News
Already vulnerable, gig economy workers in San Francisco suffer during coronavirus pandemic, survey reveals
May 5, 2020
A new survey of app-based ride-hailing and food and grocery-delivery workers in San Francisco underscores the financial vulnerability of workers in the gig economy—and the coronavirus has made their plight much worse.
Redwood Research At The Edge of the Range
April 28, 2020
California's Big Sur has been the coast redwoods' southernmost stronghold for thousands of years. With a warming planet, canopy scientist Anthony Ambrose asks what the future holds for coast redwoods at the edge of the range. His study takes place in a grove that has long been special to humans, the Dance Floor Grove, located within the Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve. While the trees in this grove have outlived generations of people, their future is uncertain.
Crabeater seal data used to predict changes in Antarctic krill distribution
April 27, 2020
Tracking the feeding behavior of crabeater seals allowed researchers to build an oceanographic model of krill habitat and project how it is likely to change in the future.
Student Health Center Pharmacy partners to make hand sanitizer for campus
April 27, 2020
With newly relaxed federal restrictions for pharmacies to compound hand sanitizer, pharmacy staff set out to create more hand sanitizer for the UCSC community.
Watch UCSC participants talk about hope during TEDx Santa Cruz
April 23, 2020
Last December, TEDx Santa Cruz hosted a day-long extravaganza of talks curated around the theme of "The Art of Hope." Those talks, including ones by several UCSC affiliates, are now available for online viewing.
Delivery and ridehailing workers lack critical protections from coronavirus
April 21, 2020
Chris Benner led an online survey of app-based workers in San Francisco, and preliminary results reveal significant financial hardship caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Agroecology major available this fall
April 21, 2020
Beginning this fall, students will have an opportunity to enroll in a new agroecology major, an interdisciplinary program housed in the Environmental Studies Department.
Grow your own veggies? Orin Martin offers tips for novice gardeners
April 2, 2020
Orin Martin is delighted that people are responding to the coronavirus pandemic with a desire to grow their own veggies, and he has lots of knowledge to share—as well as one plea: Be sure to plant some flowers, too.
UCSC researchers are taking on the coronavirus challenge on multiple fronts
April 1, 2020
From developing diagnostic tests to conducting surveys of infection prevalence, campus researchers are doing what they can in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Grad student wins support for Joshua tree research
March 26, 2020
Daniel Hastings, a graduate student in environmental studies, has received a research fellowship award to support his work studying the effects of climate change on the Joshua tree.
California Sea Grant funds sustainable aquaculture project
March 26, 2020
Pallab Sarker, an associate research professor in environmental studies, has received support from the Coastal Sea Grant program to fund his research into the development of sustainable feed for farmed fish.
Orin Martin recognized for 'Fruit Trees for Every Garden'
March 25, 2020
Orin Martin's book 'Fruit Trees for Every Garden' has been recognized by the American Horticultural Society as one of the outstanding gardening books of 2019.
Recruiting raptors for rodent control along the Pajaro River levee
March 24, 2020
UCSC’s Predatory Bird Research Group is working with the Santa Cruz County Flood Control District to encourage hawks and owls to patrol the levee for rodent control.
Tracking data used to identify biodiversity hot spots in Southern Ocean ecosystems
March 18, 2020
An international team of scientists used electronic tracking data from birds and marine mammals to identify areas of ecological significance in the waters around Antarctica.
How to #keepteaching and #keeplearning during a pandemic
March 17, 2020
Jody Greene is eager—almost desperate—to help her colleagues who are facing the unprecedented challenge of shifting to remote instruction for the entire spring quarter.
UC Santa Cruz campus was ready for its close-up
March 16, 2020
Producers of 'Devs,' the new sci-fi thriller that premiered March 5 on Hulu, were looking for just the right location to depict a high-tech corporate campus with a tinge of dystopia. It needed to look like Northern California — sort of Silicon Valley-ish — and it needed to say science and tech. UC Santa Cruz was the right place at the right time.
