Donor News
- December 10, 2018
Ocean fertilization by unusual microbes extends to frigid waters of Arctic Ocean
Researchers have documented nitrogen fixation by an unusual type of cyanobacteria in the cold waters of the Bering and Chukchi Seas.
- December 04, 2018
Art exhibit highlights the ubiquity of motors
“Motors Surround Us”—a collaboration between a physics lecturer, her students, and community artists—will be on display through Dec. 31 in the atrium of the Physical Sciences Building.
- November 14, 2018
Entrepreneur and UC Santa Cruz benefactor Will Webster dies at 90
Webster, a major donor who invented revolutionary cardiac devices, established a foundation that spearheaded significant campus changes.
- October 23, 2018
Founders Celebration a night of powerful stories
Journalists Martha Mendoza, Mike McPhate, and Carrie Kahn regaled the audience with stories of hard work, staffing cutbacks, investigative reporting and on-the-ground journalism during Founders Celebration.
- October 19, 2018
Visionary tech pioneer Jaron Lanier to deliver Peggy Downes Baskin Ethics Lecture
Computer scientist, composer, visual artist, and acclaimed author Jaron Lanier will deliver the 2018 Peggy Downes Baskin Ethics Lecture on Monday, October 29, at the Music Center Recital Hall. He will speak on the topic, "How the Internet Failed and How to Recreate It."
- October 17, 2018
UC Santa Cruz receives Mellon Foundation humanities grant to explore Earth Futures
Catastrophic environmental breakdown, mass species extinction, financial collapse, racist separatism, global nuclear war…there is much speculation these days that we are living at the end of democracy, liberalism, capitalism, a cool planet, and civilization as we know it...
- October 04, 2018
Alumni Profile: Author-naturalist Christian Schwarz crusades on behalf of the planet
With his smart phone in hand, Christian Schwarz is empowering "citizen scientists" to document today's biodiversity in hopes of inspiring action before it's too late.
- October 02, 2018
Central Valley Freedom Summer registers voters, changes lives
For most kids who grow up in the Central Valley, the goal is to get out. But this summer, 25 UC Santa Cruz and UC Merced students turned that narrative on its head and returned home, eager to give back to their communities.
- September 28, 2018
LA County's new public defender is guided by 'presumption of innocence'
This fall, UCSC alum Ricardo Garcia will take the helm of the LA County Public Defender's Office—the largest and oldest public defender's unit in the country.
- September 19, 2018
Community engagement enhances graduate education
Associate Professor Elliott Campbell and Professor Chris Benner co-taught a Spring Quarter class to connect first-year graduate students with environmental problems in the Salinas Valley Basin and to foster collaboration with off-campus stakeholders.
- September 18, 2018
Chancellor Blumenthal announces plan to retire
In a message to campus, Chancellor George Blumenthal announced his plan to retire at the end of the 2018-19 academic year.
- September 17, 2018
NSF funds UC Santa Cruz study of tech in agriculture
Researchers at UC Santa Cruz are leading a new, NSF-funded, multi-campus initiative to explore the intersection of agriculture, food, and technology.
- September 17, 2018
Student Housing West environmental study
Student Housing West is crucial to the future of our university. It will give us more than 3,000 new on-campus beds, which we believe will pull upper-division students now in the local housing market back to campus, helping them while also easing pressure on the greater local housing market.
- August 29, 2018
Gifts to UC Santa Cruz fund new presidential chair for diversity in astronomy
UCSC astronomer Sandra Faber and her husband made the lead gift to establish an endowed chair named in honor of Faber's mentor, distinguished astronomer Vera Rubin.
- August 29, 2018
UC Santa Cruz researchers contribute to new assessment of Central Coast climate impacts
Nearly a dozen UC Santa Cruz researchers contributed to a new state-issued report that assesses the dire impacts of climate change throughout California.
- August 16, 2018
Where'd I put my keys?
Ben Storm, an associate professor of psychology, is fascinated by how memory supports thinking, learning, and creativity.
- August 16, 2018
Voices from the Dickens Universe
Here's your chance to get an audio immersion in UC Santa Cruz's famed Dickens Universe—you'll feel like you're right there, uncovering new meanings in the text, drinking tea, and getting ready for the Victorian dance.
- August 09, 2018
Aspiring archaeologists get hands-on experience in Haiti, St. Croix
J. Cameron Monroe, associate professor of anthropology, took four Howard University undergraduates on an archaeological expedition to Haiti and St. Croix this summer as part of a UC partnership with Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
- August 02, 2018
Moral decision making is rife with internal conflict, say developmental psychologists
A new in-depth study of moral reasoning challenges the popular notion that people are unable to think through difficult moral problems and rely primarily on automatic "gut" reactions to make tough decisions.
