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December 18, 2020
Research partnership explores bonds between mothers and nonspeaking autistic children
Researchers at UC Santa Cruz and the University of Virginia have been collaborating to better understand behaviors and beliefs that may strengthen relationships between mothers and children with nonspeaking autism.
December 16, 2020
Coming full circle
Alumnus Darren Thompson, an accomplished chemist and student mentor, overcame a dark turn in his life with help from his determination, his Christian faith, and a UC Santa Cruz professor.
December 15, 2020
How to turn $1 into four healthy meals
Second Harvest Food Bank can feed a family of four with only $1 because of their extensive relationships with farmers, retailers, food bank networks, and dedicated volunteers.
December 09, 2020
Surge in online grocery shopping brings a quantity-over-quality jobs shift
The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated emerging labor market trends associated with e-commerce in the grocery industry, creating mixed implications for jobs, according to a new report led by UCSC professor Chris Benner.
December 08, 2020
Campus publishes sixth edition of “inquiry@UC Santa Cruz” research magazine
The stories, crafted by alumni of the world-renowned UC Santa Cruz Science Communication Master’s Program, cover projects across the five academic devisions.
December 04, 2020
Resiliency is the name of the game for UC Santa Cruz Athletics and Recreation
The department has scored wins in many of the challenges of the pandemic by supporting students remotely, pivoting to online programming, and developing innovative ways to empower student-athletes and student support staff.
December 04, 2020
National Academies report on sustainability education features UC Santa Cruz expertise
UC Santa Cruz professor Anne Kapuscinski chaired the committee that developed the report, and campus initiatives were highlighted within as examples of innovative sustainability education.
November 30, 2020
Psychology research shows ‘water cooler talk’ can have big benefits
In settings where people are working together on a task, making time for small talk allows for a newly-described behavior called "reciprocity in conversation," which is associated with higher levels of task enjoyment.
November 24, 2020
UC Santa Cruz celebrates its first Rhodes Scholar
Spring 2020 graduate Garima Desai was named among the top 32 scholars from across the U.S. who will have all of their expenses paid to attend graduate school at Oxford University through a Rhodes Scholarship.
November 12, 2020
Humanities Institute to host acclaimed writer Ta-Nehisi Coates in special post-election event
Coates will be in conversation with Adam Serwer, staff writer at The Atlantic magazine, to discuss his acclaimed novel "The Water Dancer"—as well as the state of the country after the election
November 12, 2020
Research breakthrough achieves fish-free aquaculture feed that raises key standards
A new aquaculture feed formula eliminates conventional fish meal and fish oil ingredients by combining ingredients derived from two species of marine microalgae.
November 09, 2020
The 2020 new Slug reality: Handling adversity and transitioning to a virtual learning experience
Remote learning has its challenges, but the newest class of Banana Slugs is making the most out of this uncharted experience.
November 05, 2020
Expanding the lines of communication
Muratcan Cicek, a Ph.D. candidate in computer engineering who won a prestigious 2020 Google Ph.D. fellowship, is working to improve head-based pointing methods for those who cannot use a mouse or trackpad.
November 04, 2020
Quantitative ecologist wins Tansley Medal for plant science contributions
Environmental studies assistant professor Kai Zhu was recently chosen from a global field as one of two recipients of the Tansley Medal for Excellence in Plant Science, presented by the journal New Phytologist.
October 19, 2020
Doctoral candidate wins Switzer Fellowship for environmental justice research in El Salvador
James Alejandro Artiga-Purcell, a Ph.D. candidate in Environmental Studies, was recently selected for the 2020 Switzer Environmental Fellowship as part of a cohort of 20 top scholar-activists from around the country.
October 16, 2020
The savior of the opera
With dampened prospects for in-person classes, rehearsals, and performances this pandemic year, UC Santa Cruz’s opera program is adapting with help from donor Scott Lord
October 15, 2020
Founding campus leader Hal Hyde dies at 97
Harold A. (Hal) Hyde, who, as the first vice chancellor for business and finance at the University of California, Santa Cruz, helped create a world-class campus on a sprawling cattle ranch, died peacefully of natural causes Oct. 12 at 97.
