Home / 2013

2013 University News

December 20, 2013
Jane McHenry, wife of founding chancellor, dies at age of 101
Jane McHenry, who partnered with her husband to nurture UCSC through its infancy, has passed away at the age of 101.
December 19, 2013
Social science faculty win nearly $7.4 million in research grants
Social Science faculty at UC Santa Cruz were awarded nearly $7.4 million in research grants so far during the current academic year, Dean Sheldon Kamieniecki announced.
December 18, 2013
UCSC announces lineup for Winter 2014 Living Writers Series
Award-winning author and alumna Reyna Grande will kick off the winter 2014 Living Writers reading series at UCSC, one of a number of notable UCSC graduates who will return to campus to give readings and talk about their success in the writing world.
December 17, 2013
30th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Convocation will feature Freeman Hrabowski, III
Hrabowski will draw from his memories as a Civil Rights-era youth marcher during the 30th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Convocation.
December 16, 2013
The spirit of generosity: holiday giving is a longstanding tradition on campus
This is the season for staff members, faculty, and students to show their support for the Second Harvest Food Bank and other organizations that help families and children in need.
December 16, 2013
UCSC alums contribute comment, analysis after Nelson Mandela's death
The recollections and analysis of UC Santa Cruz alumni figured prominently after the death of former South African President Nelson Mandela earlier this month.
December 16, 2013
Life lessons and a fast break for success
For UCSC student James Townsend, basketball not only provided lessons in hard work, perseverance, and self control—it was also his ticket off the streets.
December 15, 2013
Deep-sea corals record dramatic long-term shift in Pacific Ocean ecosystem
Long-lived deep-sea corals preserve evidence of a major shift in the open Pacific Ocean ecosystem since around 1850.
December 13, 2013
A year to remember: dancing sea lion, 100,000th degree awarded, ED Talks debut
Ronan proved that sea lions have the beat, the campus launched an unprecedented $300-million campaign, awarded its 100,000th degree, and researchers opened up a new front in the high-tech cancer wars this year.
December 11, 2013
Game designer Brenda Romero among top ten game developers of 2013
Program director for the M.S. in games and playable media is featured on a list of the "Top 10 Game Developers of 2013."
December 10, 2013
UCSC’s Ethics Bowl team qualifies for national competition
UCSC’s Ethics Bowl team placed third at the Regional Ethics Bowl Tournament hosted by National Hispanic University on Saturday, qualifying the campus to compete at the National Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl Competition.
December 10, 2013
Astrophysicists launch ambitious assessment of galaxy formation simulations
UCSC leads international collaboration to compare computer simulations of galaxy formation and evolution
December 10, 2013
Chemist Ilan Benjamin elected Fellow of American Physical Society
Ilan Benjamin, professor and chair of chemistry, has been elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society.
December 09, 2013
Hawaiian monk seal toy raises funds to save endangered species
A UCSC marine biologist offers cuddly "Real Seal" toys, one for each of the 1,100 Hawaiian monk seals left in the world.
December 06, 2013
Acclaimed director Peter Sellars channels the power of art at Maitra Lecture
Peter Sellars, one of America’s leading directors, spoke of art's transformative and community-building power at sold-out, 13th annual Maitra Lecture on campus.
December 06, 2013
UCSC computer scientists turn software verification into gameplay
The puzzle game 'Xylem' is a crowd-sourced solution for improving the security of software code.
December 06, 2013
Watsonville's new mayor is a UC Santa Cruz alum, a first for the city
The selection of Karina Cervantez (Kresge, '03, psychology) as Watsonville's mayor two weeks ago means UC Santa Cruz graduates hold the top municipal seats in Santa Cruz County's two largest cities.
December 05, 2013
Slippery fault unleashed destructive Tohoku-Oki earthquake and tsunami
The first measurement of friction during an earthquake yielded a surprisingly low value for the devastating 2011 Tohoku earthquake.
December 02, 2013
Student robotics competition on December 5 features 'Ender's Game' theme
The public is invited to watch droids built by student teams compete in the "Slugs vs. Bugs" challenge.
November 26, 2013
Visionary director Peter Sellars to deliver 2013 Maitra Lecture
The UC Santa Cruz Foundation presents the 13th annual Sidhartha Maitra Memorial Lecture--featuring acclaimed opera, theater and festival director Peter Sellars--on Thursday, December 5, at 7 p.m.
November 26, 2013
Geek chic
Groovy couches, big brains, and great camaraderie abound in Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz's supercomputer lab for undergrads.
November 26, 2013
Geek chic: big brains and great camaraderie in Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz's supercomputer lab for undergrads
The three-year-old SLUG lab is designed for physics and astrophysics majors who want to learn to become independent scientists.
November 26, 2013
UCSC computer engineer Katia Obraczka elected IEEE Fellow
Katia Obraczka, professor of computer engineering, has been elected a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
November 22, 2013
Lawyer's class on JFK assassination draws crowd
Many students in a UC Santa Cruz course about the John F. Kennedy assassination were born more than three decades after the president was gunned down in Dallas. But interest in that tragic day remains strong on campus 50 years after the fact.
November 22, 2013
Professor J.J. Garcia-Luna-Aceves elected to Mexican Academy of Sciences
Professor of computer engineering J.J. Garcia-Luna-Aceves has been elected a corresponding member of the Mexican Academy of Sciences.
November 19, 2013
Nathaniel Deutsch wins book award from Association for Jewish Studies
Nathaniel Deutsch, professor of history and co-director of UCSC’s Center for Jewish Studies, has received the 2013 Jordan Schnitzer Book Award from the Association for Jewish Studies
November 18, 2013
Algebra Academy gives eighth graders a pathway to college
The intensive program, a unique collaboration between Graniterock, UC Santa Cruz, and CSU Monterey Bay is designed to boost math education at rural schools
November 18, 2013
UCSC's Museum of Natural History holds open house November 22 and 23
'Skins and Bones' is the theme for this year's open house at the UCSC Museum of Natural History.
November 15, 2013
A nonconformist in a school of mavericks
Emeritus professor of chemistry Frank Andrews, in his 53rd year of teaching, includes classes that help students maximize their potential and feel valued.
November 14, 2013
Hidden workshop turns out complex equipment for UCSC scientists
Born tinkerers, two 'old-school' UCSC machinists take rough sketches and turn them into 'works of art.'
November 14, 2013
Arboretum holds annual Gift and Wreath Sale on November 23 and 24
Decorations and gifts for Thanksgiving and the holidays will be available at the Arboretum's annual Gift and Wreath Sale.
November 13, 2013
Korean traditional music & dance concert premieres UCSC faculty works
Korean traditional music and dance, including new works by UCSC music faculty, will be presented by master performers of the Korea National University of Arts on Nov. 21.
November 12, 2013
Into the wild: UCSC students learn to track and understand local animals as part of a unique OPERS class
An intensive course at UCSC teaches students to connect more closely with nature and pay more careful attention to their surroundings.
November 12, 2013
UCSC honors arts alums in Film/TV at Hollywood event
Renewing the connection from campus to professional life, a high profile group of UCSC arts alums working in the entertainment and film industry gathered at West Hollywood's Soho House.
November 11, 2013
UCSC ranks 12th for students studying in year-long programs abroad
The number of UCSC students studying abroad as part of year-long programs totaled 81, earning the campus a No. 12 ranking for the number of students engaged in "longer duration" study at foreign institutions.
November 08, 2013
UCSC ceremony honors Sam Farr as a 'Champion of Science'
U.S. Rep. Sam Farr (D-Carmel) received the Champion of Science Award at a UC Santa Cruz ceremony that highlighted his efforts to support research in sustainable agriculture and ocean sciences, two of UCSC's strengths.
November 08, 2013
Theatre Arts’ Kathy Foley directs students in 'Mughal Miniatures:Tales of Love'
Theater arts professor Kathy Foley and a student cast collaborate for an evening of Indian and Persian tales November 8-17.
November 08, 2013
State ban on lead ammunition supported by years of research at UCSC
Environmental toxicologists documented the effects of lead from bullets on wildlife and testified before legislative committees
November 06, 2013
Award-winning poet Naomi Shihab Nye to read at 4th annual Morton Marcus memorial event
UCSC will host the fourth annual Morton Marcus Memorial Poetry Reading featuring award-winning poet Naomi Shihab Nye on Nov. 14
November 06, 2013
UCSC to play basketball games in Warriors arena
UC Santa Cruz and the Santa Cruz Warriors have reached an agreement that will bring UCSC men’s and women’s basketball to Kaiser Permanente Arena for the 2013-14 regular season.
November 05, 2013
Celebration of two new Jewish Studies books Nov. 13
UCSC’s Center for Jewish Studies and University Library will present a celebration of two new books on Jewish Studies--featuring professors Peter Kenez and Murray Baumgarten, and librarian Lee Jaffe, Nov. 13 at Stevenson College.
November 05, 2013
Marine scientists track spread of sea star wasting disease
A mysterious disease that causes sea stars to decay and fall apart within a few days has become widespread along the U.S. west coast.
November 04, 2013
Hitachi sponsors UCSC research in cancer genomics and data storage
Two areas of expertise at UCSC, genomics and data storage, are brought together under a new research agreement sponsored by Hitachi.
November 04, 2013
SSC holiday show 'It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play' opens Nov. 15
Nine actors perform dozens of characters from the beloved 1946 Frank Capra movie, in the style of a live 1940s radio broadcast, in this holiday show presented by Shakespeare Santa Cruz and the Theater Arts Department
November 01, 2013
UCSC well represented at upcoming Santa Cruz Film Festival
A wide range of films by UCSC faculty, students, and alumni will be showcased at the 2013 Santa Cruz Film Festival, running November 7- 12 in downtown Santa Cruz.
November 01, 2013
Surgical robot built at UCSC featured in 'Ender's Game' movie
The Raven II surgical robot developed in Jacob Rosen's Bionics Lab makes a cameo appearance in the new movie "Ender's Game."
October 31, 2013
UCSC internships for high school students yield success in science contests
A summer internship program for high school students has consistently produced successful entries in nationwide science competitions.
October 31, 2013
Biologist Manuel Ares receives Outstanding Faculty Award
Biology professor Manuel Ares has received the 2012-13 Outstanding Faculty Award from the Division of Physical and Biological Sciences.
October 30, 2013
Norris Lecture features a panel of marine wildlife veterinarians on November 7
A panel of three marine wildlife veterinarians from the Monterey Bay area will discuss their work in the annual Norris Memorial Lecture.
October 29, 2013
Institute to host second art/science LASER evening Nov. 5
UCSC’s Institute of the Arts and Sciences will present its second LASER event on Nov. 5, beginning at 6:45 p.m. at the Digital Arts Research Center
October 28, 2013
Social Sciences Research Frontiers Day spotlights 21st century challenges
Twelve professors from eight disciplines in the Social Sciences presented their research on contemporary issues at the division’s first Research Frontiers Day, held on campus at Colleges Nine and Ten.
October 28, 2013
Study maps human impacts on top ocean predators along U.S. west coast
Research shows where human impacts are highest on marine predators such as whales, seals, seabirds, and turtles.
October 23, 2013
UCSC coastal experts testify at Assembly committee hearing
The hearing, held at Seymour Marine Discovery Center, provided information for state policy decisions.
October 22, 2013
Humanities Division’s Rothman Award honors freshman writing students
UCSC student Alma Morales and her writing instructor Steven Carter were awarded first place for Morales’s essay, "Nina de Mexico, Student of America--Daughter of Nowhere" in the 2012-13 Don Rothman Writing Awards.
October 21, 2013
UCSC student to direct Larry Kramer's groundbreaking play
UCSC student Adam Odsess-Rubin will direct a Theater Arts Department production of Larry Kramer's award-winning, unflinching 1985 drama The Normal Heart, November 1-10, in the Theater Arts Experimental Theater.
October 21, 2013
Honoring excellence and generosity at UCSC Founders Dinner
Don and Diane Cooley, Jock Reynolds, Howard Haber and Abraham Seiden received special honors at Friday's celebration, held at the Cocoanut Grove in Santa Cruz.
October 21, 2013
Research Review Day talks: From big data to brain development
Attendees heard talks from industry leaders and UCSC faculty at the Baskin School of Engineering's Research Review Day.
October 21, 2013
Boldness and vision: Frank Gehry talks about creative risks and 'serious play' at UCSC Foundation Forum
During Friday's Foundation Forum, one of the featured events of UCSC's Founders Celebration, the legendary architect spoke candidly about his career.
October 18, 2013
UC Santa Cruz launches $300-million fundraising campaign
The University of California, Santa Cruz, today announced the launch of its first comprehensive fundraising campaign, an ambitious effort to raise $300 million to support students, research activities, other academic programs, and campus facilities.
October 18, 2013
UC President Napolitano visits campus, talks with students, staff, and faculty
Janet Napolitano, the new University of California president, visited UC Santa Cruz for two days of talks with students, staff and faculty, and to participate in the public launch of UCSC's first comprehensive fundraising campaign.
October 18, 2013
UCSC’s first ‘Ed Talks' draws crowd in downtown Santa Cruz
An enthusiastic audience of 250 community members gathered at the “Top of the Ritt” in downtown Santa Cruz last night to celebrate UCSC’s very first evening of “Ed Talks”—three TED-style talks by acclaimed UC Santa Cruz faculty.
October 18, 2013
UCSC hosts experimental economics conference, researchers probe choices
Experimental economists from around the world will gather in Santa Cruz next weekend for the 2013 North American Economic Science Association Conference co-sponsored by the UC Santa Cruz Economics Department and its Learning and Experimental Economics Projects lab.
October 17, 2013
UCSC astrophysicist Charlie Conroy wins prestigious Packard Fellowship
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation has awarded a Packard Fellowship for Science and Engineering to astrophysicist Charlie Conroy.
October 17, 2013
Astronomers find most distant gravitational lens
Discovery of the most distant gravitational lens allows direct measurement of the mass of a distant galaxy, but also poses a mystery
October 16, 2013
Paul Koch honored as a Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences
Paul Koch, dean of physical and biological sciences, has been named a Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences
October 15, 2013
MacArthur ‘genius’ photographer Carrie Mae Weems to speak at UCSC
Carrie Mae Weems--a photographer, video artist, and social activist who explores the complex legacy of African American identity, class, and culture in the United States—will come to the UCSC campus for a visiting artist talk on Monday, October 21.
October 14, 2013
New economic research center explores policy solutions, improvements to financial markets
The first event of the Center for Analytical Finance (CAFIN), a new research center at UC Santa Cruz, will feature a lecture by Professor Ila Patnaik, an expert on India’s economy, Monday, October 28 at 3:30 p.m. in the Economics Conference Room (E2, room 499) on the UCSC campus.
October 11, 2013
USDA grant boosts opportunities for sustainable agriculture education
A three-year, $730,000 grant will help UCSC expand courses and team with Cabrillo and Hartnell colleges to bring more students into four-year degree programs focused on sustainable agriculture.
October 10, 2013
UCSC to present symposium on Arab film and visual culture
Artists and scholars from Lebanon, Morocco, Egypt, Syria, Canada, Europe, and the U.S. will converge at the UCSC campus on October 25-26 for "Unfixed Itineraries," a two-day symposium on film and visual culture from Arab worlds.
October 10, 2013
New device harnesses sun and sewage to produce hydrogen fuel
A device that uses sunlight and wastewater to produce hydrogen gas could provide sustainable energy and treat wastewater.
October 09, 2013
UC Santa Cruz economists praise Yellen's nomination as Fed chair
UC Santa Cruz economists who have worked with Janet Yellen, President Obama's nominee to head the Federal Reserve, said she is an outstanding economist who believes in analytical, balanced, and transparent policy making.
October 09, 2013
UCSC's founding principles featured in 'Time,' 'New York Times Magazine' ads
Bold graphics and a message of "questioning authority" herald UC Santa Cruz's entry into the world of national advertising.
October 08, 2013
First Research Frontiers Day features social science research on contemporary issues
The UC Santa Cruz Division of Social Sciences and Office of Research will present Research Frontiers Day, Friday, October 25, 2013 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring 12 faculty mini-lectures showcasing contemporary research.
October 08, 2013
UCSC scientists applaud Nobel Prize for Higgs discovery
UCSC physicists played a significant role in advancing and confirming the theory that earned this year's Nobel Prize in physics.
October 08, 2013
Baskin School of Engineering showcases research advances on October 17
Data science, mobile and pervasive computing, and regenerative medicine are featured topics at BSOE's annual Research Review Day.
October 03, 2013
Helene Moglen to give Emeriti Lecture: ‘From Frankenstein to Facebook’
Are stories about our ambivalent love affairs with our machines stories of imprisonment or empowerment? Are we in charge of our avatars, personal profiles and robots? Find out Oct. 29 at UCSC’s Emeriti Faculty Lecture.
