Events

CM Seminar - "How Technology-Mediated Food Interactions Support Family Connection and Routine Reconstruction"
2026-01-05 12:30 - 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Silicon Valley Campus, 3175 Bowers Avenue, Santa Clara, CA, 95054, United States
Presented by: Aswati Panicker
Description: “In this talk, I draw on work in human-food interaction (HFI) to examine how food can serve as a rich interaction medium for connection and routine reconstruction in long-distance families. I highlight insights from three of my studies that explore this question across different technological forms. First, I discuss how families navigate shifting meanings of “healthy eating” during life transitions, and the tensions that arise when disclosing new goals and priorities in health-sharing or tracking tools. Second, I show how family members expressed hesitations, value conflicts, and visions for cultural or playful moments when imagining embodied technology such as a social robot within their domestic spaces. Third, through a mobile app probe for teaching food knowledge and recipes, I uncover the subtleties of how family members seek to initiate, learn, guide, or be guided through everyday food practices. Throughout, I outline design implications and close by reflecting on how technology-mediated food interactions might extend to other contexts and routines beyond family life.”
Bio: Aswati Panicker is a postdoctoral scholar at the University of California, Santa Cruz, working with Prof. Christina Chung. Her research is at the intersection of HCI and CSCW, focusing on how technologies are designed and used in social and health-related contexts. She takes a human-centered, participatory approach and draws on theories from family studies and sociology in her work. She earned her PhD in Informatics from Indiana University Bloomington in July 2025. You can read more at aswatipanicker.com

Hosted by: Professor Christina Chung
When: Monday, January 5, 2026 from 12:30PM to 1:30PM
Location:
IN-PERSON @ SVC 3212.
Viewing room @ UCSC Main Campus, E2-280.
LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED AT BOTH LOCATIONS! Faculty and students are highly encouraged to attend.
Zoom info:
https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/98742808551?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 987 4280 8551
Passcode: [REDACTED]

AM Seminar with Dr. Truong Vu
2026-01-05 16:00 - 17:00 | Jack Baskin Engineering, 372
Presenter: Dr. Truong Vu, IPAM and MSU
Description: We present a framework for the gradient flow of sharp-interface surface energies that couple to embedded curvature active agents. We use a penalty method to develop families of locally incompressible gradient flows that couple interface stretching or compression to local flux of interfacial mass. We establish the convergence of the penalty method to an incompressible flow both formally for a broad family of surface energies and rigorously for a more narrow class of surface energies.
Bio: Dr. Vu received a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the Department of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science at University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Vu is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics (UCLA) and a visiting faculty in the Department of Mathematics at Michigan State University.
Hosted by: Applied Mathematics

Clinical Trials Design and Management Info Session
2026-01-05 19:00 - 20:00 | Silicon Valley Campus, 3175 Bowers Avenue, Santa Clara, CA, 95054, United States
Advance your career in the global clinical research industry.
As the demand for safe, effective therapies grows, so does the need for professionals who can lead clinical trials with scientific precision and regulatory expertise. Learn how experts design and manage studies that bring medical innovations from the lab to the marketplace—applying biostatistics, good clinical practices, and international regulations to ensure safety and compliance.
Speaker
Join Karim Sajwani, chair of the UCSC Silicon Valley Extension Clinical Trials Design and Management program, for an inside look at how our courses prepare you to coordinate cross-functional teams, oversee global trials, and navigate complex approval processes that shape the future of healthcare.

Sponsor
This winter info session is sponsored by the Clinical Trials Design and Management program.

Claim your seat.

Silicon Chip Design & Semiconductor Engineering Info Session
2026-01-06 18:00 - 19:00 | Silicon Valley Campus, 3175 Bowers Avenue, Santa Clara, CA, 95054, United States
Build the semiconductors powering the future.
With the global demand for advanced chips on the rise, engineers who can design, simulate, and optimize integrated circuits are highly sought after. Learn how professionals in Silicon Valley develop digital and analog systems, apply verification methodologies, and leverage modern EDA tools to bring innovative designs from concept to silicon.
Speaker
Join Arvind Vidyarthi, chair of the UCSC Silicon Valley Extension Silicon Chip Design & Semiconductor Engineering program, for an inside look at how our courses provide hands-on experience, industry-relevant skills, and the practical knowledge needed to pursue careers in chip design, verification, and semiconductor engineering.
Sponsor
This winter info session is sponsored by the Silicon Chip Design & Semiconductor Engineering program.