October 15, 2020
UC Santa Cruz study cited in arguments against gig economy proposition
The report, "On-demand and on-the-edge: Ride-hailing and Delivery Workers in San Francisco," underscores the financial vulnerability of workers in the gig economy.
October 13, 2020
Challenging how we see the prison-industrial complex
An ambitious two-part exhibit, titled Barring Freedom and Visualizing Abolition, organized by the UC Santa Cruz Institute of the Arts and Sciences, combines art and activism to address prison and policing issues.
October 13, 2020
Joint statement from chancellor and mayor on water access
The chancellor and mayor agree that a court ruling is the best route to settle the long-standing dispute the university and the city of Santa Cruz have regarding access to water service throughout the UC Santa Cruz campus.
October 13, 2020
UC Santa Cruz Human Rights Lab investigates social unrest in Chile
Human Rights Investigations Labs at UCSC and UC Berkeley collaborated on open source research focused on the human rights crisis in Chile, which began with massive anti-government demonstrations a year ago that prompted a swift and sometimes brutal government crackdown on protestors.
September 29, 2020
Rising from the ashes
Archaeological researchers from UC Santa Cruz are among the volunteers searching through rubble for homeowners who lost their loved ones’ cremains in the fires that ravaged Oregon and California.
September 22, 2020
Giving Day 2020: Coming together to enrich the student experience
Giving Day, a high-octane, 24-hour online event of nonstop giving, will be held on Wednesday, September 30. This playful but impactful philanthropic event will have an all-online format this year, due to COVID-related safety concerns.
September 22, 2020
Wildfire relief grants awarded to employees, students
Through generous gifts from alumni, donors, and the campus community, UC Santa Cruz has been able to provide more than 60 grants to the employees who were most severely impacted.
September 21, 2020
UC Santa Cruz alumna Maya Rudolph wins two Emmy Awards
Last night, UC Santa Cruz alumna Maya Rudolph picked up her second Emmy of the week for her impression of California senator and Democratic vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris on Saturday Night Live
September 21, 2020
LALS doctoral candidate Candy Martínez awarded Native American Scholars Initiative Fellowship
Candy Martínez, a PhD. candidate in Latin America Latino Studies, has been named a 2020-2021 Andrew W. Mellon Native American Scholars Initiative Fellow at the American Philosophical Society.
September 16, 2020
New federal funding supports student success, equity
Five years of federal funding from the Title V Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) Program will support a new project, "Graduating and Advancing New American Scholars (GANAS) - Career Pathways."
September 15, 2020
2020 Peggy Downes Baskin Ethics Lecture to feature visionary author Margaret Atwood
Award-winning poet, novelist and essayist Margaret Atwood will be featured in conversation with UCSC alumna Kate Schatz, the New York Times bestselling author of "Rad American Women A-Z," as part of the Humanities Division’s annual Peggy Downes Baskin Ethics Lecture Series.
September 09, 2020
Summer Session helps students earn degrees
UC Santa Cruz staff and faculty have been steadily working to increase summer session enrollment, leading UCs in online offerings and working with departments to offer the classes students need to graduate.
September 01, 2020
In the line of fire
Alumnus Adam Lowdermilk had built a career as a musician, but the tragic 2018 Camp Fire prompted a change of heart and a leap into firefighting.
August 31, 2020
John R. Lewis College: Providing the tools to stand up against injustice and create change
John R. Lewis College students take on social justice issues while pushing for positive growth and progress in society.
August 31, 2020
Rising to the Eco-Challenge
Two Slug alumni were part of a grueling, 11-day, 416-mile adventure race called Eco-Challenge Fiji, caught in a 10-episode series streaming on Amazon Prime.
August 25, 2020
Threatened by wildfire, UC Santa Cruz campus shows it is 'Slug Strong'
Fast thinking and teamwork are keeping the UC Santa Cruz campus community safe during the devastating Lightning Complex fires as staff across campus coordinate in evacuating, relocating, and feeding displaced campus residents.
August 24, 2020
Marine mammals show off their training in evacuation from Long Marine Lab
All of the resident marine mammals at UCSC’s Long Marine Laboratory are safe and well after a successful evacuation effort.
August 07, 2020
Going with the flow—famed Ocean Explorers Summer Camp heads online
COVID-19 compelled the Seymour Marine Discovery Center to take its popular Ocean Explorers Summer Camp virtual after running the program in person for 21 years—a successful experiment that presented both challenges and opportunities.
