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University News

January 01, 2015
The birth of UC Santa Cruz: Audacious and academic
Fifty years ago—in 1965—the UC Santa Cruz campus began as 'the most significant educational experiment in the history of the University of California.'
December 18, 2014
UC Santa Cruz international economics Ph.D. named first woman on Swiss National Bank board
Andréa Maechler, who earned masters and Ph.D. degrees in international economics at UC Santa Cruz, has been named the first woman to sit on the governing board of Switzerland’s central bank.
December 18, 2014
2014 Photo Contest winners
We received more than 200 entries to this year's Chancellor's Holiday Photo Contest. Thank you for submitting your beautiful photos. Here is the winner and a few of our favorites.
December 15, 2014
UC Santa Cruz hosts an expanded Santa Cruz hackathon January 9 to 11
HACK UCSC 2015 is open to students throughout the Monterey Bay region
December 12, 2014
Astronomers' cosmic web discovery among top breakthroughs of 2014
Images of the 'Slug Nebula' provided the first glimpse of a filament of the cosmic web thought to connect galaxies throughout the universe.
December 11, 2014
Professors Leta Miller and Carolyn Dean honored for arts research
Acting Arts Dean Martin Berger has named the 2014 Arts Dean’s Eminent Professors, the division’s highest recognition of faculty research achievement.
December 11, 2014
Scientists reconstruct genome of common ancestor of crocodiles, birds, dinosaurs
A new study of crocodilian genomes led by scientists at UC Santa Cruz reveals an exceptionally slow rate of genome evolution.
December 10, 2014
UC Santa Cruz leads UC effort to study effects of climate change on ecosystems
A $1.9 million grant from the new UC President's Research Catalyst Awards will fund a UC-wide institute on climate impacts.
December 08, 2014
New fiction by alumna author featured in New Yorker
“Savage Breast,” a new short story by UC Santa Cruz alumna Elizabeth McKenzie, will be featured in the December 15 issue of The New Yorker magazine.
December 08, 2014
UC Santa Cruz professor honored by San Francisco Film Society
UC Santa Cruz arts professor B. Ruby Rich was honored at the San Francisco Film Society’s fifth annual Essential SF, an event celebrating the Bay Area film community's most vital figures and institutions.
December 08, 2014
Student robotics competition on Dec. 12 features "Game of Thrones" theme
Small autonomous robots built by UC Santa Cruz engineering students will face off in "Game of Drones" competition.
December 03, 2014
Lick Observatory plans major upgrade for Shane Telescope
UC Santa Cruz received $350,000 in grant and donor funds for an upgrade of the Kast Spectrograph, a crucial instrument for UC astronomers.
December 02, 2014
Study of deadly bat disease finds surprising seasonal pattern of infections
White-nose syndrome fungus can infect an entire bat colony during hibernation, but surviving bats clear the infection after they become active.
December 02, 2014
UC Santa Cruz undergrads earn bronze medal in bioengineering competition
A team of UC Santa Cruz undergraduates worked to engineer a microbe to produce biofuel from processed plant material.
December 01, 2014
Composting bins promote a handy diversion toward 2020 zero-waste goal
The first zero-waste stations at McHenry Library are in place, another step toward a goal of making the campus zero-waste by 2020.
November 28, 2014
Mountain lion sighting is the third near or on campus in four days
Two mountain lions were reported seen near the Barn Theater at the entrance to the UC Santa Cruz campus at about 3 a.m. Friday, November 28.
November 25, 2014
Sea otter at UC Santa Cruz's Long Marine Lab turns 21 years old
Stranded as a pup in 1993, Taylor turned 21 this month, far exceeding the average life span for a southern sea otter
November 25, 2014
Computer scientist Ethan Miller elected IEEE Fellow
Ethan Miller, professor of computer science, has been named a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
November 20, 2014
Hubble observations deepen mystery of how globular clusters form
New findings are at odds with leading theories for the formation of globular clusters of stars in galaxies
November 20, 2014
Ocean scientist Christina Ravelo receives Outstanding Faculty Award
Christina Ravelo, professor of ocean sciences, was recognized by the Division of Physical and Biological Sciences for her contributions.
November 19, 2014
UC Santa Cruz grad awarded Sutter scholarship for medical school
Matthew Carr, who graduated from UCSC in June with a degree in biology, will receive the 8th annual Primary Care Physician Award.
November 17, 2014
Virus identified as top suspect in sea star wasting disease
A previously unidentified virus has been linked to the sea star wasting syndrome that has devastated west coast starfish populations.
November 17, 2014
Evolutionary constraints revealed in diversity of fish skulls
The evolution of biting in eels allowed diversification of skull shapes, while suction feeding limits the skull shapes of most fish.
November 14, 2014
Center for Emerging Worlds launches with a year-long focus on global Islam
The Center for Emerging Worlds at UC Santa Cruz, which launched in September, addresses the many conflicts, environmental challenges, resource competitions, and ethnic and nationalist and religious tensions in the world.
November 14, 2014
Annual Norris Lecture on Nov. 20 features panel of six marine scientists
UC Santa Cruz marine scientists are among the three married couples who will discuss "When Ocean Science is the Family Business"
November 12, 2014
UCSC Arboretum holds annual Gift and Wreath Sale on November 22 and 23
Popular holiday sale is held in conjunction with an Open House at Norrie's Gift and Garden Shop at the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum
November 10, 2014
Wade Davis to speak at UC Santa Cruz on Nov. 14
Author, explorer, filmmaker, and professor Wade Davis will deliver the 14th Annual Sidhartha Maitra Memorial Lecture at UC Santa Cruz on Friday, November 14, at the Music Center Recital Hall.
November 07, 2014
Arts professor brings acclaimed Deaf poets to campus with ‘Eye Music’ festival
Nationally renowned Deaf poets and performing artists are coming to UC Santa Cruz for Eye Music--a four-day festival created and performed in American Sign Language (ASL).
November 07, 2014
UC Santa Cruz student researchers recognized at national conference
Five undergraduates doing research at UCSC were recognized for outstanding research presentations at the 2014 SACNAS conference.
November 06, 2014
UC Santa Cruz grad student among veterans honored by National Science Foundation
Ocean sciences grad student John Koster was one of 11 military veterans recognized in an event at NSF headquarters.
November 05, 2014
Acclaimed artist Guillermo Gómez-Peña to perform on campus
On Nov. 6, Guillermo Gómez-Peña comes to UC Santa Cruz for a special live performance titled "Imaginary Activism: The Role of the Artist Beyond the Art World" at the Digital Arts Research Center.
November 05, 2014
Leading conservationists call for a "unified and diverse conservation ethic"
UC Santa Cruz faculty are among conservationists leading the effort to resolve a polarizing debate over the reasons to conserve nature.
November 05, 2014
Study shows benefits of being fat (but not too fat) for deep-diving elephant seals
As elephant seals add to their fat stores, changes in buoyancy affect their swimming efficiency during deep dives in search of food.
November 04, 2014
Plant scientist Lincoln Taiz to give UC Santa Cruz emeriti lecture November 19
Taiz will discuss how the challenge of producing enough food for the world's growing population is exacerbated by climate change
November 04, 2014
UC confirms continued support of Lick Observatory
The UC Office of the President has reversed an earlier decision to pull funding from Lick Observatory by 2018.
November 03, 2014
NCI Cloud Pilot program to boost cancer genomics data sharing, accessibility
UC Santa Cruz and UC Berkeley partner with Broad Institute to build a cloud computing environment for large-scale analysis of cancer genomics data
October 31, 2014
UC Santa Cruz named one of the country’s best colleges for film majors
UC Santa Cruz has been ranked No. 7 in the country by College Factual for Best Bachelors Program for Film, Video and Photographic Arts.
October 31, 2014
From smart grids to flying robots, engineer finds many applications for theory
UC Santa Cruz computer engineer Ricardo Sanfelice uses hybrid systems analysis to understand and control systems with complex dynamical behavior
October 30, 2014
Game of genomes
Sammy the Slug, the neon-yellow, pop-eyed fixture at campus gatherings and sporting events, is about to reveal his genes to the world. Backers of a crowd-funding campaign hope to raise $20,000 to map the banana slug genome for the first time ever.