Register today!

BME 280B Seminar: Nature’s Miniature Masterpieces - Nanobodies as Small but Mighty Antibodies for the next Pandemic
2026-01-08 11:40 - 13:15 | Physical Sciences Building, Physical Sciences Building, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Presenter: Katja Hanack, Founder and CEO, New/Era/Mabs
Description: Nanobodies combine remarkable simplicity with surprising power. Their small size allows them to reach targets that remain inaccessible to conventional antibodies, while maintaining high specificity and stability. Their compact architecture allows them to access targets that conventional antibodies cannot reach, yet they preserve the specificity and power that make antibody therapeutics so transformative. In this talk I will introduce the science behind selma, a cell based discovery platform developed over more than a decade to rapidly identify high quality antibodies and nanobodies. I will explore why these tiny binders matter, how they differ from classical antibodies, and what their unique biology enables for diagnostics and therapeutics.
The presentation will conclude with my current project on immune infrastructure and how pre validated nanobody archives can shift the pandemic response from a reactive model to proactive preparedness for future outbreaks.
Bio: Katja Hanack, PhD, MBA, is the Founder and CEO of new/era/mabs and a leading expert in antibody discovery for diagnostic and therapeutic applications, with a particular focus on nanobody technologies. With more than 20 years of experience, she has developed pioneering platforms that enable the efficient generation and selection of next-generation monoclonal antibodies and nanobodies. She holds a Biology degree from Humboldt University of Berlin and a PhD in Biotechnology from the University of Potsdam. As a former Professor of Biochemistry and Biology at the University of Potsdam, she built and led a research group of 25 scientists, secured over €16 million in external funding, and authored more than 40 peer-reviewed publications. Since 2017, Dr. Hanack has contributed to translational innovation as an industrial advisor for SPARK Stanford and SPARK Berlin, supporting academic teams in bringing biomedical discoveries to patients.
Hosted by: Professor Rebecca Dubois, BME Department

AI Application Development Program Info Session
2026-01-08 18:00 - 19:00 | Silicon Valley Campus, 3175 Bowers Avenue, Santa Clara, CA, 95054, United States
Lead Innovation as a Machine Learning Engineer.
As AI becomes central to products and services across industries, there’s a growing demand for professionals who can design, build and deploy intelligent services & systems. Learn how you can preprocess data, develop Machine Learning models, apply Deep Learning techniques, and create AI solutions that solve real‑world problems.
Speaker
Join Praveen Krishna, chair of the Artificial Intelligence Application Development program, for an inside look at how our courses provide hands‑on experience, industry‑driven projects, and the technical foundation you need to advance your career as an ML Engineer, MLOps Engineer, or Applied AI Researcher.
Sponsor
This winter info session is sponsored by the AI Application Development program.

Register today!

Career Success Drop-In Coaching at the EOP Office - Winter 2026
2026-01-12 13:30 - 15:00 | Academic Resources Center (ARC), 408 McHenry Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Drop-in with Career Coach & Engagement Specialist Bridge Kennedy to discuss Career Exploration, Job Search Strategy, Interview Prep, Grad School Prep, or whatever’s on your mind related to your career success!
Time: 1:30pm – 3:00pm
Dates: Mondays, Weeks 2, 4, 6, & 8 of Winter Quarter 2026
1/12, 1/26, 2/9, 2/23
Location: Academic Resource Center, EOP Lounge
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.