October 03, 2013
UCSC receives National Leadership Grant for Libraries
UCSC has been awarded a grant of $418,540 from the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) for a project titled “From Descriptive Metadata to Citation: Building a Framework for Search and Communication in Game Studies.”
October 03, 2013
Genetic study of river herring populations identifies conservation priorities
Analysis of river herring populations along the U.S. east coast has identified distinct genetic stocks, providing crucial guidance for management and conservation.
October 02, 2013
Astronomers observe distant galaxy powered by primordial cosmic fuel
Astronomers have detected cold streams of primordial hydrogen gas left over from the big bang fueling a distant star-forming galaxy.
September 30, 2013
Astronomers find patchy clouds on exotic world
Astronomers have created the first cloud map of a planet beyond our solar system, a sizzling, Jupiter-like world known as Kepler-7b.
September 27, 2013
Sesnon Gallery to feature American artist Charles Griffin Farr
"Formal Complexity," a new exhibition at the Sesnon Gallery, highlights UCSC’s permanent collection of figurative works by the late artist Charles Griffin Farr (1908-1997).
September 27, 2013
Institute to present inaugural Leonardo Art/Science Evening, Oct. 8
On Tuesday, October 8, UCSC's Institute of the Arts and Sciences will present the campus’s inaugural LASER event, hosting an evening of speakers who will lay the foundation for a new UCSC series by speaking about the intertwining of art and science.
September 26, 2013
Pan-Cancer studies find common patterns shared by different tumor types
The Pan-Cancer Initiative, a major effort to analyze the molecular aberrations in cancer cells across a range of tumor types, has yielded an abundance of new findings.
September 25, 2013
Seeds from UCSC Arboretum may help threatened species in aftermath of recent fire
Arboretum experts help with recovery of a threatened plant species after a fire burned its entire habitat.
September 20, 2013
Students flock to campus during move-in week
New students and families flocked to UC Santa Cruz this week, getting to know the scenic campus and meeting roommates during move-in week.
September 20, 2013
John A. Marcum, Africa scholar, UCSC politics professor emeritus, dies at 86
John A. Marcum, a renowned Africa scholar, UCSC professor emeritus of politics, and former Merrrill Provost died September 12 in Santa Cruz at age 86.
September 19, 2013
UCSC’s Carolyn Dunn to direct play at National Congress of American Indians conference
Carolyn Dunn--director of UCSC’s American Indian Resource Center, managing director of the campus’s student resource centers, and literature lecturer—will direct a new play by acclaimed playwright Mary Kathryn Nagle at the National Congress of American Indians annual conference.
September 19, 2013
UCSC to receive $500,000 in support of endowed chair in Jewish Studies
UC Santa Cruz has announced a major new gift to support the campus’s Jewish Studies Program.
September 19, 2013
Seismologists puzzle over largest deep earthquake ever recorded
A magnitude 8.3 earthquake that struck deep beneath the Sea of Okhotsk on May 24 was the largest deep earthquake ever recorded.
September 18, 2013
UCSC to crowdsource funding for scholarships
Supporters of public education are doing everything from donning Banana Slug suits to giving up coffee as part of a creative crowdfunding effort for scholarships.
September 18, 2013
UCSC research funding tops $130 million for 2012-13
UCSC researchers attracted $132.5 million in external grants and contracts to the campus in the 2012-13 fiscal year.
September 18, 2013
UCSC economics chair testifies on bill to raise California's minimum wage
UC Santa Cruz professor and chair of economics Rob Fairlie told state lawmakers that California's minimum wage should be raised so its purchasing power doesn’t continue to erode with inflation.
September 18, 2013
UCSC Farm hosts Fall Harvest Festival Sunday, September 29
Bright orange pumpkins, roasted red peppers, and apples galore mark the changing seasons at the 19th annual Fall Harvest Festival, Sunday, September 29 at UC Santa Cruz’s 30-acre organic farm.
September 17, 2013
UCSC hires game industry veterans to run professional degree program
Award-winning game designers Brenda Romero and John Romero will direct the new master's degree program in games and playable media.
September 16, 2013
Humanities to host exhibit celebrating centennial of Albert Camus
Beginning on October 15, UCSC will be one of 500 venues worldwide to host an exhibit commemorating the 100th birthday of the French Nobel Prize winning author and philosopher Albert Camus. The new digital/paper exhibit combines print editorial with QR code technology.
September 16, 2013
UC Santa Cruz prepares to welcome new, returning students for fall 2013
UC Santa Cruz students are scheduled to begin moving into university housing Wednesday, September 18, in anticipation of fall quarter for the 2013-14 school year. "Move-in" for students living on campus will continue through Sunday, September 22.
September 12, 2013
California's sea otter numbers continue slow climb
California sea otter numbers are up, according to the latest population survey led by federal, state, and UCSC scientists.
September 11, 2013
Two UCSC film students receive Princess Grace awards
UCSC graduate students Lena Jackson and Claire Miyamoto have each been awarded a 2013 Princess Grace Foundation Honorarium in the category of documentary film.
September 11, 2013
CrowdGrader brings crowdsourcing to the task of grading homework
A new crowdsourcing tool developed at UCSC gets students involved in grading homework assignments.
September 11, 2013
Getting at the truth
NPR foreign correspondent Carrie Kahn (College Eight '87, biology) braves tough situations to report the news, with both heart and grit.
September 10, 2013
NSF grant supports training of math and science teachers at UCSC
$1.45 million Noyce Scholarships grant supports UCSC's teacher training partnerships with high-need school districts and community colleges
September 10, 2013
Constitution Day on September 17
Federal law requires that all schools receiving federal funds provide information on the United States Constitution every year on Constitution Day, September 17, the anniversary of the signing of our country's founding document.
September 04, 2013
Farm fresh
The U.S. farming population is growing older, but a young UCSC alum—founder of Lonely Mountain Farm—is bucking the trend.
August 30, 2013
History professor receives ACLS Fellowship to research ‘history of future’ in Mexico
UCSC associate professor of history Matt O’Hara has received a 2013-14 fellowship of $45,000 from the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) to write and additionally research his upcoming book titled “The History of the Future in Mexico.”
August 28, 2013
New Cassini data from Titan indicate a rigid, weathered ice shell
An analysis of gravity and topography data from Saturn's largest moon, Titan, has revealed unexpected features of the moon's outer ice shell.
August 27, 2013
UCSC well represented at White House student loan bill signing
A UC Santa Cruz alumnus and a current student watched in the Oval Office earlier this month as President Obama signed the historic bill that cuts student loan interest rates. Another alum helped lobby for the bill.
August 27, 2013
Engineering Summer Bridge program celebrates 10 years serving new students
A week-long residential program eases the transition from high school to college for engineering students from underrepresented backgrounds.
August 27, 2013
Office of Civil Rights completes its investigation, closes complaint against UCSC
A complaint against UC Santa Cruz, alleging that the campus created a hostile environment for Jewish students, has been dismissed by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights.
August 26, 2013
Shakespeare Santa Cruz to end 32-year run due to budget problems
UC Santa Cruz announced today that this will be the final season for Shakespeare Santa Cruz (SSC), the professional repertory company in residence at the campus. The current season, the 32nd since the festival debuted on campus in 1981, will conclude this year following the annual holiday show in December.
August 26, 2013
Sea otters promote recovery of seagrass beds
Recolonization of Elkhorn Slough by sea otters led to recovery and expansion of seagrass beds due to cascading effects on the food web.
August 22, 2013
UCSC ranked among best colleges for computer science and humanities majors
UCSC is highly ranked among the nation's top computer science and humanities programs for "lifetime return on investment."
August 21, 2013
SCIPP director Steve Ritz helped ensure Fermi mission's scientific bounty
UCSC physicist Steve Ritz was project scientist for NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope
August 20, 2013
'Science Notes 2013' now available online
Science Notes 2013, published by UCSC's Science Communication Program, features compelling writing, art, video, and podcasts.
August 13, 2013
Science and Justice Training Program explores ethics of scientific research
A subtle but significant shift in how national science policy makers regard the outcomes of scientific research has created opportunities for innovative programs such as the Science and Justice Training Program (SJTP) at UC Santa Cruz.
