April 2018 News Archive

The Slugs came home

Returning Banana Slugs ran a road race, took to the airwaves, attended thought-provoking presentations and honored a beloved professor during the 2018 Alumni Weekend celebration.

UC Santa Cruz glaciologist leads project to study Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier

Earth sciences professor Slawek Tulaczyk will lead one of eight projects in a joint U.S.-U.K. research program to understand how quickly the massive Antarctic glacier could

Cowell Ranch Hay Barn recognized for energy-efficient systems

The newly restored Cowell Ranch Hay Barn continues to reap recognition and awards, the latest from professionals in the field of building systems

Strategic academic planning update—review proposals and videos, provide input, and register for a forum

Strategic academic planning update—review proposals and videos, provide input, and register for a forum

Enrollment opens for Summer Session

Open enrollment is underway for UC Santa Cruz Summer Session, which offers a wide range of classes and online courses across multiple

Dancing into a community

The Pagkakaisa Dance Troupe, which promotes Pilipino cultural history and performs traditional folk dances from the Philippines, helps students build both camaraderie and stronger ties to their

Enhancing staff engagement

Ensuring we can enhance our employee engagement is a priority for the campus leadership team.

The case for evidence

Rush Holt urged scientists to foster science literacy and encourage the public to "think like scientists'' during the Osterbrock Distinguished Leadership Lecture on campus last week.

Award-winning biologist and writer Sean B. Carroll to speak at UC Santa Cruz

Carroll will give the 2018 Sinsheimer Lecture on Thursday, May 10, followed by a free screening of the film 'The Serengeti Rules' on May 11 at the Rio

Innovative ‘Studies in Medicine’ course will be offered online to all UC students

Developed by UC Santa Cruz biology professor Grant Hartzog and local physician Dr. Greg Gates, the popular course examines the field of medicine through a historical and philosophical

Appraisal call for all staff and training dates announced for managers and supervisors

This communication provides time-sensitive updates on the UC Santa Cruz 2017-18 performance appraisal call for all staff.

Film professor Jennifer Taylor wins fellowship for summer residency at MacDowell Colony

Assistant professor of film and digital media Jennifer Maytorena Taylor has received a fellowship for a summer residency at one of the nation’s leading contemporary arts

Workplace bullying/abusive conduct

The UC Santa Cruz community is entitled to work in an atmosphere free from bullying and abusive conduct.

Lynda M. Rogers retiring as dean of UCSC Silicon Valley Extension

Lynda M. Rogers, dean of UCSC Silicon Valley Extension, has decided to retire, marking more than 12 years with UC Santa Cruz and 30 years of service in public education.

Leaving their mark, inspiring others

This year's Distinguished Graduate Student Alumni honorees are making their mark on the world. During Alumni Weekend, they will be back on campus to inspire a new generation

Face recognition for galaxies: Artificial intelligence brings new tools to astronomy

A 'deep learning' algorithm trained on images from cosmological simulations has been surprisingly successful at classifying real galaxies in Hubble

Making airwaves

Celebrating 50 years of broadcasting, KZSC continues to offer homegrown programming to the greater Monterey Bay region. The station will have a number of Alumni Weekend events to

Merger of facilities-related departments formalized

Over the past year, UC Santa Cruz re-organized and combined a number of departments into a new organization named Physical Planning, Development and Operations (PPDO).

Location change for meeting on Student Housing West

Both meetings on Student Housing West will be held in Santa Cruz on May 2 and May 3.

Strategic Academic Planning: Themed Academic Working Group reports

Strategic Academic Planning: Themed Academic Working Group reports

Controlled burn in Wilder State Park

Cal Fire has confirmed that a controlled burn is taking place in Wilder State Park, near the area of Empire Grade and Cave Gulch Road.

Martin Berger to join School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Martin Berger, associate vice provost for Academic Affairs and a professor in the history of art and visual culture, has accepted an offer to join the School of the Art Institute of Chicago to serve as the dean of faculty and vice president of academic affairs.

Prescribed burns through April, early May

Cal Fire has advised that prescribed pile burns will continue on Saturday and through the next two weeks in the areas of Wilder State Park and north campus.

UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute receives funding for Human Cell Atlas projects

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative is funding 85 projects, including three at UC Santa Cruz, to support efforts to develop a comprehensive reference atlas of all cells in the

UC Santa Cruz honors alumni Thomas Webb and Susanne Hering

The Physical and Biological Sciences Distinguished Alumni Awards recognize contributions to society by graduate and undergraduate

Bill McKibben, Daniel Ellsberg headline Right Livelihood Laureates' Conference at UC Santa Cruz

Climate change activist Bill McKibben and whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg are two of the crusading global leaders gathering May 15-17 at UC Santa Cruz for the Right Livelihood Conference,

In Memoriam: Helen Mayer Harrison 
(1927-2018)

Helen Mayer Harrison, artist, educator, activist, and mentor to generations of artists and activists passed away peacefully in her home in Santa Cruz, CA on March 24,

Mathematical biologist Marc Mangel elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences

The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is one of the nation's oldest and most prestigious honorary

April 20 DUI checkpoint and law enforcement efforts

Members of the UC Santa Cruz community and campus neighbors, please be advised there is the potential for traffic disruptions and hazards during the afternoon of Friday, April 20 because of the unsanctioned gathering known as “4–20”.

Nominate a UCSC affiliate for the Service Recognition Ceremony

See if you qualify to be honored at the Student Volunteer Center's Service Recognition Ceremony.

