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Donor News

December 12, 2019
Raising awareness of ‘deficit thinking’
Undergraduate researcher works to combat harmful perceptions many first-generation students experience
December 06, 2019
Collective boost for Slug Support
UCSC celebrates success of Giving Tuesday fundraiser focused on student basic needs
November 26, 2019
Coastal fog linked to high levels of mercury found in mountain lions, study finds
Researchers at UC Santa Cruz have discovered elevated levels of mercury in mountain lions, the latest indication that the neurotoxin is being carried in fog, deposited on the land, and making its way up the food chain.
November 26, 2019
Giving Tuesday to support student basic needs
The fall quarter is sprinting toward its finish, some desperately needed rain is on the horizon, and soon we will all have a short break from our work and studies, hopefully to spend time with family and friends.
November 19, 2019
Rachel Carson College: Training the green generation
UC Santa Cruz’s eighth college is a haven for sustainability-minded, environmentally conscious students hoping to lead and empower others .
November 08, 2019
Upcoming workshops on Long Range Development Plan
UC Santa Cruz will hold a series of workshops to discuss the future of UC Santa Cruz campus land use, including progress to date and next steps.
October 31, 2019
First generation, lasting impact
Funding from Jacques M. Littlefield Foundation is helping first-generation students succeed and generating research on practices that can support students across the country
October 10, 2019
A helping hand from Retirees Association
UC Santa Cruz Retirees Association Silver Slug scholarships benefit UC Santa Cruz staff or their children
October 08, 2019
New Human Rights Lab trains students to investigate wrongdoing
The new Human Rights Lab went live this fall with 19 students who have learned high-tech, digital-verification skills they will use to investigate alleged human rights abuses around the globe.
October 08, 2019
$8.5 million gift supports UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute
An anonymous gift of $8.5 million to UCSC establishes the Healthier World Fund for the UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute.
September 24, 2019
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 Project.
September 23, 2019
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
September 19, 2019
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 efforts to make aquaculture more sustainable.
September 17, 2019
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 climate justice, racial and gender equality, LGBTQ rights, and economic change.
September 17, 2019
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.
September 12, 2019
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 2019.
September 11, 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 (THE).
September 08, 2019
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.
September 04, 2019
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 agriculture.
September 03, 2019
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 Cruz.
September 03, 2019
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 North America.
September 02, 2019
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.
August 26, 2019
Finding his way—with a little help
All alumnus Patrick Bailey needed was some support, which he found in the Summer Research Experience program at UC Santa Cruz; this year, he defied the odds by earning a Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology, and is now doing cancer research.
August 22, 2019
Master gardener Orin Martin authors new book, Fruit Trees for Every Garden
The beautifully illustrated and lovingly written new book Fruit Trees for Every Garden is not your standard how-to book.
August 21, 2019
Crown College: Science-minded, socially mindful
Crown College, known for its science culture, enhances the student experience through academic innovation, ample research opportunities, and courses that make students think beyond their fields of study.
July 23, 2019
Scholars weigh in on new ideas about autism
The authors of a provocative new paper maintain that many of the behaviors common to autism—including low eye contact, repetitive movements, and the verbatim repetition of words and phrases—are misinterpreted as a lack of interest in social engagement. On the contrary, they say, many people with autism express a deep longing for social connection.
July 16, 2019
Dream job: Combining science and illustration
Ph.D. student Jessica Kendall-Bar is fascinated by how wild marine mammals sleep, and also passionate about using art to explain science.
July 01, 2019
UC Santa Cruz establishes interdisciplinary Southeast Asia research center
A $1 million grant from the Henry Luce Foundation will establish a new Center for Southeast Asian Coastal Interactions (SEACoast) at UC Santa Cruz that will bring together scholars from the social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences to address the region's challenges.
June 21, 2019
Phil Hammack helps shape Exploratorium's exhibition about identity
Psychology Professor Phil Hammack was thrilled to be invited to help plan a new exhibition at the Exploratorium about identity.
June 07, 2019
Undergrad gets her hands dirty learning about redwoods
For Lilianne de la Espriella, doing independent, hands-on research as an undergraduate meant literally getting her hands dirty.
June 06, 2019
A winning combination
Chancellor’s Undergraduate Internship Program provides students with work experience while campus benefits
June 04, 2019
Gifts accelerate research, from the galactic to the microscopic
Gifts from Ken and Gloria Levy support biomedical discovery that may help cancer patients as well as research on dark matter halos, some of the universe’s largest structures
June 03, 2019
Social Sciences recognizes students for excellence in scholarship
Students, faculty, staff, and donors of the Division of Social Sciences gathered Friday, May 31, to celebrate excellence in student scholarship and creativity.
May 30, 2019
Alumni Excursion: Sea change, up close and personal
A curated trip called "The Effects of Climate Change on Marine Life" offered attendees a detailed look into how UC Santa Cruz researchers are contributing to the discussion of climate change and its direct impact on marine ecosystems.
May 28, 2019
Sociology PhD candidate named UC Free Speech Fellow
Saugher Nojan, a PhD candidate in sociology, has been selected as a 2019-20 fellow of the University of California National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement.
May 23, 2019
Astrophysicist Natalie Batalha will give annual Mandel Lecture on June 5
Free public talk will focus on Batalha's research on exoplanets and the search for life on other planets.