- August 01, 2018
Deportation and family separation impact entire communities, researchers say
The deportation and forced separation of immigrants has negative effects that extend beyond individuals and families to entire communities in the United States, according to the Society for Community Research and Action, which has issued a policy statement calling for changes to U.S. policy.
- July 24, 2018
Campus, Silicon Valley leaders celebrate Lick Observatory’s 130th anniversary
The University of California owns and operates the observatory, which was founded by a bequest from James Lick. It opened in 1888.
- July 11, 2018
Campus marks new record for transfer admissions offers
Faced with the largest applicant pool in campus history—67,000 applications—and a smaller enrollment target than the previous year, UC Santa Cruz increased its admission selectivity. UC Santa Cruz anticipates welcoming about 5,600 new undergraduates for fall 2018.
- July 05, 2018
Learn how to grow and assemble beautiful bouquets
Learn how to create beautiful homegrown organic flower arrangements at a lecture and demonstration workshop on July 15.
- June 29, 2018
Farm ranked among top college farms
The UC Santa Cruz Farm has been ranked among the top 15 college farms in the country by Best Value Schools.
- June 28, 2018
Important new work on autism could change interventions
A new paper is pushing back hard on the notion that people with autism are not interested in socializing.
- June 26, 2018
ISEE receives presidential award for excellence in STEM mentoring
The UC Santa Cruz Institute for Scientist & Engineer Educators has received a Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM).
- June 19, 2018
Linguistics professor Jim McCloskey receives Dizikes Award for teaching in Humanities
Linguistics professor Jim McCloskey was presented with the John Dizikes Teaching Award in Humanities at the Humanities Division’s 2018 Spring Awards celebration held at the Cowell Provost House.
- June 19, 2018
Reforming California's commercial property tax system would boost the economy, report says
Reforming California's property tax structure to tax commercial properties at their market value would boost the economy by generating new revenue, stimulating development, and diversifying industry, according to a new report by researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
- June 18, 2018
Graduates mark new era, seek to improve world for all
More than 3,200 students participated in commencement ceremonies in the colleges, Graduate Division, and Baskin School of Engineering.
- June 14, 2018
Steck Award recipient aims to study disease, help society
Josh Gu is this year’s winner of the Steck Family Award, which honors the best senior thesis completed during the academic year, with the winner chosen from the Chancellor's Award candidates. He earned a degree in bioengineering with a biomolecular concentration.
- June 14, 2018
The new queer teenager
Queer youth today are in a paradoxical situation, coming out earlier and becoming leaders even as they cope with the significant challenges of adolescence, Psychology Professor Phil Hammack told a panel convened by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine.
- June 12, 2018
Standing tall and giving back
For graduating senior Asante Nkosi, a double major in sociology and history allowed him to connect his experiences with his interest in black U.S. history, the Civil Rights Movement, and the contemporary moment.
- June 11, 2018
Help from the wizarding world
A gift from a Harry Potter–themed virtual running club enables a UC Santa Cruz professor to observe whales in Antarctica
- June 05, 2018
Master's degree approved for Science Communication Program
The UC Santa Cruz Science Communication Program will award students a M.S. degree in science communication starting in fall 2018.
- June 05, 2018
Chancellor’s awards recognize achievement in diversity, inclusion
Underscoring the commitment by UC Santa Cruz to promote diversity, inclusion, and excellence, Chancellor George Blumenthal recognized the people and programs making contributions to these goals through their work.
- May 25, 2018
Diverse campus landscapes are ideal outdoor laboratories—and classrooms
UC Santa Cruz is known for its beautiful landscapes, but its meadows, forests, farm fields, and coastal bluffs also support a range of scientific research and hands-on learning opportunities for students.
- May 24, 2018
Sammy Showcase features VR and video games from UCSC game design students
The public is invited to a fun, family-friendly game festival on Saturday, June 9, at the UC Santa Cruz Silicon Valley Campus in Santa Clara.
- May 22, 2018
Astrophysicist Jedidah Isler will give annual Mandel Lecture on June 7
Award-winning astrophysicist Jedidah Isler will give a free public lecture entitled "Blazars: Nature's particle accelerators" on Thursday, June 7, at the Rio Theatre in Santa Cruz.
- May 15, 2018
Extending comment on the Student Housing West EIR
We have decided to extend the comment period to June 27, 2018. We will hold additional information sessions in May, as well as two more public hearings, on June 6 and 7.