October 29, 2014
Toni Morrison and Angela Davis on friendship and creativity
During in-depth conversations this summer, Toni Morrison and Angela Davis share thoughts about their past collaboration, their longstanding friendship, and their bedrock belief in the power of literature.
October 29, 2014
UC Santa Cruz offers 'Genome Browser in a Box' for local installations
New software enables scientists to quickly install the UCSC Genome Browser on their own computers to protect sensitive genomic data.
October 28, 2014
UC Santa Cruz named a 'silver bicycle-friendly' university
UC Santa Cruz has been named a 'silver bicycle-friendly' university by the League of American Bicyclists.
October 27, 2014
Founders Celebration recipients share commitment to social justice
Acclaimed author Toni Morrison's appearance was a highlight of the 2014 Founders Celebration that also honored Professor Craig Haney, alumnus Mark Headley, and the Long family.
October 27, 2014
Novel biosensor technology could allow rapid detection of Ebola virus
Rapid detection of viruses without expensive equipment is among the potential applications of biosensor research at UC Santa Cruz.
October 22, 2014
Astrophysics meets theater in ‘Birth of Stars’
What does the birth and death of stars have to do with the lives of real human beings? How do we balance the joy and pain of life in a productive way? Does technology make us less than human…or something more?
October 21, 2014
A global surge of great earthquakes holds clues to future quakes
UC Santa Cruz seismologist Thorne Lay discusses the implications of recent studies for quake risk in Cascadia
October 20, 2014
UC Santa Cruz sponsored gender development conference celebrates 10 years
A national conference on gender development that UC Santa Cruz psychology professor Campbell Leaper founded 10 years ago will begin Thursday in San Francisco.
October 17, 2014
Social Justice lecture features expert on sexual violence in the military
Professor Elizabeth L. Hillman, a scholar and expert on sexual violence in the military, will speak Thursday, November 6, at UC Santa Cruz as part of the UC Hastings / UC Santa Cruz Social Justice Speakers Series.
October 16, 2014
Grad students' interactive fiction honored at IndieCade games festival
Ice-Bound is an interactive fiction piece created by two graduate students in the UC Santa Cruz Center for Games and Playable Media
October 16, 2014
Astronomers create first 3-D map of the 'adolescent' universe
Astronomers have created the first map of the ‘adolescent’ universe as it appeared 10.8 billion years ago.
October 14, 2014
Campus role in overturning Proposition 8
UC Santa Cruz alumna Kris Perry, a plaintiff in the landmark lawsuit that overturned California's ban against same sex marriage, described first the process of coming out in college and the decisions that followed later to challenge Proposition 8.
October 14, 2014
Acclaimed game designer joins UC Santa Cruz art faculty
Award-winning game designer and producer Robin Hunicke will join the UC Santa Cruz faculty in January as Associate Professor of Art & Game Design.
October 14, 2014
Jessica Fiske Bailey appointed executive director of UC Santa Cruz Arboretum
Jessica Fiske Bailey, assistant vice provost for academic affairs at UC Santa Cruz, has been named executive director of the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum.
October 13, 2014
UC Santa Cruz creates new Department of Computational Media
A new department builds on the success of the campus's pathbreaking programs in games and playable media
October 10, 2014
Social Sciences Research Frontiers Day focuses on data, environment, and justice
The second annual Social Sciences Research Frontiers Day at UC Santa Cruz will take place Friday, October 24, 2014, from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. with a focus on data, the environment, and justice.
October 10, 2014
Computer scientist Charlie McDowell recognized as advocate for women in tech
McDowell and alumnus Jacob Martinez are featured on a list of "10 Men Making Waves for Women in Tech"
October 09, 2014
A decade later: How the organic foods movement has grown and evolved
Professor Julie Guthman's "Agrarian Dreams: The Paradox of Organic Farming in California," was hailed as the first social science study of organic foods in the United States. A new, second edition looks at the state of the organic food movement and some of the strange puzzles that afflict it.
October 09, 2014
Astronomers analyze atmosphere of planet orbiting another star
Scientists have made the most detailed global map yet of the glow from a planet orbiting another star.
October 09, 2014
UC Santa Cruz leads $11 million Center for Big Data in Translational Genomics
National Institutes of Health awards UC Santa Cruz funding for new research center as part of the NIH Big Data to Knowledge initiative.
October 08, 2014
Merrill alumna who challenged same-sex marriage ban to speak Monday, Oct. 13
Kris Perry, a Merrill College alumna who was a lead plaintiff in the California same-sex marriage case that went to the U.S. Supreme Court last year, is scheduled to speak at noon Monday, October 13, at Kresge Town Hall on the UC Santa Cruz campus.
October 08, 2014
Institute of Arts and Sciences offers LASER talk on Oct. 28
UC Santa Cruz’s Institute of the Arts and Sciences will present its first “LASER” talk of the academic year on October 28 at the Digital Arts Research Center.
October 07, 2014
Graduate applications, enrollment increase at UC Santa Cruz
Graduate student enrollment at UC Santa Cruz is projected to top 1,625 for fall 2014, about 9 percent of total enrollment, indicating continued strong interest in the academic programs offered.
October 06, 2014
UCSC Farm hosts Fall Harvest Festival Sunday, October 12
Bright orange pumpkins, roasted red peppers, and apples galore mark the changing seasons at the 20th annual Fall Harvest Festival, Sunday, October 12 at UC Santa Cruz’s 30-acre organic farm.
October 03, 2014
Class features diverse voices on Israeli-Palestinian conflict
"Perspectives on Israel/Palestine," beginning this month will feature a speakers series with diverse voices on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and is open to the public.
October 03, 2014
UC Santa Cruz Arboretum holds Fall Plant Sale on Saturday, October 11
The Arboretum's annual fall sale features beautiful, drought-tolerant plants from around the world
October 03, 2014
UC Santa Cruz ranked first for research influence in world university rankings
Times Higher Education measured overall research influence based on the average number of citations per paper published by faculty.
October 02, 2014
Five artists collaborate on experimental book art
When fully opened, Felicia Rice’s book literally unfolds like an accordion along the length of a 30-foot table...
October 02, 2014
Study of mountain lion energetics shows the power of the pounce
High-tech collars enabled scientists to track mountain lions in the wild and determine how much energy the big cats use to hunt their prey.
October 02, 2014
Educational Partnership Center lands $3.27 million grant to help students achieve college
UC Santa Cruz’s Educational Partnership Center has been awarded a $3.27 million federal grant over seven years to help prepare middle and high school students in the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District for college.
October 02, 2014
Astronomer Claire Max appointed interim director of UC Observatories
Claire Max, professor of astronomy and astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz, succeeds Sandra Faber as interim director of UC Observatories.
October 01, 2014
UCSC Ebola genome browser now online to aid researchers' response to crisis
The UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute late Tuesday (September 30) released a new Ebola genome browser to assist global efforts to develop a vaccine and antiserum to help stop the spread of the Ebola virus.
September 29, 2014
Move-In 2014, a photographic journey
Move-in is always a time of mixed emotions: anticipation, joy, excitement, and even nervousness for students. A series of photographs captures some of the scenes.
September 29, 2014
Simulations reveal unusual death for ancient stars
Study led by UC Santa Cruz postdoc indicates some supernovae would leave no remnant black hole behind
September 28, 2014
Human genome was shaped by an evolutionary arms race with itself
A study of primate genomes reveals an ongoing battle to control "jumping genes," driving the evolution of greater genomic complexity
September 26, 2014
Fall Living Writers Series to feature Tobias Wolff, Karen Joy Fowler
Award-winning authors Tobias Wolff, Karen Joy Fowler, and Andrew Lam are just a few of the notable guests coming to UC Santa Cruz for the Fall 2014 Living Writers Series
September 26, 2014
"Seeding Innovation" event highlights green technology projects
Collaborations between UC Santa Cruz undergrads and community mentors are featured in October 3 event at marine sanctuary center.
