Events

The 60th Faculty Research Lecture, featuring Professor Patty Gallagher, department of Performance, Play & Design
2026-05-05 18:30 - 19:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Theater Arts Mainstage, 411 Kerr Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Character: A Nongenue’s Guide to a Beautiful Life in the Theatre
This talk explores the predicament and privilege of the character actor. What acts of creativity and compassion are necessary to embody the oddball, the creature, the clown?
Patty Gallagher‘s research and performance practice focuses on the concept of the Stranger in a Strange Land. Using examples from Beckett, Shakespeare, Homer, and Balinese performance, she will discuss how to imbue outsider characters with heart and dignity. Ultimately the transformative work of the “non-genue” actor is a space of beauty and wonder.
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
UCSC Theater Arts Center Mainstage, 411 Kerr Rd, Santa Cruz, CA 95064
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM, Cake reception to follow
About this event:

This event is free and open to the public. Seating will begin at 6:00 p.m
The lecture will be held in person and also available to view via livestream.
Registration link

Parking:

Parking permits will be available for purchase for $11 cash/credit in the Performing Arts lot 126.
Park Mobile options are available in this same lot. Please follow the event signage at the base of campus and a parking attendant will assist you.
UCSC affiliates must purchase their permits before arriving at the event in order to receive their discounted UCSC rate. Attendants will only sell the non-affiliate-priced permits. More information provided by UCSC Transportation & Parking Services (TAPS)

UCSC Orchestra
2026-05-05 19:30 - 21:30 | Music Center Recital Hall, 400 McHenry Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Join the UC Santa Cruz Orchestra, conducted by Bruce Kiesling, for a Spring concert.
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ADMISSION
– General admission
– Free for UCSC students (ticket required).
– Tickets will be available here online through Eventbrite only.
– Follow the Music Dept on Eventbrite for notices 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, ParkMobile, or $11 cash/credit via the on-site parking attendant
– 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.

Wang, Q. (STAT) - Modern Statistical Methods for Modeling Spatial and Temporal Processes
2026-05-06 10:00 - 12:00 | Jack Baskin Engineering, Baskin Engineering 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Modern scientific studies increasingly rely on complex datasets exhibiting spatial and temporal dependence, particularly in social, environmental, and climate applications. This dissertation develops statistical models and computational methods for analyzing such data, with an emphasis on capturing dependence structures, nonlinear dynamics, and uncertainty quantification.
A spatial deep learning framework is developed to extend classical geostatistical models by incorporating convolutional neural network architectures, allowing for flexible modeling of complex and nonstationary spatial dependence The proposed approach preserves principled uncertainty quantification alongside improved predictive performance for large and heterogeneous spatial datasets.
In the temporal domain, a Bayesian hierarchical echo state network model is introduced for count-valued time series, providing a flexible alternative to traditional autoregressive approaches. By embedding reservoir computing within a hierarchical probabilistic framework, the model accommodates nonlinear temporal dynamics while enabling coherent inference and uncertainty quantification, which are typically absent in standard neural network approaches.
Alongside these model-driven developments, we conduct a data-driven analysis of Northern Hemisphere snow cover using weekly satellite-derived observations from 1972 to 2024. A spatio-temporal modeling framework is developed that combines a seasonal two-state Markov structure for temporal dynamics with a Besag–York–Mollié (BYM) formulation to capture spatial dependence, allowing both trend and seasonal effects to vary across space. Covariates including temperature, latitude, and elevation are incorporated to explain observed patterns. The analysis reveals substantial spatial heterogeneity and pronounced seasonal structure, including week-specific trends and a coherent wave-like pattern of snow cover changes across continents.
Together, this thesis addresses key limitations of classical approaches to spatial and temporal data analysis, which often rely on restrictive assumptions that limit their ability to capture complex dependence structures and nonlinear dynamics. By integrating modern machine learning techniques with statistical modeling and complementing these developments with data-driven scientific analysis, this dissertation provides a flexible and principled framework for understanding complex spatio-temporal processes while maintaining uncertainty quantification.

