Author: Public Affairs

SAN FRANCISCO, CA–Erosion of seacliffs, damage to coastal structures, and the comings and goings of beach sand along California’s central coast are all closely linked to the intense winter storms associated with El Niño. Two new studies by researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, reveal the connections between this climatic heavy hitter and…

SANTA CRUZ, CA–The University of California, Santa Cruz, will play a key role in one of three new [California Institutes for Science and Innovation][2] established today by Governor Gray Davis. The Institute for Bioengineering, Biotechnology and Quantitative Biomedical Research (QB3) will be centered at UC San Francisco with major research components at UC Santa Cruz…

SANTA CRUZ, CA–A new study suggests that too much manganese, an essential element required by the body in tiny amounts but toxic at elevated levels, may contribute to the early development of Parkinson’s disease symptoms in susceptible people. Recent epidemiological studies have suggested an association between Parkinson’s disease and elevated exposure to manganese. The new…

A Celebration Of His Life Is Planned For Saturday, December 2 SANTA CRUZ, CA–Ronald W. Henderson, a professor emeritus of education and psychology at the University of California, Santa Cruz, whose research focused on improving educational opportunities for underrepresented minorities, died at his Santa Cruz home November 24 after a lengthy battle with melanoma. He…

New Educational Video Fosters Cultural Understanding By Revealing Roots Of Food Preferences And Taboos SANTA CRUZ, CA–Instead of turkey and mashed potatoes, imagine filling your holiday plate with fried spiders and rattlesnake. Sound yucky? Welcome to the world of food preferences, where what is considered delicious–and disgusting–is more a matter of culture than most people…

SANTA CRUZ, CA–NAACP President Kweisi Mfume will be the keynote speaker at UC Santa Cruz’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Convocation on January 24. The event begins at 7 P.M. at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church Street. It is free and open to the public. Mfume, who has led the National Association…

RENO, NV–Among the large mammals that roamed prehistoric North America was a type of rhinoceros that seems to have lived in the water, much like a modern hippopotamus. The extinct rhinoceros, known as Teleoceras, ranged from Florida to the West Coast from about 17 million years ago until about 4.5 million years ago. Its semi-aquatic…

SANTA CRUZ, CA–The Division of Natural Sciences at the University of California, Santa Cruz, has awarded Russell Flegal, professor and chair of the Environmental Toxicology Department, the Outstanding Faculty Award for 1999-2000. The award recognizes Flegal’s commitment to service, teaching excellence, and distinguished research career, said dean of natural sciences David Kliger. "He is an…

SANTA CRUZ, CA–The New Idria mercury mine near Pinnacles National Monument is one of dozens of inoperative mercury mines in the Coast Ranges of California. It had one of the longest periods of operation (from 1854 to 1972) and was the second largest mercury producer in North America. Now, researchers from the University of California,…

SANTA CRUZ, CA–For the first time, beginning teachers from across the state have the opportunity to meet for a daylong professional conference that will offer tips on issues such as classroom management, curriculum development, student assessment, and technology, all in the context of recognizing and celebrating the contributions new teachers make to schools. The New…

SANTA CRUZ, CA–The members of the Academic Senate at UC Santa Cruz, polled via a mail ballot this fall, have reaffirmed an earlier vote implementing UC’s conventional grading system. The results of the most recent vote were announced late yesterday by senate chair Roger Anderson. The grading legislation continues to permit UCSC undergraduate students to…

SANTA CRUZ, CA–Daniel Greenhouse, a senior physics and math major at UC Santa Cruz, thinks learning about science should be fun. He began experimenting with electricity when he was 12 years old, and before long he was building Tesla coils that could generate huge arcs of electricity. This led to special-effects projects for concerts by…