Kathleen Schmidt: Sequential Experimental Design for Materials Strength Model Calibration
2026-01-12 16:00 - 17:00 | Jack Baskin Engineering, 165
Presenter: Katie Schmidt, UQ & Optimization Group Leader, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Description: Due to the time and expense associated with physical experiments, there is significant interest in optimal selection of the conditions for future experiments. Selection based on reduction in parameter uncertainty provides a natural path forward. We consider this type of optimal sequential design in the context of Bayesian calibration of materials strength models with the strength model characterizing the evolving resistance of a material to permanent strain. This problem is particularly challenging because different types of experiments and associated diagnostics are employed across strain rate regimes. For lower-strain-rate experiments, stress-strain curves can be measured directly. For higher-strain-rate experiments, strength must be inferred (e.g., from the deformation of a cylinder of material in a Taylor cylinder experiment). We employ data fusion in our sequential design methodology to incorporate these multiple experimental modalities.
LLNL-ABS-835231 This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344.
Bio: Katie Schmidt is the UQ & Optimization Group Leader at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. She joined LLNL in 2016 after earning a PhD in Applied Mathematics from North Carolina State University. During her time at the lab, Katie has been involved in a variety of uncertainty quantification problems related to national security as well as outreach and education through LLNL’s Data Science Institute. Her research interests include mixed-effects models, Bayesian inference, sequential design, and sensitivity analysis.
Hosted by: Statistics Department

Be Inspired: Explore Graduate Studies in STEM
2026-01-12 17:00 - 18:30 | CA
Not sure if graduate school is right for you?
Join us to learn what graduate school is really about and explore whether it’s the right path for you. We’ll cover topics such as qualifying exams, funding options, common misconceptions, and more!
Click the link below to register for the event:
https://ucsc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_31OHhwc7QPqJ7nSyiuAUNg

January Slugs and Steins with Professor Marco Rolandi
2026-01-12 18:30 - 20:00
Slugs & Steins is a monthly series of informal discussions highlighting UC Santa Cruz’s amazing faculty members. Talks are held on the 2nd Monday of each month with topics ranging from organic artichokes to endangered zebras, self-driving cars to Shakespeare. This month, we welcome Professor Marco Rolandi.
Marco Rolandi is a professor of electrical and computer engineering at UC Santa Cruz, where he holds the Jack Baskin Endowed Chair in Engineering. He is also the co-founder and advisor of CruzFoam, which creates sustainable packaging solutions. His research focuses on bioelectronic systems and devices, biological control in regenerative medicine and synthetic biology, and their translational applications. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Washington Post, the BBC, and others. He currently leads a team on a multicampus multimillion dollar program to accelerate wound regeneration using bioelectronics. Rolandi holds a Ph.D. in applied physics from Stanford.
REGISTER

Coffee with Provost Aims McGuinness
2026-01-13 09:00 - 11:00 | Merrill College Office, 641 Merrill Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
FREE fresh hot coffee, tea, cocoa and snacks. Featuring Alta Organic Fair Trade coffee; locally & woman owned.

Diabetes Prevention Program
2026-01-13 12:00 - 13:00 | CA
The UCSC Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) is a 1-year lifestyle change program designed for non-diabetic individuals who are at risk for either prediabetes or Type 2 Diabetes from progressing fully to Type 2 Diabetes.
Over the course of a year, trained lifestyle coaches and group support are utilized to help you strive toward your health goals. The classes are held via Zoom and includes discussions on nutrition education, ways to increase physical activity, ideas to stay motivated, and stress management tools.
Fill out the DPP Informational Session registration for the Zoom link. The informational session will be recorded, and a link to recording will be sent out after the session. Note that the program requires live participation when it starts, and is not available for recording.
Visit the UCSC DPP website for more information.
For questions, reach out to Health and Well-being Specialist, Ashley Parker, at aseparke@ucsc.edu.

Labor Against ICE
2026-01-13 17:00 - 19:00 | Merrill Cultural Center, 200 McLaughlin Dr, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Trump’s second term has been marked by a dramatic increase in immigration enforcement operations, including the deployment of federal and national guard troops to major cities across the United States. Ramped-up ICE raids have resulted in injuries, deaths, and the disappearance of migrants and non migrants alike. As legal challenges demanding the cessation of indiscriminate workplace and neighborhood raids have largely failed, how are workers and communities fighting back? This event is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. Refreshments provided. Immigrant and labor rights organizations will also be tabling.
Please join UC Santa Cruz’s Center for Labor and Community for a panel discussion with co-founder of LA Educators for Racial Justice (LAE4RJ), Denisha Jordan (United Teachers Los Angeles), founder of OEA Rapid Response Team and dual-language teacher, Jessie Papallia (Oakland Education Association), Emergency Medicine Resident, SatKartar Khalsa (SEIU 1021 Committee of Interns and Residents), Alex Quintero (@allthingslabor), and regional labor and community organizer Cesar Lara (California Federation of Labor) to learn how labor is organizing to defend migrants on the job.
RSVP HERE
Español_Labor_Against_ICE
English_Labor Against ICE