September 24, 2014
UC Santa Cruz welcomes diverse, academically advanced class for fall 2014
UC Santa Cruz students begin moving into university housing Wednesday, September 24, in anticipation of fall quarter for the 2014-15 academic year. "Move-in" for students living on campus will continue Friday through Sunday, September 28.
September 23, 2014
UC Santa Cruz establishes Symantec Presidential Chair in Storage and Security
Computer scientist Ethan Miller has been appointed to a new endowed chair funded by a gift from Symantec and UC Presidential matching funds
September 22, 2014
Linguists receive $260,000 grant to study endangered Irish language
“Although we all have tongues, we are surprisingly bad at knowing precisely what they're doing or conveying that to others,” says UC Santa Cruz professor of linguistics Jaye Padgett...
September 22, 2014
Mixing it up on Science Hill
An innovative graduate program on Science Hill is breaking down barriers between the biomedical sciences, encouraging interdisciplinary research, and enabling students from different departments and divisions to work closely together.
September 22, 2014
California's sea otter numbers holding steady
California's sea otter population is slowly swimming toward recovery, according to the latest field survey.
September 19, 2014
Library taps specialist to explore role of technology in Humanities research
The University Library and Humanities Division have jointly awarded a two-year Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) Postdoctoral Fellowship supporting digital humanities scholarship to Rachel Deblinger.
September 18, 2014
Study shows how epigenetic memory is passed across generations
Researchers traced markers of gene repression and showed that both sperm and eggs transmit a memory of gene repression to embryos.
September 18, 2014
Renowned astronomer Harland Epps to be honored at ‘Harfest’ conference Sept. 23-24
Leading astronomers from around the world will gather to honor UC Santa Cruz astronomer Harland W. Epps, who retired in July.
September 16, 2014
Native vegetation makes a comeback on Santa Cruz Island
Study led by UC Santa Cruz undergrads shows native shrubs reclaiming the island on their own after removal of introduced grazers.
September 12, 2014
UC Santa Cruz film professor’s original animation to debut on PBS.org
John Jota Leaños's unconventional short film uses humor, hip hop, and comic book style animation to tell a fascinating story of revolt in the U.S.-Mexico borderlands
September 11, 2014
Teaching computers the nuances of human conversation
Computer scientist Marilyn Walker wants to make spoken dialogue systems more responsive to the user.
September 11, 2014
Julie Packard: Philanthropy and pragmatism
Alumna (Crown '74, biology; M.A. '78) talks about investing in passion, working to make change, and expanding world views through the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
September 08, 2014
Study traces ecological collapse over 6,000 years of Egyptian history
Ancient Egyptian artworks helped scientists reconstruct how animal communities changed as climate became drier and human populations grew
August 31, 2014
Mixing in star-forming clouds explains why sibling stars look alike
New findings suggest chemical fingerprints can be used to identify stars born in the same cluster
August 26, 2014
UC Santa Cruz alum wins Emmy for HBO drama ‘True Detective’
UC Santa Cruz alumnus Cary Fukunaga picked up an Emmy Award last night in the category of “Outstanding Director for a Drama Series” for the HBO series True Detective.
August 22, 2014
'New Parent' chat will use social media to connect with new Slug families
Parents of incoming Banana Slugs will soon have a chance to ask candid questions and concerns with a group of campus experts without ever having to leave their homes, jump in their cars, or even turn off their home computers.
August 21, 2014
Peter Raven, leading botanist and environmentalist, to speak at UC Santa Cruz Arboretum
Botanist Peter Raven will give a talk entitled "Saving Plants, Saving Ourselves" on September 9
August 20, 2014
History professor speaks at State Capitol in support of refugee children
UC Santa Cruz Professor of History Dana Frank testified yesterday in Sacramento to support a California State Assembly resolution on the treatment of refugees from Central America.
August 20, 2014
Undergraduates present work at Summer Research Symposium
Research presentations featured UCSC students in a range of disciplines and others who came to UCSC for summer projects.
August 20, 2014
'Science Notes 2014' now available online
The weird and wondrous feeding habits of moray eels are among the featured stories in the Science Communication Program's magazine.
August 19, 2014
UC Santa Cruz moves up in Shanghai ranking of world universities
UC Santa Cruz is ranked 93 among the world's best universities and in the top 50 in the U.S., according to the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) published by a Shanghai education-consulting firm.
August 18, 2014
Grad student unites personal passion and programming skills to help others
Computer science graduate student Lourdes Morales is working to help others with disabilities use technology.
August 18, 2014
Breast Cancer Breakthrough Award funds search for new treatments
Cancer researcher Seth Rubin is working toward the development of a new class of drugs for treating breast cancer.
August 15, 2014
UC Santa Cruz names Tyler Stovall new dean of Humanities
UC Santa Cruz has appointed Tyler Stovall to serve as dean of the Humanities Division, effective Spring Quarter.
August 14, 2014
Construction of new Coastal Biology building to begin in November
Construction will begin in November on a new building near Long Marine Laboratory at the UC Santa Cruz coastal science campus.
August 13, 2014
Novel chip-based platform could simplify measurements of single molecules
A nanopore-gated optofluidic chip combines electrical and optical measurements of single molecules onto a single platform
August 12, 2014
Private donors contribute more than $50 million to UC Santa Cruz
Private financial commitments to UC Santa Cruz for the fiscal year ended June 30 topped $50 million for the first time, bringing the total for The Campaign for UC Santa Cruz to more than $180 million.
August 07, 2014
Cancer study reveals powerful new system for classifying tumors
One in ten cancer patients would be classified differently using a new classification system based on molecular subtypes.
August 06, 2014
NIH awards $2 million to UCSC group for DNA sequencing research
Biomolecular engineer Mark Akeson leads efforts to develop nanopore technology for DNA sequencing.
August 05, 2014
UC Santa Cruz Internet access project wins University of California IT award
A UC Santa Cruz project to bring broadband Internet services to underserved communities in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties has won a University of California award for information technology.
August 05, 2014
Dickens Project at UC Santa Cruz announces endowment drive
Literature Professor John Jordan announced an endowment drive to support the Dickens Project today at the annual Dickens Universe gathering now taking place on campus
August 04, 2014
Old evidence leads to new ideas about earthquake hazards in Pacific Northwest
Sediment cores collected in 1960s by geologist Gary Griggs have attracted renewed scrutiny for clues to Cascadia earthquakes.
July 31, 2014
Global Alliance for Genomics and Health unveils new genomics interface
The Global Alliance for Genomics and Health has released a new Application Programming Interface (API) for seamless sharing of genomic data.
July 30, 2014
Tidal forces gave moon its shape, according to new analysis
Most of the moon's overall shape can be explained by taking into account tidal effects acting early in the moon's history.
July 29, 2014
Scholarship support available for UC Santa Cruz organic farming training program
Applications are now open for the 2015 Apprenticeship in Ecological Horticulture program, with a range of scholarship support available
July 28, 2014
Cassini finds 101 geysers and more on icy Saturn moon
Scientists on NASA's Cassini mission have identified 101 distinct geysers erupting on Saturn's small, icy moon Enceladus.
July 28, 2014
Next-generation Thirty Meter Telescope to begin construction in Hawaii
The TMT has its roots at UC Santa Cruz, where astronomers have been working for years on the design of this powerful new telescope.
July 24, 2014
Exhibit on extraordinary literary history of Grateful Dead to open at Archive
Few bands in popular music have had a more dynamic literary history than the Grateful Dead. With that in mind, UC Santa Cruz has put together the third annual exhibition for the campus’s Grateful Dead Archive.
July 16, 2014
Studying death in ancient Greece
Last year, UC Santa Cruz received a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to undertake a summer institute investigating the history of mortality in ancient Greek culture...
July 10, 2014
Alumnus Cary Fukunaga earns Emmy nomination for HBO's 'True Detective’
UC Santa Cruz alumnus Cary Fukunaga has been nominated for an Emmy Award in the category of “Outstanding Director for a Drama Series” for the HBO show "True Detective"
July 10, 2014
Retired UC Santa Cruz staff members endow scholarship for student veterans
A group of retired UC Santa Cruz staff members has met its goal to raise $50,000 to endow a fund that commemorates the late project architect Bruce Lane and helps veteran military students on campus.
