Social Sciences
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UC Santa Cruz drives statewide sustainable food transformation
The University of California, with UC Santa Cruz at the forefront, is making significant strides toward its goal of sourcing 25 percent of its food from sustainable sources by 2030 through the UC Global Climate Leadership Council’s Sustainable Food Sourcing Project.
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Colombia’s peatlands could be a crucial tool to fight climate change. But first we have to find them.
Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Scott Winton conducted three years of extensive fieldwork to develop the first data-driven map of both newly documented and predicted peatlands across Colombia’s eastern lowlands.
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Global premiere of “Power in the Desert” illuminates the human side of the lithium boom
New documentary inspired by Professor Chris Benner’s co-authored book “Charging Forward” explores environmental justice across Argentina, Chile, and California.
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Center for Labor and Community partners with regional union leaders on state-funded push to ensure workplace rights, safety, and benefits
UC Santa Cruz’s Center for Labor and Community will partner with the Monterey Bay Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO on a state grant to educate workers across the Central Coast in sectors like agriculture, hospitality, construction, manufacturing, and retail.
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New book explains the public health costs of prisons and policing
Assistant Professor Carlos Martinez’s latest co-edited book explores the public health impacts of punitive policing, incarceration, and deportation policies and describes how the abolitionist health justice movement is working toward a new, more just vision of “safety” that protects, rather than harms, the health and wellbeing of our society’s most vulnerable people.
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Cynthia Lewis named 2025 Fellow of the American Educational Research Association
Cynthia Lewis, professor emerita of education, was honored by the American Educational Research Association for her outstanding contributions to education research.
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Cynthia Lewis named 2025 Fellow of the American Educational Research Association
Cynthia Lewis, professor emerita of education at UC Santa Cruz, was honored by the American Educational Research Association (AERA) for her outstanding contributions to education research.
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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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New study shows how microalgae could help advance sustainable trout farming
Researchers at UC Santa Cruz created a successful experimental aquaculture feed formulation for rainbow trout that fully replaces traditional fishmeal ingredients sourced from wild-caught fish with leftover marine microalgae from the human dietary supplement industry. Their findings support efforts to increase the variety and quality of fish-free feed options, so that aquaculture can expand food…
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Supporting early career alums: Finding hope in challenging times
In a time of uncertainty, where environmental challenges grow more complex and the future feels unpredictable, two UC Santa Cruz alumni share their insights on adapting to professional challenges while staying true to their core values.
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Clinical pediatric cancer lab at UC Santa Cruz is cleared to accept and test patient samples
The UC Santa Cruz Colligan Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory has received its CLIA certificate of registration from the California Department of Public Health, which clears the way for it to begin accepting patient samples.
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Forever fighter
Right Livelihood Laureate Rob Bilott’s battle against PFAS “forever chemicals” takes center stage in new documentary How to Poison the Planet, featuring Mark Ruffalo