Medical Device Quality and Design Info Session
2026-01-13 18:00 - 19:00 | CA
Advance your career in medical device design and quality.
As healthcare technology evolves, professionals who understand global regulatory standards, risk management, and quality systems are in high demand. Learn how to design, document, and validate medical devices, digital health solutions, and AI/ML-based devices while ensuring compliance with FDA, ISO, and EU MDR requirements.
Speaker
Join Kiran Gulati, chair of the UCSC Silicon Valley Extension Medical Device Quality and Design program, for an inside look at how our courses provide hands-on training, practical case studies, and industry-relevant skills that prepare you for roles in quality engineering, regulatory compliance, and design assurance.
Sponsor
This winter info session is sponsored by the Medical Device Quality and Design certificate program.
Register today!

User Experience and Web Design info session
2026-01-13 18:00 - 19:00 | CA
Design digital experiences people love to use.
In today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape, organizations need professionals who can combine empathy, usability, and aesthetics to create interfaces that engage and delight users. Learn how UX and web design specialists use research‑driven methods, prototyping tools, and inclusive design principles to build seamless digital experiences across platforms.
Your Speaker
Join Nicole Sharratt, chair of the UCSC Silicon Valley Extension User Experience & Web Design program, for an inside look at how our courses equip you with the skills to lead user‑centered design projects—whether you’re shaping websites, apps or digital products.
Sponsor
This winter info session is sponsored by UCSC Silicon Valley Extension User Experience & Web Design program.
Register today!

Cardiff Open House
2026-01-14 12:00 | Cardiff House, 114 Carriage House Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Cardiff Open House is an opportunity for campus partners and the greater community to visit the American Indian Resource Center's new shared location with the Women's Center at the Cardiff House near the base of campus. Stay connected with our centers and the resources we offer by visiting with us & touring our space.

Research Lunch & Learn: Research Security
2026-01-14 12:00 - 13:00 | https://events.ucsc.edu/event/research-lunch-learn-research-security/
Join us on January 14, 2026, 12-1 p.m., for an overview of evolving research security expectations and how they affect proposal development, award management, and ongoing project compliance. Led by Jeffrey Weekley, Director of Research IT, Nutan Mellegers, OSP Associate Director, and Csilla Csaplár, AVC Research, this virtual session will discuss the Research Security Training requirement, when it applies, and why research security matters. Participants will learn how research, data, and cybersecurity terms in proposals and awards trigger review, how PIs can engage during that process, and the resources available to support compliance. We’ll also highlight key risks and how to stay ahead of them.
Join: Zoom link for this session.

Career Success Drop-In Coaching at the Ethnic Resource Center - Winter 2026
2026-01-14 13:30 - 15:00 | Crown Provost House, 660 Crown Service Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Drop-in with Career Coach & Engagement Specialist Bridge Kennedy to discuss Career Exploration, Job Search Strategy, Interview Prep, Grad School Prep, or whatever’s on your mind related to your career success!
Time: 1:30pm – 3:00pm
Dates: Wednesdays, Weeks 2 & 5 of Winter Quarter 2026
1/14/2026 & 2/4/2026
Location: Crown Provost House / Ethnic Resource Centers Lounge
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.

ECE Associate Teacher Info Session
2026-01-14 18:00 - 19:00 | Silicon Valley Campus, 3175 Bowers Avenue, Santa Clara, CA, 95054, United States
Start a meaningful career shaping young minds.
With early learning programs in growing demand, educators who understand child development, curriculum design, and classroom dynamics are essential. The UCSC Silicon Valley Extension Early Childhood Education: Associate Teacher certificate builds foundational expertise in teaching infants through preschool‑age children, developing age‑appropriate curriculum, and collaborating with families and communities.
Speaker
Join Ninet Moradi, chair of the program, for an inside look at how our courses can help you qualify for associate‑teacher roles, meet California licensing requirements, and launch a rewarding career supporting children’s growth and learning.
Learn more.
Visit our program page to explore the courses and opportunities within the Early Childhood Education: Associate Teacher certificate program.
Register today.

