"Words That Impress: Creating a Great Résumé & Cover Letter"
2026-04-09 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Career Success Student Lounge (125 Hahn), 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, United States
Crafting a fantastic Resume and Cover Letter are the key to getting an interview and landing a job! Join us for this informative workshop that will cover best practices for resume and cover letter development. You’ll gain understanding about the perfect format, navigating AI filters, and how to write captivating resume bullet points and engaging cover letter paragraphs. The presentation will be 45 minutes, followed by 15 minutes of optional worktime here in our office with coaches to give you brief input.
We will provide captions for the presentation. If you have disability-related needs, please contact the Career Success office at csuccess@ucsc.edu or (831) 459-4420 as soon as possible.
YOU BELONG HERE
Programs and services are open to all, consistent with state and federal law, as well as the University of California’s nondiscrimination policies. Every initiative—whether a student service, faculty program, or community event—is designed to be accessible, inclusive, and respectful of all identities. To learn more, please visit UC Nondiscrimination Statement or Nondiscrimination Policy for UC Publications.

Arts Internship Scholarship Info Session
2026-04-09 16:00 - 17:00 | Digital Arts Research Center, 407 McHenry Rd, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
UC Santa Cruz students are invited to an info session to review the Arts Division’s internship scholarship application process and address frequently asked questions. More information about the scholarship here.
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ADMISSION
– This event is for currently enrolled UC Santa Cruz Arts Division students only
– Attend in person or online
– In-person attendance limited to the first 15 students
– Pizza provided to those attending in-person
– Register here

Partners Film Screening
2026-04-09 18:00 - 20:00 | Oakes Learning Center
Join the Center for Labor and Community for a free film screening of the documentary, Partners: How Starbucks Baristas Started a Labor Revolution. Following the screening there will be a discussion with unionized Starbucks baristas. RSVP here

Taming Two Scorpions: Climate Science Tipping Points Meet Finance Tail Risks
2026-04-10 08:00 - 17:00 | CA
When two quite different disciplines make eerily similar predictions about the future of the planet and human societies, they deserve notice. Climate scientists warn that we may be heading toward a Hothouse Earth “inhospitable to … human societies,” with “increasingly catastrophic impacts” possibly “worldwide societal breakdown.” Finance and actuarial science emphasize the importance of tail risk (rare adverse events). Planning and preparing for them is essential to the survival of insurance companies, pension funds, banks, and the entire financial system. In Climate Salon 6, Economist Dan Friedman and Environmental Sociologist Andy Szasz team up to show how these disciplinary perspectives interconnect and what they say about the path forward.
Tues Apr 28 3:30-5 pm, Center for Adaptive Optics Atrium or via zoom (free and open to the public!)
Dan Friedman is Distinguished Professor of Economics Emeritus at UCSC. The author of 6 books, over 100 research articles and the recipient of 14 National Science Foundation grants, Dan has begun to apply his expertise in finance and evolutionary game theory to issues in environmental economics.
Andrew Szasz is Professor Emeritus of Environmental Studies. At UCSC he taught courses on Classical and Contemporary Social Theory, Environmental Sociology and Environmental Justice. He has written books and articles on environmental regulation, the grassroots toxics movement, green consuming, environmental justice and climate change.
CO-SPONSORED by UCSC Climate Action Now, the Earth Futures Institute, and Baskin Engineering.

BME 80G Seminar: Sara Ackerman - Doing Ethics From The Inside: Collaboration, Critique, and Contradiction in Team Science
2026-04-10 13:20 - 14:25 | Jack Baskin Auditorium, 191 Baskin Cir, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Presenter: Sara Ackerman, Medical Anthropologist and Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco
Description: Team science has been widely promoted as a collaborative, cross-disciplinary approach to addressing key scientific questions, yet power differences and epistemic hierarchies persist. This talk explores "embedded ethics"—a model in which social scientists and ethicists work directly with scientific research teams. Drawing on findings from an empirical ethics project embedded in a multi-year clinical genomics study, I demonstrate how qualitative methods and participatory design can shift the researcher-participant dynamic toward greater reciprocity and attention to enrolled families’ experiences. At the same time, ethicists and social scientists can find themselves in an uncomfortable and even paradoxical position, expected to facilitate project goals—such as recruitment of historically underrepresented groups—while simultaneously critically assessing the very categories of difference and measures being used. In the future, team science collaborations can result in more just and broadly beneficial science if social science, humanities and community partners are able to meaningfully contribute to the research agenda itself.
Bio: Sara Ackerman, PhD, MPH, is a medical anthropologist and Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco. Her research draws on ethnographic methods and public engagement to examine how genomics, artificial intelligence and other emerging medical technologies affect the lives of patients and caregivers and shape conceptions of health, illness and the public good. Sara teaches courses on community-engaged research, qualitative methods, and research ethics at UCSF. As Director of the Bioethics and Regulatory Support Program for UCSF’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute, she is working to increase patient and public participation in decisions about the use of AI in clinical care and the sharing of patients’ clinical data for research.
Hosted by: Professor Karen Miga, BME Department