Event Host: Qi Wang, Ph.D. Candidate, Statistical Science
Advisor: Paul Parker
Zoom: https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/97486222296?pwd=[REDACTED]
Passcode: [REDACTED]

CSE Colloquium - The Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program
2026-05-06 11:00 - 12:15 | Engineering 2, Engineering 2 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Presenters: Prof. Karl-Erik Arzen (Co-Director of WASP and Lund University), Dr. Paul Townend (WASP Graduate School management and Umeå University), and Carl Magnus Bruhner (Linkoping University)
Abstract: The Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems, and Software Program (WASP) is the largest research initiative in Swedish history, with a budget of over $700M and a research focus AI and autonomous systems acting in collaboration with humans. The program funds over 500 current PhD students, has recruited over 70 international faculty, engages with over 80 companies and organizations, and has formal agreements with academic organizations including Stanford, UC Berkeley, MIT, Caltech, ETH Zurich, and Imperial College London.
As part of its internationalization efforts, WASP has organized a visit to the Bay Area for 13 PhD students and 2 faculty – all of whom specialize in Cloud and AI systems and software. Topics studied by the students include modeling and predicting network dynamics, verification and accountability in agentic AI systems, using underwater robotic systems to inspect and maintain subsea data infrastructures, compliance engineering with the EU AI act, runtime requirements conflict management in AI-driven autonomous systems, and cloud-native traffic management for mobile networks.
Bio: The talk will be led by Prof. Karl-Erik Arzen (Co-Director of WASP and Lund University), Dr. Paul Townend (WASP Graduate School management and Umeå University), and Carl Magnus Bruhner (Linkoping University). We will present the program in detail, and discuss potential opportunities for collaboration and future research visits from our students. More information on WASP can be found at: https://wasp-sweden.org
Hosted by: Professor Alvaro Cardenas
Date and Time: Wednesday, May 6 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]

IRB Webinar: Secondary use in research
2026-05-06 12:00 - 13:00 | https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/92134850429?pwd=[REDACTED]
Join our upcoming IRB webinar exploring key considerations for research involving the secondary use of data, samples, and publicly available datasets. During this session we will discuss regulatory, institutional, and practical insights. Whether you are new to this type of research or looking to advance your understanding, this session will offer valuable guidance.

Servingness en Acción: Nurturing Student Leadership Rooted in Cariño, Cultura, y Comunidad
2026-05-06 15:00 - 16:00 | https://events.ucsc.edu/event/servingness-en-accion-nurturing-student-leadership-rooted-in-carino-cultura-y-comunidad/
Presented by El Centro Lead Student Coordinators, Joselyn Salgado Lomeli and Giovanna Fernandez
This is the 1st session of a 2-part Student-led HSI Equity Talks Series titled “From Voice to Power: Students as Leaders, Knowledge Holders, and Change Agents.”
El Centro interns are student leaders who draw upon their cultural strengths and lived experiences to organize impactful programs that foster belonging, support retention, and enhance campus climate at UC Santa Cruz. The internship cultivates community, identity affirmation, and authentic, culturally grounded leadership. For 30 years, interns have advanced the university’s servingness mission while gaining professional skills, confidence, and clarity in their goals.
Most importantly, the program centers culturally sustaining practices that connect identity to leadership and develop justice-oriented leaders committed to uplifting their communities. This student-led presentation highlights how the internship supports leadership development, holistic success, and post-graduation outcomes through frameworks such as Razalogía, Community Cultural Wealth, and Authentic Cariño, positioning interns as co-creators and knowledge holders in advancing servingness.
Please register to receive a calendar invitation and Zoom details.

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.

VMCC Talk with Jaleh Mansoor—Political Agency in The Anthropocene
2026-05-06 16:00 - 17:30 | https://ucsc.zoom.us/meeting/register/xdWXvSNUQPqkVlP11dhItg
In this presentation, Jaleh Mansoor will draw upon recent Italian Marxist Feminist perspectives on ecology and discourses on the Anthropocene to question how Italian feminist analyses of invisible labor came to be elided with the question of a wider, post anthropocentric ecological horizon. Jaleh Mansoor is a writer and an associate professor of Art History at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, where she teaches modern and contemporary art history with an emphasis on Post WWII European Art. Her areas of interest, in addition to art and its histories, include Materialist Formalism and Marxist Feminism. Mansoor’s first monographic book, Marshall Plan Modernism: Italian Postwar Abstraction and the Beginnings of Autonomia, was published by Duke UP in 2016.
Her latest primary project, titled after Picabia’s eponymous homage to a passage in Marx’s Philosophical and Economic Manuscripts of 1844, is Universal Prostitution: A Counter History of Modernism, published by Duke University Press in May 2025. It traces the historical and structural entwinement of aesthetic and real (or concrete) abstraction—defined as the extraction of labor power valorized by transactional exchange on the market—over 20th-century art to offer a comprehensive account of the political-economic forces that motivated modernist abstraction and the advent of post-humanism.

