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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260908T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260908T103000
DTSTAMP:20260903T160842Z
CREATED:20260902T163942Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260903T160842Z
UID:10016350-1788856200-1788863400@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:Zhang\, X. (STAT) - Predictive Generalized Variational Inference for Spatial Gaussian Process Model
DESCRIPTION:Spatially dependent data are common in environmental and climate studies\, where Gaussian process models are used for prediction and uncertainty quantification. Learning their covariance structure involves both statistical and computational challenges. Likelihood-based inference may be sensitive to covariance misspecification\, while repeated evaluation of prediction-oriented criteria can be computationally demanding. To study these issues\, we develop a predictive generalized variational inference (GVI) framework that learns a variational distribution by balancing proper-scoring-rule losses for conditional predictions with prior-based regularization. We first develop a marginal formulation for full Gaussian process models by analytically integrating out the regression coefficients and total residual variance. This formulation reduces the optimization dimension and focuses the variational optimization on the Matérn covariance parameters\, with Student-(t) conditional predictive distributions arising from the marginalization. We then develop a scalable formulation based on unordered nearest-neighbor conditionals. These conditionals define the predictive loss directly\, without treating their product as a joint likelihood. Because the same marginalization is not available in this formulation\, the regression coefficients and variance parameter are retained in a joint variational block. We evaluate logarithmic-score and continuous ranked probability score objectives through simulations and an analysis of December 2025 temperatures from 1\,218 U.S. Historical Climatology Network stations. The simulations compare different variational formulations\, scoring rules\, and covariance summaries using out-of-sample predictive evaluation. The real-data analysis compares likelihood-based and predictive GVI methods through cross-validation. We also examine the computational scaling of the nearest-neighbor formulation and consider extensions based on random local covariance matrices for heterogeneous spatial dependence\, as well as extensions to nonlinear regression and stochastic computer model emulation with quantitative and categorical inputs. Overall\, this work studies the specification and evaluation of predictive objectives\, uncertainty propagation\, and computational approximation within a unified variational framework. \nEvent Host: Xiao Zhang\, Ph.D. Student\, Statistical Science  \nAdvisor: Bruno Sansó \nZoom: https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/95501212725?pwd=WcB4SnkvhfoUFCm0Z4wUHLGB9omS05.1 \nPasscode: 697077
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/zhang-x-stat-predictive-generalized-variational-inference-for-spatial-gaussian-process-model/
CATEGORIES:Ph.D. Presentations
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LOCATION:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260909T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260909T113000
DTSTAMP:20260904T210322Z
CREATED:20260904T210322Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260904T210322Z
UID:10016381-1788948000-1788953400@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:Devarajan\, K. (ECE) - Towards Multimodal Detection of Neuronal Signaling using Graphene Heterostructures
DESCRIPTION:Understanding neuronal function requires measurements that capture both the rapid dynamics and spatial organization of neural activity. Conventional neural interfaces often prioritize either high temporal resolution through electrophysiological recording or high spatial resolution through optical imaging\, while integrating these modalities within a single interface remains challenging. This work seeks to develop a transparent\, flexible\, and biocompatible neural interface that enables complementary electrical and optical measurements of neuronal activity. \nWe propose a graphene-based heterostructure neural interface that leverages the electrical\, optical\, and mechanical properties of graphene to enable electrophysiological sensing while maintaining optical access to the underlying neural system. The device incorporates a bowtie geometry that transitions from multilayer to single-layer graphene\, with the multilayer graphene regions serving as conductive leads and the single-layer graphene defining the primary sensing region. This architecture provides electrical connectivity while maximizing optical access in the region of interest\, establishing a platform for multimodal interrogation of neuronal activity. \nPreliminary measurements using simulated neuronal signals demonstrate detection of transient electrophysiological signals approximately 1 ms in duration and with amplitudes up to 100 μV\, establishing the feasibility of the device for resolving physiologically relevant neural signals. Building on these results\, the proposed work will extend the platform toward biological systems through interfacing with neuronal organoids and development of multichannel recording capabilities. Finally\, the established heterostructure architecture will provide a framework for investigating alternative two-dimensional sensing materials\, including MoS₂\, with the goal of understanding how material properties influence electrophysiological signal detection while preserving optical accessibility. \nUltimately\, this work aims to establish a scalable 2D-material-based neural interface that integrates electrophysiological sensing with optical access\, enabling multimodal characterization of neuronal activity across complementary spatial and temporal scales. \nEvent Host: Koushik Devarajan\, Ph.D. Student\, Electrical and Computer Engineering  \nAdvisor: Tal Sharf
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/devarajan-k-ece-towards-multimodal-detection-of-neuronal-signaling-using-graphene-heterostructures/
CATEGORIES:Ph.D. Presentations
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260909T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260909T120000
DTSTAMP:20260819T162005Z
CREATED:20260819T162005Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260819T162005Z
UID:10015347-1788948000-1788955200@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:Chen\, Y. (STAT) - Flexible Bayesian Models for High-Dimensional and Longitudinal Discrete Data in Microbiome Studies
DESCRIPTION:Multivariate dependent discrete data routinely arise in microbiome studies. Analyzing these data presents interesting statistical challenges\, such as high dimensionality\, excess zeros\, large heterogeneity across samples\, and temporal dependence in longitudinal studies. Drawing inferences about objects of primary scientific interest—such as temporal trajectories of microbial abundance\, microbial interactions\, clusters of microbes similarly associated with environmental factors\, or networks of conditional dependencies—is more challenging due to these complexities\, requiring careful statistical modeling. Motivated by longitudinal microbiome experiments and large-scale fungal community surveys\, we propose flexible Bayesian models in which these objects are represented through low-dimensional or sparse structures\, regularized by global–local shrinkage priors\, and reported with uncertainty propagated through posterior inference. We first develop a Bayesian dynamic latent factor model for multivariate longitudinal count data. A rounded multivariate log-normal kernel links the observed counts to latent Gaussian variables\, and treatment-specific temporal trends of microbial abundance are modeled through Bayesian penalized B-splines. To better capture temporal changes in the mean\, dependence among microbial features is modeled through a low-dimensional factor structure with a Dirichlet–horseshoe+ shrinkage prior on the loadings. In addition\, continuous-time Ornstein–Uhlenbeck processes are used for the latent factors to account for temporal dependence within a subject. We next develop a sparse Bayesian probit regression model for high-dimensional presence–absence data to infer clusters of microbes whose presence has similar associations with environmental covariates. Due to the large number of microbes and excess zeros\, we first estimate a high-dimensional regression coefficient matrix using sparsity-inducing priors\, and then cluster the microbes based on the coefficient estimates. By using the posterior distribution of the coefficients\, we provide point estimates along with uncertainty quantification. Lastly\, we develop a Bayesian model that infers a time-varying precision matrix for longitudinal microbiome count data. While a covariance matrix describes marginal dependence\, a precision matrix characterizes conditional dependence among microbial features\, defining a microbial association network. By allowing this precision structure to evolve over time\, we obtain inferences about dynamic microbial networks. \nEvent Host: Yongqi Chen\, Ph.D. Student\, Statistical Science \nAdvisor: Juhee Lee \nZoom: https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/99307567941?pwd=NRnSLblnMKXEgqDRXPdBIFaRS8ctsq.1 \nPasscode: 301374
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/chen-y-stat-flexible-bayesian-models-for-high-dimensional-and-longitudinal-discrete-data-in-microbiome-studies/
CATEGORIES:Ph.D. Presentations
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LOCATION:
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260909T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260909T120000
DTSTAMP:20260904T164356Z
CREATED:20260904T164356Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260904T164356Z
UID:10016375-1788948000-1788955200@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:Abdulaziz\, A. (ECE) - Learning-Based Channel Estimation for Next-Generation Wireless Communications
DESCRIPTION:Coherent wireless reception depends on accurate channel state information\n(CSI)\, yet acquiring CSI through pilot transmission consumes\ntime–frequency resources that could otherwise carry data. This tradeoff\nbecomes more pronounced in time-varying and frequency-selective channels\nand in short-packet communications\, where accurate channel estimation is\nchallenging and pilot overhead can be significant. This dissertation\ninvestigates how CSI can be estimated\, exploited\, and refreshed more\nefficiently under limited pilot resources. \nFirst\, an adaptive deep neural network (ADNN) is developed for\nnon-stationary channels. When a received packet is accepted by the cyclic\nredundancy check (CRC)\, its detected data symbols are reused to obtain an\nimproved channel estimate for online retraining. This allows the\nestimator to respond to changes in channel statistics without requiring\nexternally supplied CSI labels or additional pilot transmissions. \nSecond\, an LSTM-based OFDM estimator is developed to jointly exploit\ntemporal and frequency-domain correlation. Pilot-based LS estimates and\nreceived samples at non-pilot subcarriers are processed over a temporal\nwindow using an encoder–decoder architecture. The estimator achieves\nlower MSE than conventional LS interpolation and frequency-domain LMMSE\nacross the evaluated pilot configurations\, and generalizes without\nretraining to an unseen channel profile. \nThird\, the LSTM model is extended to short-packet systems where the time\nbetween channel observations varies. The model accounts for the age of\npreviously acquired CSI\, allowing it to distinguish recent channel\ninformation from stale information as the channel evolves. The resulting\nage-aware model improves channel-estimation accuracy with only a small\nincrease in model size and inference cost. \nFinally\, the dissertation studies how pilot transmissions should be\nscheduled to minimize the long-term average age of information (AoI).\nThe problem is formulated as a constrained Markov decision process that\njointly accounts for AoI and the age of CSI (AoCSI). The resulting policy\ndetermines when to idle\, send a data-only update\, or transmit a\npilot-aided update under long-term pilot and transmission constraints. \nEvent Host: Alatawi Abdulaziz\, Ph.D. Candidate\, Electrical and Computer Engineering  \nAdvisor: Hamid Sadjadpour  \nCo-Advisor : Zouheir Rezki \nZoom: https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/98815064356?pwd=MfibjluajcETfqcpKYm9bp7ZIsJb8N.1 \nPasscode: 477141
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/abdulaziz-a-ece-learning-based-channel-estimation-for-next-generation-wireless-communications/
LOCATION:Engineering 2\, Engineering 2 1156 High Street\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95064
CATEGORIES:Ph.D. Presentations
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260911T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260911T160000
DTSTAMP:20260908T164853Z
CREATED:20260908T164853Z
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SUMMARY:Valderrama\, S. (CSE) - Closing Data Gaps for Cybersecurity AI Training and Evaluation
DESCRIPTION:Artificial intelligence and machine learning models depend on large and diverse datasets to learn patterns across different situations and generalize to cases they have not seen before. In cybersecurity\, suitable data is difficult to find for two main reasons: first\, sensitive information limits what organizations can share; second\, public datasets often lack the coverage or context in specific use cases. My research addresses this problem by developing methods that synthetically create and curate data\, where we propose data-generation algorithms that provide mechanisms to generate data to close these gaps. \nSo far\, we have started this research by developing algorithms to curate data for specific cybersecurity needs. We collect and label a collection of 64\,132 command blocks from different data sources trying to describe the security behavior they represent. Measuring this collection reveals important differences in coverage and provides a basis for directing command generation toward these rare behaviors. We then develop a generation and validation process that fills these gaps\, creating new examples that are correct\, relevant\, and diverse. Finally\, we automate the process of creating applications that could serve different cybersecurity purposes\, which together with a set of instructions\, a way of grading them\, and reference solutions became a tasks\, a valuable training unit for machine learning models. \nThese contributions show that we can reliably guide synthetic data generation that produces useful results. As future work\, we will extend this approach from individual applications to complex environments involving multiple systems. Executions in these environments will produce records of activity linked to known actions and their outcomes\, whether benign or malicious\, enabling analysis and modeling of adversarial behavior. The broader goal is to make cybersecurity data generation more targeted\, automatic\, and useful for artificial intelligence research. \nEvent Host: Sergio Valderrama\, Ph.D. Student\, Computer Science & Engineering  \nAdvisor: Alvaro Cardenas  \nZoom: https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/92072651510?pwd=UB55FkjUfMi0vssfcqIbYsPWjDr9xw.1 \nPasscode: 026956 \n 
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/valderrama-s-cse-closing-data-gaps-for-cybersecurity-ai-training-and-evaluation/
LOCATION:Engineering 2\, Engineering 2 1156 High Street\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95064
CATEGORIES:Ph.D. Presentations
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260914T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260914T120000
DTSTAMP:20260908T170018Z
CREATED:20260908T165938Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260908T170018Z
UID:10016389-1789380000-1789387200@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:Mirzanezhad\, H. (EE) - Van der Waals materials-based memory devices for neuromorphic computing
DESCRIPTION:The separation of memory and processing in conventional computer architectures leads to significant energy consumption associated with data transfer\, known as the von Neumann bottleneck. Two-dimensional (2D) materials provide a promising platform for developing nanoscale memory devices for in-memory and neuromorphic computing because of their atomic-scale thickness\, lack of dangling bonds\, and ability to form van der Waals structures. In this work\, bilayer MoS₂ is investigated as an active material for memory devices based on two different switching mechanisms. The first is a resistive memory based on a vertical junction that exhibits a reproducible hysteresis loop and can operate as a memristor. Possible mechanisms contributing to the observed hysteresis include ion migration\, charge trapping\, polarization switching\, or a combination of these mechanisms. The second is a ferroelectric memory based on the established ferroelectricity of parallel-stacked bilayer MoS₂\, where broken inversion symmetry gives rise to switchable out-of-plane polarization. This work therefore follows two parallel directions: a memory device based on the resistive effect and a memory device based on the ferroelectric effect\, with the longer-term goal of developing 2D material-based memory devices for neuromorphic computing. \nEvent Host: Hamid Mirzanezhad\, Ph.D. Student\, Electrical Engineering  \nAdvisor: Aiming Yan
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/mirzanezhad-h-ee-van-der-waals-materials-based-memory-devices-for-neuromorphic-computing/
LOCATION:Jack Baskin Engineering\, Baskin Engineering 1156 High Street\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95064
CATEGORIES:Ph.D. Presentations
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260914T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260914T200000
DTSTAMP:20260826T182350Z
CREATED:20260826T182151Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260826T182350Z
UID:10015742-1789410600-1789416000@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:September Slugs and Steins with University Archivist Kelsey Knox
DESCRIPTION:Slime is on Their Side: Celebrating 40 (Official) Years of the UCSC Banana Slug Mascot\nWhile rumors and stories abound about the sea lion vs. banana slug controversy of the 1980s\, the full history of the banana slug as UCSC’s long-running student chosen mascot has rarely been explored. In honor of the 40th anniversary of the vote to re-adopt the slug as UCSC’s mascot\, join University Archivist\, Kelsey Knox on a dive into archival sources that show the slug’s early origins on campus\, how a unilateral decision by Chancellor Robert Sinsheimer attempted to change the narrative\, and how students pushed back and ultimately won back our beloved slug. \nKelsey Knox earned her B.A. in American Studies from Porter College in 2012. She served as a Resident Advisor for two years at Porter College. She also participated in the UCDC program\, interning at the Peace Corps Records Office. After graduating from UCSC\, Kelsey went on to complete her Master’s of Library and Information Science degree from UCLA in 2014\, where she focused on Archival Studies. Kelsey spent 8 years working as an archivist in the Los Angeles area before being hired as the University Archivist at UCSC in June 2023\, her dream job. As University Archivist\, Kelsey is responsible for documenting\, preserving\, and making available UCSC’s history\, from the founding of the university to present-day. Kelsey is thrilled to be living back in Santa Cruz with her husband (a fellow Porter College alum) and two cats. \nREGISTER
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/september-slugs-and-steins-with-university-archivist-kelsey-knox/
CATEGORIES:Lectures & Presentations
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LOCATION:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260915T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260915T113000
DTSTAMP:20260914T161439Z
CREATED:20260914T161439Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260914T161439Z
UID:10017052-1789466400-1789471800@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:Tornoe\, S. (ECE) - Improving the UV optical response and suppressing surface plasmon resonance in aluminum and silver base telescope mirrors
DESCRIPTION:Aluminum and silver are excellent metal-bases for astronomical telescopes designed for broadband spectral measurements. In particular silver excels in the violet to infrared spectral range range with over 95% reflectance. In turn aluminum excels deep ultra-violet to infrared with over 90% reflectance across the bulk of its spectral range. In astronomical telescope optics\, each percent reflectance is extremely valuable\, meaning each mirror type has place. However\, both metal-bases suffer from unwanted oxidation necessitating protective coatings. Unfortunately\, even a few nanometers of traditional coatings like AlOx\, can completely eliminate the far and deep UV response. These dielectric protective coatings can also induce surface plasmon resonance (SPR) in the mirrors. SPR occurs when light propagates in a dielectric protective coating along a metal-dielectric interface exciting electrons in the metal as it propagates. The plasmonic response in the metal-base alters how light reflects from the mirror creating an oscillation in the UV spectral range. This research will focus on improving the UV response and diminishing the detrimental effects of SPR for two cases: aluminum mirrors and silver mirrors. \nEvent Host: Soren Tornoe\, Ph.D. Student\, Electrical & Computer Engineering  \nAdvisor: Nobuhiko Kobayashi \nZoom: https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/93650451146?pwd=IFEbCOKZQAyDdoYMO5b19JqGZbX07m.1 \nPasscode: 657292
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/tornoe-s-ece-improving-the-uv-optical-response-and-suppressing-surface-plasmon-resonance-in-aluminum-and-silver-base-telescope-mirrors/
LOCATION:2300 Delaware Avenue\, 2300 Delaware Ave\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95060
CATEGORIES:Ph.D. Presentations
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260917T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260917T190000
DTSTAMP:20260903T192916Z
CREATED:20260903T192916Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260903T192916Z
UID:10016372-1789668000-1789671600@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:How to Apply to the Premed Postbacc Program
DESCRIPTION:Join UC Santa Cruz Healthcare Pathways for a live online information session to learn about our Premed Postbacc Cohort\, Premed and Pre-Health DIY Pathways\, and other program offerings. \nWe’ll provide an overview of our programs and cover how to apply for our next admissions cycle. We’ll also discuss the application process\, admissions timeline\, coursework\, advising\, MCAT preparation\, and more. \nYou’ll have plenty of time to ask questions and connect directly with program staff. \nCLAIM YOUR SEAT TODAY. 
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/how-to-apply-to-the-premed-postbacc-program-3/
LOCATION:Silicon Valley Campus\, 3175 Bowers Avenue\, Santa Clara\, CA\, 95054\, United States
CATEGORIES:Lectures & Presentations,Meetings & Conferences,Training
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260921T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260921T123000
DTSTAMP:20260914T191617Z
CREATED:20260914T191617Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260914T191617Z
UID:10017053-1789990200-1789993800@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:Headrick\, C. (BMEB) - The Regulation of mRNA Cleavage in Nonsense-mediated mRNA Decay: From Inside (intra-pathway determinants) Out (extra-pathway regulation)
DESCRIPTION:Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) is a translation-coupled quality control pathway that degrades mRNAs that harbor a premature termination codon (PTC) and 5-30% of normal cellular mRNAs. The NMD field sits at a pivotal moment with recent developments that endonucleolytic cleavage is the primary mechanism of mRNA decay conserved across metazoans. Discovery of a conserved NMD cleavage mechanism sets the stage for a dissection of mRNA cleavage determinants and regulators. \nTo better understand how mRNA cleavage during NMD is regulated\, I will use degradome-seq based approaches via 5’RACE-seq (Rapid Amplification of 5’ cDNA Ends) to isolate the cleavage products of the NMD pathway. I will first focus my analysis on core NMD factors and helicase UPF1\, the binding site of NMD decay effectors\, to examine how UPF1 enzymatic activity affects mRNA cleavage transcriptome-wide (Aim 1). In parallel\, to assess extra-pathway regulation of mRNA cleavage during NMD\, I will identify endogenous negative regulators of mRNA cleavage (Aim 2). Contemporary models of NMD are deprived of the functional impact of cellular NMD inhibitors. I will access this novel functional space with an innovative application of CRISPR screening and quantitative\, high-throughput NGS\, known as ReLiC (RNA-linked CRISPR) paired with degradome analysis. \n  \nEvent Host: Camille Headrick\, Ph.D. Student\, Biomolecular Engineering & Bioinformatics  \nAdvisor: Joshua Arribere \n 
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/headrick-c-bmeb-the-regulation-of-mrna-cleavage-in-nonsense-mediated-mrna-decay-from-inside-intra-pathway-determinants-out-extra-pathway-regulation/
LOCATION:Biomedical Sciences Building\, 575 McLaughlin Drive
CATEGORIES:Ph.D. Presentations
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260925T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260925T113000
DTSTAMP:20260916T211053Z
CREATED:20260916T211025Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260916T211053Z
UID:10017076-1790332200-1790335800@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:ECE Special Seminar: "Autonomous Electric Vehicles – Data Centers on the Wheel"
DESCRIPTION:Presented by: Kaushik Rajashekara\, Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished University Professor @ University of Houston \nDescription: “Autonomous electric vehicles (AEVs) are at the forefront of modern transportation\, merging automation with sustainability to enhance efficiency and safety while reducing environmental impact. However\, these vehicles face significant challenges in balancing the energy demands of autonomous compute systems with propulsion efficiency and vehicle range. The sensors\, LiDAR\, cameras\, and AI inference hardware required for Level 4 autonomy draw significant continuous compute power — entirely separate from propulsion. This power is comparable to a server-class GPU — making each AEV\, in effect\, a data center on wheels. This presentation explores that compute energy load\, examines how it scales across projected global AV fleets\, and compares it with the energy consumption and CO₂ emissions of global data centers. The presentation concludes with current challenges and future trends in the key enabling technologies — next-generation batteries\, wide-bandgap power electronics\, high-efficiency electric machines\, and can scale without proportionally scaling its energy and emissions footprint.” \nBio: Kaushik Rajashekara (Fellow\, IEEE) received the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Science\, Bangalore\, India. He held various lead technical and managerial positions at Delphi/General Motors (1989–2006)\, serving as Technical Fellow and Chief Scientist for propulsion and power electronics systems for electric\, hybrid\, and fuel cell vehicles.From 2006 to 2012\, he was Chief Technologist and Rolls-Royce Fellow for electric systems for electric and hybrid electric aircraft at Rolls-RoyceCorporation. From 2012 to 2016\, he was a Distinguished Professor at the University of Texas at Dallas. He is currently the Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished University Professor at the University of Houston. \nHe has authored over 300 papers and one book\, holds 37 U.S. and 15 foreign patents\, and has delivered over 250 invited presentations worldwide. His honors include the Global Energy Prize\, the IEEE Medal for Environmental and Safety Technologies\, and the IEEE Richard Harold Kaufmann Award. He is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering\, a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors\, aFellow of the European Academy of Sciences\, and an International Fellow of the Indian\, Chinese\, Canadian\, and Japanese Academies of Engineering. His research interests include power conversion\, transportation electrification\, renewable energy\, offshore systems\, and microgrid systems. \n  \nHosted by: Professor Leila Parsa\, Electrical & Engineering Department \nWhen: Friday\, September 25\, 2026 @ 10:30 AM PST \nLocation: E2-506 \n  \n 
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/ece-special-seminar-autonomous-electric-vehicles-data-centers-on-the-wheel/
LOCATION:Engineering 2\, Engineering 2 1156 High Street\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95064
CATEGORIES:Seminars
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260925T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260925T150000
DTSTAMP:20260911T151906Z
CREATED:20260911T151906Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260911T151906Z
UID:10017048-1790341200-1790348400@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:Mastoras\, M. (BMEB) - Polishing genome assemblies and leveraging their improved quality to study centromere variation
DESCRIPTION:A complete and accurate genome reconstruction serves as the foundation for studying an organism’s biology and the mechanisms underlying disease. It is particularly critical for reference genomes\, which provide a universal coordinate system for downstream genomic analysis. Errors or missing sequences in a reference genome create bias in all of the studies built on top of them. The Human Pangenome Reference Consortium (HPRC) seeks to address this bias by transitioning the field to a pangenome reference\, a graph based collection of many genome assemblies\, providing a better representation of variation in the human population. Removing errors in the HPRC assemblies is critical to ensure the pangenome serves as a robust standard for genomic variant discovery. In the first part of my thesis\, I improve the base level accuracy of the HPRC release 2 assemblies (HPRC2) with a machine learning model for assembly polishing called DeepPolisher. Next\, I make additional contributions to reference-based genomic analysis by polishing reference genomes of other model organisms\, and helping to develop a new method for de-novo assembly and variant calling from a single-flow cell nanopore sequencing protocol. Finally\, I take advantage of the highly accurate\, near complete assemblies from HPRC2 that I improved with DeepPolisher to study a region only recently made accessible to genomics analysis: the human centromere. I apply the tool Centrolign\, the first ever multiple-sequence-aligner for centromeres to the HPRC2 assemblies\, establishing precise estimates of mutation rates and spatial variation patterns across centromeric arrays. \nEvent Host: Mira Mastoras\, Ph.D. Candidate\, Biomolecular Engineering & Bioinformatics \nAdvisor: Benedict Paten \nZoom: https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/98960011053?pwd=mFKCwtSIhvT5FvEURbE85lRbbMvzuo.1 \nPasscode: 118488
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/mastoras-m-bmeb-polishing-genome-assemblies-and-leveraging-their-improved-quality-to-study-centromere-variation/
LOCATION:Physical Sciences Building\, Physical Sciences Building\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95064
CATEGORIES:Ph.D. Presentations
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X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Physical Sciences Building Physical Sciences Building Santa Cruz CA 95064;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=Physical Sciences Building:geo:-122.0618552,36.9996638
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260927T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260927T120000
DTSTAMP:20260910T220533Z
CREATED:20260910T220533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260910T220533Z
UID:10016654-1790503200-1790510400@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:Earth Friendly Gardening: Protecting Wildlife & the Environment
