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2015 Sustainability

December 14, 2015
Cultivating a garden — and food security — in Watsonville
College Nine and Ten Provost Flora Lu and her students are forging campus-community collaborations through a community garden at Calabasas Elementary School in Watsonville.
December 08, 2015
The year in review at UC Santa Cruz
At UC Santa Cruz, 2015 was a year celebrating our 50th anniversary by advancing knowledge, challenging the status quo, and taking risks. And the campus capped it all off with a big top celebration.
December 08, 2015
Marine lab water projects lead to significant savings
The Long Marine Lab has recorded a significant drop in freshwater use since two projects were completed in August.
December 07, 2015
Cool Campus Challenge is just the beginning
By Sarah Latham, Vice Chancellor, Business and Administrative Services – UC Santa Cruz, one of the smaller campuses, has had great participation in the Cool Campus Challenge with more than 1,400 people signing up.
December 01, 2015
Internships support new concentration in agroecology and sustainable food systems
Beginning this fall, environmental studies majors are able to add a concentration in agroecology and sustainable food systems to their undergraduate major. Internships integrate undergraduates into the seasonal work of the campus’s 33 acres of organic farmland and market gardens.
December 01, 2015
Campus creates 'smart' building, reducing carbon footprint
The Music Center has reduced its carbon footprint by 98 tons, an example of the commitment by staff members to work across divisions to improve campus sustainability and efficiency.
November 17, 2015
EPA recognizes dining’s waste reduction efforts
The campus achieved impressive source reduction of wasted food through a variety of approaches involving both staff and students.
October 26, 2015
Physicist Sue Carter named Faculty Climate Action Champion for 2015-16
Carter plans to establish a campus sustainability lab to support student-led research and training.
October 22, 2015
Four UC Santa Cruz students receive Global Food Initiative fellowships
Four UC Santa Cruz students have received $4,000 UC Global Food Initiative fellowships for the 2015–2016 academic year.
October 22, 2015
2015-2016 Campus Food & Garden Guide now available in print and online
This year an online interactive companion to the printed guide is available and will go live Friday, Oct. 23 in anticipation of National Food Day, Saturday.
October 19, 2015
Campus exceeds goal for water savings, seeks to do more
The campus and its efforts to save water were recognized by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.
October 19, 2015
Bridging science and tradition
A dedicated group of scientists has launched One People One Reef, a five-year conservation effort on Ulithi Atoll in Micronesia aimed at sustaining the ecological health of the islands—and the islanders
October 06, 2015
UC launches Cool Campus Challenge in push toward carbon neutrality
The Cool Campus Challenge runs Oct. 6 through Dec. 10 and is open to all students, staff and faculty of the University of California.
October 05, 2015
Campus wins best practice award for drought planning and water savings
UC Santa Cruz won a best practice award for drought planning and water conservation efforts at the 2015 California Higher Education Sustainability Conference hosted by San Francisco State University.
October 01, 2015
Bugs in an urban jungle: What green spaces mean for ecology and community
Since 2013, UC Santa Cruz environmental studies professor Stacy Philpott has studied insect biodiversity in urban gardens to better understand the ecological role these green spaces provide.
September 11, 2015
UCSC Farm hosts Fall Harvest Festival Sunday, Sept 27
Celebrate fall’s arrival with pumpkins, music, great food, a fall plant sale, farm tours, and much more at the UCSC Farm & Garden’s Fall Harvest Festival, coming up on Sunday, September 27, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at UC Santa Cruz’s 30-acre organic farm.
September 10, 2015
In soil we trust: How military veterans learn to become organic farmers at UC Santa Cruz
Agriculture is an appealing career option for many soldiers transitioning to civilian life, say veterans enrolled in the Apprenticeship in Ecological Horticulture at UC Santa Cruz.
September 09, 2015
Pie potluck, barn dance mark Cowell Ranch Hay Barn dedication Saturday, Sept. 12
A pie potluck and barn dance will be featured at the dedication of the newly rebuilt Cowell Ranch Hay Barn that will soon become a multi-use teaching, office and event space, and headquarters for the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems at UC Santa Cruz.
August 21, 2015
Farm to label: How alumnus helped bring organic labeling policy to the nation
Mark Lipson, now a research associate at Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, was instrumental in standardizing organic farming in the U.S. Now back at UCSC, he continues the mission of institutionalizing public policy support for organic farming.
August 14, 2015
Enjoy the peak season of produce from the UC Santa Cruz Farm
With summer in full swing, it’s time to sign up for the UCSC Farm’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program and enjoy the peak season of organic produce from the UC Santa Cruz Farm.
August 13, 2015
Fifth annual Farm to Fork Benefit Dinner opens new Cowell Ranch Hay Barn
The fifth annual Farm to Fork Benefit Dinner at the UC Santa Cruz Farm will be held at the newly renovated Cowell Ranch Hay Barn Saturday, September 12.
August 05, 2015
Slow Food Nation: Conversation with Alice Waters
Pioneering restaurateur Alice Waters discusses everything from affordable high-quality food to the essential role of young people in America's "Delicious Revolution"
July 20, 2015
Gift to UC Santa Cruz funds new chair in water resources and food sustainability
UC Santa Cruz has received $500,000 from the Helen and Will Webster Foundation that with matching funds from UC Regents has established the Stephen R. Gliessman Presidential Chair in Water Resources and Food System Sustainability.
May 29, 2015
Julie Guthman wins excellence award for research in food justice issues
Julie Guthman, UC Santa Cruz professor of social sciences, whose research looks at agricultural systems, food justice issues, and environmental health, has been selected to receive the 2015 Excellence in Research Award from the Agriculture, Food and Human Values Society.
May 28, 2015
UC Santa Cruz Farm & Garden’s market cart produce stand opens June 2
Tuesday, June 2 is opening day for the UC Santa Cruz Farm & Garden's Market Cart at the corner of Bay and High streets at the base of the UC Santa Cruz campus.
May 13, 2015
Berries, flowers from campus Farm & Garden go on sale at Quarry Plaza
On Friday, May 15th, Wednesday, May 20th, and Wednesday, May 27th, a limited engagement produce and flower stand will open at Quarry Plaza with berries and beautiful flower bouquets from the Alan Chadwick Garden.
May 12, 2015
Student-organized campus clean up nets 285 pounds of litter in three hours
In just three hours, participants of the First Annual Campus Clean-Up during Alumni Reunion Weekend collected 285 pounds of litter from across campus, the UC Santa Cruz Sustainability Office reports.
May 07, 2015
CASFS updates instructor's manual for teaching small farm direct marketing
The new edition of "Teaching Direct Marketing and Small Farm Viability: Resources for Instructors," 2nd Edition, draws on nearly 50 years of experience teaching beginning organic farmers and gardeners at the UC Santa Cruz Farm & Garden Apprenticeship.
April 21, 2015
UC Santa Cruz named one of Princeton Review's top 50 'greenest' colleges
UC Santa Cruz once again ranks high among the nation’s “greenest” colleges and universities.
April 20, 2015
UCSC Farm & Garden’s 35th annual Spring Plant Sale set for May 2, 3
This year marks the 35th anniversary of the UC Santa Cruz Farm & Garden’s Spring Plant Sale, offering the region’s largest collection of organically grown herb and flower starts, vegetables, and beautiful perennials.
March 23, 2015
Historic hay barn rises again to become a center for sustainability programs
Over a weekend, volunteers joined professionals to raise the timber-framed superstructure for the re-creation of the Cowell Ranch hay barn on the UC Santa Cruz campus.
March 17, 2015
Barn raising set for re-creation of historic Cowell Ranch Hay Barn
A new-fashioned community barn raising is set for Saturday, March 21 at UC Santa Cruz when professionals and volunteers will assemble and raise the timber framing for the re-creation of the historic Cowell Ranch Hay Barn.
March 16, 2015
Focus of climate change discussions shifts from mitigation to adaptation
UC Santa Cruz climate conference addresses coastal resilience and 'wicked tradeoffs.'
March 12, 2015
UC Santa Cruz volunteer service day March 28 honors Cesar Chavez
The UC Santa Cruz community will be taking part in Cesar Chavez Volunteer Service Day, set for Saturday, March 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Homeless Garden Project Natural Bridges Farm.
March 04, 2015
New 3rd edition of 'Teaching Organic Farming & Gardening' now available
Drawing on nearly 50 years of experience, "Teaching Organic Farming & Gardening: Resources for Instructors, 3rd Edition" addresses practical aspects of organic farming and gardening, applied soil science, and social and environmental issues in agriculture.
February 11, 2015
New UC hands-on experience class modeled after UC Santa Cruz 'supercourse'
A uniquely UC Santa Cruz course that offers undergraduates hands-on research experience has been adopted by the UC Natural Reserve System and is now open to students from all nine UC undergraduate campuses.
February 10, 2015
Campus farm adds Quarry Field to further farming, education, and research
Freshly tilled soil on the west side of Hagar marks the start of the UC Santa Cruz Farm’s latest effort in growing food for campus and expanding the research and education work of the Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems (CASFS).
January 22, 2015
Campus, city take home prestigious governor's award
In 2011, the City and UCSC created the GreenWharf program to foster the development and incorporation of innovative technology into the structure and operations at the Santa Cruz Wharf.