August 04, 2020
College Nine: Embracing world cultures and developing tomorrow’s leaders
College Nine encourages students to take part in experiential learning opportunities and inspires them to become global citizens.
July 28, 2020
UC Santa Cruz, Community Foundation Santa Cruz County partner to expand access to COVID-19 testing
The campus is testing 200-400 samples every week collected by Salud Para la Gente and Santa Cruz Community Health. UCSC is providing the tests on a cost recovery basis and Community Foundation Santa Cruz County will be paying for the cost of the tests.
July 08, 2020
UC welcomes our next president: Michael V. Drake, M.D.
The University of California Board of Regents has appointed Michael V. Drake, M.D., as the 21st president of UC’s world-renowned system of 10 campuses, five medical centers, three nationally affiliated labs, more than 280,000 students and 230,000 faculty and staff.
June 30, 2020
Merrill College: Embracing individuality and cultural identities
Merrill College values diversity, inclusion, and experiential learning.
June 26, 2020
Seymour Center director to retire
During Julie Barrett Heffington’s 21-year term as director, the center has established widely appreciated public programs and served nearly 1.5 million visitors
June 23, 2020
Hellman Fellows Program and UC announce $125 million commitment to faculty research
The Hellman Fellows Program and the University of California announced a plan to permanently support the Hellman Fellows Program on all 10 campuses in the UC system.
June 16, 2020
Building bridges out of prison walls
Student Alyssa Tamboura began a student-run, volunteer program called Walls to Bridges that mediates meetings between those jailed and their families as a way to work their way back to better relationships.
June 05, 2020
Social Sciences recognizes students amid unprecedented times
The Social Sciences Division announced the recipients of its annual student achievement awards.
June 04, 2020
Campus, Santa Cruz Community Health unite to test underserved community members
As news outlets published stories about celebrities and athletes unnecessarily getting tested for COVID-19, UC Santa Cruz scientists and staff saw an opportunity to provide fast testing for the community's most vulnerable residents who too often do not have access to the same medical services.
June 03, 2020
Give revolution a chance
History of Consciousness Professor Massimiliano Tomba's prestigious Princeton University fellowship will enable him to spend the next year advancing his reinterpretation of the concept of revolution
May 28, 2020
Physicist Tesla Jeltema wins Mentorship Award from American Physical Society
An accomplished astrophysicist, Jeltema is also a champion for diversity and a dedicated supporter of students at all levels.
May 27, 2020
Protecting vulnerable children and families during the pandemic
In addition to experiencing higher rates of COVID-19 infection and death, the most vulnerable among us are losing ground in schooling, learning, and development, according to the authors of a new policy brief aimed at lawmakers.
May 21, 2020
Eminent biologist Carol Greider to join UC Santa Cruz faculty
Known for her pioneering work on telomeres, Nobel laureate Carol Greider brings exceptional research and leadership skills to her appointment in the Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology.
May 19, 2020
Virtual art galleries created to exhibit works of 13 Irwin Scholars
This year’s exhibition of artwork by 13 Irwin Scholars typically would be installed at the Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery at Porter College. But, with campus closed and a physical exhibition out of the question, Irwin 2020 has gone virtual.
May 19, 2020
Field courses boost STEM diversity, study reveals
The challenge of diversifying STEM fields may get a boost from the results of a new study that show field courses help build self-confidence among students—especially those from underrepresented groups.
May 14, 2020
Cowell College: Blazing the trail to lifelong learning
UC Santa Cruz’s first college prides itself on academic rigor and the spirit of community, living up to its motto: “The pursuit of truth in the company of friends.”
May 14, 2020
Washington Post's depictions of autism shift from "cause and cure" to acceptance, study finds
The Washington Post's depiction of autism has shifted over the years from a focus on "cause and cure" toward one of acceptance and accommodation, say the authors of a new study.
May 08, 2020
Focus on patients led alumna to nursing
Even in the midst of COVID-19, Hannah Miller said she continues to do the same job—caring for patients when they are at their most vulnerable.