July 09, 2014
UC Santa Cruz graduates featured at SF innovative art and music festival
Interactive art installations by four recent UC Santa Cruz graduates will be featured at the opening night of Soundwave--San Francisco’s innovative biennial three month art and music festival—at the California Academy of Sciences.
July 08, 2014
UC Santa Cruz names Elizabeth Cowell new University Librarian
M. Elizabeth Cowell has been selected by UC Santa Cruz as the campus’s new University Librarian, effective July 15.
July 07, 2014
Two UC Santa Cruz Earth scientists honored by American Geophysical Union
Gary Glatzmaier and Thorne Lay will receive AGU medals in recognition of their breakthrough achievements in Earth science.
July 02, 2014
Porter College hosts ceremony for 94 newly naturalized U.S. citizens
Ninety-four new Americans were sworn in during citizenship ceremonies held Wednesday at Porter College on the UC Santa Cruz campus.
June 30, 2014
$4-million gift establishes endowment to support sustainable agriculture
A $4-million gift to the University of California, Santa Cruz will establish an endowment to support the Apprenticeship in Ecological Horticulture, the nation's first hands-on training program for beginning organic farmers at a public university.
June 30, 2014
Astrophysicist Douglas Lin wins 2014 Brouwer Award
Douglas N. C. Lin earns recognition for outstanding contributions to the field of dynamical astronomy.
June 26, 2014
UCSC graduate student is a new kind of storyteller
Aaron Reed's award-winning games use computer technology to explore the possibilities of interactive fiction.
June 25, 2014
UC Santa Cruz to offer sustainability minor beginning in fall
UC Santa Cruz will offer a minor in Sustainability studies beginning in the fall 2014 quarter with a strong engineering component that is aimed at giving students extensive hands-on experience that can lead to jobs in a "green economy."
June 24, 2014
From mandolins to cheerleading squads: UC Santa Cruz summer conferences cater to all interests
More than 50 conferences will expand the minds and hone the skills of roughly 10,000 people this summer.
June 23, 2014
Lionel Cantu Queer Center director receives lifetime achievement award
Deborah Abbott, director of the Lionel Cantú Queer Center at UC Santa Cruz since 1997, has received an LGBTQ Lifetime Achievement Award from the Diversity Center of Santa Cruz County.
June 23, 2014
A summery summary of UC Santa Cruz attractions
In the academic off-season, when most students clear out, UC Santa Cruz remains open for the curious, the desk-bound, the restless, and the hungry.
June 19, 2014
UC Santa Cruz humanities alum named 2014 ACLS Public Fellow
UC Santa Cruz humanities alumnus Michael Ursell has been named a 2014 ACLS Public Fellow by the American Council of Learned Societies.
June 19, 2014
Student philanthropists step up to help fellow Banana Slugs with Senior Legacy Fund
This “Slugs helping Slugs’’ philosophy drives members of UC Santa Cruz's Senior Class Council, a student philanthropy group that steps up to give moral support and financial help to fellow students.
June 17, 2014
Carving out their niche
Alumni business partners find Kickstarter enthusiasm for their creation — a programmable desktop 3-D router with a consumer-friendly a price tag.
June 16, 2014
Thousands receive degrees at UCSC weekend commencement ceremonies
Reflection and celebration were in the air as thousands of students and their loved ones gathered on the fields of UC Santa Cruz during commencement weekend.
June 12, 2014
Steck Award honoree recognized for cancer project
UC Santa Cruz senior Beau Norgeot received UCSC's highest honor for an undergraduate research project for his cancer drug project.
June 11, 2014
Energy demands of raising a pup push sea otter moms to the limit
Study by UCSC biologists reveals just how much it costs a sea otter mom to raise her pup.
June 10, 2014
Human rights activist named winner of Gabriel Zimmerman Scholarship
Abuoali "Arash" Mohajerinejad is the third winner of the Gabriel Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship given to a social sciences undergrad committed to a career in public service.
June 10, 2014
Eight faculty members honored with Excellence in Teaching awards
One of the highest honors a UC Santa Cruz faculty member can receive is an Excellence in Teaching Award given each spring by the Academic Senate's Committee on Teaching.
June 10, 2014
Never give up on a dream
Re-entry student Raymundo Reyes, who dropped out of high school to raise seven siblings, is on to his next chapter—a literature degree from UC Santa Cruz.
June 10, 2014
Student entrepreneurs pitch business ideas developed at UC Santa Cruz
The Entrepreneurship Showcase in Silicon Valley featured cash prizes, networking, and real-world business challenges for students.
June 06, 2014
UCSC to offer new B.A. degree in Critical Race and Ethnic Studies
Beginning this fall, students at UC Santa Cruz can now declare a major in Critical Race and Ethnic Studies (CRES), leading to a new bachelor of arts degree.
June 06, 2014
Wlad Godzich receives Dizikes Award for teaching in Humanities
Distinguished Professor of Literature Wlad Godzich was presented with the John Dizikes Faculty Teaching Award in Humanities.
June 05, 2014
New book features stunning photos of California coast from the air
California Coast from the Air, the latest book by coastal geologist Gary Griggs, features aerial photographs of the state's coastline.
June 04, 2014
UCSC selects acclaimed New York firm to design Institute of Arts and Sciences
The University of California, Santa Cruz, announced today that the award-winning New York firm, Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, has been selected to design the campus’s new Institute of the Arts and Sciences.
June 04, 2014
West's fascination with Tiananmen Square events not shared in China
China today is a society mesmerized by wealth, vastly different from 1989 when on June 3 authorities began the crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, says Ben Read, UCSC associate professor of politics.
June 04, 2014
Huffman Prize winner approaches bioengineering with an artist's eye
Payam Yousefi, who graduates in June with a B.S. in bioengineering and a minor in bioinformatics, is the 2014 Huffman Prize winner.
June 03, 2014
Astronomers detect two planets orbiting nearby ancient star
An international team of scientists has reported two planets orbiting a nearby and very old star known as Kapteyn's star.
June 02, 2014
Corporate-sponsored projects give engineering students valuable experience
UCSC engineering students presented their corporate-sponsored senior design projects to mentors and faculty
May 30, 2014
Oakes student's football helmet science project scores two White House visits
A chance to visit the White House and chat with the president is a pretty big deal for most people, but UC Santa Cruz student Maria Hanes had the opportunity twice this week.
May 29, 2014
8th annual screening of Soc Doc graduate films at Del Mar Theatre
UCSC presents the 8th annual exhibition of thesis films from the Film and Digital Media Department’s masters program in Social Documentation on June 11.
May 29, 2014
UC Santa Cruz commencements are set for June 13-15
Commencement ceremonies at UC Santa Cruz are scheduled for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, June 13-15, hosted by UCSC's 10 colleges, as well as the graduate division and the Baskin School of Engineering.
May 29, 2014
Congrats, Class of 2014!
Ideally, we'd profile every one of UCSC's talented, passionate, and determined graduates--but the three students featured here serve as excellent representatives of the Class of 2014.
May 29, 2014
UCSC receives major grant to revamp introductory science courses
A $1.5 million grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute supports efforts to increase the number of students earning science degrees
May 28, 2014
Social Sciences division ranked 7th for faculty impact in news media
The Social Sciences Division at UC Santa Cruz ranks seventh in the nation in a study based on faculty citations in the news media compared with federal research funding.
May 28, 2014
UCSC research helps extend Internet backbone in Santa Cruz, Monterey counties
A survey of unmet broadband needs by UC Santa Cruz information technology experts proved key to the approval last month of a $10.6 million state grant to extend a fiber optic Internet backbone from into the Salinas Valley.
May 27, 2014
First annual spring ‘Celebration of the Arts’ set for June 6
On Friday, June 6, the UCSC Arts Division will present its first annual "Celebration of the Arts," featuring work from students in all six departments of the division.
