Events

College Night: Over the Merrill Hill
2025-10-28 17:00 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Cowell/Stevenson Dining Hall, 520 Cowell-Stevenson Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, United States
Merrill College, in collaboration with UCSC Dining, present Over the Merrill Hill! Join us Tuesday, October 28, from 5–8 p.m. at the Crown/Merrill Dining Hall for a night of activities, fun, community, and a special themed menu. Standard dining hall entry pricing applies, and all students, faculty, and staff are invited.
Please note: The dining hall will be closed from 2–5 p.m. for event preparation.
Learn more about College Nights at dining.ucsc.edu/events.
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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.How to Use the Statement Across Communication Channels

Mark Primack: The Truth in Drawing
2025-10-28 17:20 - 18:55 | Media Theater, Experimental Theater, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Join ART 10D: 2D Foundations for a Lecture by Mark Primack where he will present “Truth in Drawing,” a talk on his recent drawing practice and experiences. Mark Primack (b.1951) is a Situationist who at times engages in drawing, writing, designing, building, critiquing and politicking. He holds degrees from the Rhode Island School of Design and the Architectural Association of London. He resides in Santa Cruz, California, where he has maintained an architectural practice for forty years while serving on various commission and the City Council. In 1978 he was awarded a special projects grant from the California Arts Council to document the World Famous Tree Circus, but has supported his own work ever since. He lives, works, draws and gardens in spaces of his own design, which he shares with landscape architect and artist Janet Pollock.
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ADMISSION
– FREE and open to the public
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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 members of the public consistent with state and federal law.

Yoga as Healing Series
2025-10-28 17:30 - 19:15 | Health Center (Student Health Center), 525 McLaughlin Drive, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Yoga as Healing is an offering for students at UC Santa Cruz who identify as survivors of interpersonal violence. Together, we will practice gentle body movement, breathwork, meditation, and more—all from a trauma-informed lens.
This 7-week program is limited to 8–10 participants in each cohort and is intended to provide a safe and predictable environment for survivors to build community.
At the beginning of each session, participants will have time to share their progress and personal experiences with the class. This will be followed by asana practice (physical postures), and the class will close with journaling, art, and reflection.
CARE will provide yoga mats, blocks, and a blanket for each participant. You are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing and bring a water bottle for hydration.
Participants are welcome to join Yoga as Healing for any of the sessions; attendance at the orientation is not required. The sessions run from October 7 through November 25, with no session on November 11.
This event is open to all UC Santa Cruz students. Fill out an interest form to sign up.

Drop-In Figure Drawing
2025-10-28 19:00 - 21:00 | Elena Baskin Visual Arts Center, Baskin Service Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Drop-In Draw provides a live model and room monitor. There is no formal lesson and only dry media is allowed (no paints).
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ADVISORIES
– These events contain mature content and nudity.
– Drop-In Draw is subject to the possibility of last-minute cancellation without notification, and sessions are not guaranteed.
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ADMISSION
– FREE and open to the public
– UCSC Art Department Room L-101
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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
This series occurs weekly on Tuesday evenings during fall quarter, including the following:
– Tue., Sep. 30, 7:00–9:00 p.m.
– Tue., Oct. 7, 7:00–9:00 p.m.
– Tue., Oct. 14, 7:00–9:00 p.m.
– Tue., Oct. 21, 7:00–9:00 p.m.
– Tue., Oct. 28, 7:00–9:00 p.m.
– Tue., Nov. 4, 7:00–9:00 p.m.
– Tue., Nov. 18, 7:00–9:00 p.m.
– Tue., Nov. 25, 7:00–9:00 p.m.
Additional dates to be announced for winter and spring quarter.
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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 members of the public consistent with state and federal law.

