The Dickens Universe featuring 'Bleak House'
2026-07-26 01:00 - 2026-07-27 00:59, 2026-07-27 01:00 - 2026-07-28 00:59, 2026-07-28 01:00 - 2026-07-29 00:59, 2026-07-29 01:00 - 2026-07-30 00:59, 2026-07-30 01:00 - 2026-07-31 00:59, 2026-07-31 01:00 - 2026-08-01 00:59, 2026-08-01 01:00 - 2026-08-02 00:59 (America/Los_Angeles) | Humanities and Social Sciences Facility, 2 Hagar Drive, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
The Dickens Universe is a unique cultural event that brings together scholars, teachers, students, and members of the general public for a week of stimulating discussion and festive social activity on the beautiful Santa Cruz campus of the University of California—all focused on one or two Victorian novels, usually (but not always) one by Charles Dickens. In 2026, the Dickens Universe will feature Bleak House by Charles Dickens.
Dickens’s ninth novel, published between 1852-1853, shines a light on social injustice and the devastating effects of a corrupt legal system, following the entangled lives of those caught in the never-ending Jarndyce and Jarndyce case. Told in alternating narrative voices, this rich literary experiment plays with a variety of genres from detective fiction and social realism to melodrama and satire. As characters move from city to suburb, from mansions to slums, we discover unexpected connections among classes, plots, and characters.
Now in its 46th year of operation, the Dickens Universe combines features of a scholarly conference, a festival, a book club, and a summer camp. Participants include people of all ages and walks of life—distinguished scholars, graduate students, undergraduates, retirees, young professionals, high school teachers, and anyone who loves reading and enjoys long Victorian novels.
Here are some things that make the Universe such a special experience.

The college lifestyle: participants live on campus, eat together in the student dining hall, and have time to meet and come to know each other in different ways.
Everyone is reading the same book. We all have this one important thing in common.
The activities include formal lectures, small discussion groups, films, daily Victorian teas, performances, and Victorian dancing.

The Universe offers a week of total immersion in the world of Victorian fiction with friendly, like-minded colleagues in a beautiful setting. Whether we’re returning to a Dickens novel that everyone knows and loves, or branching out into a Victorian novel by another author who might be less familiar, during the Universe we build a community out of our passion for reading, talking with one another, and bringing Victorian culture to life.

View the complete schedule
Registration options
Plenary Lecturers and Guest Scholars

Engineering Teaching Community (Faculty)
2026-08-05 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-08-19 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-09-02 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-09-16 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-09-30 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-10-14 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-10-28 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-11-11 12:00 - 13:00 and 1 more date | Jack Baskin Engineering, Baskin Engineering 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
During the chaos of a quarter, is it hard to find time to reflect and improve as an instructor? Would you like to be a part of an inclusive, supportive group of engineering instructors who do this in community? ETC is for sharing teaching experiences, classroom ideas, research on learning, and methods that support instructors and students. All are welcome, and lunch is provided. Please reach out to Jenny Quynn with questions.

Social Justice in Climate Finance Symposium
2026-12-04 01:00 - 2026-12-05 00:59
December 4, 2026 at UC Santa Cruz
The Social Justice in Climate Finance Symposium brings together global communities within and beyond academia to envision how to mobilize climate financing for the benefit of frontline communities. To meet our collective climate challenges, we must reimagine how billions of dollars are invested into building resilient societies. We welcome climate and environmental justice leaders across sectors to propose their priorities and approaches for inclusive climate investments from public, private, and individual sources. The goal of the symposium is to identify pathways for adaptation and mitigation funding to protect and empower those experiencing the most acute climate impacts by aligning investment strategies with academic approaches and governmental policies, while centering community voices.
The in-person, one-day symposium at UC Santa Cruz will include two keynote addresses from Dave Jones, former California Insurance Commissioner and a community leader to be identified through the nomination detailed process below (TBC). We will also feature presenters, including local and global leaders from CBOs, Environmental Justice (EJ) and Climate Justice (CJ) practitioners, policymakers, and academics.
We are currently accepting:

Nominations for keynote community speaker
Call for presenters

Visit our website to learn more
Sponsored by University of California Santa Cruz: Center for Analytical Finance (CAFIN), Institute for Social Transformation, Center for Coastal Climate Resilience, and Center for Reimagining Leadership.