May 27, 2014
NSF grant funds development of alternatives to phthalate plasticizers
Chemistry professor Rebecca Braslau has developed a new approach that could lead to a safe and affordable alternative to widely used phthalates
May 24, 2014
Santa Barbara tragedy: UCSC students hold vigil
In a message Saturday, Chancellor Blumenthal expressed horror at the shootings near UC Santa Barbara and reminded students of available counseling support. UCSC students held a campus vigil Monday.
May 23, 2014
UCSC honors Jack Baskin with a plaque at the Baskin School of Engineering
Campus leaders honored Jack Baskin for his many contributions to the Baskin School of Engineering in a ceremony on Thursday.
May 22, 2014
CAFIN Spring Lecture: Finance at light speed, high-frequency trading
An expert on high-frequency stock market trading will deliver the Spring Lecture of the UC Santa Cruz Center for Analytical Finance (CAFIN) on Wednesday, May 28, from 3:30-5 p.m. in the Simularium, E2 Building on the UCSC campus.
May 22, 2014
Gun control, gun rights, and Second Amendment panel set for Wednesday
Gun advocates, gun opponents, and Constitutional experts will discuss gun control, gun rights, and Second Amendment issues Wednesday, May 28, at 7 p.m. at the Colleges Nine and Ten Multipurpose Room on the UCSC campus.
May 21, 2014
Acclaimed TV and film producers coming to UCSC on May 28
The 2014 Arts Dean's Lecture Series comes to a close on Wednesday, May 28, with a special panel discussion featuring prominent artists from the television and film industry.
May 21, 2014
New book examines states' influence on national voter turnout
In her new book, Melanie Jean Springer, UC Santa Cruz assistant professor of politics, examines voter turnout in the United States, one of the lowest in any developed democracy, and reform efforts to improve it.
May 21, 2014
Astronomer Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz wins fellowship at Harvard's Radcliffe Institute
Astrophysicist Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz is among a select group of 50 artists and scholars chosen for the Radcliffe Fellows Program.
May 20, 2014
Focus on excellence: Student Achievement Week recognizes outstanding work
Student Achievement Week from June 2-6 honors high academic achievement and creativity. Highlights include a science and mathematics poster symposium and the 40th annual Print Sale.
May 20, 2014
UCSC data storage researchers tackle practical problems
In the rapidly evolving field of data storage, UCSC has been a leading academic research center for more than a decade.
May 19, 2014
Wireless camera network offers new possibilities for security systems
A prototype solar-powered device developed at UCSC has potential applications for security cameras and wildlife monitoring in remote areas.
May 16, 2014
Irwin Scholars Exhibition opens May 28 at UCSC’s Sesnon Gallery
Each year in the spring, the annual Irwin Scholars Exhibition at the Sesnon Gallery showcases some of UCSC’s most promising young artists.
May 16, 2014
Astronomer Harland Epps honored by Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Harland Epps, a pioneer of astronomical optics, will receive the ASP's Maria and Eric Muhlmann Award.
May 14, 2014
Land and power: Study shows how women discover one leads to the other
UC Santa Cruz assistant professor of psychology Shelly Grabe finds that when women in developing countries own land, they gain power within their relationships and are less likely to experience violence.
May 14, 2014
11th Cesar Chavez Convocation features activist, educator Cesar Cruz
The 11th annual Cesar Chavez Convocation will feature Cesar A. Cruz, a writer, educator, and community organizer who will speak on the need for immigration reform.
May 14, 2014
Cancer biologist Joan Brugge to give annual Sinsheimer Lecture May 22
Joan Brugge from Harvard Medical School will deliver the 2014 Sinsheimer Distinguished Lecture in Biology on Thursday, May 22.
May 13, 2014
UCSC grad student to promote short film at Cannes Film Festival
UC Santa Cruz graduate student Rolando Vargas is heading to France this week for the screening of his documentary film, "Walking Kids of Choco," at the 67h annual Cannes Film Festival.
May 13, 2014
Coral reefs provide valuable protection for coastlines
A new study shows that coral reefs offer cost-effective protection from coastal storms, flooding, and rising sea levels.
May 13, 2014
Into the wilderness: Intrepid hiker, biologist blazes her own trail
The 34-year-old UC Santa Cruz alum Sage Clegg is the first woman to complete the triple crown of long-distance, end-to-end trail hiking — hoofing 7,400 miles over the Pacific Crest Trail, the Continental Divide Trail, and the Appalachian Trail — in only 18 months.
May 12, 2014
Good humor and hard work: Associate registrar Margie Claxton recognized with Outstanding Staff Award
Margie Claxton, this year’s UCSC Alumni Association Outstanding Staff Award honoree, takes on “unimaginably gargantuan tasks,” according to the co-workers who nominated her for the award.
May 12, 2014
Awards recognize top presentations at Graduate Research Symposium
Graduate students from all divisions shared their research at the 10th Annual Graduate Research Symposium.
May 08, 2014
UCSC emeritus professor Nathaniel Mackey wins prestigious poetry prize
Nathaniel Mackey, professor emeritus of literature at UC Santa Cruz, has been named the winner of the Poetry Foundation’s 2014 Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize.
May 08, 2014
GPS collar documents puma's travels from mountains to Mountain View
Forty-six m (46m) is a young puma on the move. A GPS tracking collar that UC Santa Cruz scientists placed around his neck reveals his journey into suburban Silicon Valley.
May 08, 2014
UCSC engineer focuses on assistive technology for people with disabilities
Roberto Manduchi applies computer vision technology to develop products that address daily challenges faced by visually impaired people.
May 07, 2014
Proportion of shade-grown coffee shrinks as overall cultivation grows
While the cultivation of coffee has increased globally, the proportion of shade-grown coffee has fallen by nearly 20 percent since 1996, according to a study published in the May 5th issue of the journal BioScience.
May 07, 2014
Cosmologist Tom Abel explores the early universe in public lecture May 27
Inaugural Mandel Lecture will provide a fascinating journey through the first billion years of our universe
May 06, 2014
Thorne Lay honored by Seismological Society of America
Harry Fielding Reid Medal is the second major honor in one week for Lay, who was just elected to the National Academy of Sciences
May 02, 2014
Anthropocene conference looks at living life on a damaged planet
Can humans and other species continue to inhabit the Earth together after all the havoc that has been wrought? And how will they do it? These questions are at the heart of an international conference next week at UC Santa Cruz.
May 02, 2014
Danny Scheie to direct student cast in ‘revolutionary’ rock musical
UCSC Theater Arts professor Danny Scheie will direct a student cast in the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical "Rent" at the Mainstage Theater.
May 02, 2014
Grad students in the spotlight at Graduate Research Symposium May 9
The 10th annual Graduate Research Symposium will take place on Friday, May 9, at McHenry Library.
May 01, 2014
UCSC language students to present International Playhouse
UCSC will present the 14th season of "The Miriam Ellis International Playhouse," an annual program of fully-staged short theater pieces by students in the Languages and Applied Linguistics Department.
May 01, 2014
UCSC ranks 2nd in the U.S., 11th overall among universities under 50
UC Santa Cruz ranks 2nd in the U.S. and 11th overall among the top universities in the world under 50 years old, according to an annual analysis by Times Higher Education (THE).
April 30, 2014
Red Hat to acquire Inktank, a cloud storage company with UCSC roots
Software provider Red Hat will acquire Inktank, a data storage company with origins in a UCSC research project, for $175 million.
April 29, 2014
Acclaimed game designer coming to UCSC’s Digital Arts Research Center
Award-winnning game designer and producer Robin Hunicke will present a talk titled “Expanding Games” on Tuesday, May 6, at the UCSC Digital Arts Research Center.
April 29, 2014
Two UCSC professors elected to National Academy of Sciences
Ecologist James Estes and seismologist Thorne Lay have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences.