May 07, 2020
Planting trees is no panacea for climate change, says ecologist
Restoration ecologist Karen Holl has a simple message for anyone who thinks planting 1 trillion trees will reverse the damage of climate change: "We can't plant our way out of climate change."
May 07, 2020
Team reveals genomic history of ancient civilizations in the Andes
An international research team has conducted the first in-depth, wide-scale study of the genomic history of ancient civilizations in the central Andes mountains and coast before European contact.
May 05, 2020
Already vulnerable, gig economy workers in San Francisco suffer during coronavirus pandemic, survey reveals
A new survey of app-based ride-hailing and food and grocery-delivery workers in San Francisco underscores the financial vulnerability of workers in the gig economy—and the coronavirus has made their plight much worse.
May 01, 2020
Slug Support provides a lifeline in the COVID-19 crisis
Emergency student assistance program rapidly shifts to remote work while fielding increased caseload and providing crucial help to some of campus's most vulnerable students
April 28, 2020
Double fellowships
History of Consciousness Associate Professor Banu Bargu will use two fellowships to complete her book on human bodies, violence and political expression
April 27, 2020
Alumnus sews up $1 million prize on TV's Making the Cut
Graduate Jonny Cota, competing against international designers, makes a splash on reality-style fashion show produced by model Heidi Klum and fashion consultant Tim Gunn.
April 24, 2020
Lecturer Ryan Coonerty named UC Free Speech Fellow
Ryan Coonerty, a longtime lecturer in the Legal Studies program at UC Santa Cruz, has been named a 2020-21 fellow of UC’s National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement.
April 21, 2020
UC Santa Cruz theater arts costume shop steps up to combat COVID-19
Just a couple of weeks ago, Brent Foland never imagined he'd be building face masks for his fellow UC Santa Cruz employees.
April 21, 2020
Agroecology major available this fall
Beginning this fall, students will have an opportunity to enroll in a new agroecology major, an interdisciplinary program housed in the Environmental Studies Department.
April 21, 2020
Delivery and ridehailing workers lack critical protections from coronavirus
Chris Benner led an online survey of app-based workers in San Francisco, and preliminary results reveal significant financial hardship caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
April 10, 2020
Broadcasting opportunity
Alumnus Rizal Aliga takes the KZSC model to his high school alma mater, establishing a student-run broadcasting club that builds school spirit while providing students with career and communications skills.
April 07, 2020
New program advances global and community health
As countries across the globe fight the coronavirus pandemic, UC Santa Cruz is creating a new program that will prepare students and provide research to solve current and future global health problems.
April 06, 2020
COVID-19: Economist helps build "contact tracing" app for Peru
In an effort to protect people from COVID-19, economist Kristian López Vargas helped lead the development of an app the Peruvian government has launched to improve "contact tracing" .
April 02, 2020
Discrimination, governance, and trust in the age of COVID-19
The coronavirus pandemic has upended daily life around the world, and is simultaneously triggering challenging questions of discrimination, governance, and trust, says sociologist Jenny Reardon.
April 02, 2020
Grow your own veggies? Orin Martin offers tips for novice gardeners
Orin Martin is delighted that people are responding to the coronavirus pandemic with a desire to grow their own veggies, and he has lots of knowledge to share—as well as one plea: Be sure to plant some flowers, too.
March 26, 2020
California Sea Grant funds sustainable aquaculture project
Pallab Sarker, an associate research professor in environmental studies, has received support from the Coastal Sea Grant program to fund his research into the development of sustainable feed for farmed fish.
March 25, 2020
Orin Martin recognized for 'Fruit Trees for Every Garden'
Orin Martin's book 'Fruit Trees for Every Garden' has been recognized by the American Horticultural Society as one of the outstanding gardening books of 2019.
March 16, 2020
UC Santa Cruz campus was ready for its close-up
Producers of 'Devs,' the new sci-fi thriller that premiered March 5 on Hulu, were looking for just the right location to depict a high-tech corporate campus with a tinge of dystopia. It needed to look like Northern California — sort of Silicon Valley-ish — and it needed to say science and tech. UC Santa Cruz was the right place at the right time.
March 16, 2020
Timing is key for parents who want to help children learn at museums, say researchers
Children's museums can be a challenging environment for parents who feel the urge to explain the science behind all the novel activities that dazzle youngsters. New research suggests that timing is key to supporting children's learning in these environments.