- May 04, 2018
The bone whisperer
Forensic anthropologist Alison Galloway will retire from teaching this year, but her wisdom will live on through new online course that teaches both technical skills and the things you don’t find in textbooks.
- April 30, 2018
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.
- April 27, 2018
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 heritage.
- April 19, 2018
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, a three-day series of public events focused on advancing social and environmental justice.
- April 17, 2018
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 Watsonville Civic Center.
- April 16, 2018
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 18.
- April 12, 2018
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 the Banatao Institute.
- April 11, 2018
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 what real and lasting social change looked like.
- April 10, 2018
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 residents who are "whiter, wealthier, and more educated," according to an analysis by researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
- April 03, 2018
UC’s secret energy source: retirees
For University of California staff and faculty, retirement does not mean retreat
- April 03, 2018
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 Award.
- April 02, 2018
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.
- March 13, 2018
Silicon Valley Campus raising profile
By Scott Brandt, Vice Chancellor, Office of Research — The role of UC Santa Cruz in Silicon Valley—an extension of our mission of education, research, and service—is focused on four key areas.
- March 08, 2018
Grant to transform upper floor of Science and Engineering Library
A $5 million grant will kick-start the Science and Engineering Library’s transformation and name floor to honor legendary astrophysicist Sandra Faber
- March 05, 2018
Giving Day 2018 shatters records
Giving Day 2018, a 24-hour online festival of giving, set a new high bar last week, yielding more than $600,00 with more than 6,300 gifts for 160 projects, according to preliminary tallies.
- March 02, 2018
Gun control advocate Gabby Giffords joins fundraiser for Gabe Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship
Former Arizona Congresswoman and gun control advocate Gabby Giffords attended a fundraising event to support the Gabriel Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship.
- February 23, 2018
USDA funds efforts to bring underrepresented students into agriculture
A unique collaboration between UC Santa Cruz and the U.S. Department of Agriculture is supporting underrepresented students who are interested in agriculture-related fields.
- February 21, 2018
At the nexus of food, energy, and water: Elliot Campbell bridges the research gap
Elliott Campbell is an environmental engineer who is drawn to research at the nexus of food, water, and energy.
- February 20, 2018
UC Santa Cruz tech incubator offers convenient access to Silicon Valley
A new program from the University of California, Santa Cruz, offers campus and other UC entrepreneurs the opportunity to launch their startup companies from its Silicon Valley Campus.
- February 16, 2018
Alley-oops for the OLLI Hoops
For this basketball team made up of women in their 60s and 70s, getting exercise, enjoying camaraderie, and learning a new skill has been a slam dunk.
- February 16, 2018
24-hour online Giving Day returns to UC Santa Cruz
Scheduled for February 28, Giving Day 2018 is a playful competition. Generous donors will vie to help their favorite projects win challenges before the clock ticks down to midnight.
- February 12, 2018
Women leaders inspire undergrad during UCDC internship in Nancy Pelosi's office
For Courtney Zuniga, the sight of powerful women like Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi made a lasting impression during her Fall Quarter UCDC internship in Washington, D.C.
- February 08, 2018
Monetary economist Carl Walsh to deliver 52nd annual UC Santa Cruz Faculty Research Lecture on February 22
Carl Walsh, distinguished professor of economics at UC Santa Cruz, will deliver the 52nd annual Faculty Research Lecture on Thursday, February 22.
- January 30, 2018
As tax time approaches, UCSC students volunteer to help low-income filers
As April 15 looms, a team of UC Santa Cruz undergraduate volunteers is getting ready to provide free tax-preparation assistance to low- and moderate-income residents of Santa Cruz County.
- January 30, 2018
CruzHacks keeps growing
In its fifth year, CruzHacks drew hundreds of collegiate coders from across the country.
- January 18, 2018
Elliott Campbell appointed to chair in water resources and food system sustainability
Elliott Campbell, associate professor of environmental studies, was honored as the inaugural holder of the Stephen R. Gliessman Presidential Chair in Water Resources and Food System Sustainability.
- January 18, 2018
Judge relies heavily on Haney's testimony in case banning solitary confinement
In a landmark court ruling that prohibits solitary confinement in Canada, a Canadian judge relied heavily on expert testimony by Psychology Professor Craig Haney.
- January 17, 2018
New book, The Postgenomic Condition: Ethics, Justice, and Knowledge After the Genome, assesses progress since 2000
Sociologist Jenny Reardon evaluates the promise and pitfalls of genomics in her new book The Postgenomic Condition: Ethics, Justice, and Knowledge After the Genome (University of Chicago Press, 2017).