September 2019 News Archive

Outstanding Staff Award honoree is a passionate advocate for STEM diversity

Yulianna Ortega, the campus's STEM Diversity Programs director, has earned the trust and respect of fellow staff members, faculty, and students across divisions. Ortega, this year's Outstanding Staff

Biologist Upasna Sharma wins NIH Director’s New Innovator Award

The prestigious $1.5 million grant will fund Sharma’s research on how environmental effects can be passed down from parents to their

Campus receives $1.5 million from state for 'Basic Needs' programs

An infusion of state funds is enabling the campus to expand its "basic needs" programs, including initiatives to make free food available on campus seven days a week

Reflection Center at the Quarry – Opening Monday, 9/30/2019

The Reflection Center at the Quarry will officially open its doors on Monday 9/30/2019.

Galaxy found to float in a tranquil sea of halo gas

Analysis of radio pulses that passed through a galactic halo reveals a surprisingly quiescent halo with very low density and weak magnetic

Upcoming Jewish holidays

Many members of our campus community will observe a series of Jewish holidays over the course of the coming month.

Climate report describes escalating impacts on oceans, ice, and snow

UCSC ocean scientist Raphael Kudela is a lead author of the IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate, which provides new evidence for

Alumna Stacy Jupiter wins coveted MacArthur Fellowship

Stacy Jupiter, a marine scientist with the Wildlife Conservation Society who earned her Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology at UC Santa Cruz in 2006, is among the

New academic year, new possibilities

What we learn from talking to strangers

Journalist and bestselling author Malcolm Gladwell addressed a crowd of 1,500 people in Silicon Valley on Saturday. Gladwell honed in on the question of how human beings, even

Kresge renewal project kicks off

This October, UC Santa Cruz will start construction on the first phase of its Kresge renewal project, with plans to add a new academic building and residence halls

NIH funds new centers to expand and diversify the human reference genome

The UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute will play a leading role in the ambitious new Human Pangenome Reference Sequence

Statement on dismissed faculty member

We are grateful that The Regents of the University of California concurred with the recommendation of Chancellor Cynthia K. Larive and President Janet Napolitano to dismiss Gopal Balakrishnan, a formerly tenured professor who violated the 2015 UC Policy on Sexual Harassment and the Faculty Code of Conduct. We are also pleased President Napolitano concurred with Chancellor Larive’s recommendation to deny Balakrishnan emeritus status. Balakrishnan was on leave since we started our investigation and was suspended without pay on Aug. 15.

2019-2020 UCSC Campus Transit, Parking and METRO Bus Service

As our UC community gears up for the 2019-2020 academic year, below is some information regarding campus transportation options including Campus Transit, campus parking, and Santa Cruz METRO Bus service to and from UCSC.

New website highlights UCSC's "living labs"

A new website provides easy access to programs offering opportunities for hands-on learning at

Anthropologist Adrienne Zihlman publishes 450-page opus on ape anatomy and evolution

Anthropology Professor Emerita Adrienne Zihlman has published a 450-page volume that presents the "big picture" of what she has learned about human origins from her painstakingly thorough study

UC Santa Cruz announces lineup for Fall 2019 Living Writers Series

"Autobiography, Fairy Tales, The Future" is the name of this fall’s installment of the Living Writers Series at UC Santa Cruz. Curated by Micah Perks, professor of literature

Tales of brutality and survival

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Colson Whitehead enthralled a Santa Cruz crowd with stories from Nickel Boys, his new bestselling novel based on the horrifying true story of a notorious

Moving in and moving up

Move-in at UC Santa Cruz was a time of new beginnings, farewells, excitement and nostalgia. The campus expected to welcome more than 9,000 students to the community over

Jack Baskin at 100

UC Santa Cruz celebrates the centenary of Jack Baskin, a pivotal donor whose generosity has shaped the university and benefited causes throughout the Monterey Bay area

ARCS Foundation scholarships support UCSC graduate students

Fourteen UC Santa Cruz graduate students have received scholarships worth a total of $158,000 from the Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS)

Email Scam Alert - September 23, 2019

ITS continues to receive reports of a pervasive email scam that is being sent to UCSC email addresses.

In Memoriam: Camila Ron Ruiz

It is with deep sadness that we write to tell you about the death of College Ten alumna Camila Ron Ruiz, who died on Wednesday, Sept. 18 in a fire that also took the life of her father, Ricardo Ron.

Winter curtailment 2019-2020

Our 2019-2020 Winter Curtailment is scheduled for Tuesday, December 24, 2019 through Wednesday, January 1, 2020.

Systemwide review of revised UC Copyright Ownership Policy

The UC Office of the President invites comments on proposed modifications to the Presidential Policy on Copyright Ownership.