March 16, 2020
Two programs will support undergrads in research, service learning, and peer mentoring
Undergraduates in the Division of Social Sciences will soon benefit from two programs that will provide paid opportunities to do research, engage in service learning, and mentor their peers.
March 12, 2020
New book debunks myths about who causes crime and why
Craig Haney, a distinguished professor of psychology, is the author of the new book Criminality in Context: The Psychological Foundations of Criminal Justice Reform, a comprehensive analysis of 40 years of research into the root causes of criminal behavior.
February 24, 2020
Heising-Simons Foundation supports exoplanet imaging projects at UC Santa Cruz
Three new grants totaling $2.4 million will fund work at UCSC on new instruments and technologies to support research on planets beyond our solar system.
February 24, 2020
Campus community input needed for grassland management plan
Justin Luong is trying to prioritize different campus grasslands for protection, given campus enrollment goals, sustainability goals, and the long range development plan.
February 21, 2020
UC Santa Cruz joins national "tech for social good" network
UC Santa Cruz has been accepted into a new national network of colleges and universities that have made an explicit commitment to developing technology that will advance the public interest.
February 20, 2020
Campus conference to inaugurate new ‘Helene Moglen Lecture in Feminism and Humanities’
UC Santa Cruz will present Writing for Living, a conference in honor of emeritus dean of humanities and literature professor Helene Moglen (1936-2018), on March 13-14 at the Humanities Division.
February 20, 2020
Aquaculture to benefit people and the environment
Two graduate students have received a one-year, $150,000 grant to create environmentally sound seaweed and sea cucumber farms on the coasts of Kenya and The Gambia.
February 13, 2020
Using isotopes to reconstruct life histories within the transatlantic slave trade
Four hundred years after the displacement of millions of Africans began, anthropologist Vicky Oelze wants to use isotope biogeochemistry to trace back and identify the origins of individuals who were abducted and perished in the Americas.
February 11, 2020
Bringing new perspectives to astronomy
An array of grants from the Heising-Simons Foundation is helping UC Santa Cruz accelerate astrophysics and other sciences while changing what we think an astrophysicist looks like
February 06, 2020
Humanities Institute launches new ‘Deep Read’ initiative with spotlight on Margaret Atwood
The Humanities Institute at UC Santa Cruz has launched “The Deep Read,” a new initiative that invites the campus—and the community at large—to take a deep dive into literature, art, and the most pressing issues of the day.
February 06, 2020
Women's Rugby celebrates 40 years
The UC Santa Cruz Women's Rugby team celebrates its 40-year history, including numerous titles and hundreds of friendships.
February 06, 2020
Stevenson College: An inclusive, collaborative social atmosphere
Stevenson College was built on a legacy of responsibility, engagement, and mutual understanding, preparing students to become leaders and to make positive social change in their communities.
February 03, 2020
Craig Haney testifies before committee charged with revising state's penal code
Craig Haney, distinguished professor of psychology, was the only witness to testify during the first meeting of the newly formed Committee on Revision of the Penal Code.
January 29, 2020
UCSC taking art/science LASER talk series downtown for special evening at Rio Theater
On Wednesday, Feb. 19, the Institute of the Arts and Sciences will bring its local LASER—now in its seventh year of quarterly talks on campus—downtown for a special evening at the Rio Theater in Santa Cruz, beginning at 7 p.m.
January 16, 2020
Breaking down barriers to success
First-gen student Reina Garay-Solis is doing undergraduate research to help identify common challenges for first-gen and underrepresented students and find effective institutional practices to address them
January 14, 2020
Global study of street networks reveals growing urban sprawl
Local streets of the world’s cities are becoming less connected, part of a global trend that is driving urban sprawl and discouraging the use of public transportation.
January 10, 2020
Public conversation about race and racial reconciliation on Jan. 22
Racial reconciliation and the future of race in America will be the subject of a public conversation with scholars Alondra Nelson and Herman Gray on Wednesday, January 22, at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center.
January 06, 2020
Food and anti-corporate globalization activist Vandana Shiva coming to campus Jan. 25-26
The public is invited to attend two events with legendary food activist Vandana Shiva, who will be at UC Santa Cruz on January 25 and 26.