Emeriti Faculty Lecture, Fall 2025
2025-10-28 19:00 - 21:00 | Music Center Recital Hall, 400 McHenry Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Kicking the Prow: Reflections on a Life in Conversation with Past and Present People and Other Creatures
In this lecture, Distinguished Research Professor Diane Gifford-Gonzalez reflects on fifty-five years of zooarchaeology work, studying animal remains from archaeological sites to explore how past people and their kin interacted. While varying in geographical and theoretical foci, a common thread runs through what she believes are her most influential contributions to archaeology. Starting with a true story, Professor Gifford-Gonzalez will outline how these have “kicked the prow” of wider conversations in archaeology and share a few of her creative works.
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

Presented by the UC Santa Cruz Emeriti Association

Global Learning Opportunities Fair
2025-10-29 10:00 - 14:00 | Quarry Plaza, Student Union, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Join us in an encouraging space to chat with Global Learning advisors, UCSC peer advisors, and other study abroad providers! Learn about the many global learning opportunities and funding resources available to help you study, explore, and engage with cultures in the U.S. and abroad.
Sign up to receive reminders about the event!

2025 Graduate & Professional School Fair (DAY 2)
2025-10-29 11:00 - 14:00 | Stevenson Event Center, Stevenson Service Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
You’re invited to join us, open to all majors!
Undergraduate and graduate students and recent alumni interested in pursuing continuing education opportunities are invited to attend. Get the chance to meet admission representatives seeking to share insight into their respective graduate and professional school programs and discuss ways in which to stand out in the application process.
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.
You will receive registration and additional information to your email from Career Success via Handshake. Please make sure to check your junk/spam folder if you are not receiving any communication.
Questions? Send to csuccess@ucsc.edu or visit Career Success at Hahn 125 East Entrance
Need accessibility support? Let us know at slugtalent@ucsc.edu at least two weeks prior to the fair date.

Healthy Relationships Workshop Series
2025-10-29 11:30 - 13:00 | CA
In honor of Relationship, Dating, and Domestic Violence Awareness/Action Month (RDDVAM), join CARE for a workshop series all about relationships and boundaries. We’ll practice identifying aspects of healthy and unhealthy relationships and talk about the importance of setting boundaries with ourselves and in our relationships. Snacks and refreshments provided!
Workshop 1 | Green, Yellow, Red: Wednesday, October 15th from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Kerr Hall, Room 160
Workshop 2 | Boundaries & Beyond!: Wednesday, October 29th from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m at Kerr Hall, Room 160
All UCSC students are welcome! You can attend either or both workshops – attendance at one is not required for attendance in the other. For any questions, accessibility needs, or accommodations, please email care_pec@ucsc.edu.
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. Nondiscrimination Policy for UC Publications

Engineering Teaching Community (Faculty)
2025-10-29 12:00 - 13:00 | 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.

Road Trip! Light in the American West, from Baja to the Yukon
2025-10-29 12:00 - 17:00, 2025-10-30 12:00 - 17:00, 2025-10-31 12:00 - 17:00 | Eloise Pickard Smith Gallery, 11 Cowell Service Rd, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
The photographs in this exhibition, made between 2004 and 2025, span across the American West from the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico to The Yukon territory in Canada. Paul Schoellhamer’s (Cowell ‘69) color photographs invite us to travel with him and reflect on our relationship to land, the light that shapes it, and the freedom – contested but essential – to move across it.
The exhibition draws on voices across time and perspective that frame the American landscape as more than a stage for beauty and awe. For Chief Satanta of the Kiowa Nation, to roam the land freely was life itself. For N. Scott Momaday, land must be “believed to be seen.” For Eliot Porter, light and reflection imparted magic to Glen Canyon’s waters. For Wallace Stegner, saving natural places meant saving fragments of our collective sanity. For Brook M. Thompson, the Klamath River is recognized with personhood. Alongside these perspectives, Paul’s images press us to see public land not as scenery to extract or aestheticize, but as sustenance and history. Land is alive and contested. To see closely is not to linger on a romanticized vision of the American landscape, but to reckon with responsibility: how we safeguard access, how we imagine “wildness,” and how we hold space for futures beyond our own. For Paul, this exhibition is a call for students to encounter land and light firsthand and let those encounters be their teachers.
Opening Reception
October 4, 2025
1-4pm
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Join us every Friday for Art Fridays.
No experience necessary. Supplies and snacks provided.