Human Computer Interaction MS Virtual Info Session
2026-01-14 19:00 - 20:00 | CA
Join us January 14 from 7 – 8 PM for our Virtual Information Session. Learn more about our program, based at the UCSC Silicon Valley Campus, where you can earn your HCI MS in 15 months. We offer:

Application fee waivers for UCSC students and alumni
Full and partial scholarships
Dedicated careers services support
Internship and research opportunities
Industry mentorship
Industry sponsored capstone projects

Register for access to the Zoom link.

Workplace Mental Health Training for Supervisors and Managers
2026-01-15 12:00 - 14:30 | CA
The Office of Risk Services has partnered with OHSU’s Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Services to provide mental health support training to UCSC supervisors and managers.
This evidence based program teaches leaders:

To identify employee mental health struggles
Appropriate ways to respond to employee warning signs
Practical strategies to reduce employee stress

Employees whose managers and supervisors were trained in this program report:

Reduced anger and loneliness
Improved feelings of support from manager
Increased feelings of team cohesion

This training is open to all supervisors and managers at UCSC. Our next training session will take place on Thursday, January 15, and will comprise the following:

A self paced online training session
A live, virtual one hour session
A two-week voluntary virtual check in

If you would like to participate in this training on Thursday, January 15 from 12:00 PM – 2:30 PM please fill out this form. Please note that space is limited. Folks added to the waitlist will be given priority for our next training session.
To learn more, please visit the Workplace Mental Health Training for Supervisors and Managers website.
If you have any questions about this training, please reach out to Jessica Bulleri, Campus Health and Well-being Manager, at jbulleri@ucsc.edu.

The art of interviewing: From good to great.
2026-01-15 18:00 - 19:00 | Silicon Valley Campus, 3175 Bowers Avenue, Santa Clara, CA, 95054, United States
Interviews are no longer just about resumes. In this section with PK Agarwal, dean of UCSC Silicon Valley Extension, we will dive into behavioral questions, storytelling techniques, virtual interview etiquette, and ways to stand out with authenticity and confidence.

Learn to craft memorable responses to behavioral interview questions using proven storytelling frameworks.
Understand what sets standout candidates apart in both in-person and virtual interviews—including etiquette, presence, and tone.
Gain tips for showcasing your unique strengths with clarity and confidence while staying true to yourself.

This is a casual discussion with Dean Agarwal. Be sure to bring your questions and share your experience.
This event is part of the Dean Conversations: Pathways to professional success series.
Claim your seat!

Intro to Fruit Trees
2026-01-17 10:00 - 12:30 | Hay Barn, 94 Ranch View Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, United States
This workshop will focus on fruit tree care and management, especially for those who are looking to establish and/or care for their fruit trees using organic methods. Although we will be demonstrating on a home garden scale, the techniques and methods are applicable at multiple scales—the basics are the same.
This hands-on workshop will cover:

The run up to planting (site, sun, soil)
Assessing and improving your soil
Sourcing quality trees for your area
Planting bare root trees
Post plant care
A Q&A session

REGISTER
Photo by Jim Clark

How Long is Long Enough: Screening and Conversation
2026-01-19 17:30 - 19:30 | Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos, 1817 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, 95062, United States
Join us for a screening of How Long is Long Enough: The Excessive Sentencing of Quntos & Layla, a short documentary created by Natalie Decena, Sarina Bozorgnia, Veler Brown, and Aiden Olivier from UC Santa Cruz with support from Michael Ademaro from Georgetown Law School as part of the Making an Exoneree initiative.
Quntos Wilson and Layla Roberts were sentenced to life without parole in 1995 at the ages of 18 and 19 for a robbery in which no one was physically harmed and a mere $301 was stolen. Now approaching 50, they have each become remarkable artists and mentors behind the prison bars of Louisiana State Penitentiary (Angola).
In addition to the documentary screening, the event will include a conversation with Quntos Wilson and Layla Roberts, letter-writing, and collaborative art making.

Info Session: Global Seminar Eco-Entrepreneurship in the Netherlands
2026-01-20 12:00 - 13:00 | CA
Learn more at our upcoming Information Session: Tuesday, January 20th, 2026 at 12:00-1:00 pm via Zoom.
Register Here
Earn 10 units on a summer program on the Global Seminar Eco-Entrepreneurship in the Netherlands in Amsterdam this summer. This program is taught by Nada Miljkovic, Entrepreneurship Instructor and Program Manager for UCSC’s Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurial Development.
Quick Facts:

Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Courses: Crown 92G: Social and Creative Entrepreneurship, GE: PE-H (5 units) and Crown 194: Eco Entrepreneurship, GE: PR-S (5 units)
Led by: Crown Lecturer, Nada Miljkovic
Eligibility: Open to students from any major who have completed 90 units by time of departure and have a minimum of a 2.3 GPA
Dates: Summer Session 2 (Exact dates to be announced)
Finances: Financial aid applies, and scholarships are available! Budget will be posted on the website when it is available.
How to apply: Visit here for instructions. Applications open on December 1 and close on March 2.
Get in touch: Email your questions to globallearning@ucsc.edu.

Program Description:
Discover how entrepreneurship can bridge the gap between the Netherlands’ thriving economy and its commitment to environmental sustainability! Based in Amsterdam, this immersive program includes exciting site visits to Rotterdam, Utrecht, and beyond. You will collaborate with local sustainability-focused entrepreneurs, exploring how innovative business models can tackle the challenges of conservation and development. Through hands-on experience and seminars in entrepreneurship and sustainability, you will gain valuable insights into creating businesses that prioritize environmental well-being. Join us to reimagine what it means to value and protect life in a modern, holistic way. Discover more here.

Info Session: Global Seminar Agroecology Practicum in Guatemala
2026-01-20 14:00 - 15:00 | CA
Learn more at our upcoming Information Session: Tuesday, January 20, at 2:00-3:00 p.m. via Zoom.
Register Here
Earn 6 units on a summer program on the Global Seminar Agroecology Practicum in Guatemala this summer. This program is taught by Damian Parr, Education Programs Manager and Instructor for the Agroecology Center and Michael Bakal, post-doctoral researcher.
Quick Facts:

Location: Antigua, Guatemala; Lake Atitlán, Guatemala
Course:
ENVS 133 B: Agroecology Practicum (6 units)
Led by: Damian Parr and Michael Bakal
Eligibility: Good academic and disciplinary standing, Min Age: 18, 45 units completed at time of departure, Minimum GPA 2.3 cumulative GPA or higher at the time of application and every quarter prior to departure, Eligible majors: Agroecology, ENVS, additional majors by permission of the instructor.
Dates: June 17-July 2, 2026
Finances: Financial aid applies, and scholarships are available! The budget will be posted on the website when it is available.
How to apply: Visit here for instructions. Applications open on December 1, 2025, and close on March 2, 2026.
Get in touch: Email your questions to globallearning@ucsc.edu.

Program Description:
This program will explore the historical and contemporary strengths and challenges to Guatemala’s food and agricultural system through the lens of Agroecology and indigenous-led agricultural development work. Examples of learning objective topics include developing students’ competencies in biological soil fertility and pest management, tillage and cultivation, crop care, and analysis of diversified farming systems. The course frames these more technical production competencies within learning objectives related to agriculture literacies, analyzing broader societal aspects of food sovereignty, and the development of equitable and ecologically sustainable food systems. By broadening student perspectives and understandings of our diverse global community, students will strengthen their ability to think critically about solutions. Studying and working in an unfamiliar place will support students gaining a clearer sense of who they are as learners, so that they leave the program empowered to tackle the challenges – both academic and non-academic – that inevitably lie ahead.
Check out this student-produced video from a previous program!

Nurturing Difference - Parenting and Disability in a Careless Age
2026-01-20 18:00 | Hay Barn, 94 Ranch View Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, United States
JOIN US as we celebrate two distinguished members of our UCSC community and their new books. We’ll be discussing Danilyn Rutherford’s Beautiful Mystery: Living in a Wordless World (Duke University Press) and Noah Wardrip-Fruin’s Animal Crossing: New Horizons: Can a game take care of us? (University of Chicago Press). Joined by Donna Haraway and Megan Moodie, and moderated by THI Faculty Director, Pranav Anand, the panel will explore questions of caregiving, parenthood, disability, language, meaning, and technology.