August 13, 2013
Film grad promoting documentary that won chancellor’s award
Last May, UCSC graduate student Sadia Halima received the Chancellor’s Research Award for her thesis film Laal Pari/The Red Fairy, a documentary addressing women’s participation in politics at the grassroots level in rural India. Her documentary has now been accepted for screening at several international film festivials
August 12, 2013
UCSC establishes Department of Technology Management
UCSC has established a new Department of Technology Management in the Baskin School of Engineering.
August 09, 2013
The astonishing world of UCSC alumnus artist Brandon Bird
UCSC alumnus Brandon Bird is an artist known for his inclination to draw and paint figures from pop culture in absurd situations. The Internet phenomenon returns to Santa Cruz on Aug. 19 to celebrate his first book with a reading, discussion, and signing at Bookshop Santa Cruz.
August 06, 2013
UCSC receives highest score on Princeton Review's 'Green Honor Roll'
UC Santa Cruz is one of 22 colleges and universities to receive Princeton Review's highest score (99) in its sixth "Green Ratings."
August 06, 2013
Royal Astronomical Society honors astronomer Sandra Faber
The Royal Astronomical Society has awarded astronomer Sandra Faber an Honorary Fellowship of the RAS.
August 05, 2013
UCSC alumna Kathy Sullivan nominated to lead NOAA
President Obama has nominated UCSC alumna Kathryn Sullivan to serve as Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.
August 02, 2013
UCSC’s Dana Frank speaks in Congress about Human Rights in Honduras
UC Santa Cruz history professor Dana Frank testified last week before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission in the U.S. House of Representatives about human rights and U.S. policy in Honduras.
July 31, 2013
UCSC awarded three NEH grants for Humanities projects
UC Santa Cruz has received three grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to support humanities projects in the Literature Department.
July 31, 2013
Chancellor, other university leaders warn of 'innovation deficit'
UCSC chancellor George Blumenthal is one of 165 university presidents and chancellors in the United States who have signed an open letter to President Obama and members of congress, expressing concern about federal budget cuts to research and higher education.
July 31, 2013
UCSC acquires powerful new astrophysics supercomputer system
State-of-the-art computer systems have been instrumental in making UCSC one of the world's leading centers for computational astrophysics and planetary science.
July 30, 2013
Physicist Hitoshi Murayama to speak on 'The Quantum Universe' August 14
Renowned physicist Hitoshi Murayama will give a public lecture on "The Quantum Universe" on Wednesday, August 14, at the Rio Theater.
July 29, 2013
Descendants of Charles Dickens to appear at UCSC’s annual celebration
Gerald Dickens, the great-great-grandson, and Lucinda Dickens Hawksley, the great-great-great-granddaughter of Charles Dickens, will speak and perform as part of the annual Dickens Universe program, running August 4-10 on the UC Santa Cruz campus.
July 29, 2013
Scientific authorities sign TMT master agreement
The scientific authorities of the Thiry Meter Telescope partners have signed a master agreement defining the project goals and establishing a governance structure.
July 26, 2013
Colleges Nine and Ten Provost Helen Shapiro to head UC Washington Center
Helen Shapiro, provost of Colleges Nine and Ten at UC Santa Cruz, has been named executive director of the University of California's Washington Center known as UCDC.
July 25, 2013
UCSC dance research published in prestigious Psychology Science journal
A new study by a research group from UC Santa Cruz in dance has been published in Psychological Science, the highest ranked empirical journal in psychology.
July 24, 2013
UCSC politics professor pioneers research on law in fragile states
Mark Fathi Massoud's family fled Sudan in 1983 when he was a boy. Now a lawyer and assistant professor of politics and legal studies at UC Santa Cruz, Massoud has published his first book, 'Law’s Fragile State: Colonial, Authoritarian, and Humanitarian Legacies in Sudan'
July 23, 2013
Bees ‘betray’ their flowers when pollinator species decline, study shows
Remove even one bumblebee species from an ecosystem and the impact is swift and clear: Their floral “sweethearts” produce significantly fewer seeds, a new study finds.
July 22, 2013
Soc Doc alumna’s work with Syrian refugees featured on CBS News
UCSC alumna Bridgette Auger’s ongoing work with Syrian refugees is featured as “The Toll of Syria’s War” on the CBS News web site.
July 18, 2013
Regents appoint Janet Napolitano as UC's first woman president
The University of California Board of Regents July 18 appointed Janet Napolitano, secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and a two-term governor of Arizona, as the 20th president of the University of California.
July 17, 2013
Shakespeare Santa Cruz kicks off 2013 summer festival July 23
The 32nd season of Shakespeare Santa Cruz (SSC) opens July 23 with Shakespeare’s popular and thought-provoking comedy, The Taming of the Shrew.
July 17, 2013
New child-study room a bridge to research and teaching
The Early Childhood Education Center was able to remodel its observation room as part of a $165,000 grant from the Claire Giannini Fund, allowing advanced developmental psychology students a place to practice scientific observation.
July 15, 2013
UC Santa Cruz launches first online course with Coursera
UC Santa Cruz announced today the launch of its first free online course open to the public through the Coursera platform. Titled The Holocaust, the course traces the destruction of the Jews and Jewish life in Europe by Nazi Germany, drawing on major works of history, literature, and film.
July 12, 2013
UCSC researchers develop 3D display with no ghosting for viewers without glasses
3D+2D TV allows viewers with stereo glasses to see 3D images, while viewers without the glasses see a normal 2D image.
July 11, 2013
Geothermal power facility induces earthquakes, study finds
Seismologists found a strong correlation between seismic activity and operations for production of geothermal power.
July 11, 2013
Lick Observatory's 'Saturday Stars' program offers prime viewing opportunities
A new program at Lick Observatory offers prime viewing opportunities for amateur astronomy groups.
July 10, 2013
Stanford, UCSC study predicts oil demand to peak around 2035
Fears of depleting the Earth’s supply of oil are unwarranted, according to new research, which describes instead a coming peak and decline in demand for oil.
July 10, 2013
Latin American and Latino Studies professor wins career enhancement fellowship
Sylvanna Falcón, assistant professor of Latin American and Latino Studies at UC Santa Cruz, has been awarded a yearlong Career Enhancement Fellowship for junior faculty administered by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation.
July 10, 2013
Seafloor research expedition features live online video feed
Hydrogeologist Andrew Fisher is leading an expedition to explore fluid flow and microbial habitats deep within the ocean crust.
July 09, 2013
Campus honors 'best of the best' with year-end teaching awards
Seven faculty members from UCSC received the 2012-13 Excellence in Teaching Awards during a recent campus ceremony.
July 08, 2013
Anthropology's Triloki Pandey wins excellence in teaching award
UC Santa Cruz anthropology professor Triloki Pandey has been named winner of the Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award given by the American Anthropological Association and Oxford University Press.
July 03, 2013
Military sonar can alter blue whale behavior
Blue whales off the coast of California changed their behavior when exposed to underwater sounds like those used in U.S. military exercises.
July 03, 2013
Cover coup
A childhood dream of gracing the cover of National Geographic comes true for Rob Irion.
June 28, 2013
Founders Celebration to honor architect Frank Gehry
Frank Gehry, widely considered one of the most important and influential architects of our time, will receive the Foundation Medal during the seventh annual Founders Celebration in October.
June 27, 2013
UC Santa Cruz to offer new Spanish Studies B.A. degree
Beginning this fall, students at UC Santa Cruz can now declare a major in Spanish Studies, leading to a new bachelor of arts degree.
June 27, 2013
Study reveals key step in protein synthesis
Scientists show how the protein-building ribosome translates genetic code into proteins without making mistakes.
June 27, 2013
Court's same sex marriage ruling called a sea change for gays, lesbians
The U.S. Supreme Court rulings on same sex marriage "suggest a sea change in our culture for gays and lesbians," said a UC Santa Cruz social psychologist who studies issues of sexual identity.
June 26, 2013
Scientists sequence genome of 700,000-year-old horse
An international team of scientists has sequenced the genome of an ancient horse that lived 700,000 years ago.
June 25, 2013
New 3-acre Hay Barn and 2-acre lower quarry fields added to UCSC Farm
A public tour is set for Saturday, June 29, of new fields added to the UCSC Farm. The tour, from 10 a.m. to noon, will include a visit to the soon-to-be restored historic Cowell Ranch Hay Barn.
June 25, 2013
Astronomers detect three planets in habitable zone of nearby star
A new study reveals a record-breaking three super-Earths orbiting in the "habitable zone" of a nearby star.
June 24, 2013
UC Santa Cruz ranks tops in research influence, 11th overall among universities under 50
UC Santa Cruz ranks at the very top – 99.9th percentile – in research influence, and 11th overall among the 100 top universities in the world less than 50 years old, according to an annual analysis by Times Higher Education.