2026 Right Livelihood International Conference
2026-04-13 08:00 - 2026-05-15 17:00
The Right Livelihood International Conference is a five-week global conference exploring how education can strengthen democracy, collective intelligence, and just futures. Bringing together Right Livelihood Laureates, students, faculty, and community partners across continents, the conference combines asynchronous learning with participatory dialogue and collaborative action. Rather than advocating specific outcomes, the conference positions education as a democratic practice and the Right Livelihood College as a steward of dialogue, student voice, and long-term institutional learning.
Registration is free and open to the public. Sign up to receive conference updates, session links, and participation opportunities.

ECE 290 Seminar: Speaker Dr. Josh Star-Lack - Photon Counting Detectors for X-Ray Computed Tomography
2026-04-13 10:40 - 11:45 | Engineering 2, Engineering 2 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Presenter: Dr. Josh Star-Lack, Principal Scientist and Research Manager, Varex Imaging Inc
Description: X-ray computed tomography (CT) provides rapid, detailed 3D imaging of internal organs, bones, and vasculature. By enabling the swift diagnosis of cancer, cardiac disease, neurological disorders, and other pathologies, CT has revolutionized medicine—reducing the need for invasive exploratory surgeries and facilitating precise treatment planning. Despite the technology’s maturity, the clinical demand for higher spatial resolution, increased sensitivity, and lower ionizing radiation doses remains high. This presentation reviews the fundamental principles of CT, traces its evolution since its invention 50 years ago, and describes a new technology, photon-counting x-ray detection, as a transformative solution to current clinical challenges.
Bio: Josh Star-Lack received his B.S. in Applied and Engineering Physics from Cornell University and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from U.C. Berkeley. He has worked on the development of medical imaging technologies, including X-ray computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, for his entire professional career. He is currently a Principal Scientist and Research Manager at Varex Imaging Inc, the world’s largest manufacturer of X-ray detectors and tubes. He has co-authored over 150 publications and holds over 50 patents.
Hosted by: Professor Soumya Bose, ECE Department
Zoom Link: https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/97975378707?pwd=[REDACTED]

BME 80G Seminar: Speaker Dr. Mohammed Mostajo-Radji - How Close Are We to Consciousness in a Dish?
2026-04-13 13:20 - 14:25 | Jack Baskin Auditorium, 191 Baskin Cir, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Presenter: Dr. Mohammed Mostajo-Radji, Associate Research Scientist, Genomics Institute UCSC
Description: We can now grow small pieces of human brain tissue in the lab, known as brain organoids. These models show many features of early brain development, including different types of neurons and coordinated electrical activity. This progress raises a fascinating question: how close are we to consciousness in a dish? In this talk, I will explain what brain organoids are, what we mean by consciousness, and why answering this question is more complex than it may seem. I will end by introducing the idea of neurorights, and why thinking about the rights and protections of minds matters as brain science and technology continue to advance.
Bio: Dr. Mohammed Mostajo-Radji is an Associate Research Scientist at the Genomics Institute UCSC. He is part of the Braingeneers group, a multidisciplinary collective of geneticists, neuroscientists, and engineers focused on the human brain’s specification and function. His research explores neuronal specification and fate plasticity in the cerebral cortex using brain organoid models. Additionally, he leads the Live Cell Biotechnology Discovery Lab, which develops cloud-based experimental science education technologies. Dr. Mostajo-Radji earned his PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Harvard University and completed postdoctoral training at UCSF. He also co-leads the Data Coordination Center for the SSPsyGene Consortium, an NIH initiative to characterize genetic mutations associated with neuropsychiatric disorders.
Hosted by: Professor Karen Miga, BME Department

Statistics Seminar: Calibration Weighting-Style Diagnostics for Nonlinear Bayesian Hierarchical Models
2026-04-13 16:00 - 17:00 | CA
Presenter: Dr. Ryan Giordano, UC Berkeley Statistics
Description: Multilevel Regression with Post-stratification (MrP) has become a workhorse method for estimating population quantities using non-probability surveys, and is the primary alternative to traditional survey calibration weights, e.g.~ as computed by raking. For simple linear regression models, MrP methods admit “equivalent weights”, allowing for direct comparisons between MrP and traditional calibration weights (Gelman 2006). In the present work, we develop a more general framework for computing and interpreting “MrP local equivalent weights” (MrPlew), which admit direct comparison with calibration weights in terms of important diagnostic quantities such as covariate balance, frequentist sampling variability, and partial pooling. MrPlew is based on a local approximation, which we show in theory and practice to be accurate and meaningful for the target diagnostics. Importantly, MrPlew can be easily computed based on existing MCMC samples and conveniently wraps standard MrP software implementations.
Bio: Dr. Ryan Giordano is currently an assistant professor of statistics at UC Berkeley. Dr. Ryan Giordano earned a PhD in Statistics from UC Berkeley advised by Michael Jordan, Tamara Broderick, and Jon McAuliffe, an MSc with distinction in econometrics and mathematical economics from the London School of Economics, and undergraduate degrees in mathematics and engineering mechanics from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Ryan Giordano has worked as a postdoctoral researcher at MIT under Tamara Broderick, as an engineer for Google and HP, and served for two years as an education volunteer in the US Peace Corps in Kazakhstan. Dr. Ryan Giordano’s research interests include machine learning, variational inference, Bayesian methods, robustness quantification, and what it even means to do statistics at all.
Hosted by: Statistics Department