April 28, 2014
Slugs, selfies, and loads of 'likes': well-wishers converge for Alumni Weekend 2014
Old pals reconnected, Sammy the Slug photo-bombed a few 'selfies,' and revelers took classes just for the fun of it during UCSC Alumni Weekend 2014
April 28, 2014
Leon Panetta touts 'real grit,' blasts congressional gridlock at Launch celebration
Former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta fired up a crowd of 275 with shout-outs for ingenuity and “sheer grit" at Launch! A celebration of the UCSC student experience
April 25, 2014
UCSC awards first annual Gram Memorial Scholarship to creative writing student
UCSC student James Williams, a former machinist who returned to school to be around “people who talk about books,” is now the first recipient of the Kenneth Andrew Gram Memorial Scholarship.
April 25, 2014
Alumna Kathryn Sullivan on Time's '100 Most Influential People' list
UCSC alumna Kathryn Sullivan is featured on Time magazine's 2014 list of the "100 Most Influential People in the World."
April 24, 2014
$1 million gift from alumna Julie Packard funds student programs at UCSC
UCSC has received a $1 million gift from alumna Julie Packard, executive director of the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
April 23, 2014
Food, agriculture and adventure on Maui: UCSC students get down and dirty on alternate spring break
A unique alternative spring break program gives students a way to explore Maui’s food systems and allow some hands-on learning
April 23, 2014
UCSC receives NEA grant for art/science project on ocean ecology
UCSC has been awarded an NEA grant to support Blue Trail: Imagination and Innovation for Ocean Sustainability--a series of art installations that will be spread out across the San Francisco waterfront.
April 22, 2014
De-extinction: Building future worlds with extinct organisms?
De-extinction and the accompanying moral and ethical questions will be probed Wednesday, April 23 as the UC Santa Cruz Science and Justice Working Group hosts “De-Extinction: Building Future Worlds with Extinct Organisms?”
April 22, 2014
UCSC highlighted in Guide to Green Colleges
UCSC is one of four UC campuses scoring 99 points–the most possible–in The Princeton Review’s Guide to 332 Green Colleges, a free guide featuring colleges with a strong commitment to the environment and to sustainability.
April 18, 2014
UC Santa Cruz increases admission to California freshmen for fall 2014
UC Santa Cruz offered admission to 23,176 students for its fall 2014 freshmen class, the vast majority coming from California high schools.
April 18, 2014
Celebrating a milestone: distinguished crowd gathers at Founders Rock to mark the dedication of UC Santa Cruz
On April 17, 1964, nearly 2,000 people climbed a grassy hillside to witness the dedication of the University of California’s newest campus at Santa Cruz. A crowd of 100 people gathered to reflect and celebrate this week.
April 17, 2014
UCSC theater arts professor designs lighting for Billy Crystal HBO special
During the first week of January—in the midst of the polar vortex that was blasting the country—UCSC theater arts professor David Cuthbert was freezing in a video truck parked outside the stage door of the Imperial Theater in New York...
April 17, 2014
New program pairs alumni mentors with engineering undergraduates
Engineering students benefit from the experience and industry connections of alumni mentors.
April 16, 2014
UCSC grad students to showcase digital art with social impact
Eleven graduate students from UCSC's Digital Arts and New Media M.F.A. Program (DANM) will conclude two years of artistic study with "Undercurrents"--an exhibition running on campus April 26 through May 4.
April 15, 2014
'Condor Watch' enlists citizen scientists to help an endangered species
Biologists studying the endangered California condor have launched a new web site to enlist the help of citizen scientists.
April 15, 2014
DNA Day on April 25 commemorates completion of Human Genome Project
UCSC will host an informative celebration of DNA Day, a national event on Friday, April 25.
April 14, 2014
Alumnus Robert Dawson receives Guggenheim award for photography
UC Santa Cruz alumnus Robert Dawson has been awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in the Creative Arts for photography.
April 11, 2014
Panetta to deliver keynote at Launch! a celebration of the student experience
Leon Panetta, former CIA director and secretary of defense, will address whether America is in renaissance or decline during Launch! A celebration of the UCSC student experience featuring a dinner and exhibitions of student work.
April 11, 2014
President Obama nominates UCSC alumnus as NEH chair
President Obama announced today his intent to nominate UC Santa Cruz alumnus Dr. William “Bro” Adams as Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
April 10, 2014
B. Ruby Rich to host lecture series on 'New Queer Cinema'
This spring, the 2014 Arts Dean's Lecture Series "Issues in the Arts" features a series of free lectures by guest speakers from the film course "Lesbian, Gay, and Queer Cinema," taught by UCSC professor and film critic B. Ruby Rich.
April 10, 2014
History professor Terry Burke to give 2014 Emeriti Faculty Lecture
Emeritus history professor Edmund “Terry” Burke III, director of the UCSC Center for World History, will deliver the 2014 Spring Emeriti Faculty Lecture on Thursday, April 17, at the UCSC Music Center Recital Hall.
April 10, 2014
Deer fawning season alert
Please be aware that spring is the prime birthing season for a wide variety of campus wildlife, including deer.
April 09, 2014
Coupon sharing app wins top prize in first UCSC hackathon
About 100 UCSC students turned out for HACK UCSC 2014, the first UCSC hackathon.
April 09, 2014
'War to Home' exhibition shares veterans' realities of military service
An exhibit at UCSC's Porter College explores the impact of military service, deployment, and homecoming for 40 veterans of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
April 07, 2014
Orbital physics is child's play with 'Super Planet Crash'
An online game and educational resources are offshoots of the software astronomers use to find planets beyond our solar system
April 07, 2014
International Court of Justice rules against Japanese whaling program
UCSC mathematical biologist Marc Mangel testified in a case challenging the legality of Japan's controversial whaling program.
April 03, 2014
UCSC alumni photographers focus on environment for exhibition
Three UC Santa Cruz alumni photographers will present their work as artists, environmentalists, and educators at a new exhibition beginning April 9, at the Sesnon Gallery.
March 31, 2014
'April in Santa Cruz' music festival returns to UCSC, April 4-18
The UCSC Music Department will present "April in Santa Cruz," a two-week series of free performances on campus, April 4-18.
March 31, 2014
$2-million gift supports natural history fieldwork at UC Santa Cruz
A $2-million gift from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation in honor of the late professor Kenneth Norris will help ensure that UC Santa Cruz continues as a leader in natural history and at the forefront of educating students to become environmental leaders.
March 31, 2014
Great classes, no quizzes: alumni go 'back to school' for Teach-Ins
Choose between forensic anthropology, evolution, and espionage at annual academic afternoon featuring Alison Galloway, Ed Green and Bruce Thompson.
March 31, 2014
Music and stargazing draw summer visitors to Lick Observatory
For over 30 years, the summer programs at UC's Lick Observatory have drawn music lovers and astronomy buffs to the top of Mt. Hamilton.
March 28, 2014
Seymour Center honors Ocean Conservancy's Andreas Merkl with Global Oceans Award
Ocean Conservancy president and UCSC alumnus Andreas Merkl was honored at the Global Oceans Awards Gala.
March 27, 2014
UCSC Arboretum holds annual Spring Plant Sale on Saturday, April 12
The Arboretum offers new, colorful, drought-tolerant, and unusual plants for creating dynamic central coast gardens.
March 26, 2014
Scholarship fund opened in memory of slain UCSC grad Elizabeth Butler
A scholarship fund has been opened in memory of Elizabeth Butler, the UC Santa Cruz Community Studies graduate who became a Santa Cruz police officer and was killed on duty a year ago.
March 26, 2014
Genome scientist Melissa Cline honored for mentoring women in science
Melissa Cline, a project scientist for the Cancer Genomics Browser, will receive the 2014 Ellen Weaver Award for mentoring young women in science.
March 26, 2014
Lemonade on Science Hill supports cancer research
The lemonade stand that will be set up in the engineering courtyard on Friday, April 18, is about far more than a glass of lemonade.
March 26, 2014
UCSC students will code for Santa Cruz in April 5-6 'hackathon'
The first UC Santa Cruz "hackathon" will bring together student software developers, designers, and entrepreneurs.
March 25, 2014
Lick's Automated Planet Finder: First robotic telescope for planet hunters
In its first months of operation, the APF has found two new planetary systems, giving astronomers a taste of planetary riches to come
March 24, 2014
Exxon Valdez oil spill was a turning point for biologist Terrie Williams
Twenty-five years ago, the Exxon Valdez ran aground off the coast of Alaska and spilled 11 million gallons of crude oil.