June 21, 2013
Economist's new book reveals underpinnings of economic disasters
In a newly revised book, UC Santa Cruz economist Daniel Friedman argues that aligning morals and markets so they work together is the premier challenge of our world today.
June 21, 2013
High school student's work in UCSC lab earns Intel Science Fair prize
Eesha Khare, a student at Lynbrook High School in San Jose, won a $50,000 science fair prize for work carried out in Yat Li's chemistry lab.
June 21, 2013
UCSC scientist attends White House ceremony honoring open science
David Haussler attended a White House event highlighting Open Science "Champions of Change."
June 20, 2013
UCSC ham radio club takes part in annual Field Day exercise June 22-23
Faculty and students from the Baskin School of Engineering will take part in the national Emergency Communications Field Day.
June 19, 2013
Anthropologists argue field must play a vital role in climate change studies
Anthropologists can and must play a vital role in climate change studies, a UC Santa Cruz professor and a former UCSC doctoral student argue in an influential scholarly journal. That role has long been overlooked, they write.
June 19, 2013
Students present start-up plans at Silicon Valley showcase event
Start-up business plans developed by students were featured at an Entrepreneurship Showcase event at the UCSC Silicon Valley Center.
June 17, 2013
Their time in the sun: joy and inspiration at 2013 commencement
The weather was warm and breezy and the speakers were inspiring at UC Santa Cruz’s 2013 commencement celebrations, which attracted throngs of well-wishers and myriad speakers.
June 17, 2013
Submarine springs reveal how coral reefs respond to ocean acidification
Ocean acidification due to rising carbon dioxide levels will reduce the density of coral skeletons, making coral reefs more vulnerable to disruption and erosion.
June 14, 2013
Gene patent decision called step forward for open research
Genetics researchers at UC Santa Cruz said the U.S. Supreme Court's unanimous ruling that human genes cannot be patented will help keep advanced genetic research from being controlled by private biotechnology companies.
June 14, 2013
New exhibit now on display at UCSC’s Grateful Dead Archive
“Songs of Our Own: The Art of the Grateful Dead Phenomenon” is the second annual exhibition of The Grateful Dead Archive, now open to the public at UCSC’s McHenry Library.
June 13, 2013
Health sciences grad Aaron Surrey earns Sutter medical school scholarship
Health sciences grad Aaron Surrey will receive the 7th annual Primary Care Physician Award.
June 12, 2013
Steck Award winner shares stories of survival
Kristoffer Hellén traveled to Europe and Russia, to find out why two small and vulnerable ethnic groups resist assimilation, hold onto their cultures, and survive. Now he is being recognized with one of UCSC's highest undergraduate honors.
June 12, 2013
Anthropology professor Anna Tsing wins $5 million Danish research award
UC Santa Cruz anthropology professor Anna Tsing is one of six international scholars to win a $5 million Niels Bohr Professorship from the Danish National Research Foundation.
June 11, 2013
Summer conferences at UCSC: science, enrichment, music, and changing lives
This summer's line-up of summer conferences appeals to all tastes, age groups and disciplines, but expect to see an unusual influx of youthful faces this year.
June 06, 2013
Shakespeare, gardens, and ocean mysteries: summer attractions at UCSC
The scenic campus remains vibrant and inviting in summer break, with a large number of attractions, sites, and programs for visitors.
June 06, 2013
Large-scale biodiversity is vital to maintain ecosystem health
New analysis by ecologists at UC Santa Cruz demonstrates that high levels of biological diversity are necessary to maintain ecosystem health in larger landscapes over long periods of time.
June 05, 2013
Major study assesses sea level changes due to ice sheet losses
Improved satellite measurements and computer simulations of ice sheets are creating a more accurate picture of the current and future rise in global sea level.
June 05, 2013
Genomics pioneers look to future, form global alliance for data sharing
UCSC bioinformatics expert David Haussler is on organizing committee for global alliance to enable secure sharing of genomic and clinical data.
June 04, 2013
7th annual screening of Soc Doc graduate films at Del Mar Theatre
UCSC presents the 7th annual exhibition of thesis films from the Film and Digital Media Department’s masters program in Social Documentation, June 12, at the Del Mar Theater.
June 04, 2013
Celebrating excellence: Student Achievement Week 2013
This year's Student Achievement Week recognizes high achievement across the disciplines. The campus will host exhibits, ceremonies, performances, and other events through Friday, June 7.
June 04, 2013
New College Nine mural is a collaboration with OxfamUSA
A colorful, new mural graces the entrance to College Nine, alongside another that students painted last year bearing a message of peace.
June 03, 2013
UCSC commencements, June 14-16, feature myriad speakers
A member of Congress, an eminent historian, several alumni, professors, and the daughter of the Oakes College founding provost are among the speakers who will address UCSC graduates during commencement ceremonies June 14-16.
June 03, 2013
Engineering students present senior design projects
Corporate Sponsored Senior Project Program gives students an opportunity to work on real-world engineering problems.
June 03, 2013
Music of the Spheres draws summer visitors to Lick Observatory
Lick Observatory's summer concert series features music, lectures, and star-gazing on Mt. Hamilton.
May 31, 2013
Popular Community Studies major reinstated at UC Santa Cruz
The popular Community Studies major, suspended in 2010, has been reinstated at UC Santa Cruz beginning fall 2013.
May 31, 2013
Linguistics professor receives Dizikes Award for teaching in Humanities
Linguistics professor Donka Farkas was presented with the 2013 John Dizikes Teaching Award in Humanities yesterday at the Humanities Division’s Spring Awards Celebration.
May 31, 2013
Congressman Farr honors Sandy Faber at Senate meeting
U.S. Congressman Sam Farr paid a surprise visit to the May 29 meeting of UCSC's Academic Senate in order to pay tribute to astronomer Sandra Faber.
May 29, 2013
UCSC Spring Opera: Fidelity, love…and the Tour de France
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 will present "Così fan tutte," a story of love and jealously, featuring the music of Mozart and the comic libretto of Lorenzo da Ponte.
May 28, 2013
UCSC showcases outstanding student artists in Irwin Scholars Exhibition
UCSC's Irwin Scholars Exhibition at the Sesnon Gallery features work from 12 students selected for outstanding work and promise in the visual arts.
May 28, 2013
Carbon capture technique produces hydrogen fuel, offsets ocean acidification
Scientists have discovered and demonstrated a new technique to remove and store atmospheric carbon dioxide.
May 21, 2013
UCSC film professor celebrates release of new book at Lincoln Center
Two decades ago, UCSC film professor B. Ruby Rich coined the term “New Queer Cinema” to describe a new type of film making its debut at film festivals featuring lesbian and gay protagonists. Her latest book offers new thoughts on the topic and also brings together the best of Rich’s writing on the genre.
May 21, 2013
UCSC offers professional degree in games and playable media
A new master's degree program in Games and Playable Media is being offered from the UCSC Silicon Valley site in Santa Clara.
May 17, 2013
Puma capture demonstrates success of non-lethal intervention
The capture in downtown Santa Cruz and resettlement of a young male mountain lion is one of the first tests of a new state policy that calls for using non-lethal methods when mountain lions are discovered in populated areas.
May 15, 2013
UCSC to host first annual Middle School Summit focusing on solving community challenges
UC Santa Cruz will pilot the first annual Middle School Summit on Tuesday, May 21, as part of the Santa Cruz County College Commitment--bringing up to 350 local students to the university campus.
May 14, 2013
Graduate Research Symposium awards recognize top presentations
Outstanding presentations at the Graduate Research Symposium were honored at the Awards Reception.
May 10, 2013
Sharing a love of the outdoors
Staff member Kathy O'Hara Ferraro takes students on canoe and backpacking tours and also organizes an annual film festival that helps fund the Recreation Program and UCSC Wilderness Orientation scholarships.
May 09, 2013
Cultural Arts and Diversity Resource Center sponsors three events in May
UCSC's Cultural Arts and Diversity Resource Center is sponsoring three public events in the month of May, including a performance co-sponsored by the campus's Rainbow Theater.
May 08, 2013
After the breakup in a digital world: Purging social media memories
The era is long gone when a romantic breakup meant ripped-up photos and burned love letters. Digital photos and emails can be deleted but what about digital records of a beloved that lurk on Facebook, tumblr, and flicker?
May 08, 2013
UCSC physicist Michael Nauenberg wins UC distinguished emeriti award
Michael Nauenberg, professor emeritus of physics at UC Santa Cruz, has been honored with the 2013 Constantine Panunzio Distinguished Emeriti Award.
May 08, 2013
Dietary flexibility may have helped large predators survive after last ice age
A study of mammoth steppe predators suggests dietary flexibility gave wolves and bears an edge over saber-toothed cats and cave lions.
May 06, 2013
NASA scientist Chris McKay to discuss life on other planets in May 23 lecture
Annual Halliday Lecture addresses the latest findings from the Mars Curiosity Rover and the prospects for finding life on other planets
May 03, 2013
History professor Dana Frank to speak May 8 in Stevenson Distinguished Alumni Lecture Series
UCSC history professor and alumna Dana Frank (American Studies, ’78) will speak about human rights in Honduras on May 8 as part of the Stevenson College Distinguished Alumni Lecture Series.
May 02, 2013
UCSC to present student-run Community Arts Festival May 11
The UC Santa Cruz Good Neighbor Initiative Program will present a free Community Arts Festival at Abbott Square--outside the Museum of Art & History in downtown Santa Cruz--on Saturday, May 11, from 12 to 3 p.m.
May 02, 2013
Graduate students present research in annual symposium May 10
Graduate students from all five academic divisions at UCSC will present their research on Friday, May 10.
May 01, 2013
So You Think When You Dance?
UCSC’s Ted Warburton will give the Arts Division’s 2013 Outstanding Faculty Research Lecture May 16, plus direct a faculty dance concert with guest Bay Area alumni and students, May 24-June 2.
April 30, 2013
Time to remember: more than 1,000 revelers attend Alumni Weekend 2013
A large group of returning Banana Slugs participated enthusiastically in all Alumni Weekend activities, while getting a chance to reconnect with old friends, visit faculty mentors, and ham it up with UCSC's mascot.
April 30, 2013
UCSC panel looks at the future of online education
UCSC community members had a chance to air out some of their hopes and concerns about online education at a panel discussion Friday at Stevenson College.
April 30, 2013
Scientists retrieve temperature data from Japan Trench observatory
Data recovered in an unprecedented series of operations will reveal frictional heat generated by fault slip during the Tohoku earthquake
April 30, 2013
34th annual Multicultural Festival takes place on campus on May 18
The 34th annual Multicultural Festival at UC Santa Cruz will take place on Saturday, May 18, with a day of rich cultural performances, food and music. The event, on the Oakes College Lower Lawn, will take place from noon to 6 p.m.
April 29, 2013
UCSC language students to present International Playhouse
UCSC will present International Playhouse XIII--an annual program of fully-staged short theater pieces by students in the Language Program May 16-19, featuring works in French, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish, with English super-titles.
April 29, 2013
Astrophysics internships bring community college students to UCSC
The astrophysics program is reaching out to community college students through a new summer internship program.
April 29, 2013
UCSC's Talent Show debuts, showcases students' artistic flair
They made a Britney Spears song sound hip. They sent machetes flying, flung yo-yos, and danced fingers over the keys of a grand piano. On a recent Friday night in the Stevenson Event Center, 20 of UC Santa Cruz's most creative student performers came together for the premiere of UCSC's Talent Show.
April 25, 2013
Interactive storytelling symposium on May 10 explores the future of games
The Interactive Storytelling Symposium will bring together experts from academia and the computer game industry to explore the future of games.
April 24, 2013
10th annual César Chávez Convocation at UCSC features Dolores Huerta
Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, will be the keynote speaker at the 10th Annual César Chávez Convocation at UCSC Tuesday, May 7 at the College Nine and Ten Multipurpose Room. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., program begins at 7:30 p.m.
April 24, 2013
Judge David Sotelo named Social Sciences distinguished alumni winner
When David Sotelo graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 1983 (Merrill, politics) he was older than most undergrads, married, and the father of two small boys. Today, Sotelo is a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge and winner of the 2013 Distinguished Social Sciences Alumni Award at UCSC.
April 23, 2013
Shakespeare Santa Cruz collaborates with Jewel Theatre for Pinter plays
UCSC’s Shakespeare Santa Cruz has joined forces with Santa Cruz’s Jewel Theatre Company to present two one-act plays by Harold Pinter, running April 25 through May 19, at the Center Stage in downtown Santa Cruz.
April 23, 2013
Elaine Kihara: Immeasurable dedication toward students
Oakes College academic preceptor named 2013 recipient of Outstanding Staff Award
April 23, 2013
Wilderness on the edge of town: Younger Lagoon a 'living lab' for students
Younger Lagoon Reserve is a postage-stamp-sized parcel of wilderness. Students sharpen their minds while they get their hands dirty: learning, researching, and making a difference too.
April 22, 2013
UCSC hosts symposium on stem cells and aging
Leading stem cell scientists from around the world will gather at UCSC May 30 and 31 for the Stem Cells and Aging Symposium.
April 22, 2013
UCSC highly ranked in worldwide survey of research impact
UC Santa Cruz placed 11th on the annual Leiden Ranking, which measures the scientific performance of 500 major universities worldwide.
April 19, 2013
UCSC alumna wins prestigious 2013 Guggenheim
UCSC 1993 graduate Brenda Shaughnessy has been awarded a 2013 Guggenheim Fellowship for the creative arts in poetry. She returns to campus for Alumni Weekend events, including a free public reading on April 25.
April 19, 2013
Mathematics lecturer Richard Mitchell wins teaching award
Richard Mitchell, a lecturer in mathematics, has received an Excellence in Teaching Award from the Phi Beta Kappa Northern California Association.
April 18, 2013
Fall 2013 freshman class at UC Santa Cruz is one of the most selective
After receiving a record number 38,515 applications, UC Santa Cruz has offered admission to fewer than half of freshman applicants, making fall 2013 one of its most selective classes.
April 18, 2013
Distant blazar is a high-energy astrophysics puzzle
New observations of a blazar show that it is the most distant known source of very high-energy gamma rays.
April 18, 2013
New book explores relentless evolution in a constantly changing world
In his new book, biologist John Thompson argues that species must evolve constantly or they will not persist.
April 17, 2013
Puma tracking in Santa Cruz Mountains reveals impact of habitat fragmentation
In the first published results of more than three years of tracking mountain lions in the Santa Cruz Mountains, UC Santa Cruz researchers document how human development affects the predators' habits.
April 17, 2013
Cowell art exhibition blends Jewish, African American, Pacific Rim themes
The Eloise Pickard Smith Galleries at Cowell College will present In Her Place: Visual Narratives by Bonnie Stone, an exhibition opening April 26 and running through June 22 on the UCSC campus.
April 16, 2013
Gabe Zimmerman Room formally dedicated at U.S. Capitol ceremony
A conference room at the U.S. Capitol named for the late congressional staffer Gabriel Zimmerman (Stevenson, '02, sociology) was formally dedicated Tuesday (April 16) in a ceremony attended by Vice President Joe Biden, House Speaker John Boehner, and other political luminaries.
April 16, 2013
Digital Arts and New Media grad student exhibition opens April 27
Amplified CB radios, playable wrestling games about nutrition, and buildings that grow in the dark are just a few of the things you’ll encounter at “ground (ctrl)”—opening April 27 at UCSC’s Digital Arts Research Center (DARC building).
April 15, 2013
Signs installed, cabin restored in Cowell Lime Works Historic District
Friends of the Cowell Lime Works Historic District celebrated installation of six new interpretive signs Friday and phase one of the restoration of one of the remaining lime workers cabins.
April 15, 2013
Ecologist Mark Carr to give Ricketts Memorial Lecture at sanctuary symposium
Marine ecologist Mark Carr will give the Ricketts Memorial Lecture at the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary's annual symposium.
April 10, 2013
Boogie-woogie sea lion goes viral
The American people are going ga-ga for Ronan the beat-keeping sea lion, who has been featured on "Weekend Edition Saturday" on National Public Radio, and as the answer to a question on the NPR news quiz show "Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me."
April 10, 2013
Arts Division public event to help shape new Institute of Arts and Sciences
The UCSC Arts Division will present a day-long public event to help plan a groundbreaking new interdisciplinary Institute of the Arts and Sciences on Friday, April 26.
April 10, 2013
Second Gabe Zimmerman scholarship winner is sociology major
Carson Watts, an Oakes College sociology major and politics minor, has been selected as the second winner of the Gabriel Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship at UC Santa Cruz.