Danilyn Rutherford is the president of the Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research and a professor emerita of anthropology at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She is the author of Raiding the Land of the Foreigners: The Limits of the Nation on an Indonesian Frontier (Princeton, 2003), Laughing at Leviathan: Sovereignty and Audience in West Papua (Chicago, 2012), Living in the Stone Age: Reflections on the Origins of a Colonial Fantasy (Chicago, 2018), and, most recently, Beautiful Mystery: Living in a Wordless World (Duke, 2025).
Noah Wardrip-Fruin is a Professor of Computational Media at the University of California, Santa Cruz. He studies and makes video games and electronic literature. Before his most recent book, Noah authored or co-edited six books on games and digital media for the MIT Press, including The New Media Reader (2003). His collaborative art projects have been exhibited by the Whitney Museum of American Art, New Museum of Contemporary Art, Krannert Art Museum, and a wide variety of festivals and conferences. Noah holds both a PhD (2006) and an MFA (2003) from Brown University, an MA (2000) from the Gallatin School at New York University, and a BA (1994) from the Johnston Center at the University of Redlands.
Megan Moodie is a Professor of Anthropology at UC Santa Cruz. She is chair of the Disabled Faculty Networking Group and a core member of the disability studies initiative on campus.

This event is presented by the Abolition Medicine and Disability Justice Project, a UC Multicampus Research Program and Initiative and co-sponsored by The Humanities Institute

AI Business Practices Info Session
2026-01-20 18:00 - 19:00 | CA
Transform your workplace with practical AI skills.
In an era of rapid digital change, non‑technical professionals need to know how to deploy AI tools and strategies efficiently—without needing to code. This specialization shows how you can streamline tasks like document and presentation creation, reporting, and project coordination using generative AI, intelligent agents, and automation.
Speaker
Join Hien Luu, Program Chair and Head of Machine Learning Infrastructure at Zoox, for an inside look at how our courses help you build prompt‑engineering know‑how, ethical AI awareness, and productivity‑boosting workflows—so you can lead AI‑driven change in your organization.
Sponsor
This winter info session is sponsored by the AI Business Practices specialization.
Claim your seat.

Kraw Lecture: Sensing the Unseen: How Drones and Ground Sensors Reveal the Hidden Air Quality Impact
2026-01-21 17:30 - 19:30 | Silicon Valley Campus, 3175 Bowers Avenue, Santa Clara, CA, 95054, United States
How can flying robots help us track the air we breathe and the pollutants we can’t see? In this talk, Assistant Professor Javier González-Rocha will share how his team uses drones to measure wind patterns and detect airborne pollutants in hard-to-reach places..
These systems help us understand how toxic pollutants and climate emissions move through the atmosphere and affect human health and the environment. From wildfire smoke to methane leaks from dairy farms and oil fields, these emissions are often poorly monitored—especially in rural or overburdened communities.
Low-cost, adaptable drone and ground sensor systems fill this gap. By combining real-time flight data, environmental measurements, and advanced modeling, González-Rocha and his team generate targeted observations that inform air quality assessments and improve emissions tracking.
This work sits at the intersection of engineering, environmental science, and community collaboration—building tools that empower people and support climate resilience from the ground up.
In-Person Reception: 5:30 p.m.
Lecture: 6–7 p.m.

Register Now

SC County Spelling Bee 2026
2026-01-24 12:00 | CA
The Santa Cruz County Office of Education coordinates the Elementary (grades 4-6) and Junior High (grades 7-9) County Spelling Bee Competition. Students first participate in school spelling bees, and then advance to the county-level event. The countywide competition is open to two students from every private/public school in Santa Cruz County in grades 4-6 and grades 7-9 who have been certified as school champions by their school coordinator.
All participants will receive certificates of participation and the top three spellers in each grade level division will receive a trophy. Winners will be announced at the end of the event.
The top two spellers from each division, grades 4-6 and 7-9 will represent Santa Cruz County at the respective California State Spelling Championship