Two programs will support undergrads in research, service learning, and peer mentoring
March 16, 2020
Undergraduates in the Division of Social Sciences will soon benefit from two programs that will provide paid opportunities to do research, engage in service learning, and mentor their peers.
Grad student Melissa Cronin wins Seafood Sustainability Contest
March 10, 2020
The $45,000 prize will support Cronin’s efforts to to reduce the mortality of manta rays and devil rays incidentally caught during tuna fishing.
Karen Holl publishes a "primer" on ecological restoration
March 3, 2020
Karen Holl has introduced hundreds of undergraduates to ecological restoration, and now she has published the book she wishes had been available when she first stepped into the classroom.
UC Santa Cruz joins national "tech for social good" network
February 21, 2020
UC Santa Cruz has been accepted into a new national network of colleges and universities that have made an explicit commitment to developing technology that will advance the public interest.
Norris Center aims to inspire naturalists across campus
February 20, 2020
Jessica Correa has loved insects since she was a little girl. Today she is an instructor with the Bird School Project. The Norris Center for Natural History gave her the support that launched her career in environmental education.
Aquaculture to benefit people and the environment
February 20, 2020
Two graduate students have received a one-year, $150,000 grant to create environmentally sound seaweed and sea cucumber farms on the coasts of Kenya and The Gambia.
Researchers get a ‘whale’s-eye view’ of Antarctic sea ice
February 19, 2020
Cameras attached to a rare species of Antarctic whale are giving scientists an unprecedented view of how the whales survive in their sea ice habitat.
Bringing new perspectives to astronomy
February 11, 2020
An array of grants from the Heising-Simons Foundation is helping UC Santa Cruz accelerate astrophysics and other sciences while changing what we think an astrophysicist looks like
Proposed hydropower dams pose threat to Gabon’s fishes
February 6, 2020
Proposed hydropower dams in Gabon pose a substantial threat to the African nation’s most culturally and economically important fishes, according to a new study.
The power of research
January 22, 2020
Wilfrido Hernández Flores discovered social science research in the Culture and Achievement Collaborative, and it changed his life
Breaking down barriers to success
January 16, 2020
First-gen student Reina Garay-Solis is doing undergraduate research to help identify common challenges for first-gen and underrepresented students and find effective institutional practices to address them
$2.6 million grant funds program to increase diversity of conservation leaders
January 16, 2020
New funding for the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program at UC Santa Cruz builds on the program’s successes in training the next generation of diverse conservation leaders.
The carbon footprint of dinner: How "green" are fish sticks?
January 16, 2020
Fish sticks may be a tasty option for dinner, but are they good for the planet? A new study of the climate impacts of seafood products reveals that the processing of Alaskan pollock into fish sticks, imitation crab, and fish fillets generates significant greenhouse gas emissions.
Global study of street networks reveals growing urban sprawl
January 14, 2020
Local streets of the world’s cities are becoming less connected, part of a global trend that is driving urban sprawl and discouraging the use of public transportation.
New online course supports first-time graduate student teaching assistants
January 13, 2020
A new online course aims to prepare new graduate student Teaching Assistants (TAs) for the important role of supporting student learning and promoting educational equity at UC Santa Cruz.
Biologist Jordan Ward wins NSF CAREER Award
January 7, 2020
Jordan Ward, assistant professor of molecular, cell, and developmental biology, has received a Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award from the National Science Foundation.
Food and anti-corporate globalization activist Vandana Shiva coming to campus Jan. 25-26
January 6, 2020
The public is invited to attend two events with legendary food activist Vandana Shiva, who will be at UC Santa Cruz on January 25 and 26.
UC Santa Cruz helps develop Egyptian Center of Excellence for Water
January 6, 2020
UC Santa Cruz is partnering with the American University in Cairo, nine other Egyptian and U.S.-based universities, and industry partners to help Egypt make the most of its limited water supply.
The mysterious case of the ornamented coot chicks has a surprising explanation
December 30, 2019
The bright colors of the chicks of American coots help their parents choose favorites, according to a new study.
How genetics and social games drive evolution of mating systems in mammals
December 19, 2019
From monogamy to promiscuity, a new model explains the evolution of diverse mating systems based on the conflict between cooperative and competitive behaviors.
Raising awareness of ‘deficit thinking’
December 12, 2019
Undergraduate researcher works to combat harmful perceptions many first-generation students experience
California’s sea otter population could triple by recolonizing San Francisco Bay
December 10, 2019
A new study highlights the importance of estuaries as prime habitat for the endangered southern sea otter.
Students power resurvey of UC Santa Cruz natural reserves
December 9, 2019
Student teams are conducting surveys of the birds, plants, fish, fungi, insects, vascular plants, mammals, bryophytes, and lichens at all four of the campus’s Natural Reserves.
Island 'soundscapes' show potential for evaluating recovery of nesting seabirds
December 5, 2019
Conservation biologists are taking a holistic approach to acoustic monitoring for evaluating the effectiveness of restoration efforts.
Nine UCSC speakers join TEDx Santa Cruz extravaganza Dec. 7
December 2, 2019
Nine UCSC affiliates will join novelist Jonathan Franzen and a host of other speakers for TEDx Santa Cruz, a daylong extravaganza focused this year on the "Art of Hope," on Saturday, Dec. 7.
Coastal fog linked to high levels of mercury found in mountain lions, study finds
November 26, 2019
Researchers at UC Santa Cruz have discovered elevated levels of mercury in mountain lions, the latest indication that the neurotoxin is being carried in fog, deposited on the land, and making its way up the food chain.
Fish in California estuaries are evolving as climate change alters their habitat
November 21, 2019
Comparison of current stickleback populations with fish collected in the 1970s shows the populations are evolving as California's climate becomes hotter and drier.
Rachel Carson College: Training the green generation
November 19, 2019
UC Santa Cruz’s eighth college is a haven for sustainability-minded, environmentally conscious students hoping to lead and empower others .
Social Sciences recognizes outstanding research, teaching, and staff
November 18, 2019
The Division of Social Sciences presented several major awards recognizing outstanding accomplishments by faculty, staff, researchers, and emeriti faculty.
Santa Cruz County faces significant gap in food security, study finds
November 18, 2019
As the season of holiday feasting approaches, a new study reveals that Santa Cruz County residents who are most at risk of food insecurity may be missing an average of five meals a week.
Lick Observatory continues popular program for Spanish-speaking community
November 7, 2019
‘La Noche de las Estrellas’ at Lick Observatory brings science to Spanish-speaking students and their families.
Public invited to view Norris Center art-science residency projects
October 31, 2019
Several examples of art-science collaborations will be on view at the Museum of Art and History on Sunday, Nov. 10 from 10-5 p.m. and at the Norris Center for Natural History on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 15-16 from noon to 5 p.m.
Letourneau's datasets propel research that shows biodiversity improves crop production
October 31, 2019
When Environmental Studies Professor Deborah Letourneau was getting ready to retire, she gave several of her datasets to younger researchers so they could make use of them. And did they ever.
Climate engineering: International meeting reveals tensions
October 28, 2019
At this point, the greatest danger of climate engineering may be how little is known about where countries stand on these potentially planet-altering technologies. Who is moving forward? Who is funding research? And who is being left out of the conversation?
Whole genome sequencing could help save pumas from inbreeding
October 18, 2019
The first complete genetic sequences of individual mountain lions point the way to better conservation strategies for saving threatened populations of the wild animals.
Student-led iGEM team aims to fight world hunger with synthetic biology
October 11, 2019
The team of 16 UCSC undergraduates is working to solve a real-world problem while building the skills they will need to be successful researchers.
Reef fish caring for their young are taken advantage of by other fish
October 9, 2019
Biologists have reported the first evidence of brood parasitism in coral reef fish, finding unrelated young fish in groups of young being protected by their parents.