AM Seminar: Genetically Admixed Groups as a Laboratory for Mathematical Modeling and Discovery
2026-04-13 16:00 - 17:00 | Jack Baskin Engineering, Baskin Engineering 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Presenter: Dr. Aw, Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania
Description: Admixed groups consist of individuals descended from two or more historically separated ancestral populations, and they are underrepresented in biomedical studies. Admixed individuals are unique in that they carry mosaics of ancestral segments within their genome, so their genetic information is typically summarized as a pair of genotype and local ancestry data matrices. I will present two research projects on admixed groups: one applying statistical models to study genetic architecture and polygenic risk, and another using biomedical data analysis to motivate combinatorial and probabilistic questions. In the “math to genetics” direction, we describe structural causal models that show local and global genetic ancestry are instruments for epistasis. These models of genetic architecture imply that certain polygenic scores can differentiate between cis and trans epistases, and highly similar cross-ancestry genetic effects do not rule out pervasive gene-gene or gene-environment interactions. In the “genetics to math” direction, we study the enumeration of genotype and local ancestry data matrices — which we call admixed arrays — subject to constraints that arise naturally in biomedical applications. Using saddle-point approximation and complex martingale techniques, we show that admixed arrays admit a different independence heuristic than the closely related binary contingency tables (e^(–1/4) vs e^(–1/2) correction factor). If time permits, we will discuss ongoing work on designing algorithms for performing exact and approximate enumeration.
About the speaker: Alan Aw is a mathematical scientist specializing in human statistical and population genomics. He is currently a postdoctoral researcher with the Department of Genetics at the University of Pennsylvania, having obtained a PhD in Statistics at UC Berkeley and studied Applied Mathematics as an undergraduate. His research centers on the genetics and mathematical modeling of underrepresented groups. This includes statistical modeling and analyses of Biobank-scale admixed cohorts to better understand the genetic architecture of biomedical traits and improve genetic risk prediction, developing non-parametric hypothesis testing methods for genomics, and interdisciplinary approaches to studying European demographic history inclusive of indigenous Siberians. He is a member of the PRIMED Consortium and a trainee under a National Institutes of Health T32 Grant in Genomic Medicine.
Hosted By: Applied Mathematics

Creative Interventions: Technology + Organizing for Women in Hip Hop
2026-04-13 16:00 - 17:35 | Digital Arts Research Center, 407 McHenry Rd, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Azmera Hammouri-Davis, akua naru, and Edd Wheeler come together in conversation, offering a critical and creative dialogue that sets the stage for the evening ahead. This talk precedes the live NOIZ performance.
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ADMISSION
– FREE and open to UCSC affiliates
– IN PERSON at DARC 108
– VIRTUAL OPTION: must RSVP HERE
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PARKING
– Parking by permit or ParkMobile
– Arts Lot #126 is the closest parking lot to the event
– Visitors with DMV placards or plates may park for free in DMV spaces, Medical spaces, or ParkMobile spaces without additional payment, or in timed zones for longer than the posted time.
– More information provided by UCSC Transportation & Parking Services (TAPS)
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This program is open to all UC Santa Cruz affiliates consistent with state and federal law.

NOIZ: An Evening of Words, Sounds + Ideas
2026-04-13 18:00 - 20:00 | Digital Arts Research Center, 407 McHenry Rd, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Hosted by Assistant Professor and hip hop artist akua naru, the evening features live student performances, a DJ set, and an intimate conversation with guest artist/performer Edd Wheeler: pioneering Brazilian rapper, founding member of As Damas do Rap, the first female Hip Hop group in Rio de Janeiro, and practicing lawyer and organizer whose life and work embody the transformative power of the emcee as witness, visionary, and change agent. NOIZ invites the community into a night of sound, story, and radical thought.
These events are made possible through a dynamic collaboration across the UC Santa Cruz community, bringing together Creative Technologies, the Department of Music, the Hip Hop Lab, the Office for DEI, and Porter College.
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ADMISSION
– FREE and open to UCSC affiliates
– MUST RSVP HERE
– IN PERSON at DARC 108
– VIRTUAL OPTION via RSVP
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PARKING
– Parking by permit or ParkMobile
– Arts Lot #126 is the closest parking lot to the event
– Visitors with DMV placards or plates may park for free in DMV spaces, Medical spaces, or ParkMobile spaces without additional payment, or in timed zones for longer than the posted time.
– More information provided by UCSC Transportation & Parking Services (TAPS)
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This program is open to all UC Santa Cruz affiliates consistent with state and federal law.

