COVID Chronicles, Vol. 3: Keeping campus updated, uplifted

COVID Chronicles

Volume 3, November 2020

Hello UC Santa Cruz community,

The end of fall quarter is rapidly approaching. Nearly all of our instruction has been remote, we have a much smaller student population living on campus, and the majority of our staff and faculty are working remotely. The end result has been a low rate of COVID cases on our campus. I am grateful for the dedication of all in our community. Remaining Slug Strong continues to be an important way to live our values.

We made the decision early last month to continue remote instruction for the winter quarter. We announced earlier this week that we will do the same for the spring and summer quarters. I am sure all of you have seen the optimistic news of late on a potential vaccine, and like all of you, I look forward to the time that we are again learning and working together.

Meanwhile, I am happy to share some good news about the UCSC Molecular Diagnostic Lab. The lab was honored last month by the Santa Cruz County Volunteer Center with a Be the Difference Award for the work it has done to provide local testing for coronavirus infections. The story is below. I could not be more proud of the work done by our campus to upright the lab in a matter of weeks this past spring and to tame this pandemic in general. We will emerge from this period a stronger institution.

Chancellor Cynthia Larive

COVID in the news

Specialist Scott La working in the UCSC Molecular Diagnostic Lab. (Photo by C. Lagattuta)

Be the Difference Award honors

UC Santa Cruz Molecular Diagnostic Lab

The Be the Difference Awards, sponsored by the Santa Cruz County Volunteer Center, honors the UCSC Molecular Diagnostic Lab for its work on providing local testing for coronavirus infections.

Confronting COVID-19

From developing faster tests to building prediction models of the spread of the infection, campus researchers are applying their skills in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Playing for Keeps: Improvisation in the Aftermath book cover

Stress relief: Musical improvisation

as a way to respond to crisis

Playing for Keeps: Improvisation in the Aftermath explores the various ways that musical improvisation can be used as a method for responding to crisis and dealing with stress.

Hear from our experts

The Kraw Lecture Series have been a key resource in keeping our community and others informed on all things COVID. Learn how UCSC researchers are combatting the pandemic at home and abroad.

Viruses and vaccines

Professor Rebecca DuBois discusses how her team uses an integrated toolkit of structural biology, biochemistry, virology, and immunology to develop vaccines and antiviral therapies to fight viruses. Watch now

COVID-19: The scientific basis of what we know — and the exit strategy it provides

Professor Marm Kilpatrick provides a broad overview of the vast scientific literature on COVID-19, including what almost all epidemiologists have outlined as the best strategy moving forward. Watch now

Hunting for infection a molecule at a time

Professor Holger Schmidt discusses how his lab is developing technology for doctors to administer COVID-19 tests quickly and onsite.

Watch now

For more COVID-related Kraw Lectures, visit UCSC's

Arts, Lectures and Entertainment YouTube channel

Virtual events

Ezra Klein and William Davies:

Living in a frayed democracy

This year's Peggy Downes Baskin Ethics Lecture will take a deep look into our politically divided society and discuss ways we can move forward through the polarization.

Financial risks, innovation,

and inclusion in a post-COVID world

The COVID-sparked economic crisis has altered all aspects of our lives. Tune into the CAFIN and UC Investment series, which explores COVID-19 financial challenges and developments.

For the latest virtual happenings on and off campus, check calendar.ucsc.edu

Stay connected: UCSC Minute

We all miss our beloved campus. So check out the UC Santa Cruz Minute, a 60-second helping of campus.

UCSC Minute, Oct. 20: Cruise through campus and appreciate Porter College and iconic redwoods.

UCSC Minute, Sept. 22: Spend an afternoon at the Farm, where vegetables are growing, flowers are blooming, and chickens are clucking.

Check out our YouTube page, where you can access the full collection of UCSC Minute videos.

UC Santa Cruz
1156 High Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95064