Sep 26 Snail Mail/Postcards
Oct 3 Souvenir Keychains
Oct 10 Stamp Magnets
Oct 17 Cyanotype Totebags/Pouches/Pencil cases
Oct 24 Candy Around The World Linocuts
Oct 31 Abstract Felt Collages
Nov 7 Phone Photos/Buttons
Nov 14 Travel Related Patches With Upcycled Materials
Nov 21 Thanksgiving Break! No Art Friday
Nov 28 Unexpected Landscape Surrealist Collage

Please note that the date and the project is subject to change.

In-person Info Session – Japan Research Fellowships (JSPS)
2025-10-29 13:30 - 14:30 | Engineering 2, Engineering 2 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Are you interested in funding for research, collaboration, and travel opportunities in Japan? Representatives from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) will be on campus for an in-person info session:

When: Wednesday, October 29, 2025 | 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Where: Engineering Building 2, Room 180 (E2-180)
Light refreshments provided.

Please RSVP here
Who should attend?
Faculty, researchers/postdocs, students in ALL disciplines. This information session is particularly relevant for:

Faculty fellowships at junior, mid, and senior levels (short and long term)
Postdocs (summer, short, and long-term fellowships)
Pre-PhD students (summer and short-term fellowships)

Learn more about JSPS here. Questions? Email gsabo@ucsc.edu.

Academic Senate Forum: Systemwide UCAD Work Group Interim Report
2025-10-29 14:30 - 17:00 | https://www.google.com/url?q=https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/92116175167?pwd%3D8GzPi58g1dddt2aebnPpNEaWQDAwUF.1&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1761590334348990&usg=AOvVaw0IE4jxtMvpYKIH0XD9WgWm
Senate faculty forum for discussion of the UCAD Interim Report (July, 2025) to understand the implications of the systemwide planning framework, UCAD part 2, and plan for divisional and individual feedback via the provided form.

Creative Interventions (CI) Series
2025-10-29 16:00 - 17:35 | CA
Creative Interventions (CI) is a community colloquium in contemporary creativity and creative practices that addresses the interconnected work of artists, designers, activists, and knowledge workers—and the intrinsic and transformative capacity of that work to cultivate a just society.
The CI Speaker Series raises questions of import to contemporary creative workers in media and technology:
– How do creative workers address their most challenging problems?
– How does creative labor intersect with other forms of labor to nurture the world views and cultural practices of our democracy?
The Creative Interventions (CI) Series is co-sponsored by the Arts Division’s Creative Technologies program and Porter College at UC Santa Cruz.
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ADMISSION
– Free and open to UCSC affiliates.
– All events in the series are presented online with registration required.
– Refer to the individual event listings for more information and a link to register.
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FULL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
– Wed., Oct 15, 4:00 p.m.: “Expensive-Sounding Sounds” with Catherine Provenzano
– Wed., Oct 29, 4:00 p.m.: “Asymptote: Computation, Disillusion, and Enchantment” with Nora Khan
– Additional event dates to be announced on the Creative Interventions events page here
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This program is open to all UC Santa Cruz affiliates consistent with state and federal law.

Creative Interventions: "Asymptote" with Nora Khan
2025-10-29 16:00 - 17:35 | CA
Nora Khan explores our personal relationships with computational systems through moments spanning from childhood gaming experiences to contemporary AI. The central metaphor of the “asymptote”—a curve endlessly approaching but never reaching a line—describes both humanity’s pursuit of technological mastery, and the incomputable aspects of experience that resist capture by algorithms and surveillance. Through encounters with drones, machine learning systems, and glitched game worlds, this talk argues for maintaining space for the mystical, ineffable, and offscreen in an era of relentless quantification and prediction. The talk ultimately calls for preserving doubt, acknowledging what cannot be computed, and remembering the personal “why” that precedes professional identity in navigating our algorithmic present.
This event is presented as part of the Creative Interventions (CI) Series and is co-sponsored by the Arts Division’s Creative Technologies program and Porter College at UC Santa Cruz.
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ADMISSION
– Free and open to UCSC affiliates.
– This is an online event.
– Registration is required here.
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FULL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
– Event dates to be announced throughout the 2025-26 academic year.
– Learn more about the Creative Intervention Series here.
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ABOUT THE SERIES
Creative Interventions addresses the interconnected work of artists, designers, activists, and knowledge workers—and the intrinsic and transformative capacity of that work to cultivate a just society. More information about the Creative Technologies program.
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This program is open to all UC Santa Cruz affiliates consistent with state and federal law.