April Slugs and Steins with Professor Gregory O'Malley
2026-04-13 18:30 - 20:00
The Escapes of David George: An Odyssey of Slavery, Freedom, and the American Revolution
The Escapes of David George: An Odyssey of Slavery and Freedom in the Revolutionary Era describes the life of a man born enslaved in colonial Virginia, whose repeated escape attempts made his life a remarkable odyssey. He survived enslavement on Virginia and Carolina plantations, stints hiding in backcountry Carolina settlements, captivity in Native American communities, battlefields of the American Revolution, and evacuation as a refugee from the emerging United States. Along the way, he formed a family, became a preacher, and founded the first Black Baptist congregation in what became the United States. His surviving narrative offers the earliest known firsthand account of escaping slavery in North America. And because his struggle against slavery spanned the revolutionary era, his story offers a counterweight to the many biographies of white “founding fathers.” Instead of a fight for political freedom from Britain and monarchy, George’s life revealss a parallel quest for freedom from American slavery. To achieve his independence, George fled the United States in the moment of its creation.
REGISTER

Nursing School Info Session with UPENN and Johns Hopkins
2026-04-14 12:00 - 13:00 | Humanities 1 Building, 257 Cowell-Stevenson Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, United States
University of Pennsylvania and Johns Hopkins Schools of Nursing each offer accelerated nursing programs for individuals looking to transition to the field from non-nursing degrees.
We will cover program overview, admissions and career outcomes.
Humanities 1 – Room 202
Register now!

YOU BELONG HERE
Programs and services are open to all, consistent with state and federal law, as well as the University of California’s nondiscrimination policies. Every initiative—whether a student service, faculty program, or community event—is designed to be accessible, inclusive, and respectful of all identities. To learn more, please visit UC Nondiscrimination Statement or Nondiscrimination Policy for UC Publications.

Castello, J. (CSE) - Space Mission Simulation From the Outside In
2026-04-14 14:00 - 16:00 | Engineering 2, Engineering 2 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Robotic space missions often use discrete event simulation to reduce risk in operation. A simulation applies a set of planned activities to a model of mission resources, and the model’s observed behavior is used to predict real-world outcomes. However, logically concurrent activities are typically simulated under one possible linearization of their events – an order that may not reflect the eventual reality. Some simulation systems provide mechanisms for controlling the order of events; but this is a solution to a self-imposed problem. We instead question the assumption causing this problem: that events are totally ordered to begin with.
We study Merlin, an open-source simulator developed at Caltech’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and designed by the author, that exchanges the traditional total order of events for a *partial* order. Under this approach, a resumed activity can only observe events that causally precede its resumption, and concurrent events are reconciled under custom policies. However, the resulting design is more complex (and less understood) than that of linearizing simulators, obscuring its key insights. As such, we have developed Eidolon: a compact core calculus for Merlin-style simulation whose operational semantics follows an “outside-in”, substitution-based execution model. Although Eidolon is derived from the concepts present in Merlin, we intend it to be a vehicle for exploring non-linearizing simulation in general.
First, we propose making Eidolon *incremental*: a change to the set of planned activities should not incur a full resimulation from scratch except in the worse case, instead reusing any cached computations that are not sensitive to the change. Since mission planning is a highly iterative process involving many simulations and subsequent tweaks to the plan, incremental resimulation may allow plans to be finalized in less time, or allow higher-quality plans to be obtained in the same amount of time. The substitution-oriented approach of Eidolon is what makes this feasible, since individual computations align cleanly with subtree boundaries.
Second, in the spirit of Reynolds’ defunctionalization and Danvy’s rational reconstruction, we propose developing a denotational semantics for Eidolon and demonstrating its mechanical conversion into an abstract machine. As a mathematical artifact, Eidolon is designed for reasoning and legibility rather than efficiency; nonetheless, defunctionalization allows us to *refactor* our semantics into something that stands a chance of being practical. In particular, defunctionalization reifies the recursive structure of a denotational semantics into an explicit data structure. As a result, the defunctionalized form of Eidolon will recover an explicit priority queue like that of traditional linearizing simulators, but without their assumption of total ordering.
Event Host: Jonathan Castello, Ph.D. Student, Computer Science and Engineering
Advisor: Lindsey Kuper
Zoom- https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/98171466380?pwd=[REDACTED]
Passcode- 990848

Prepare for the Fair with COOP Careers
2026-04-14 16:00 - 17:00 | Career Success Student Lounge (125 Hahn), 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, United States
Join us for an in-person workshop with COOP Careers about elevating your professional brand – just in time to prepare for the Spring Career & Internship Fair.
This session will help students craft a compelling professional pitch, tailor their resume to stand out to employers, and network meaningfully with industry professionals. Don’t miss this chance to get fair-ready and set yourself up for success!
Register now!
YOU BELONG HERE
Programs and services are open to all, consistent with state and federal law, as well as the University of California’s nondiscrimination policies. Every initiative—whether a student service, faculty program, or community event—is designed to be accessible, inclusive, and respectful of all identities. To learn more, please visit UC Nondiscrimination Statement or Nondiscrimination Policy for UC Publications.