March 21, 2014
Deconstruction begins of historic Cowell Ranch barn
Crews began dismantling the historic Cowell Ranch hay barn Tuesday (March 18), the first step in a multi-year process to rebuild it as a home for many of UCSC's leading environmental and sustainability programs.
March 20, 2014
Gary Young wins 2014 George Bogin Memorial Award for poetry
UCSC humanities lecturer and alumnus Gary Young has received the 2014 George Bogin Memorial Award from the Poetry Society of America.
March 20, 2014
UCSC alumnus Hoyt Peckham awarded Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation
Hoyt Peckham has been awarded a 2014 Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation to expand on work he began as a UCSC grad student.
March 19, 2014
UC Santa Cruz alumni perform at Kuumbwa Jazz Center
UCSC alumni filled the Kuumbwa Jazz Center last week for an upbeat evening of music and comedy from their multi-talented fellow banana slugs.
March 18, 2014
Alumni Weekend: Get ready for 'likes,' laughs, and memories
Banana Slugs will turn their antennae back to their redwood-forested alma mater from April 25-27 for Alumni Weekend 2014, returning to the special place that provided many alums with their "original social network."
March 17, 2014
UC Santa Cruz graduates lead major social science associations
UC Santa Cruz graduates Annette Lareau and Carroll Seron are leading two major social science associations.
March 17, 2014
Reintroduction experiments give new hope for a plant on the brink of extinction
A critically endangered plant is inching back from the brink of extinction thanks to a UCSC plant ecologist and her students.
March 17, 2014
UCSC's 'Project Awesome' supports women in computing
Project Awesome is an ongoing effort to recruit and retain more women students in computer science and computer engineering.
March 14, 2014
UCSC announces three finalists for national architect competition
UC Santa Cruz announced that Allied Works Architecture (Portland/New York), Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects (New York), and the team of Patkau Architects (Vancouver, B.C.) and Fong & Chan Architects (San Francisco) have been selected as finalists in the architect search for the campus’s new Institute of the Arts and Sciences.
March 11, 2014
Acclaimed lawyer for Holocaust survivors to speak at UCSC
UC Santa Cruz will present a lecture by UC Hastings College of the Law Professor Morris Ratner titled "A Monument Man in the Courtroom: Litigating the Holocaust," on Monday, April 7, at UCSC’s University Center.
March 11, 2014
UC Santa Cruz ranked among top schools for game design
The game design programs at UCSC were named among the top programs in the country by the Princeton Review.
March 10, 2014
Senate confirms UCSC alumnus Vince Chhabria as U.S. District judge
The U.S. Senate last week confirmed UC Santa Cruz alumnus Vince Chhabria ('91, Merrill, politics) as a U.S. district judge for the Northern District of California.
March 07, 2014
UCSC alumna Kathryn Sullivan confirmed as NOAA administrator
The U.S. Senate has confirmed UCSC alumna Kathryn Sullivan as under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere.
March 06, 2014
Psychology's Haney discusses solitary confinement on NPR's 'Fresh Air'
An interview with UC Santa Cruz psychology professor Craig Haney is scheduled on the public radio program "Fresh Air" with Terry Gross.
March 05, 2014
Play with Barbie dolls affects career aspirations for girls
Girls who play with Barbie dolls tend to see fewer career options available to them compared with the options available to boys, according to a new study by researchers at Oregon State University and the UC, Santa Cruz.
March 04, 2014
Experts discuss science and policy at first UCSC Climate Science conference
More than a dozen nationally prominent climate scientists and policy makers gathered for the first Climate Science and Policy Conference at UCSC organized by the divisions of Social Sciences and Physical and Biological Sciences.
March 03, 2014
Yosemite bears and human food: Study reveals changing diets over past century
A new study reveals how much human food has contributed to the diets of Yosemite bears over the past century.
February 27, 2014
Grant supports UC Santa Cruz research on the cause of childhood leukemia
A new grant from the nonprofit Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation will help UCSC researcher Camilla Forsberg advance her work to identify the root cause of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) in infants and children.
February 27, 2014
UCSC physicists to answer questions at special screening of "Particle Fever"
Award-winning documentary about particle physicists opens with special screening followed by Q&A panel with UCSC faculty
February 26, 2014
UCSC film professor creates video to address LA public health crisis
UCSC professor of Film and Digital Media John Jota Leaños, is one of six artists tapped by a Los Angeles media arts organization to create videos addressing a public health crisis.
February 26, 2014
Spotted seal study reveals sensitive hearing in air and water
Two spotted seals at Long Marine Lab are giving scientists a rare opportunity to learn about how these arctic seals perceive their environment.
February 25, 2014
Santa Cruz police officers Baker, Butler remembered a year after tragic deaths
The UC Santa Cruz community remembers Santa Cruz police officers Det. Elizabeth Butler, a UCSC alumna, and Sgt. Butch Baker who were killed in the line of duty a year ago.
February 25, 2014
UCSC, UC Hastings Law offer accelerated law degree program
A new joint program, the first of its kind in the University of California system, will enable UC Santa Cruz students to earn a bachelor's degree and law degree in six years instead of the usual seven.
February 25, 2014
UCSC alumnus Ron Yerxa up for ‘Best Picture’ Academy Award
"Election," "Cold Mountain," "King of the Hill," "Little Miss Sunshine"…these are just a few of the high-quality films produced by Ron Yerxa since he left UC Santa Cruz with a masters degree in 1976...
February 25, 2014
UC Santa Cruz appoints Keith Brant vice chancellor of University Relations
Keith E. Brant has been named vice chancellor of University Relations, a key campus leadership position that oversees fundraising, alumni relations, communications and marketing, government and community relations, and special events.
February 21, 2014
UCSC engineering students find inspiration in eBay scholarship program
A team of engineering students has developed promising new approaches for doing online shopping from mobile devices
February 19, 2014
Watch the movie at the Nick, see the play at UCSC’s Mainstage
Machinal, the 1928 play by Sophie Treadwell that featured a youthful Clark Gable, is currently back on Broadway this month, drawing a lot of attention from film critics in New York...
February 19, 2014
‘From These Woods’: UCSC duo honors Santa Cruz guitar makers
A new book by UCSC art alumna Renée Flower and former head of publications for University Relations Jim MacKenzie tells the story of how such a relatively large and robust community of guitar makers came to be located in Santa Cruz
February 18, 2014
When a black hole shreds a star, a bright flare tells the story
A new study shows what happens during the disruption of a star as it falls into a black hole
February 18, 2014
UCSC planetary scientist Ian Garrick-Bethell wins Sloan Research Fellowship
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation has awarded a Sloan Research Fellowship to Ian Garrick-Bethell, assistant professor of Earth and planetary sciences.
February 18, 2014
Beat-keeping sea lion back in the spotlight
Ronan, the sea lion who became an Internet sensation last year for her beat-keeping ability, is in the news again.
February 14, 2014
Risk and reward: undergraduate Lauren Scott explores the world of computer games
Lauren Scott, a 21-year-old UCSC student majoring in computer science and business management economics, is thriving as an assistant game designer.
February 14, 2014
UCSC researchers receive safety equipment at campus-wide distribution
More than 680 UC Santa Cruz researchers were fitted with custom-designed lab coats and eye protection at a distribution event hosted by UCSC's department of Environmental Health & Safety.
February 13, 2014
Haney testifies at Sacramento hearing on perils of solitary confinement
In testimony before a joint hearing on public safety, UC Santa Cruz professor Craig Haney described California's prison system as an outlier in the nation and world in the way it uses isolation of inmates.
February 12, 2014
UCSC humanities research institute to participate in Mellon Foundation grant
The Institute for Humanities Research (IHR) at UC Santa Cruz has been selected to participate in a $1.35 million grant awarded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to the Consortium of Humanities Centers and Institutes.
February 11, 2014
MLK Convocation speaker promotes dreams, values, and education
Freeman A. Hrabowski, III delivered a rollicking 25-minute keynote address at the 30th annual UCSC Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation February 6.