Pokémon Makers Market
2025-10-29 16:00 - 19:00 | Porter College Quad
Catch the Pokémon Makers’ Market at Porter Quad! Shop student vendors, enjoy performances, join a cosplay contest, trade Pokémon cards, and compete in tournaments. Celebrate creativity and community with food, activities, and prizes.
Presented by: UCSC Women’s Center, Cantu Queer Center, and Jack Baskin Engineering
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.

Humanities Grad School 101
2025-10-29 17:00 - 18:30 | https://events.ucsc.edu/event/humanities-grad-school-101/
Are you curious about graduate school in the humanities? Join this Humanities Grad School 101 session, where we’ll hear from Associate Dean of Research Pranav Anand and stellar UCSC graduate students in History, Linguistics, Literature, and Philosophy. We’ll discuss important considerations for deciding to pursue graduate school and what to look for in an academic program and advisor. You’ll leave knowing how to decide whether grad school is right for you and what you can do now to prepare.
This is a hybrid event and will be hosted both in-person in Humanities 1, Room 210 and on Zoom. Dinner will be provided for those joining in person.
Register on Handshake here

Queer Emergent: Scandalous Stories from Twilight of AIDS in Peru: Book Celebration and Conversation with Professor Justin Perez
2025-10-29 17:30 - 19:00 | Charles E. Merrill Lounge, Rutherford House, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Join us as Huerta Center Faculty Awardee Professor Justin Perez (Latin America and Latino Studies Department) presents his new book, Queer Emergent: Scandalous Stories from Twilight of AIDS in Peru. In Queer Emergent, Justin Perez explores how advances in HIV prevention work alongside broader economic and political shifts in global health to shape queer subjectivities. Drawing on ethnographic research among gay and transgender communities in urban Amazonian Peru, Perez describes how queer social worlds emerge through scandalous storytelling—a practice of exaggerating and embellishing stories about everyday life that transgresses social norms and hierarchies. Perez shows that through such storytelling, gay and transgender communities contested the assumptions of global HIV prevention’s shift from the provision of costly antiretrovirals to the mitigation of social conditions like discrimination and stigma. He argues that the global ambition to “End AIDS” by 2030 is not just a technical project oriented at ending the epidemic, but also a project of sexual subjectification and ongoing social transformation. By taking seriously the scandalous stories that gay and transgender Peruvians circulated as they responded to new forms of HIV prevention, Perez reveals how they imagine possibilities of what could be as the effort to end AIDS continues to play out in the present.
There will be a short reception following the discussion. We look forward to seeing you there!

ABC Movie Night
2025-10-29 20:30 - 22:30 | Porter/Kresge Dining Hall, 411 Porter-Kresge Rd, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Spend your Wednesday night at ABC Movie Night enjoying the film Sinners by Black filmmaker Ryan Coogler
Wednesday, October 29 at 8:30 p.m.
Porter/Kresge Dining Hall
Free popcorn, refreshments, and prizes from Black-owned businesses!
Come hang out, celebrate Black filmmaking, creativity, and enjoy spooky season with us.
For accommodations email netaylor@ucsc.edu
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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.

2025 USPA Postdoc Symposium
2025-10-30 09:30 | CA
The UC Santa Cruz Postdocs Association (USPA) is excited to announce the 8th Annual UCSC Postdoc Symposium, happening Thursday, October 30, 2025, at the Cultural Center at Merrill College. (See attached flyer for details)

We invite department chairs, administrative staff, and faculty to please help us spread the word – share widely within your groups so no one misses this opportunity!