Beyond Men & Masculinity: Film Screening & Conversation
2026-04-14 17:00 - 20:00 | Namaste Lounge, 615 College Nine Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
As part of Sexual Assault Awareness & Action Month (SAAM), join CARE & The Cantú for dinner and a screening of Beyond Men & Masculinity. After the film, we’ll have guided conversation and crafting! Dinner provided, and no RSVP required! For questions or accommodations, please email CARE or The Cantú Center.
You Belong Here: The programs and services described here are open to all, consistent with state and federal law, as well as the University of California’s nondiscrimination policies. Every initiative—whether a student service, faculty program, or community event—is designed to be accessible, inclusive, and respectful of all identities.
To learn more, please visit UC Nondiscrimination Statement or Nondiscrimination Policy for UC Publications.

Plan your healthcare career at UCSC
2026-04-14 18:00 - 19:00 | Silicon Valley Campus, 3175 Bowers Avenue, Santa Clara, CA, 95054, United States
Interested in becoming a doctor or pursuing a career in healthcare?
Join the UC Santa Cruz Premed Postbacc Program for an informative, live online session designed for students, parents, and anyone exploring pathways into medicine, public health, and other health professions.
In this discussion, we’ll provide a comprehensive overview of premed and pre-health programs to help you understand your options and choose the path that best aligns with your goals.
Who should attend

High school students
College students
Graduates
Career changers

What pathway to a career in healthcare is best for you?
There are so many ways to get where you want to go. You’ll learn about premed and postbacc pathways tailored to your needs and goals.

Premed Postbacc Cohort Programs in Silicon Valley & on the Central Coast: Structured, supportive programs designed for academic enhancers and career changers, featuring UC-level science courses, advising, MCAT prep, mentorship, and professional development.
DIY Pre-Health Postbacc Program: A flexible, self-paced option that allows you to take only the courses you need while accessing optional advising and MCAT preparation.
Pre-Health Advising: Personalized guidance to help you navigate your academic journey, prepare for applications, and explore healthcare pathways.
MCAT Preparation: Flexible, accessible MCAT prep options designed to support your success.
High School Health Pathways Summer Academy: A six-week, in-person summer program that introduces high school students to healthcare careers.

Bring your questions
This is an informal presentation and discussion, with lots of time to ask questions and connect directly with program staff.
Claim your seat today.
Learn more about the UC Santa Cruz Premed Postbacc Program.

Emeriti Faculty Lecture, Spring 2026
2026-04-14 19:00 - 21:00 | Music Center Recital Hall, 400 McHenry Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Puppets, Performance, Percussion: Asia-Pacific Interculturalism, Avant-gardism, and the Center for World Music
As the West Coast exploded with the Summer of Love and Vietnam War protests, the Center for World Music’s concept of “bimusicality” brought Asian performance masters and American avant-gardists to train American students. Julie Taymor’s The Lion King on Broadway and Lou Harrison’s Coyote Stories are just two intercultural results. The teachings of Balasaraswati, Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan, Undang Sumarna, and Ki Tjokrowasito, prompted intercultural revolutions in West Coast performance, practice, and university curriculums, including at UC Santa Cruz.
Register to attend in-person or virtual
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for guests attending in person
Lecture: 7 p.m.
Followed by a reception for in person guests
Free and open to the public
Parking is $11
Presented by the UC Santa Cruz Emeriti Association

Kathy Foley is distinguished research professor emerita at UC Santa Cruz. She is a member of honor for UNIMA-International, joining previous puppeteers such as Jim Henson. She has edited the Asian Theatre Journal, curated exhibits for the National Geographic Society, and performed at Indonesian National Wayang (puppetry) Festivals, the Asian Art Museum, and the Smithsonian. Her research has been supported by Fulbright, Yale Institute of Sacred Music, and Edward A. Dickson Emeriti awards. She is also a Punch and Judy professor.