DESCRIPTION:Join the UC Master Gardeners of Monterey\, San Benito & Santa Cruz Counties for this hands-on summer workshop at the UCSC Arboretum!\nClasses are free with paid admission\, but registration is required to attend. You are welcome to take one\, two\, or all four classes which occur on the last Sunday of the month\, June through September.\nYour garden can do more than look beautiful – it can help protect the environment and support local wildlife.\nDiscover simple\, practical ways to create a healthier\, more sustainable landscape by providing food\, water\, and shelter for pollinators\, birds\, and other beneficial creatures. Learn how to reduce pesticide and fertilizer use\, conserve water\, and work with nature to grow a thriving garden that’s easier to maintain and better for the world around you.\nClasses are free for UCSC Students or with an Arboretum membership which includes free admission to the gardens as well as a whole host of great benefits. Consider becoming a member today by visiting our website: arboretum.ucsc.edu
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/earth-friendly-gardening-protecting-wildlife-the-environment/
CATEGORIES:Lectures & Presentations,Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://events.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/UC-Mater-Gardener-Protecting-Wildlife.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260927T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20270627T150000
DTSTAMP:20260910T220505Z
CREATED:20260910T220505Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260910T220505Z
UID:10016362-1790514000-1814108400@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:Santa Cruz Pickwick Club presents: Christie Mysteries
DESCRIPTION:Over the coming year\, Dickens Universe readers and Pickwick Club members will meet for discussions focused on these novels and their lasting influence on the mystery genre. This year’s reading series brings together four landmark works of crime fiction: The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Charles Dickens (Penguin Classics\, 2002)\, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie (William Morrow\, 2021)\, The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie (William Morrow\, 2025)\, and The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie (William Morrow\, 2011). Join Dickens enthusiasts and Pickwick Club members on Zoom for a series of discussions about these beloved books. \nRegister via Zoom \nReading Schedule:  \n\nSept 27: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd\nOct 25: The Pale Horse\nNov 22: The Murder at the Vicarage\nDec 27: The Mystery of Edwin Drood\nJan 24: The Mystery of Edwin Drood\nFeb 28: The Mystery of Edwin Drood\nMar 28: The Mystery of Edwin Drood\nApr 25: TBD\nMay 23: TBD\nJun 27: TBD\n\nRecommended Edition: We recommend the Penguin Classics edition of the novels for its appendices and notes\, but other versions are fine. First-time readers should avoid the Introduction if they don’t want spoilers. Download the novels to read at Gutenburg.org or listen at LibriVox.org. \nThe Santa Cruz Pickwick (Book) Club\, a branch of the Dickens Fellowship\, is a community of local bookworms\, students\, and teachers who meet monthly to discuss a nineteenth-century novel. The Santa Cruz Public Libraries provide support for the reading group.
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/santa-cruz-pickwick-club-presents-christie-mysteries/2026-09-27/
CATEGORIES:Lectures & Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://events.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot-2026-09-01-151610.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260928T132500
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260928T143000
DTSTAMP:20260916T145550Z
CREATED:20260916T143449Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260916T145550Z
UID:10017059-1790601900-1790605800@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:Environmental Studies Seminar Series | Lightning Talks by ENVS Faculty
DESCRIPTION:In person and via Zoom (Meeting ID: 978 5545 8946\, Passcode: 454736).  \nIf you are unable to stream the talk live and need to access a recorded version\, please contact Stacy Philpott at sphilpot@ucsc.edu. A UC Santa Cruz email address is required to access the recording. \nHost: Natalia Ocampo-Peñuela \nSpeaker: Hannah Waterhouse \nSpeaker: Mijin Cha \nSpeaker: Bo Yang \n\nTitle: Seeing Fire from Above: UAV Remote Sensing of Wildfire Behavior\, Fuels\, and Ecological Effects\nAbstract: Wildfires are highly dynamic events shaped by interactions among fuels\, topography\, weather\, and vegetation. Three recent studies based on the California Canyon Fire Experiment\, a highly instrumented prescribed fire conducted in a steep chaparral canyon near Salinas\, California\, demonstrate the potential of UAV remote sensing for wildfire research. Using thermal\, multispectral\, and LiDAR imagery\, we developed methods to map fire progression\, characterize fire anatomy\, and improve the georeferencing of thermal imagery during an active fire. We also used UAV photogrammetry and object-based classification to quantify pre-fire fuel structure\, post-fire fuel-height loss\, and vegetation recovery. Finally\, we linked remotely sensed thermal exposure\,  including maximum temperature and heating duration\, to field measurements of post-fire twig diameter as an indicator of fire severity. These studies demonstrate how UAV remote sensing can connect active-fire behavior with fuel conditions and ecological effects at fine spatial and temporal scales.\n\n  \n 
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/environmental-studies-seminar-series-lightning-talks-by-envs-faculty/
LOCATION:Interdisciplinary Sciences Building\, 7487 Red Hill Road\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95064
CATEGORIES:Lectures & Presentations
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260928T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260928T170000
DTSTAMP:20260915T205202Z
CREATED:20260915T205202Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260915T205202Z
UID:10017056-1790611200-1790614800@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:Statistics Seminar: Vecchia Approximated Bayesian Heteroskedastic Gaussian Processes
DESCRIPTION:Presenter: Parul Patil\, Postdoctoral Researcher\, UC Santa Cruz \nDescription: Many computer simulations are stochastic and exhibit input dependent noise. In such situations\, heteroskedastic Gaussian processes (hetGPs) make ideal surrogates as they estimate a latent\, non-constant variance. However\, existing hetGP implementations are unable to deal with large simulation campaigns and use point-estimates for all unknown quantities\, including latent variances. This limits applicability to small experiments and undercuts uncertainty. We propose a Bayesian hetGP using elliptical slice sampling (ESS) for posterior variance integration\, and the Vecchia approximation to circumvent computational bottlenecks. We show good performance for our upgraded hetGP capability\, compared to alternatives\, on a benchmark example and a motivating corpus of more than 9-million lake temperature simulations. An open source implementation is provided as bhetGP on CRAN. \nAbout the speaker: Parul Patil is currently working as a post-doctoral researcher with Dr Paul Parker and Dr Sangwon Hyun at University of California\, Santa Cruz. She completed her PhD in May 2026 from Virginia Tech. She had previously completed B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Statistics in India. She works with large-scale data\, using statistical tools to model complex processes\, quantify uncertainty\, and uncover patterns. Her work lies at the intersection of statistics and machine learning with ecological applications\, focusing on scalable methods for analyzing high-dimensional and spatially structured data. \nThis seminar is hosted by Professor Yunyi Shen.
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/statistics-seminar-vecchia-approximated-bayesian-heteroskedastic-gaussian-processes/
LOCATION:Jack Baskin Engineering\, Baskin Engineering 1156 High Street\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95064
CATEGORIES:Lectures & Presentations,Seminars
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://events.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Patil_headshot.jpg
GEO:37.000369;-122.0632371
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Jack Baskin Engineering Baskin Engineering 1156 High Street Santa Cruz CA 95064;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=Baskin Engineering 1156 High Street:geo:-122.0632371,37.000369
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261003T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261003T120000
DTSTAMP:20260910T181642Z
CREATED:20251211T171734Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260910T181642Z
UID:10005663-1791025200-1791028800@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:First Saturday Tour at the Arboretum
DESCRIPTION:First Saturday Tours are a wonderful way to introduce yourself to the Arboretum or to deepen your knowledge of the Arboretum’s plant collections. Each tour is a little different depending on the time of year\, the interests of the tour guide\, and the people who join in. For example\, you might learn about the birds and mammals that make this land their home or about the amazing physical adaptations that plants have evolved to better deal with our extreme weather and climate conditions. Tours are free with paid admission. Admission is always free for current UCSC Students and Arboretum members.
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/first-saturday-tour-at-the-arboretum/2026-10-03/
LOCATION:Arboretum\, 122 Arboretum Road\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95064
CATEGORIES:Lectures & Presentations
GEO:36.9838652;-122.0609079
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Arboretum 122 Arboretum Road Santa Cruz CA 95064;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=122 Arboretum Road:geo:-122.0609079,36.9838652
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261005T132500
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261005T143000
DTSTAMP:20260916T145534Z
CREATED:20260916T143758Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260916T145534Z
UID:10017060-1791206700-1791210600@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:Environmental Studies Seminar Series | Siyu Luo\, UC Santa Cruz
DESCRIPTION:In person and via Zoom (Meeting ID: 978 5545 8946\, Passcode: 454736).  \nIf you are unable to stream the talk live and need to access a recorded version\, please contact Stacy Philpott at sphilpot@ucsc.edu. A UC Santa Cruz email address is required to access the recording. \nHost: Elliott Campbell \nSpeaker: Siyu Luo\, UC Santa Cruz\, ENVS \n  \n 
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/environmental-studies-seminar-series-siyu-luo/
LOCATION:Interdisciplinary Sciences Building\, 7487 Red Hill Road\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95064
CATEGORIES:Lectures & Presentations
GEO:37.001379;-122.0617685
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Interdisciplinary Sciences Building 7487 Red Hill Road Santa Cruz CA 95064;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=7487 Red Hill Road:geo:-122.0617685,37.001379
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261007T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261007T193000
DTSTAMP:20260904T213003Z
CREATED:20260904T212733Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260904T213003Z
UID:10016382-1791396000-1791401400@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:Under the Mantle of an Idocile Dream: Film Screening and Conversation with Denise Carrascosa and Gina Dent
DESCRIPTION:The Institute of the Arts and Sciences invites you to a screening of the video-performance Under the Mantle of an Idocile Dream (Bruna Castro\, Brasil\, 2026)\, followed by a conversation between Denise Carrascosa and Gina Dent around the historical\, political and spiritual relations between Afro-Brazilian ancestrality\, visual arts and abolition feminism in Brazil. \nDenise Carrascosa is a writer\, lawyer\, and full professor of literature at the Federal University of Bahia\, in Brasil. She holds a Ph.D. in Theory and Criticism of Literature and Culture (UFBA) and completed postdoctoral studies in the History of Slavery in Brasil (UFRB). In 2010\, she launched the abolitionist project Indocile Bodies and Free Minds: an art-education program for literary writing at the Women’s Prison Complex in Bahia\, where she established\, together with sentenced women inmates\, the Free Minds Library (2012)\, enabling Sisters inside to access sentence remission through reading. \nGina Dent is Professor of Humanities and Faculty Director of the Institute of the Arts & Sciences at the University of California\, Santa Cruz\, where she has won awards for her teaching (Dizikes Faculty Teaching Award)\, advocacy (Chancellor’s Award for Diversity)\, and research (Innovator of the Year). Currently\, she serves as Principal Investigator and Co-Director for Visualizing Abolition\, a multidisciplinary project—involving exhibitions\, events\, fellowships\, and academic programs—addressing the global crisis of incarceration through art and visual culture. Her recent collaborative projects grow out of her decades-long work as a social justice advocate—Abolition. Feminism. Now. (co-authored with Angela Davis\, Erica Meiners\, and Beth Richie\, Haymarket 2022)\, and Seeing through Stone (exhibition catalog\, Marquand 2024). She works with several organizations nationally and internationally\, including Columbia University’s Center for Justice and Australia’s Sisters Inside\, primarily on justice-related concerns.
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/under-the-mantle-of-an-idocile-dream-film-screening-and-conversation-with-denise-carrascosa-and-gina-dent/
LOCATION:Institute of the Arts and Sciences\, 100 Panetta Ave\, Santa Cruz\, United States
CATEGORIES:Lectures & Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://events.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Sonhario-Indocio-Foto-2.jpeg-1.webp
GEO:36.9557939;-122.0505546
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Institute of the Arts and Sciences 100 Panetta Ave Santa Cruz United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=100 Panetta Ave:geo:-122.0505546,36.9557939
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261012T132500
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261012T143000
DTSTAMP:20260916T143857Z
CREATED:20260916T143857Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260916T143857Z
UID:10017061-1791811500-1791815400@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:Environmental Studies Seminar Series | Diana Macias\, UC Berkeley
DESCRIPTION:In person and via Zoom (Meeting ID: 978 5545 8946\, Passcode: 454736).  \nIf you are unable to stream the talk live and need to access a recorded version\, please contact Stacy Philpott at sphilpot@ucsc.edu. A UC Santa Cruz email address is required to access the recording. \nHost: Maywa Montenegro \nSpeaker: Diana Macias\, UC Berkeley \n  \n  \n 
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/environmental-studies-seminar-series-diana-macias/
LOCATION:Interdisciplinary Sciences Building\, 7487 Red Hill Road\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95064
CATEGORIES:Lectures & Presentations
GEO:37.001379;-122.0617685
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Interdisciplinary Sciences Building 7487 Red Hill Road Santa Cruz CA 95064;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=7487 Red Hill Road:geo:-122.0617685,37.001379
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261013T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261013T113000
DTSTAMP:20260917T211301Z
CREATED:20260917T210626Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260917T211301Z
UID:10017083-1791887400-1791891000@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:Fellowships for Research in Japan – In-person Info Session
DESCRIPTION:Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) is the largest funding agency for academic research in Japan. Fellowships are offered for Ph.D. students\, post-doctorate scholars\, researchers\, and faculty members in all fields. \nJoin our information session to find out how JSPS can help you conduct research in Japan. \nFor Master’s and Ph.D. students\, postdoctoral fellows\, professors\, and other researchers in ALL disciplines! \nLight refreshments provided. \nRegister Here.
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/fellowships-for-research-in-japan-in-person-info-session/
LOCATION:Engineering 2\, Engineering 2 1156 High Street\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95064
CATEGORIES:Lectures & Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://events.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/JSPS-event-16x9-1.png
GEO:37.0009723;-122.0632371
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Engineering 2 Engineering 2 1156 High Street Santa Cruz CA 95064;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=Engineering 2 1156 High Street:geo:-122.0632371,37.0009723
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261013T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261013T203000
DTSTAMP:20260910T223637Z
CREATED:20260910T223637Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260910T223637Z
UID:10017047-1791912600-1791923400@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:Kraw Lecture: Could a “Super El Niño” be coming?
DESCRIPTION:UC Santa Cruz researchers are closely tracking the development of a potential “super El Niño” this year. In this Kraw Lecture\, two UC Santa Cruz experts will explore the natural forces that drive El Niño events\, how scientists forecast major climate shifts\, and what current research can tell us about the months ahead. While every El Niño is unique\, decades of research at UC Santa Cruz provide valuable insights into potential impacts and how communities can prepare. \nAttendees will also get an early look at findings from California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment and explore CoSMoS Adapts\, an innovative project examining future coastal flood risks and the effectiveness and cost of different adaptation strategies. Join us for a timely conversation about what a changing climate and a potential major El Niño could mean for California’s coast and communities. \nSpeakers:\nGary Griggs\nDistinguished Professor\, Earth & Planetary Sciences\, UC Santa Cruz \nMike Beck\nDirector\, Center for Coastal Climate Resilience\, UC Santa Cruz \n  \nRegister Now
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/kraw-lecture-could-a-super-el-nino-be-coming/
LOCATION:The Quad Conference Center\, 2400 Sand Hill Rd\, Menlo Park\, CA\, 94025\, United States
CATEGORIES:Lectures & Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://events.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Kraw-October-Banner-2-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261014T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261014T213000
DTSTAMP:20260917T212631Z
CREATED:20260917T212631Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260917T212631Z
UID:10017085-1792006200-1792013400@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:Festival of Monsters: The Quatermass Experiment
DESCRIPTION:The Festival of Monsters screens the 1955 classic sci-fi horror film The Quatermass Experiment at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday\, Oct. 14\, 2026\, at The 418 in Downtown Santa Cruz.  This screening includes a live introduction by monster maven Dr. H. Marshall Leicester (UC Santa Cruz Professor Emeritus of Literature). \nA trio of British astronauts are launched into space by obsessed rocket scientist Professor Quatermass (Brian Donley) – but only one returns to Earth and he’s not the same\, to put it mildly. \nThe Festival is sponsored by the UC Santa Cruz Center for Monster Studies. \nTickets are $12.51 in advance\, $15 at the door. The screening occurs at The 418 Project’s Small Theater\, 155 River St S\, Santa Cruz.
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/festival-of-monsters-the-quatermass-experiment/
LOCATION:The 418 Project\, 155 River St S\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95060\, United States
CATEGORIES:Film Screening,Screening
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://events.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Rectangular-For-USCS-01.png
ORGANIZER;CN="UC Santa Cruz Center for Monster Studies":MAILTO:ucscmonsters@gmail.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261017T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261017T153000
DTSTAMP:20260917T213447Z
CREATED:20260917T213447Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260917T213447Z
UID:10017086-1792245600-1792251000@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:Festival of Monsters: A Devilish Discussion
DESCRIPTION:The Festival of Monsters presents “A Devilish Discussion\,” 2 p.m. Saturday\, Oct. 17\, 2026\, at the Museum of Art and History in Downtown Santa Cruz. \nAuthors Kiersten White (The Fox and the Devil) and Clay McLeod Chapman (Devil Inside) will talk about their latest books\, why they write devilish fiction and the horror of it all. \nThe talk\, sponsored the UC Santa Cruz Center for Monster Studies\, is free. The Museum of Art and History is located at 705 Front Street\, Santa Cruz.
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/festival-of-monsters-a-devilish-discussion/
LOCATION:Museum of Art & History\, 705 Front St\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95060\, United States
CATEGORIES:Author Panel,Lectures & Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://events.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Rectangular-For-USCS-01.png
ORGANIZER;CN="UC Santa Cruz Center for Monster Studies":MAILTO:ucscmonsters@gmail.com
GEO:36.9745675;-122.0253376
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Museum of Art & History 705 Front St Santa Cruz CA 95060 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=705 Front St:geo:-122.0253376,36.9745675
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261019T132500
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261019T143000
DTSTAMP:20260916T145507Z
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SUMMARY:Environmental Studies Seminar Series |  North Stars of Emancipation: Navigating Movements and Institutions to Change Food Systems
DESCRIPTION:In person and via Zoom (Meeting ID: 978 5545 8946\, Passcode: 454736).  \nIf you are unable to stream the talk live and need to access a recorded version\, please contact Stacy Philpott at sphilpot@ucsc.edu. A UC Santa Cruz email address is required to access the recording. \nHost: Stacy Philpott \nSpeaker: Antonio Roman-Alcala\, CSU East Bay \nTitle: North Stars of Emancipation: Navigating Movements and Institutions to Change Food Systems \nAbstract: In this talk\, Dr. Roman-Alcalá will discuss his new book North Stars of Emancipation: California’s Diverse Food and Farming Movements in Times of Racial Reckoning\, based on his twenty years of engaging such movements as both participant and (more recently) researcher. The book addresses how food movements’ racial politics and change-making strategies have shifted over recent decades\, in response to the interventions of activists and allies\, and in relation to the ever-vexing challenge of working across various kinds of difference. Antonio will present insights from North Stars\, illuminating the origins of right wing populist political strategies in California’s agrarian history\, dynamics of contemporary movement organizing among ecological farmers\, farmworkers\, Indigenous people\, food justice activists\, nonprofit staff\, researchers\, and others\, and suggestions for how to both diversify and strengthen the movement. Addressing social scientific and social movement debates about if and how social movements should seek radical change to society\, and how movements might navigate problematic political and economic systems not set up to serve them\, the talk will introduce the book’s call for a “North Star” approach to political change. Such an approach\, Antonio argues\, can leverage food markets and state policy even while seeking a food system (and world) beyond capitalism and the colonial nation-state. \n  \n  \n 
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/environmental-studies-seminar-series-north-stars-of-emancipation/
LOCATION:Interdisciplinary Sciences Building\, 7487 Red Hill Road\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95064
CATEGORIES:Lectures & Presentations
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261019T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261019T160000
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SUMMARY:The Dominican Wake: Contradictions of the Human and Human Rights in the Dominican Republic with Dr. Génesis Lara
DESCRIPTION:As a part of the Sovereignty & Solidarity Fall Speaker Series\, the Huerta Center is thrilled to host Dr. Génesis Lara from UC-Irvine to speak on topics related to her upcoming book.  \nThe May 1961 assassination of dictator Rafael Trujillo propelled the Dominican Republic into the center stage of Cold War Caribbean geopolitics. This presentation places the Organization of American States (OAS) human rights inspection of the Dominican Republic in contrast to the writings of Dominican women to showcase the limitations of hemispheric entities of human rights in the Caribbean. The paper argues that in the absence of public platforms for truth and reconciliation\, the strategic employment of human rights and maternalism on behalf of Dominican women sought to hold the Dominican state accountable for state violence. Through the close reading of personal correspondence and state memoranda\, I examine how varying definitions of human were utilized by Dominican women to extract specific demands from Dominican officials. This presentation also examines the ways conservatism and rising Dominican radicalism influenced the demands women made of the state. Critically\, this paper excavates the central role of Dominican women in hemispheric development of human rights and reconciliation to argue for its inclusions in evaluations of the legacies of the Cold War radicalism in the Caribbean and Latin America.
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/the-dominican-wake/
LOCATION:Charles E. Merrill Lounge\, Rutherford House\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95064
CATEGORIES:Lectures & Presentations
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261019T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261019T190000
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SUMMARY:North Stars of Emancipation: Navigating Movements and Institutions to Change Food Systems
DESCRIPTION:In this talk\, Dr. Roman-Alcalá will discuss his new book\, North Stars of Emancipation: California’s Diverse Food and Farming Movements in Times of Racial Reckoning\, based on his 20 years of engaging such movements as both participant and (more recently) researcher. The book addresses how food movements’ racial politics and change-making strategies have shifted over recent decades\, in response to the interventions of activists and allies\, and in relation to the ever-vexing challenge of working across various kinds of difference. \nAntonio will present insights from North Stars\, illuminating the origins of right wing populist political strategies in California’s agrarian history\, dynamics of contemporary movement organizing among ecological farmers\, farmworkers\, Indigenous people\, food justice activists\, nonprofit staff\, researchers\, and others\, and suggestions for how to both diversify and strengthen the movement. \nAddressing social scientific and social movement debates about if and how social movements should seek radical change to society\, and how movements might navigate problematic political and economic systems not set up to serve them\, the talk will introduce the book’s call for a “North Star” approach to political change. Such an approach\, Antonio argues\, can leverage food markets and state policy even while seeking a food system (and world) beyond capitalism and the colonial nation-state.
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/north-stars-of-emancipation-navigating-movements-and-institutions-to-change-food-systems/
LOCATION:Hay Barn\, 94 Ranch View Road\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95064\, United States
CATEGORIES:Seminars
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261022T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261022T193000
DTSTAMP:20260904T220609Z
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SUMMARY:Rioters: Unruly Images and Freedom Experiments with Patrícia Freitas
DESCRIPTION:The Institute of the Arts and Sciences invites you to a screening of three short films by Patrícia Freitas about women and incarceration in Brazil\, followed by a conversation with the filmmaker. \nFleeing Firminas features moments of women inside the Women’s Penal Complex of Salvador in Bahia\, Brazil participating in the creative writing workshops . \nFleeing Roquelina follows writer Dona Roquelina’s release from prison. \nRioters is an in-production feature-length documentary that begins in the Lemos de Brito Penitentiary in Salvador and tells the stories of Black women from the post-abolition era in old Bahia to the present day; women who dared and continue to dare to occupy spaces that\, though still hostile to them today\, allow their art\, knowledge\, and ancestral power to resonate. \nPatrícia Freitas\, documentary filmmaker\, holds a master’s degree in literature and culture from the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA)\, and is an associate researcher at PAVIC—Researchers in Audiovisual Media\, Iconography\, and Content. In over two decades of work\, she has directed documentaries such as Ira (2004) on religious racism\, which received an honorable mention at Cinesul (2005) and the Ibero-American Film and Video Festival (2005) and was screened at the Ethnographic Film Festival (2005)\, Negros em Movimento (2005)\, about Black theater in Bahia and Rio de Janeiro; and Enquanto te espero\, a luz coalhou (2018)\, a poetic documentary screened at the Arqfilm Festival in Santiago\, Chile\, and Puebla\, Mexico\, among others. In recent years\, she has worked as an assistant director on the series Enredos da liberdade (dir. Luis Carlos de Alencar)\, currently streaming on Globoplay\, and as a researcher for the series Histórias submersas (dir. Paulo Alcântara) and Todos os sonhos (dir. Sofia Federico)\, both aired on TVE Bahia\, among others. She also served as an assistant to Joel Zito Araújo and Hermano Penna\, leading figures in Brazilian cinema.
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/rioters-unruly-images-and-freedom-experiments-with-patricia-freitas/
LOCATION:Institute of the Arts and Sciences\, 100 Panetta Ave\, Santa Cruz\, United States
CATEGORIES:Film Screening
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261025T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20270725T150000
DTSTAMP:20260910T220505Z
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SUMMARY:Santa Cruz Pickwick Club presents: Christie Mysteries
DESCRIPTION:Over the coming year\, Dickens Universe readers and Pickwick Club members will meet for discussions focused on these novels and their lasting influence on the mystery genre. This year’s reading series brings together four landmark works of crime fiction: The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Charles Dickens (Penguin Classics\, 2002)\, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie (William Morrow\, 2021)\, The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie (William Morrow\, 2025)\, and The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie (William Morrow\, 2011). Join Dickens enthusiasts and Pickwick Club members on Zoom for a series of discussions about these beloved books. \nRegister via Zoom \nReading Schedule:  \n\nSept 27: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd\nOct 25: The Pale Horse\nNov 22: The Murder at the Vicarage\nDec 27: The Mystery of Edwin Drood\nJan 24: The Mystery of Edwin Drood\nFeb 28: The Mystery of Edwin Drood\nMar 28: The Mystery of Edwin Drood\nApr 25: TBD\nMay 23: TBD\nJun 27: TBD\n\nRecommended Edition: We recommend the Penguin Classics edition of the novels for its appendices and notes\, but other versions are fine. First-time readers should avoid the Introduction if they don’t want spoilers. Download the novels to read at Gutenburg.org or listen at LibriVox.org. \nThe Santa Cruz Pickwick (Book) Club\, a branch of the Dickens Fellowship\, is a community of local bookworms\, students\, and teachers who meet monthly to discuss a nineteenth-century novel. The Santa Cruz Public Libraries provide support for the reading group.
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/santa-cruz-pickwick-club-presents-christie-mysteries/2026-10-25/
CATEGORIES:Lectures & Presentations
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261026T132500
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261026T143000
DTSTAMP:20260916T145451Z
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SUMMARY:Environmental Studies Seminar Series | Kimmy Waite\, CSU Los Angeles
DESCRIPTION:In person and via Zoom (Meeting ID: 978 5545 8946\, Passcode: 454736).  \nIf you are unable to stream the talk live and need to access a recorded version\, please contact Stacy Philpott at sphilpot@ucsc.edu. A UC Santa Cruz email address is required to access the recording. \nHost: Flora Lu \nSpeaker: Kimmy Waite\, CSU Los Angeles \n 
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/environmental-studies-seminar-series-kimmy-waite/
LOCATION:Interdisciplinary Sciences Building\, 7487 Red Hill Road\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95064
CATEGORIES:Lectures & Presentations
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