April 09, 2013
UCSC Arboretum holds annual Spring Plant Sale on Saturday, April 20
This year's spring plant sale will feature some of the newest treasures from the UCSC Arboretum.
April 05, 2013
CO2 at work during last global 'hot spell' but hardly alone
UC Santa Cruz ocean sciences professor Christina Ravelo is part of an international team that is using ocean floor sediment samples to compile data on past periods of global warming in order to understand today's climate changes.
April 02, 2013
UCSC Spring Living Writers series kicks off April 4
Acclaimed up-and-coming writer Tupelo Hassman--author of the novel 'Girlchild'--will kick off the spring installment of UCSC’s Living Writers reading series, Thursday, April 4, at the Humanities Lecture Hall.
April 01, 2013
Sea lion defies theory and keeps the beat
Scientists trained a sea lion to bob her head in time with rhythmic sounds, the first example of beat keeping in a non-human mammal.
March 28, 2013
Gary Young wins 2013 Lucille Medwick Memorial Award
UCSC humanities lecturer and alumnus Gary Young has received the 2013 Lucille Medwick Memorial Award from the Poetry Society of America (PSA) for best original poem on a humanitarian theme.
March 27, 2013
UCSC and industry partners launch center for data storage research
The Center for Research in Storage Systems was established through NSF's Industry/University Cooperative Research Program.
March 26, 2013
Scholarship program wins archaeology society's president's award
UCSC professor Diane Gifford-Gonzalez's effort to create a scholarship fund for students from underrepresented groups has won the President's Recognition Award from the Society for American Archaeology.
March 22, 2013
UCSC to hold international conference on Sikh and Punjabi Studies, March 29-30
The UC Santa Cruz Sikh and Punjabi Studies program will present an international conference titled "(Re-)Building Punjab: Political Economy, Society and Values" on campus, March 29-30.
March 21, 2013
Computer History Museum honors UCSC computer scientist Harry Huskey
Harry D. Huskey, professor emeritus of computer science at UCSC, will receive the 2013 Fellow Award from the Computer History Museum.
March 20, 2013
Alumni Weekend: Reliving memories, making new ones
Excitement is building for UCSC's premiere alumni event, April 26-28, which is packed with reunions, celebrations, receptions, and opportunities.
March 20, 2013
Baskin School of Engineering hosts meeting on women in technology
Members of the National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT) Pacesetters Program met at UCSC in February.
March 19, 2013
Shakespeare Santa Cruz announces lineup for 2013 season
Shakespeare Santa Cruz will open with the popular comedy, "The Taming of the Shrew," and continue through Sept. 1 with "Henry V" and "Tom Jones." For the first time, all shows will take place outdoors among the redwoods in the Sinsheimer-Stanley Festival Glen.
March 18, 2013
Alumna Belle Yang contributes cover art to second issue of Catamaran
“Kite”--a 1997 painting by UC Santa Cruz alumna Belle Yang—is the featured art on the cover of the just released Spring 2013 issue of Catamaran Literary Reader.
March 18, 2013
Easing students through the dog days of midterms
UCSC's Science and Engineering Library hosted a very successful pilot program allowing hard-working young scholars to ease their stresses and pet a "therapy dog."
March 15, 2013
Historic Hay Barn to be reinvented as environmental center
Thanks to a $5 million gift, the historic Cowell Ranch Hay Barn at UC Santa Cruz will be reinvented as the centerpiece of a revived campus entrance and new home for many of UCSC's innovative environmental sustainability programs.
March 14, 2013
DNA study clarifies relationship between polar bears and brown bears
A new genetic study of polar bears and brown bears upends prevailing ideas about the evolutionary history of the two species.
March 14, 2013
Works by UCSC music professor to be featured at Smithsonian
Thousand Gates, a concert featuring two new works by UC Santa Cruz professor of music Hi Kyung Kim, is set to be performed at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., on April 7.
March 14, 2013
UCSC Cancer Genomics Hub wins 2013 Innovations in Networking Award
CGHub has been honored by CENIC with the 2013 Innovations in Networking Award for High-Performance Research Applications.
March 13, 2013
UCSC ranked among top 10 graduate schools for game design
The graduate programs in game design at UC Santa Cruz were named among the top 10 in the nation by the Princeton Review.
March 13, 2013
International collaboration to investigate disappearing reptiles and amphibians
UCSC biologist Barry Sinervo leads NSF-funded project to study the effects of climate change on plants and animals around the world.
March 12, 2013
Bacteria may protect against disease caused by stomach infection
Stomach microbes influence whether H. pylori infection causes disease, researchers find.
March 11, 2013
Slug Stand-Up lets students express themselves through comedy
The four members of UCSC's Slug Stand-Up comedy squad bare their souls while trying to keep stage-fright in check, but they say everything is worth it just to make people laugh.
March 11, 2013
The Rosa Parks African American Theme House: Discovering similarities, embracing differences
Students from diverse backgrounds learn about struggles of race, gender, and class while becoming a family to each other.
March 11, 2013
Student robotics competition on March 13 features Star Trek theme
Robotic "starships" built by UCSC engineering students will face off in a free public demonstration on Wednesday, March 13.
March 06, 2013
Bats not bothered by forest fires, study finds
Scientists found that bats are resilient to high-severity fire, and some species may even benefit from the effects of fire on the landscape.
March 06, 2013
UCSC arts, humanities professors collaborate for ‘New Orleans Suite’
A new book by UCSC professors Lewis Watts (Art) and Eric Porter (History, American Studies) maps the changing cultural scene in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina hit the Crescent City in the summer of 2005.
March 05, 2013
12th annual Earth Summit branches out with workshops, displays, food
The 12th annual Earth Summit at UC Santa Cruz will take place Friday, March 8, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the College 9/10 Multipurpose Room. It is free and the public is invited.
March 05, 2013
State legislators, UCSC administrators talk budgets at legislative meeting
Voter approval of Proposition 30 in November gives UC Santa Cruz and the UC system a welcome respite to years of budget cuts but it is not a panacea, state legislators and university administrators agreed Friday.
February 28, 2013
UCSC police conclude reported campus sexual assault did not occur
UCSC police have concluded that a sexual assault that was alleged to have occurred on campus 11 days ago did not take place.
February 28, 2013
UCSC alumna Kathy Sullivan named acting administrator for NOAA
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has appointed UCSC alumna Kathryn Sullivan to serve as acting administrator for NOAA.
February 27, 2013
Alumna killed in line of duty; info on memorial, support for families
Detective Elizabeth Butler (Kresge, '96, community studies), who was killed in the line of duty Tuesday, February 26, put her skills working with people into action on the streets of Santa Cruz. A memorial is set for March 7.
February 26, 2013
Coastal Commission funds projects at UCSC Arboretum and Seymour Center
The California Coastal Commission has awarded grants to fund two coastal restoration and education projects at UCSC.
February 25, 2013
UCSC arts alumnus wins Academy Award
UC Santa Cruz alumnus Rick Carter won an Oscar Sunday for production design on Steven Speilberg’s acclaimed film, Lincoln. This marks the second academy award for the former UCSC art major.
February 25, 2013
Bringing it back home: Scholarship Benefit Dinner celebrates 10 years of giving
Held on campus for the first time in five years, the Scholarship Benefit Dinner featured a rousing, Banana Slug-centric address by Kevin Beggs, president of Lionsgate Television Group, with hit shows including "Mad Men" and "Weeds."
February 21, 2013
UCSC presents interactive, multi-venue production of Ibsen's epic masterpiece
Henrik Ibsen’s play "Peer Gynt" has been staged at theaters across the world since its premiere in 1876—as well as at an insane asylum in Iceland, in the Wild West, on a German boat, and in a Scottish pub.
February 21, 2013
Stellar motions in outer halo shed new light on Milky Way evolution
For the first time, astronomers have measured the sideways motions of stars in the outer halo of the Milky Way, yielding clues to our galaxy's remote past.
February 20, 2013
UC Santa Cruz added to Coursera's university lineup
UC Santa Cruz will become one of 62 university campuses from around the world to offer free online courses to the public through the popular Coursera platform.
February 20, 2013
Alison Galloway wins forensic anthropology career achievement award
Alison Galloway, professor of anthropology and campus provost/executive vice chancellor at UC Santa Cruz, is winner of the highest honor offered by the Physical Anthropology Section of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.
February 20, 2013
Leviathan celebrates a gargantuan feat
UC Santa Cruz students have kept Leviathan Jewish Journal alive for almost four decades. One of the U.S.'s longest-running Jewish-themed campus publications, Leviathan celebrates its 40th anniversary in April.
February 19, 2013
Award-winning UC Santa Cruz Model UN team to compete in San Francisco
The award-winning UC Santa Cruz Model UN team will compete against other regional college teams February 28-March 3, 2013, at the UC Berkeley Model UN Conference in San Francisco.
February 19, 2013
UCSC Linguistics professors receive $300,000 NSF grant
UCSC humanities professors Sandra Chung and Matthew Wagers have been awarded a $300,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to investigate language comprehension in the Mariana Islands.
February 19, 2013
Crafting a way to help those less fortunate
After witnessing a tragic incident, UCSC student Radhika Mitra founded a nonprofit that aims to give artisans in developing countries the tools they need to be financially successful.
February 19, 2013
Student research project attracts European partners and NSF funding
Research on Mediterranean seagrass leads to international collaboration and a grant to extend students' findings.
February 16, 2013
Historic legacy of lead pollution persists despite regulatory efforts
Efforts to reduce lead pollution have paid off in many ways, yet the problem persists and will probably continue to affect the health of people and animals well into the future.
February 14, 2013
UCSC astrophysicist Charlie Conroy wins Sloan Research Fellowship
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation has awarded a Sloan Research Fellowship to Charlie Conroy, assistant professor of astronomy and astrophysics.
February 13, 2013
Fashion meets Digital Art at MAH Third Friday-Feb. 15
Students and alumni artists from UCSC’s Digital Arts and New Media (DANM) grad program will join forces with the local Santa Cruz fashion scene on Friday, February 15, at the downtown Museum of Art and History.
February 13, 2013
Rare explosion may have created galaxy's youngest black hole
New data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory suggest a highly distorted supernova remnant may contain the most recent black hole formed in the Milky Way galaxy.
February 12, 2013
Winner of groundbreaking historic Gay Rights case to speak at UCSC
UCSC will present a lecture by Karen Thompson titled “Love is a Dangerous Promise” on Thursday, March 7, at 7 p.m., at the Second Stage Theater in the Performing Arts Center on the UCSC campus. Admission is free, and the public is invited.
February 11, 2013
Overcoming the odds: Student learned English by playing video games
The son of migrant workers, Juan Morales's path to UC Santa Cruz was anything but typical.
February 07, 2013
$2.5 million NIH grant supports research on retinal disease
A major grant from the National Eye Institute supports physicist Sasha Sher's research on how the retina heals itself after laser surgery.
February 07, 2013
Israeli filmmaker to screen acclaimed documentary about famed architect
UCSC’s Film and Digital Media Department will present a free public screening of award-winning Israeli documentarian Duki Dror’s acclaimed film "Mendelsohn's Incessant Visions" on Feb. 25, followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker.
February 05, 2013
Karen Yamashita to read and lead talk about Asian American & Ethnic Studies
Award-winning author and UCSC literature professor Karen Yamashita will give a reading of excerpts from her work, followed by an informal conversation with guest professors Alondra Nelson (Columbia University) and Aimee Bahng (Dartmouth College).
February 05, 2013
UCSC places in top 20 on Peace Corps’ volunteer list
UC Santa Cruz is tied for fifth place among California universities and in the top 20 nationally for the most Peace Corps volunteers in 2013, according to the Peace Corps' annual ranking of top volunteer-producing colleges.
February 01, 2013
Astronomer Sandra Faber honored in White House ceremony
President Barack Obama presented astronomer Sandra Faber with the National Medal of Science in a White House ceremony on Friday.
February 01, 2013
Students help local teens navigate the college admission process
The undergrad-led program UCAN aims to help high school students negotiate the sometimes tricky path to higher education.
January 31, 2013
Life after homelessness: Stephen Nelson to be honored at Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation
Formerly homeless, Nelson will be honored at the February 6 ceremony with the UCSC Tony Hill Award for his work ethic, communication skills, and strong sense of empathy.
January 30, 2013
Sociology alumnus named number two executive at International Crisis Group
Joost Hiltermann, who received his Ph.D. in sociology from UC Santa Cruz in 1988, has been named chief operating officer of the International Crisis Group based in Brussels.
January 28, 2013
Gail Hershatter to deliver 47th annual UCSC Faculty Research Lecture
UC Santa Cruz professor of history Gail Hershatter will deliver the 47th annual UCSC Faculty Research Lecture on Tuesday, February 12, at 7 p.m. at the Music Recital Hall in the UCSC Performing Arts Complex.
January 28, 2013
Scientists collect first intact samples from an Antarctic subglacial lake
A research team including UCSC scientists successfully drilled through the Antarctic ice and sampled a subglacial lake.
January 24, 2013
UCSC alums to perform at 12th annual SF Sketchfest comedy festival
Two UC Santa Cruz alumni-- Maya Rudolph (’95, Art) and Jesse Thorn (’03, American Studies)--will be featured performers at the 12th annual SF Sketchfest comedy festival, opening Jan. 24, and running through Feb. 10, at various venues throughout San Francisco.
January 23, 2013
Exhibition by internationally known environmental artists at Sesnon Gallery
In the mid 1990s, environmental artists Newton and Helen Harrison were asked by the Dalai Lama to create a work of art titled “Tibet is the Higher Ground.” That piece is just one sample of their work that will be on display at UCSC’s Sesnon Gallery, beginning February 6.
January 23, 2013
Scholarship Benefit Dinner February 23
Kevin Beggs, president of the television group that produces "Mad Men" and "Weeds," will speak at UCSC's 10th annual Scholarship Benefit Dinner, one of campus's premiere fundraising events.
January 23, 2013
Astronomer Mark Krumholz awarded AAS Warner Prize
Astronomer Mark Krumholz has been chosen to receive the 2013 Helen B. Warner Prize for Astronomy.
January 18, 2013
UCSC sees sharp increase in undergraduate applications for fall
More than 46,000 prospective undergraduates – the most ever – have applied for admission to UC Santa Cruz for the fall 2013 quarter.
January 17, 2013
Novel technique reveals dynamics of telomere DNA structure
New findings reveal structural properties of chromosome-capping telomeres, a potential target for anti-cancer drugs.
January 16, 2013
Legal strategies differ when labor rights and immigration policy conflict
In a new book, UC Santa Cruz professor Shannon Gleeson examines the paradox of federal labor rights enforcement and immigration policy and how the conflicts are dealt with in San Jose and Houston.
January 16, 2013
UCSC to host 3rd annual Peggy Downes Baskin Ethics Lecture, Jan. 31
The UC Santa Cruz Philosophy Department will host the third annual Peggy Downes Baskin Ethics Lecture on Thursday, Jan. 31. Jan Boxill to speak on “Using Sports as a Public Forum for Ethics”
January 16, 2013
U.S. team poised to begin drilling into subglacial lake in Antarctica
UCSC scientists are part of a team in Antarctica to investigate one of the last unexplored aquatic environments on Earth.
January 16, 2013
Educational advocate Robert Moses will be featured speaker at annual King Convocation
Robert P. Moses, a leading Civil Rights activist and a strong voice for educational reform, will deliver the keynote address at the 29th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Convocation.
January 15, 2013
Popping the question is his job
In a survey of young people, researchers at UC Santa Cruz report that both women and men tend to hold traditional views when it comes to marriage proposals.
January 11, 2013
Arts faculty collaborate for ‘Guitar Fantasy’
UCSC music lecturers Mesut Özgen and William Coulter will present “Guitar Fantasy”--a special program of Spanish, Latin American, Celtic, Turkish, and Russian music—on Friday, January 25, at the UCSC Music Center Recital Hall.
January 10, 2013
Monk seal book wins AAAS/Subaru prize for young adult science book
A book about Hawaiian monk seals by marine biologist Terrie Williams has received a prize for excellence in science books.
January 09, 2013
Music professor Linda Burman-Hall to receive Gail Rich Award
UC Santa Cruz professor of music Linda Burman-Hall will be one of six community members honored at the 17th annual Gail Rich Awards, Wednesday, January 23 at the Rio Theater in Santa Cruz.
January 09, 2013
Low extinction rates made California a refuge for diverse plant species
The remarkable diversity of California's plant life is largely the result of low extinction rates over the past 45 million years, scientists say.
January 02, 2013
Memorial for Don Rothman planned for Saturday, January 26
A memorial for Don Rothman, a leading voice for writers and writing during a distinguished 39-year career at UC Santa Cruz, will take place on January 26.