FINS: Fisheries Insights Narratives and Stories seminar series featuring Dr. George Leonard
2026-04-15 10:30 - 12:00 | Ocean Health Building, McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Please join us for the second talk in the FINS: Fisheries Insights Narratives and Stories seminar series featuring Adjunct Professor Dr. George Leonard. His talk, “Lessons learned from my time at the science-policy interface” will discuss his 35 years of experience researching, communicating, and advocating for a vibrant and healthy ocean upon which all of us depend. He has been at the forefront of ocean science-policy interface at major nonprofits (Monterey Bay Aquarium and Ocean Conservancy), working on practical ocean solutions to some of the ocean’s greatest environmental challenges. He initiated, developed, and led a host of conservation programs during his time at Ocean Conservancy including offshore aquaculture, plastics pollution, ocean acidification, climate change, mesopelagic fisheries, and deep-sea mining. During his early career at Monterey Bay Aquarium, he developed the scientific foundation for the nascent sustainable seafood movement
FINS: Fisheries Insights Narratives and Stories Seminar Series
Dr. George Leonard, Adjunct Professor, Coastal Science and Policy UCSC
Title: Lessons learned from my time at the science-policy interface
When: Wednesday, April 15th from 10:30am-12pm
Where: Ocean Health Building Rm 118, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 and on Zoom
Agenda:

10:30 am – 11:00 am – Professional Networking Session (in person only – light snacks and refreshments provided)
11 am to 12 pm – presentation followed by Q & A
12 pm – 1pm – student lunch with the speaker in OHB courtyard → sign up here

Zoom Meeting Registration: https://ucsc.zoom.us/meeting/register/NwH0_qUbSeuIm3A76DY-Dg

CSE Colloquium - Algorithmic Problems in Discrete Choice by Ravi Kumar
2026-04-15 11:00 - 12:15 | Engineering 2, Engineering 2 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Presenter: Ravi Kumar, Google
Abstract:
In discrete choice, a user selects one option from a finite set of available alternatives, a process that is crucial for recommendation systems applications in e-commerce, social media, search engines, etc. A popular way to model discrete choice is through Random Utility Models (RUMs). RUMs assume that users assign values to options and choose the one with the highest value from among the available alternatives. RUMs have become increasingly important in the Web era; they offer an elegant mathematical framework for researchers to model user choices and predict user behavior based on (possibly limited) observations. While RUMs have been extensively studied in behavioral economics and social sciences, many basic algorithmic tasks remain poorly understood. In this talk, we will discuss various algorithmic and learning questions concerning RUMs.
Bio:
Ravi Kumar has been a research scientist at Google since 2012. Prior to this, he was at the IBM Almaden Research Center and at Yahoo! Research. His interests include algorithms for massive data, ML/privacy, and the theory of computation. He maintains an extensive publication record that includes Test-of-Time Awards from STOC and WWW, as well as Best Paper Awards from KDD and WWW, to mention a few. He is an ACM fellow.

Hosted by: Professor Sungjin Im

Date and Time: Wednesday, April 15, 2026 from 11:00 am – 12: 15 pm
Location: Engineering 2, Room E2-180 (Refreshments such as fruit, pastries, coffee, and tea will be provided.)

Zoom Option: https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/93445911992?pwd=[REDACTED]

The Emergence of Maritime Archaeology in the Republic of Benin: Research, Challenges, and Ongoing Initiatives
2026-04-15 12:00 - 13:00 | Social Sciences 1, Social Sciences 1, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Presentation Abstract: The Republic of Benin has a rich maritime history shaped by human interactions along its coast. However, these coastal areas remain understudied in terms of archaeological research. Over the past five years, research has explored the potential of both land and submerged archaeological sites to understand long-term occupation and material evidence of Atlantic-era exchanges. This presentation traces the development of maritime archaeology in Benin through ongoing research. Grounded in a Maritime Cultural Landscape framework, it combines terrestrial survey data, underwater investigations, oral traditions, and historical archives to reconstruct past human interactions along the coast.
About the Presenter: Affolabi Angelo Ayedoun is a PhD Student in the Department of Anthropology at UCSC. His research seeks to illuminate the precolonial history of coastal Benin by analyzing patterns of occupation and cultural interaction during the second millennium AD. It focuses on the Grand-Popo region, an area of early settlement and a key site of initial colonial contact in present-day Benin.

Ritual Drinking in the Ancient World
2026-04-15 17:00 - 19:30 | Stockwell Cellars, 1100 Fair Ave., Santa Cruz, CA, 95060
Wednesday, April 15, 5:00-7 p.m.
Stockwell Cellars
1100 Fair Avenue, Santa Cruz
Space is limited. Please let us know if you are able to attend via this registration link.
“Drink and make a happy day!” (New Kingdom Theben tomb)
“Wine gladdens the heart of man…” (Psalm 104:15)
At this ‘symposium’ event, three UCSC professors in Classical, Biblical, and Egyptian antiquity will tell stories about how various ancient cultures drank wine to commune with their gods, suspend the normal social rules, and prepare for the end of days.
Elaine Sullivan, “How to Get Drunk with a Goddess”
Martin Devecka, “Wine before Liquor”
Anne Kreps, “Drinking like the World is Going to End”
The Stockwell Cellars tasting room bar will be open for attendees to purchase individual wines-by-the-glass during the event. Come enjoy tasting local Santa Cruz wines while learning about the long history of drinking as a ritual event in the ancient Mediterranean world.
A Q&A will follow the short presentations.