February 11, 2014
UCSC ranks high in Peace Corps participation for 12th straight year
This year, UC Santa Cruz is once again being recognized for its alumni’s high rate of participation in the Peace Corps, the hands-on leadership experience program that offers volunteers the opportunity to travel to the farthest corners of the world and make a lasting difference in the lives of others.
February 07, 2014
UCSC climate conference draws distinguished scientists, policymakers
Distinguished climate scientists, policymakers, and commentators will participate in a major national conference on climate science and climate change at UC Santa Cruz on Friday, February 28 and Saturday, March 1, 2014.
February 07, 2014
Making tangible change
Alums who formed socially conscious nonprofit as a way of keeping in touch have funded more than $180,000 in projects.
February 06, 2014
Friends of Long Marine Lab supports 16 student research projects
Friends of LML Student Research and Education Awards will support studies of sea otters, sperm whales, extreme waves, and more.
February 05, 2014
If It ain’t Baroque, don’t fix it
Four decades ago, UCSC music professor Linda Burman-Hall founded the Santa Cruz Baroque Festival and today it's still going strong.
February 05, 2014
Amborella genome sequenced using material from UCSC Arboretum
The UCSC Arboretum provided plant material from the its collections to researchers working on the Amborella genome project.
February 04, 2014
UCSC professor’s e-book featured on new web startup for women
A new e-book by literature professor Micah Perks is featured on Shebooks–a just launched startup that publishes short pieces designed to bridge the gap between magazines and books...
February 04, 2014
Computer-human interaction expert Steve Whittaker wins lifetime achievement in research award
UC Santa Cruz psychology professor Steve Whittaker, a specialist in human and computer interaction, has won the 2014 Lifetime Achievement in Research Award given by the Special Interest Group on Computer-Human Interaction.
February 04, 2014
UCSC ranked second for research influence in world university rankings
In an analysis of the world's top universities, UCSC ranked second in research influence.
January 30, 2014
UCSC partners with Stanford, Salk Institute in stem cell genomics center
The California stem cell agency will fund a $40 million center to bridge the fields of genomics and stem cell research.
January 29, 2014
Art professor Elizabeth Stephens wins Rydell Visual Arts Fellowship
UCSC art professor Elizabeth Stephens is one of three Santa Cruz County artists who have been awarded a Rydell Visual Arts Fellowship for 2014-15.
January 29, 2014
UCSC appoints Scott Brandt as vice chancellor for research
As vice chancellor for research, Scott Brandt provides executive leadership and coordination for UCSC research administration and planning.
January 28, 2014
Finding peace in the 'world’s most displaced' country
The signing of a cease-fire in South Sudan last week is a positive step forward but bringing about lasting peace and alleviating poverty will involve substantial grassroots efforts, according to UC Santa Cruz professor Mark Fathi Massoud who has written widely about the world's youngest nation.
January 27, 2014
Grateful Dead’s Mickey Hart pays tribute to late UCSC professor
Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart honored the late UC Santa Cruz music professor Fred Lieberman on Saturday at a celebratory memorial event in the campus’s Music Center Recital Hall
January 24, 2014
Howard Haber and Abraham Seiden to give Faculty Research Lecture on Feb. 11
"The Higgs Boson Unleashed" will be a joint presentation by UCSC physicists Howard Haber and Abraham Seiden
January 23, 2014
Pride, perseverance, and ‘worlds of possibility’: interview with Freeman Hrabowski III
Freeman Hrabowski, III, keynote speaker at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Convocation Feb. 6, and regarded as one of America's top education leaders, speaks candidly of his days as a child marcher with King in Birmingham, Ala.
January 21, 2014
Institute of Arts and Sciences third LASER talk on Jan. 28
UCSC’s Institute of the Arts and Sciences will present its third “LASER” talk on Tuesday, January 28, beginning at 6:45 p.m. in the Digital Arts Research Center (DARC building, Room 108). 
January 21, 2014
Astronomer Sandra Faber to give public talk Feb. 5 on our cosmic future
Renowned UC Santa Cruz astronomer Sandra Faber will give a free public lecture on astronomy and cosmology on Wednesday, February 5.
January 19, 2014
Distant quasar illuminates a filament of the cosmic web
UCSC astronomers discovered a distant quasar illuminating a vast nebula of diffuse gas, revealing part of the cosmic web.
January 17, 2014
Another record year for undergraduate applications to UC Santa Cruz
Nearly 49,000 prospective undergraduates–the most ever–have applied for admission to the University of California, Santa Cruz for the fall 2014 quarter.
January 16, 2014
UCSC music lecturer nominated for a Grammy Award
UCSC music lecturer and percussionist William Winant has been nominated for a 2014 Grammy Award in the Best Chamber Music Small Ensemble Performance category for his work on 'The Ten Thousand Things' by John Cage.
January 15, 2014
Astrophysicist Piero Madau wins Dannie Heineman Prize for Astrophysics
Piero Madau, professor of astronomy and astrophysics, has been chosen to receive the 2014 Dannie Heineman Prize for Astrophysics.
January 15, 2014
New technique allows 'nanobiopsies' of living cells
UCSC researchers have developed a robotic "nanobiopsy" system that can extract tiny samples from inside a living cell without killing it.
January 13, 2014
UCSC alumni glow in TV spotlight
It's been a hot week in Hollywood for two former students at UC Santa Cruz.
January 13, 2014
New campus office provides services to broaden societal impacts of research
The Broader Impacts Office will help researchers respond to new requirements from funding agencies.
January 10, 2014
DANM student nominated for four Independent Game Festival Awards
Deirdra 'Squinky' Kiai--a first-year student in UCSC's Digital Arts and New Media MFA program (DANM)--has been named a finalist in four categories of the 2014 Independent Game Festival Awards.
January 10, 2014
Decline of large carnivores creates dire environmental ripple effect
UC Santa Cruz environmental researchers contributed to an analysis of 31 carnivore species that shows for the first time how habitat loss, persecution by humans, and loss of prey combine to create global hotspots of carnivore decline.
January 10, 2014
Electrical engineer Alyson Fletcher receives NSF CAREER Award
Alyson Fletcher, assistant professor of electrical engineering, has received a prestigious CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation.
January 10, 2014
Tobacco-free policy took effect on January 1
A ban on smoking on the UC Santa Cruz campus took effect on January 1, as the campus and other UC schools joined more than 1,000 universities and colleges nationwide that are making tobacco-free environments the new normal.
January 09, 2014
Campus comes through for the less fortunate during holiday season
UC Santa Cruz community members demonstrated their generosity once again during the holiday season, stepping up to feed hungry families, distribute toys, and raise funds for social services agencies.
January 08, 2014
Crowd sourcing effort helps build Zimmerman Scholarship fund
A scholarship fund in Gabe Zimmerman's honor has grown to nearly $80,000 and is poised to grow further from an innovative crowd sourcing effort launched January 8, the third anniversary of the UCSC alumnus's death.
January 08, 2014
UCSC grad student’s book on Tibet earning acclaim from press in India
Three months ago, a new book by Tsering Wangmo Dhompa—a graduate student in literature at UC Santa Cruz—was launched in Dharamsala, India, by the prime minister of the Tibetan government in exile...
January 07, 2014
Volleyball player not afraid to dream
The sport and the camaraderie of teammates taught student Kaitlyne Fisher about believing in herself and coping with adversity.
January 07, 2014
UCSC astronomers discover ultra-bright young galaxies
Astronomers have discovered four surprisingly bright galaxies that are among the earliest and most distant galaxies ever observed.
January 07, 2014
World's most powerful exoplanet camera looks skyward
Much of the key technology for the Gemini Planet Imager was demonstrated and validated at UCSC's Laboratory for Adaptive Optics.
January 06, 2014
7th Annual Santa Cruz Chocolate Festival takes place on January 19
Thirty purveyors of delectable chocolate treats will offer their wares for tasting on Sunday, January 19, from 1 to 4 p.m. as the UC Santa Cruz Women's Club presents the 7th annual Santa Cruz Chocolate Festival.