Research
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Revealing the secrets of the human brain
UC Santa Cruz research innovations and academic programs advance brain and mental health.
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Study works to uncover the impact of nutrition on the health of young adults
With funding from the National Institutes of Health, The Center for Economic Justice and Action is leading a study that will deepen our understanding of how food access affects lifelong health and how economic and social factors contribute to overall well-being among young adults.
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Social psychologist explains historical progress and pitfalls in addressing anti-Black racism
New book applies seven decades of research on race relations and proposes a path forward
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What psychology research says about virtual communication
As more companies and governments issue often unpopular return-to-office mandates, there’s still very little evidence about how remote work compares to in-person settings, especially when it comes to communication, which is the foundation of collaboration. Psychology researchers at UC Santa Cruz have been working to fill in the gaps by investigating the nuances of virtual…
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Learning through participation
Barbara Rogoff has studied the collaborative method Mayan communities use to teach children for over 30 years
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Traditional Mayan collaboration practices show both changes and resilience after decades of globalization
UC Santa Cruz psychologist Barbara Rogoff has been working with Mayan communities in Guatemala for decades to document traditional collaboration and learning practices. Her latest research follows up on an initial study from 30 years ago to see how practices have shifted or persisted over time within families.
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UC Santa Cruz receives NSF grant to transform diversity and inclusion in STEM graduate programs
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded nearly $1 million to researchers at UC Santa Cruz to advance equity and inclusion by fostering a more inclusive, culturally rich environment in STEM graduate programs.
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Study of a large public university in the Northeastern U.S. finds that students who feel more university connection may be more likely to binge drink
Universities should ensure they are providing ample opportunities for students to feel connected through sober activities and environments, researchers recommend.
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Singing from memory unlocks a surprisingly common musical superpower
UC Santa Cruz psychologists studied “earworms,” the types of songs that get stuck in your head and play automatically on a loop, to show that highly accurate pitch memory is much more common than might be expected.
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Researchers explain social media’s role in rapidly shifting social norms on gender and sexuality
A new paper by UC Santa Cruz psychologists describes how social media has supported an explosion of diversity in gender and sexuality in America by empowering authentic self-expression. However, these technologies have also equally enabled a cultural backlash.
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Santa Cruz County youth aim to improve community mental health through better support for immigrants
A three-year partnership between UC Santa Cruz and United Way to empower young change-makers is wrapping up this spring, with youth leaders from across Santa Cruz County preparing to distribute resource kits for local immigrants.
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UC Santa Cruz-based center leads system-wide commitment to White House food security initiative
The Center for Economic Justice and Action (CEJA) at UC Santa Cruz will lead the University of California’s participation in the White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities.