Above: Students in sprint at the McHenry bridge (photo by Christine La)
Features
Lick Observatory approaches 150 years of discovery and innovation
Serving nine UC campuses and two national laboratories, Lick Observatory continues to be at the forefront of groundbreaking discoveries and innovation, training the next generation of astronomers and astrophysicists.
By Sandra Messick
A de-extinction event
UC Santa Cruz scientists worked with Colossal Biosciences to help reveal secrets in the dire wolf genome that contributed to what the startup is calling the world’s first de-extinction.
By Rose Miyatsu
What psychology research says about virtual communication
Workplaces have increasingly been calling their employees back to the office in the belief that in-person work leads to greater productivity and better relationship-building and creativity than virtual collaboration. But is this true?
By Allison Arteaga Soergel
Empowering transfer students
Transferring between universities can be stressful and disorienting, but at UC Santa Cruz, the Humanities Division works hard to ensure that transfer students are empowered, supported, and ready to make an impact.
By Dan White
Tea time
History Ph.D. student Ania Mah Gricuk was able to conduct significant research travel in Asia with the support of Summer Research and Summer Pathways fellowships from The Humanities Institute, furthering her scholarship on the history, development, and uses of herbal teas.
Alumni news/ profiles
A squiggle jubilee
In 1974, Vietnam veteran and art student Kenny Farrell created a bold steel sculpture that became an enduring symbol of UC Santa Cruz. Fifty years later, his untitled structure still stands in the Porter meadow—iconic, untamed, and uniquely Santa Cruz.
By Stephanie Silva
Social magic through immersive art
Research and community are always at the heart of Laurus Myth’s art practice—and her upcoming work showcases her multifaceted approach.
By Gaby Messino
Pulitzer pride
Alumnus Jason Roberts won the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for his biography, Every Living Thing: The Great and Deadly Race to Know All Life. The book traces the journeys of two 18th-century scientists whose efforts still shape our scientific thinking today.
By Christy Tall
Giving
Fueling student opportunities
Early staff member Nancy Pascal has remained a dedicated supporter of UC Santa Cruz, giving back philanthropically to scholarships and programs that reflect her lifelong connection to the university.
By Haneen Zain (Rachel Carson ’21, politics)