UCSC’s Sesnon Gallery to feature works by Andy Warhol, Cindy Sherman, Ai Weiwei

Limited edition works by Andy Warhol, Ai Weiwei, Cindy Sherman, and more than a dozen other influential internationally known contemporary artists will be on display at a new

CITRIS launches Tech for Social Good program at UC Santa Cruz

New program to sponsor student research projects and events on the UCSC campus will hold an information session for students on Tuesday, October

Two UCSC professors elected Fellows of American Physical Society

Applied mathematician Pascale Garaud and physicist David Williams were honored by APS for their exceptional contributions to

Sustainable aquaculture initiative lands $245,000 federal grant

Anne Kapuscinski, professor of environmental studies and director of the Coastal Science and Policy Program, has received a $245,000 federal grant that will support her team’s work driving

Elephant seal 'supermoms' produce most of the population, study finds

High mortality rates for young elephant seals means long-lived females dominate the reproductive output of the

Youth activism is on the rise around the globe, and adults should pay attention, says author

Greta and Malala get the headlines, but Jessica Taft says that for every young leader pictured on a magazine cover, thousands more are working tirelessly for causes like

Jolie Kerns appointed director for Physical & Environmental Planning Services

Jolie Kerns is an experienced licensed architect, LEED certified professional and skilled leader in large-scale institutional projects and campus planning.

Revisions Issued to the UC policy on the Protection of Administrative Records Containing PII

Revisions Issued to the UC policy on the Protection of Administrative Records Containing Personally Identifiable Information (PII).

UC Santa Cruz hosts Vista TEC conference at Silicon Valley Campus

The September 28 conference in Santa Clara focuses on assistive technology for the blind and visually impaired

Designing or redesigning courses? There’s no need to go it alone!

Support and advice in planning and designing courses and syllabi is easily available to faculty, and it’s all accessible from their office or home.

Annual campus Move-In begins Thursday, September 19

This week we are preparing to welcome more than 9,000 residential students to our community. University Housing will open its doors for occupancy beginning Thursday, Sept. 19.

Plastic shopping bags have left the building at the Bay Tree Bookstore

The Bay Tree Bookstore has announced that effective Wednesday, Sept. 18, plastic shopping bags will no longer be offered during check-out in the store.

9/16-18 Heller Drive Traffic, Bike & Bus Impact

As the Campus continues summer improvements and renovations, Heller Drive will be reduced to one-lane traffic near the new EH&S Facility Construction. Work will shift between downhill and uphill lanes as well as the north and south ends of the construction site.

UC Santa Cruz among Sierra magazine's top 25 cool schools  

Reflecting a campuswide commitment to the long-term health of the Earth, UC Santa Cruz is among Sierra magazine's top 25 "Cool Schools" for

New director appointed for Physical Plant Services

We are very pleased to announce James Kari as the new Director of Physical Plant Services. James will join the Physical Planning, Development & Operations team and campus community on November 4, 2019.

UC Santa Cruz ranks as a top worldwide research university

UC Santa Cruz is among the top 200 research universities in the world, according to the latest analysis published by Times Higher Education

Slug G Suite | UCSC Google Apps for prior students

I am happy to announce a new service coming soon for prior UCSC students called Slug G Suite. Beginning November 14, Slug G Suite will allow UCSC students to keep their Google Apps services after they leave our campus.

Closure of Kerr Road and adjacent path

As campus continues summer construction and repairs, Kerr Road north of Kerr Hall to Steinhart Way, as well as the adjacent path to the pedestrian bridge, will be closed for repaving Sept. 10.

UC Santa Cruz ranks as a leading university for social mobility

UC Santa Cruz debuted as the second best university in the country for social mobility, according to the 2020 U.S. News and World Report rankings.

Celebrated author and master storyteller Malcolm Gladwell to discuss ‘Talking to Strangers’

Why does a routine traffic stop end in tragedy? How can a spy spend years hidden at the highest levels of the Pentagon? Why is it so hard

Wireless System Maintenance on Sunday, Sept. 8

This Sunday, Sept. 8 from 6:30 AM to 8:30 AM, ITS is upgrading the Wireless LAN Controller system which means there will be multiple brief (<10min) wireless service interruptions as the access points reboot.

Physicist Joel Primack honored by American Physical Society

The 2020 Julius Edgar Lilienfeld Prize recognizes Primack for his outstanding contributions to physics and

Switzer Environmental Fellowship awarded to UCSC graduate student

Melissa Cronin, a Ph.D. candidate in ecology and evolutionary biology, has been awarded a Switzer Environmental Fellowship from the Robert and Patricia Switzer

Marine scientist Adina Paytan to receive A.G. Huntsman Medal

Adina Paytan, a research professor in the Institute of Marine Sciences, has been honored with the 2019 A.G. Huntsman Award for Excellence in the Marine Sciences presented by

Postdoc Hanh Lam awarded prestigious NIH grant

Hanh Lam, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, has received the NIH Pathway to Independence Career Development

Talking about scientific results without overstating the findings

Developmental psychologist Maureen Callanan has coauthored a new paper about researchers' use of "generic language" when they report scientific findings, a tendency that leads to bolder claims that

Farm hosts organic ag research tour for Congressman Jimmy Panetta

It was a beautiful September morning when Congressman Jimmy Panetta visited the UCSC Farm to hear from leading researchers in the field of organic

UCSC’s Genomics Institute settles into new Delaware Avenue headquarters

The move to 2300 Delaware Ave. coincides with the formal establishment of the Genomics Institute as an Organized Research Unit at UC Santa

Major NSF grant supports research on soil fungi

Kai Zhu, an assistant professor of environmental studies, has received a $700,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to study the biodiversity and distribution of soil fungi across

Summer enrollment numbers continue to grow

Summer enrollment grew for the third year in a row at UC Santa Cruz Summer Session with more than 5,999 students taking summer classes. This is the highest recorded summer enrollment, about a 16 percent increase from last year.