Speakers & Bios:
Martin Devecka, Associate Professor, Ancient Studies & Literature
As a cultural historian, Devecka writes on topics in ancient literature and society that range from robots to ruins. He is currently finishing a book manuscript on animal citizenship in the Roman Empire.
Anne Kreps, Associate Professor, Ancient Studies & History
As a historian of the ancient Near East, Kreps studies heresies, Gnosticism, and the politics of sacred texts. Her current work examines the Dead Sea Scrolls within New Religious Movements in the United States.
Elaine Sullivan, Associate Professor, Ancient Studies & History
An Egyptogist, Sullivan’s field research has included excavation and survey at Karnak’s Mut Temple, the cemetery of Saqqara, and the Greco-Roman city of Karanis, all in Egypt. She is currently authoring a book on the sales of antiquities out of Egypt in the late 19th and early 20th century.
Image: Nebamun receiving wine

Kraw Lecture: At the Forefront of AI: Innovation and Discovery
2026-04-15 17:30 - 20:30 | The Quad Conference Center, 2400 Sand Hill Rd, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, United States
Artificial intelligence is transforming how we understand and solve the world’s most complex challenges—while at the same time causing new challenges and concerns. We invite you to join us for a special UC Santa Cruz Kraw Lecture showcasing the faculty whose groundbreaking research in artificial intelligence is transforming science, technology, and society. From advances in autonomous systems and natural language processing to the development of sustainable and responsible AI, this conversation will highlight the innovative work taking place across disciplines and the real-world impact it is poised to have.
Moderated by special guest Ahmad Thomas, CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group (SVLG), this dynamic discussion will bring together leading researchers to explore how these technologies are shaping the future—accelerating discovery, addressing complex global challenges, and opening new frontiers for collaboration. Gain insight into the ideas, discoveries, and collaborations shaping the next generation of artificial intelligence research and hear from the leaders advancing this work.

In-Person Reception: 5:30 p.m.
Lecture: 6:15 p.m.

Register Now

Astrophysics: The Largest Unknowns and the Biggest Challenges
2026-04-15 19:00 - 20:30 | Rio Theater, 1205 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz, 95062, United States
UCSC Professor Alexie Leauthaud will discuss her groundbreaking work understanding the past and future of our universe.
In this exciting public lecture, Professor Alexie Leauthaud will discuss some of the largest challenges and unknowns in Astrophysics. She will present the latest results on the nature of our universe, including groundbreaking and prize-winning new results on the nature of dark energy. Leauthaud will discuss our current understanding of the basic ingredients of our Universe and will explain why recent results from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument Collaboration (DESI) collaboration made international headline news earlier this year.
She will speculate on what this might mean for the future of our Universe. Professor Leauthaud will discuss other top challenges facing the profession, including political headwinds, recent attacks on science and funding, and will also explain why astronomers are increasingly becoming involved in the fight against climate change. She will discuss her own journey in recognizing the predicament of life on this blue planet will conclude with a big picture view of the challenges that lie ahead.
The Mandel Lecture is free and open to the public. Arrive early, seating is limited. Register at this link to reserve your seat; registration will be also available at the door.
This public talk is presented by the UCSC Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics and UC Observatories, and presented as part of the Mandel Lecture series, which promotes public awareness of and appreciate for astronomy. We seek your help and support in keeping these lecture going. For more information on giving, please visit https://astronomy.ucsc.edu/give/.
For more information or for disability-related needs, please email ccarreir@ucsc.edu.

Mirchandani, C. (BMEB) - Population and Evolutionary Genomics Across Ecological Scales
2026-04-16 11:00 - 13:00 | Engineering 2, Engineering 2 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Sequencing technologies have transformed population and evolutionary genetics, making it possible to ask questions at scales that were intractable a decade ago. Realizing that potential depends on tailored computational approaches, and on the tools and infrastructure those approaches are built on. My dissertation works across this spectrum. Using an in vitro Drosophila cell culture system, I show that mixed Wolbachia infections resolve rapidly and deterministically, with one strain competitively excluding the other across host species and starting frequencies, offering an explanation for why mixed infections are rarely observed in nature. In a deep-sea clam and its obligate bacterial symbiont, I use two ultra-accurate sequencing methods and demographic modeling to directly estimate the effective transmission bottleneck between host generations, finding it to be roughly eight symbionts, orders of magnitude below prior cell-count estimates. I also present two tools for population genomics at scale: snpArcher, a reproducible variant calling workflow developed for the California Conservation Genomics Project and now used across hundreds of species and tens of thousands of samples; and clam, a Rust-based tool that efficiently estimates population genetic statistics by leveraging callable loci, producing results identical to existing all-sites approaches at a fraction of the computational cost. Together, these projects demonstrate how tailored computational approaches can unlock biological insight across diverse systems and scales.
Event Host: Cade Mirchandani, Ph.D. Candidate, Biomolecular Engineering & Bioinformatics
Advisors: Russ Corbett-Detig & Shelbi Russell
Zoom- https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/98034081971?pwd=[REDACTED]