New Human Rights Lab trains students to investigate wrongdoing
October 8, 2019
The new Human Rights Lab went live this fall with 19 students who have learned high-tech, digital-verification skills they will use to investigate alleged human rights abuses around the globe.
Alumna Stacy Jupiter wins coveted MacArthur Fellowship
September 25, 2019
Stacy Jupiter, a marine scientist with the Wildlife Conservation Society who earned her Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology at UC Santa Cruz in 2006, is among the 26 new MacArthur Fellows for 2019.
New website highlights UCSC's "living labs"
September 24, 2019
Sustainable aquaculture initiative lands $245,000 federal grant
September 19, 2019
Anne Kapuscinski, professor of environmental studies and director of the Coastal Science and Policy Program, has received a $245,000 federal grant that will support her team’s work driving efforts to make aquaculture more sustainable.
Elephant seal 'supermoms' produce most of the population, study finds
September 17, 2019
High mortality rates for young elephant seals means long-lived females dominate the reproductive output of the population.
Switzer Environmental Fellowship awarded to UCSC graduate student
September 5, 2019
Melissa Cronin, a Ph.D. candidate in ecology and evolutionary biology, has been awarded a Switzer Environmental Fellowship from the Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation.
Farm hosts organic ag research tour for Congressman Jimmy Panetta
September 4, 2019
It was a beautiful September morning when Congressman Jimmy Panetta visited the UCSC Farm to hear from leading researchers in the field of organic agriculture.
Major NSF grant supports research on soil fungi
September 3, 2019
Kai Zhu, an assistant professor of environmental studies, has received a $700,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to study the biodiversity and distribution of soil fungi across North America.
Ted Warburton named inaugural Senior Fellow of Institute for Dance Education Research, Policy & Leadership
August 23, 2019
Edward (Ted) Warburton, professor of dance and interim dean of the arts at UC Santa Cruz, has been named the inaugural Senior Fellow at the Arnhold Institute for Dance Education Research, Policy & Leadership at Teachers College, Columbia University.
Master gardener Orin Martin authors new book, Fruit Trees for Every Garden
August 22, 2019
The beautifully illustrated and lovingly written new book Fruit Trees for Every Garden is not your standard how-to book.
Shasta dam releases can be managed to benefit both salmon and sturgeon, study finds
August 20, 2019
An optimal scenario for releasing water into the Sacramento River can meet the needs of endangered winter-run chinook salmon, threatened green sturgeon, and downstream water users.
In Memoriam: Umihiko Hoshijima
August 12, 2019
Umihiko (Umi) Hoshijima, a postdoctoral researcher in ecology and evolutionary biology, died August 7 in a diving accident while working on a research project near Glacier Bay, Alaska.
Researchers enlist citizen scientists to count animals on Año Nuevo Island
August 7, 2019
Volunteers will use drone photos uploaded to the Zooniverse platform to count birds, seals, and sea lions for an unprecedented census of the island.
Conservation biologists find new applications for AI tools
July 30, 2019
Deep learning algorithms can be trained to recognize anything from the types of vegetation in a coastal wetland to the sound of a bird hitting a power line.
While the cat's away: Predators' fear of humans ripples through wildlife communities, emboldening rodents
July 17, 2019
A new study indicates that pumas and medium-sized carnivores lie low when they sense the presence of humans, which frees up the landscape for rodents to forage more brazenly.
Dream job: Combining science and illustration
July 16, 2019
Ph.D. student Jessica Kendall-Bar is fascinated by how wild marine mammals sleep, and also passionate about using art to explain science.
Corals can survive in acidified ocean conditions, but have lower density skeletons
June 26, 2019
A two-year transplantation experiment near a natural low-pH submarine spring evaluated growth and physiological response of different coral species to ocean acidification.
Diverse campus landscapes are ideal outdoor laboratories—and classrooms
May 25, 2018
Saving Oaks in Big Sur
April 6, 2015
Sudden oak death study aids reserve, teaches field research