May 13, 2019
UC Cooperative Extension hires first organic specialist
For the first time, the University of California has hired a Cooperative Extension specialist dedicated to organic agriculture: Joji Muramoto, a longtime research associate with the University of California Santa Cruz, will coordinate a statewide program focused on the organic production of strawberries and vegetables.
May 08, 2019
Great expectations and the general magic of failure
A new film by Dickens Universe regular and benefactor Mike Stern is the story of a little-known company that set in motion much of our technological world
May 07, 2019
Engage with "alternative Nobel" laureates this spring and summer
UC Santa Cruz is hosting a week-long summer institute with Right Livelihood Award laureate Nicanor Perlas, who received the "alternative Nobel" in 2003 for his work opposing corporate globalization.
May 03, 2019
Jenny Reardon participates in Vatican workshop on personalized medicine
Sociology Professor Jenny Reardon, a leading voice in the field of genomics, was one of 15 participants invited to attend a workshop on personalized medicine hosted by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.
April 29, 2019
Explore the "superbloom" in Santa Cruz County
A new Field Guide to Plants of UC Santa Cruz makes exploring the landscapes of the campus—and the county—fun and rewarding.
April 23, 2019
Can a drone weigh an elephant seal?
Undergrad’s innovative research may lead to new methods of weighing seals, expanding our understanding of the mammals and the oceans
April 22, 2019
Smith Society celebrates 20 years and unparalleled success
On its 20th anniversary, the Smith Society pays tribute to a remarkable intergenerational community that has provided social mobility and a sense of family, making a college degree possible for hundreds of students
April 17, 2019
Entrepreneurs emerge as a force in Europe's refugee emergency
Camilla Hawthorne, assistant professor of sociology, says economic stagnation and a resurgence of racist nationalism are shaping conversations about what it means to be Italian in the 21st century.
April 12, 2019
Admissions director forged path as first-gen college student
Blia Yang, the director of undergraduate admissions, may very well be the first Hmong admissions director in the state—or at least the UC system.
March 27, 2019
Inspired Expeditions: A travel program for the curious
UC Santa Cruz’s new travel program pairs travelers with expert professors for enhanced perspectives into some of the world’s most fascinating places.
March 25, 2019
Summer programs draw visitors to Lick Observatory for music and stargazing
Tickets go on sale in April for the observatory's popular summer evening programs.
March 22, 2019
Teens who seek solitude may know what's best for them, research suggests
Teens who choose to spend time alone may know what's best for them, according to new research that suggests solitude isn't a red flag for isolation or depression.
March 18, 2019
YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki and Google exec Dennis Troper share tips and tales
During a campus visit on Saturday, tech titan Susan Wojcicki urged college students to pursue careers of meaning and impact in fields that are growing—and to be flexible and humble as they begin their work lives.
March 14, 2019
Sixth annual Climate Conference links science and justice
For the first time, the annual UC Santa Cruz Climate Conference will bring together prominent ocean scientists and leading social-justice advocates to discuss the environmental and equity dimensions of the crisis.
March 11, 2019
Graduate student joins White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
Marnie Riddle, a Ph.D. candidate in environmental studies, will spend one year in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy as a John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellow.
March 10, 2019
Leading the charge for change
Alumna Amita Kuttner, a current graduate student in the Physics Department, is running as a Green Party candidate for a seat in Canada’s House of Commons in order to make policy around climate change—a quest sparked by a devastating loss
February 20, 2019
In memoriam: Irene Osterbrock
Widow of late Lick Observatory director was tireless UC Santa Cruz advocate, volunteer, supporter of graduate students, and arts patron
February 19, 2019
Ready, set, give!
Mark your calendars for the give-fest of the year. Giving Day, a high-octane 24-hour online festival of nonstop giving, returns to UC Santa Cruz on February 27.
February 19, 2019
Blum Scholars present preliminary results of community-based research
Four graduate students discussed their research on jail health care, Latina resistance, Central Valley youth, and feminism in the farmlands.
February 14, 2019
Marin County: Safe harbor for Native residents during the Mission era and into the 20th century
Contrary to the dominant narrative of cultural extinction, indigenous residents of Marin County survived colonization, preserving and passing on their traditions and cultural practices, says anthropologist Tsim Schneider.
February 05, 2019
Former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen receives Foundation Medal
UC Santa Cruz presented Former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen with the Foundation Medal, the highest honor bestowed by the campus.
January 31, 2019
Mean streets: Self-driving cars will "cruise" to avoid paying to park
If you think traffic in city centers is bad now, just wait until self-driving cars emerge on the scene, cruising around to avoid paying hefty downtown parking fees.
January 15, 2019
Seed-funding innovation
The UC Santa Cruz Foundation Board of Trustees seeks interesting new projects to fund.
January 14, 2019
Janet Yellen: Honoring a living legend
Janet Yellen, widely regarded as one of the most successful Federal Reserve chairs in history, will receive the UC Santa Cruz Foundation Medal at a ceremony in Menlo Park next month.
January 07, 2019
UC Santa Cruz historian and founding faculty member John Dizikes dies at 86
John Dizikes, a professor emeritus of American Studies and a founding member of the faculty of the University of California, Santa Cruz, died at his home in Santa Cruz on December 26, 2018.