Find Your Path! 2026
2026-04-16 12:00 - 14:00, 2026-04-17 12:00 - 16:30 | Digital Arts Research Center, 407 McHenry Rd, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
“Find Your Path!” is a two-day professional development event for UC Santa Cruz Arts Division students who are interested in careers in arts and entertainment. Students are invited to network with UC Santa Cruz colleagues, alumni, and creative professionals to find their path to success. Learn more about the speakers here.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Day One
Thurs. April 16, noon–2:00 p.m, UCSC Digital Arts Research Center (DARC) 108 and online (hybrid event)
– Keynote address: Sarah Sanford, UC Santa Cruz Teaching Professor, On Building Careers in Arts Education
– UCSC Career Success presentation: developing a stand-out resume, cover letter, portfolio, and more
– Light refreshments served
Day Two
Fri. April 17, noon–4:30 p.m, UCSC Digital Arts Research Center (DARC) 108 and online (hybrid event)
– Lunch and introduction begin at noon.
– Career panel discussions with creative industry professionals
– Join any or all four panel sessions:
1. Working in the Entertainment Industry: 12:10 PM- 1:05 PM
2. Careers in Museums and Performance Spaces: 1:10 PM-2:05 PM
3. Careers in Games, Design, and Digital Media: 2:20 PM-3:15 PM
4. Arts, Organizing, and Social Impact: 3:20 PM- 4:15 PM
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ADMISSION
– UC Santa Cruz Arts Division students only
– Register here to attend in person or online (hybrid event)
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PARKING
– Parking by permit or ParkMobile
– Arts Lot #126 is the closest parking lot to the event
– Visitors with DMV placards or plates may park for free in DMV spaces, Medical spaces, or ParkMobile spaces without additional payment, or in timed zones for longer than the posted time.
– More information provided by UCSC Transportation & Parking Services (TAPS)

OLLI at UCSC Sunday Speaker Meeting
2026-04-19 10:00 - 12:00 | Colleges Nine and John R. Lewis College Multi-purpose Room, 615 College Nine Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
OLLI Hosts Natalie Batalha, UC Santa Cruz Professor, Astronomy
and Astrophysics
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at UC Santa Cruz invites the public to an in-person presentation from 10:00 to noon on Sunday, April 19th, in the Colleges Nine/Lewis Multipurpose Room at UCSC.
Join us for a social hour and a presentation titled, Are We Alone? Thirty Years of Exoplanet Discovery.
Named among the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2017 and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Batalha is an eminent planetary astronomer. She served many leadership roles for NASA’s Kepler mission, when she identified planets potentially able to sustain life and led the analysis that confirmed the first rocky planet outside our solar system.
OLLI at UCSC is a community of adults from diverse educational, occupational, and geographic backgrounds who are devoted to the pursuit of learning. This event is free and open to the public. Bring a friend. Coffee and nibbles will be served.
For directions and free parking information, visit: https://olli.ucsc.edu/monthly-gatherings/location-directions-and-parking/
Free and open to the public

Presented by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at UC Santa Cruz.

AM Seminar: Variational Inference and Density Estimation with Non-Negative Tensor Train
2026-04-20 16:00 - 17:00 | CA
Presenter: Dr. Xun Tang, Stanford University
Description: This talk covers an efficient numerical approach for compressing a high-dimensional discrete distribution function into a non-negative tensor train (NTT) format. The two settings we consider are variational inference and density estimation, whereby one has access to either the unnormalized analytic formula of the distribution or the samples generated from the distribution. In particular, the compression is done through a two-stage approach. In the first stage, we use existing subroutines to encode the distribution function in a tensor train format. In the second stage, we use an NTT ansatz to fit the obtained tensor train. For the NTT fitting procedure, we use a log barrier term to ensure the positivity of each tensor component, and then utilize a second-order alternating minimization scheme to accelerate convergence. In practice, we observe that the proposed NTT fitting procedure exhibits drastically faster convergence than an alternative multiplicative update method that has been previously proposed. Through challenging numerical experiments, we show that our approach can accurately compress target distribution functions.
Bio: Xun Tang is a postdoc in Stanford University, department of mathematics, hosted by Prof. Lexing Ying. Xun works on tensor network methods for scientific computing and data science, and Xun also works on optimal transport algorithms. Xun will join HKUST department of mathematics in August 2026 as an incoming assistant professor.
Hosted by: Applied Mathematics Department
