2025
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Forum captures urgency to use ecosystems now to keep people safe from looming natural disasters
The National Practice Forum on Nature-Based Solutions was held in Irvine on February 4 and 5, and sponsored by UC Santa Cruz’s Center for Coastal Climate Resilience (CCCR). The forum drew over 500 attendees from around the country to discuss how our ecosystems can protect us from natural disasters.
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New eye-tracking VR experience, Face Jumping, wins XR Audience Award at SXSW
After debuting at South by Southwest (SXSW) 2025, Face Jumping won the conference’s XR Experience audience award among the 15 creators working at the intersection of technology and immersive art who participated in the XR Experience competition. Gorman presented the VR experience alongside her Tender Claws team, an independent art and creative studio that she…
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Whale waste helps health of oceans by funneling nutrients to the tropics, new study shows
New research shows that whales move nutrients thousands of miles—in their pee and poop—from as far as Alaska to Hawaii, supporting the health of tropical ecosystems and fish. UC Santa Cruz professors Dan Costa and Ari Friedlaender contributed their marine-mammal expertise to the study, which was published on March 10 in the journal Nature Communications.
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UCOP FAQ about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the University of California
The UC Office of the President has issued a document providing more detail and a UC-specific compilation of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) containing preliminary guidance and references to relevant federal and state law and University policy.
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Critical Imagination in Crisis Times: A Conference on the power of the Humanities at UC Santa Cruz
In times of growing inequality, political upheaval, and climate crisis, how do we imagine a different future, one that breaks free from the cycles of crisis and oppression? This question will be explored in depth at UC Santa Cruz’s Critical Imagination in Crisis Times conference at Merrill College on Tuesday, March 11.
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Biologist Erika Zavaleta receives Science Division’s Outstanding Faculty Award
The Science Division has announced that Erika Zavaleta, a professor in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department, has won its 2023-24 Outstanding Faculty Award. The annual prize is the division’s highest honor for faculty achievement, recognizing combined excellence in research, teaching, and service.
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Matt O’Hara and Katia Obraczka appointed interim provosts of Cowell and Crown for 2025-26
The Division of Undergraduate Education is proud to announce the appointment of Professor Matt O’Hara as interim provost of Cowell College and Professor Katia Obraczka as interim provost of Crown College for the 2025-26 academic year.
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Planned power outage during spring break – March 24–27
In order to address critical infrastructure needs, there will be multiple planned high-voltage electrical shutdowns on the main residential campus during Spring Break.