What to Expect

Engaging talks by UCSC postdocs across diverse disciplines
Inspiring keynote lectures by Dr. Tracy L. Bale and Dr. Sandra Faber
Evening poster session & social hour (with poster prizes!)
Outstanding Postdoc Award ceremony
Outstanding Postdoc Mentor Award

Registration & Abstract Submission

Registration is OPEN for postdocs, graduate students, faculty, and staff.
Abstracts for posters and talks are highly encouraged from postdocs and graduate students
Deadline for abstract submission: October 10, 2025 (as part of registration)

Bridging Practices: Deepening Collaboration in Community-engaged Research and IRB Process
2025-10-30 11:00 - 13:00 | Namaste Lounge, 615 College Nine Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Building on last April’s Bridging Perspectives: Navigating Community-Engaged Research and IRB Requirements, this Building Practices colloquium event continues the conversation between researchers, administrators, and the IRB with a focus on answering the pressing questions raised by our community. Together, we will explore:

Involving undergraduates in community-engaged research
Navigating IRB requirements in ways that respect cultural, social, and political environments
Minimizing harm and risk when conducting research with vulnerable populations and community organizations
Ethical quandaries in community-engaged research that the IRB does not cover

Through dialogue and collective problem-solving, this session seeks to move beyond identifying barriers toward developing clearer practices, stronger collaborations, and more practical strategies between researchers and the IRB for supporting ethical community-engaged research.
Roundtable Moderators

Regina Day Langhout, Professor of Psychology
Sana Khoury-Shakour, Director of the Office of Research Compliance Administration
Jessica Taft, Professor of LALS and Director of the Dolores Huerta Research Center for the Americas
Lora Bartlett, Associate Professor of Education and Department Chair
Saskias Casanova, Associate Professor of Psychology
Margarita Azmitia, Distinguished Professor of Psychology and IRB Chair
Heather Bullock, Director of the Center for Economic Justice and Action and Professor of Psychology
Ned LeBlond, Managing Director for the Institute of Social Transformation and Campus + Community
Rebecca London, Professor of Sociology and Faculty Director of Campus + Community

RSVP

This is a B.Y.O. lunch time colloquium event. Event sponsors will provide drinks and snacks.
For more information, please visit the event website.
Sponsors: Campus + Community and the Office of Research

BME 280B Seminar: Preconfigured neuronal firing sequences in human brain organoids
2025-10-30 11:40 - 13:15 | Physical Sciences Building, Physical Sciences Building, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Presenter: Tjitse (TJ) van der Molen, Ph.D. (Postdoc, Sharf Lab, UC Santa Cruz and PhD Kosik Lab, UC Santa Barbara)
Description: Neuronal firing sequences are thought to be the building blocks of information and broadcasting within the brain. Yet, it remains unclear when these sequences emerge during neurodevelopment. Here we demonstrate that structured firing sequences appear in spontaneous activity of human and murine brain organoids, both unguided and forebrain identity directed, as well as ex vivo neonatal murine cortical slices. We observed temporally rigid and flexible firing patterns in human and murine brain organoids and early postnatal murine somatosensory cortex, but not in dissociated primary cortical cultures. These results suggest that temporal sequences do not arise in an experience-dependent manner, but are rather constrained by a preconfigured architecture established during neurodevelopment. By demonstrating the developmental recapitulation of neural firing patterns, these findings highlight the potential of brain organoids as a model for neuronal circuit assembly.
Bio: Tjitse van der Molen studies spontaneous and evoked neural circuit activity in human and mouse stem cell derived brain organoids using dense multi electrode arrays. His main goal is to gain a better understanding of how healthy neural circuits process information and how possible malfunctions in neural circuit activity may result in disease, in order to develop appropriate treatments. Tjitse recently completed his PhD in the Kosik lab at UC Santa Barbara and is now continuing his research as a postdoc in the Sharf lab at UC Santa Cruz.
In this talk, Tjitse will present his latest manuscript that is currently in press with Nature Neuroscience, focused on spontaneously occurring repeated sequential firing patterns that are present in the intrinsic activity of both brain organoids and neonatal mouse brain slices but not in 2D primary cultures. Similar sequential firing patterns have recently been shown to be important for information encoding and learning in the human cortex. The presence of these sequential firing patterns in the spontaneous activity of brain organoids that have never received external stimuli supports the notion that they develop in an experience-independent manner.
Hosted by: Professor Josh Stuart, BME Department
Zoom Link: https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/99970819390?pwd=[REDACTED]
Full Schedule: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xD09vITwd_Pj9Ge6hHEuBFa5zBUYu2O-bjpSibt7VHE/edit?tab=t.0
Room: PSB-240

When Human-Centered AI Encountered Digital Humanities: A Dialogue between Magy Seif El-Nasr and Minghui Hu
2025-10-30 12:00 - 13:30 | CA
What happens when the ethical and interpretive frameworks of the humanities meet the algorithmic and interactive architectures of artificial intelligence? This dialogue brings together two leading voices from distinct yet converging fields: Magy Seif El-Nasr, a pioneer in human-centered AI, game analytics, and interactive narrative design, and Minghui Hu, a historian and digital humanist, explores the cultural, religious, and intellectual history of China through computational and interpretive lenses.
Together, they will explore shared concerns—from narrative design and agency to ethical modeling and epistemological boundaries—charting new possibilities at the intersection of technology and the humanities. This conversation is not only a meeting of disciplines, but a reimagining of the collaborative future of AI and humanistic inquiry.
This event is sponsored by the Leading the Change Collaboration Series at UC Santa Cruz.

Applied Microeconomics and Trade Seminar Series presents: Shanjun Li
2025-10-30 13:40 - 15:00 | Engineering 2, Engineering 2 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Applied Microeconomics and Trade Seminar
Date: Thursday, October 30th, 2025
Time: 1:40-3:00 p.m.
Location: E2-499

Speaker: Shanjun Li
Personal Webpage
Title: Steven and Roberta Denning Professor of Global Sustainability
Affiliation: Stanford University
Host: Peter Christensen

Seminar title: Range Anxiety

ABSTRACT: Range anxiety, the fear of depleting battery before reaching a charging station, is often cited as a major barrier to electric vehicle (EV) adoption, yet there has been limited formal economic analysis to quantify its importance and understand the policy implications. We develop a continuous-time dynamic model of EV usage and charging decisions to quantify range anxiety as the utility loss from feasible yet unrealized trips due to perceived range constraints. Using high-frequency data of 188,000 EV trips and 30,000 charging events among 8,000 EVs in Shanghai, we recover model parameters governing consumer driving and charging decisions. The estimates imply that, across EV models with varying driving ranges, average range anxiety was about $1,900 in 2021 but declined to $1,200 in 2024, driven by improvements in charging infrastructure and, especially, in creases in driving range. Policy simulations underscore the importance of coordinating investments in battery capacity and charging infrastructure to address range anxiety: relative to socially optimal levels, Shanghai’s EV market has under-invested in driving range while over-investing in charging infrastructure.

Human Acceptance of Autonomous Systems
2025-10-30 14:00 - 15:00 | Engineering 2, Engineering 2 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Speaker: Sina Nordhoff, Postdoctoral Researcher, Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Davis.
Title: Human Acceptance of Autonomous Systems.
Time: Thursday, Oct 30th, 2025, 2:00-3:00 pm.
Location: E2-506 or Zoom.
Abstract: This seminar explores how society engages with autonomous transportation systems, focusing on automated vehicles and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). Dr. Sina Nordhoff will present research on human acceptance, trust, and safety, emphasizing that public confidence and social readiness are essential alongside technological progress. Drawing on theoretical models, real-world applications, and extensive empirical data, including over 220 interviews and 40,000 surveys, Dr. Nordhoff will identify key factors shaping acceptance, such as socio-demographics, personality traits, perceived risks and benefits, and the effects of misuse or miscalibrated trust. The seminar will highlight how ethical considerations, societal norms, and regulatory frameworks influence deployment. Attendees will gain insight into how this work can guide policymakers, industry, and communities in ensuring responsible, equitable, and safe implementation. Dr. Nordhoff will also briefly discuss future research directions.
Speaker Bio: Dr. Sina Nordhoff is a leading expert in the field of human factors and user acceptance of new and emerging transportation technologies. She holds a Ph.D. from Delft University of Technology and is affiliated with the University of California, Davis. Dr. Nordhoff specializes in electric vehicles and automated vehicles (AVs), focusing on how to responsibly integrate these innovations into society. Her research spans theoretical models, empirical studies, and real-world applications, involving over 220 interviews and 40,000 analyzed surveys. She has developed innovative frameworks to understand human acceptance, trust, and safety, addressing critical issues such as misuse, trust miscalibration, and cyber-physical attacks. Dr. Nordhoff’s research is published in top-tier journals and has garnered significant attention from policymakers and industry leaders. Her work aims to inform the design, deployment, and regulation of these technologies to ensure they are safe, equitable, and socially beneficial. Dr. Nordhoff’s current research agenda includes pioneering efforts in interdisciplinary theory development, safety assessment, and understanding cognitive measurements. Her overarching goal is to bridge the gap between technological advancements and societal well-being, creating a future where transportation benefits all members of society.

An Evening with Alice Waters
2025-10-30 19:00 - 20:00 | Rio Theater, 1205 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz, 95062, United States
Bookshop Santa Cruz and The Humanities Institute at UC Santa Cruz are delighted to welcome award-winning chef and food activist Alice Waters for a discussion about A School Lunch Revolution, “A blueprint for the ways in which we should feed our kids organic foods, both at home and at school.” (Epicurious)
In this wonderful, multigenerational cookbook for adults and children alike, Waters champions an empowered relationship between students and organic food, offering delicious recipes that will nourish future generations—and ourselves—from the inside out.

All tickets include a donation to the Edible Schoolyard Project and Life Lab.
Alice Waters is a chef and the founder/owner of Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California. She has won numerous awards, including the National Humanities Medal, the French Legion of Honor Medal, the Cavaliere of the Italian Republic, the Julia Child Award, and three James Beard Awards. As vice president of Slow Food International and founder of the Edible Schoolyard Project, she has helped bring food awareness to people of all ages all over the world.
More information at Bookshop Santa Cruz – An Evening with Alice Waters

Fright Night 2025
2025-10-30 19:00 - 23:00 | Oakes Learning Center
Head to the Oakes Learning Center for games, costume contests, and the chilling Fright Walk—plus meet campus resource centers along the way!
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.

Barnstorm presents: At the Hands of Fire & Iron
2025-10-30 19:30 - 21:30 | Theater Arts B100 Studio Theater, 453 Kerr Rd, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, United States
Set in a fantasy world, a duo meets a solo traveler on the road, and they band together as they set out on a quest for the Tree of Knowledge. In these two snippets, we watch as Azrael discovers his magic abilities after surviving an exorcism, and as Ripley and Aeron confess their love during both a storm and a fight. Presented by Barnstorm. Written and Directed by Jaden Edson.
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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
– Thurs. Oct. 30: 7:30 p.m, Theater Arts B100 Studio Theater
– Fri. Oct. 31: 7:30 p.m, Theater Arts B100 Studio Theater
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ADMISSION
– General admission $5–$20 “Pay What You Like”
– Free for UCSC undergrads (ticket required).
– Tickets issued online through Eventbrite only.
– Follow the Dept. of Performance, Play & Design on Eventbrite for notifications and updates.
– Doors are scheduled to open 30 minutes prior to event start time.
– Ticket holders not seated at least 5 minutes before the advertised start time may forfeit their ticket/seat and no refund will be issued.
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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 members of the public consistent with state and federal law.

Celebrate Halloween at the University Center Bistro!
2025-10-31 11:30 - 14:00 | University Center Bistro
Join us for a special themed menu, served 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Reservations are recommended but not required — save your spot at dining.ucsc.edu/ucen-bistro.

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.