DANM 2018 MFA student exhibition culminates two years of intensive study and creative work

Nine graduate students from the Digital Arts and New Media M.F.A. program (DANM) will conclude two years of artistic study at UC Santa Cruz with "Interstices"--an exhibition of

Control theory symposium April 27 features leading academic and industry experts

The Baskin School of Engineering at UC Santa Cruz will host a regional symposium on Control Theory and Automation on Friday, April

South County housing crisis to be discussed May 2

University researchers and community leaders will host a public forum about the affordable housing crisis on Wednesday, May 2, at 7 p.m. in the Community Room of the

Enhancing staff engagement

Staff members play a central role in the mission of UC Santa Cruz, and it is vital that they feel valued and engaged. This is important for staff retention, as well for the success of our campus and the fundamental health of our community.

Spring Plant Sale Takes Place April 28-29

The UC Santa Cruz Farm & Garden's Spring Plant Sale takes place Saturday, April 28 and Sunday, April 29, in the Barn Theater parking lot at the base

Teaching on the edge

Four of UC Santa Cruz’s most innovative educators will offer insights and advice about fostering lively, dynamic, and relevant classrooms during a special edition of the Alumni Weekend

Lick Observatory expands evening programs for the public this summer

Tickets for the popular concert and lecture series and new evening tours on Mount Hamilton go on sale at noon on Wednesday, April

J.J. Garcia-Luna-Aceves appointed director of CITRIS at UC Santa Cruz

Computer engineer J.J. Garcia-Luna-Aceves has been appointed to serve as the UC Santa Cruz director for CITRIS (Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society) and

Nature-based solutions can prevent $50 billion in Gulf Coast flood damages

Researchers found that restoration of marshes and oyster reefs are among the most cost-effective solutions for flood risk reduction on the U.S. Gulf

Building a feminist psychology of resistance

On a fateful trip to Nicaragua in 2005, Shelly Grabe, now an associate professor of psychology, met women who were organizing to fight domestic violence, and she saw

Deer fawning season alert

Please be aware that spring is the prime birthing season for a wide variety of campus wildlife, including deer.

Hip-Hop Hesteria heading to Music Center Recital Hall on April 20

The UC Santa Cruz Music Department will present an evening of new hip-hop with live experimental jazz featuring music professor Karlton Hester and his band, Hesterian Musicism, on

Coastal stream restoration projects concentrated where residents are 'whiter, wealthier, and more educated,' researchers find

Stream restoration efforts along the coast of Central California are unevenly distributed, with activity more likely to occur in areas that are more highly populated and dominated by

Input sought on the future child care program at UC Santa Cruz

Please join us for an open dialogue session regarding the future child care program at UC Santa Cruz.

Environmental review preparations underway for Kresge College renewal

In support of the proposed Kresge College renewal, UC Santa Cruz will host a public information session and begin drafting an environmental impact report.

Unmanned aircraft system (drone) policy

The UC Office of the President (UCOP) recently finalized the University of California Unmanned Aircraft System (Drone) Policy and an accompanying guidance document.

Engineering undergraduate wins prestigious Goldwater Scholarship

Aviv Elor, a junior studying robotics engineering in the Baskin School of Engineering at UC Santa Cruz, has been named a 2017 Goldwater

Save the Dates! Spring Forum April 24 and Staff Appreciation Picnic May 17

Mark your calendars for April 24 and May 17.

Questions and answers regarding our Strategic Academic Plan

Academic plan update - questions and answers.

Sesnon Gallery exhibition to celebrate family’s influence on the arts in Santa Cruz County

In 1968, a gift from Barbara Sesnon Cartan established the Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery at UC Santa Cruz, in memory of her mother. Beginning April 12,

New 'Pan-Cancer' analysis reveals the common roots of different cancers

In the largest study of its kind, cancer researchers analyzed and classified more than 10,000 tumors from 33 cancer types to trace connections between different

Jenny Reardon among scholars speaking out on genomics and race

Sociology Professor Jenny Reardon joined 66 other scholars in signing an open letter about genetics and race, responding to a recent opinion piece in the New York Times

2018 Osterbrock Lecture will focus on the role of science in public policy

Rush Holt, CEO of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, will speak at UC Santa Cruz on Thursday, April 19

Campus hires new environmental health and safety director

Lisa Wisser has more than 25 years of progressive experience leading environmental health and safety programs, with the past 10 years in a university setting.

Astrophysicist Douglas Lin remembers Stephen Hawking

Astrophysicist Doug Lin wrote some personal reflections on his friendship with the late physicist Stephen Hawking.

UC’s secret energy source: retirees

For University of California staff and faculty, retirement does not mean

UC Santa Cruz honors alumni: bestselling author Hector Tobar and historian Virginia Espino

Award-winning journalist and author Héctor Tobar and filmmaker Virginia Espino are the 2018 recipients of the Social Sciences Division's Distinguished Alumni

Campus environment led alumna to pursue architecture

Urban designer and planner Barbara Maloney (Stevenson, ’71, psychology) said working in higher education is “endlessly interesting,” involving not only issues like sustainability and town-gown relations but also

Thanks for the sediment

Kimberley Kanani Bitterwolf won this year's campuswide Grad Slam competition by taking a daunting topic -- our planet’s climate history—and boiling it down to three entertaining minutes.

Community Studies class showcases public health leaders in 'Year of Alumni'

Eight alumni are returning to campus this spring as guest lecturers in a special-edition public health class offered by Community Studies.

In Memoriam: Randy Turner

It is with deep sadness that we share news of the death of our colleague and friend, Randy Turner.

Campus hires new director of emergency management

Arrest in recent campus burglary

The UC Santa Cruz community is encouraged to report any suspicious behavior following the arrest of a man suspected of burglary and an ongoing investigation into another burglary.