies) is one of nine Asian American and Pacific Islander leaders and organizations named by the White House as Champions of Change.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.