ABOUT THE SERIES
The Visual & Media Cultures Colloquium (VMCC) is an annual lecture series that brings cutting-edge scholars to speak on a broad range of subjects related to visual and media culture. The series is co-sponsored with the graduate programs in the History of Art & Visual Culture (HAVC) and the Arts Division.
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ADMISSION
– Attend online.
– Register here to receive the Zoom link.
– FREE and open to the public.
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This program is open to the public consistent with state and federal law.

Mental Health and Money with Slug Cents and SHOP
2026-05-06 17:30 - 19:30 | Hahn Student Services, Hahn Student Services, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Finances can really affect your mental health. Come join Slug Cents and SHOP to learn about financial wellness, how to make a budget and stick to it, and self-compassion around money matters. Chipotle provided with registration! Register via this Google Form.
The workshop will be held at the Slug Cents Office at Hahn Student Services, Room 203, upstairs next to the Financial Aid Office.
This event is supported by Student Health Services for Mental Health Awareness Month. You are invited to engage in a variety of campus-wide activities focused on mental health and wellness. Learn about support services, discover ways to help a friend in need, and explore strategies to care for your own well-being. Information is available on the Mental Health Month Event Calendar.
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 Publication.

BME 280B Seminar: 4th Year Grad Talks
2026-05-07 11:40 - 13:15 | Biomedical Sciences Building, 575 McLaughlin Drive
Please join us for our BME 280B seminar series Thursday (5/7/26) in person at Biomed 200. The event will run from 11:40 AM to 1:15 PM and feature our 4th year grad talks.

11:40AM – 11:50AM: Jodie Jacobs

Topic/Title: Impact of Wolbachia infection on host gene expression in pseudotime

11:53AM – 12:03PM: Ariana Cisneros

Topic/Title: Engineering tunable interregional inter-regional neural circuits in vitro

12:06PM – 12:16PM: Liam Tran

Topic/Title: Polysome Shadowing: A Long-Read Sequencing Approach to Study Translation

12:19PM – 12:29PM: Samira Vera

Topic/Title: TBD

12:32PM – 12:42PM: Seungho Lee

Topic/Title: TBD

Stress Less Workshop with CAPS
2026-05-07 12:00 - 13:30 | Student Health Center, 525 McLaughlin Drive, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
The CAPS Peer Educators invite you to learn about common student stress experiences, how to recognize the signs, and what to consider when developing strategies to manage stress. This event will take place in the Cowell Student Health Center Mural Room.
This event is supported by Student Health Services for Mental Health Awareness Month. You are invited to engage in a variety of campus-wide activities focused on mental health and wellness. Learn about support services, discover ways to help a friend in need, and explore strategies to care for your own well-being. Information is available on the Mental Health Month Event Calendar.
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.

International Research Opportunities Forum: focus on Latin America
2026-05-07 12:00 - 14:00
Please register by Monday, May 4, 2026. If attending virtually, a Zoom link will be shared after you register.

Join us for the International Research Opportunities Forum: focus on Latin America, a collaborative hybrid event hosted by the Division of Global Engagement and the Division of Graduate Studies. This forum is intended for faculty and graduate students seeking to learn more about funding available for international research collaborations in Latin America.
Attendees will hear from panelists who have successfully received funding, followed by an interactive Q&A and networking session.
Location: Engineering Building 2, E2-180 (map)
Agenda Highlights:

12:00 p.m. Check-in/Lunch
12:10 p.m. Opening Remarks, Peter Biehl, Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies
12:15–12:45 p.m. Panel Discussion
12:45–1:15 p.m. Audience Q&A
1:15–2:00 p.m. Networking

Panelists:

Emily Moriera – Science, Technology & Innovation Sector (SECTEC), Consulate General of Brazil in San Francisco
Aaron Melaas – Associate Director for Research and Innovation, UC Alianza MX

Katia Obrączka – Professor, Computer Science and Engineering, CAPES Brazil funding recipient

Malin Pinsky – Associate Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Fulbright Scholar Grantee to Chile 2026-27

Gerardo Urritua Sánchez – UC Alianza-MX Postdoctoral Fellow & Vera Rubin Postdoctoral Fellow from Mexico

Let's Talk
2026-05-07 13:00 - 14:00 | Cantu Queer Center, Crown Lane, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Need to talk? We’re here to listen! Drop in for a confidential chat with a professional counselor who can provide support, advice and information.
Where: UCSC Cantú Queer Center, 633 Crown Rd, Santa Cruz, CA 95064
Facilitator: Dean Khambatta, LMFT (831) 459-5346
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.

Chancellor's Innovation Impact Awards
2026-05-07 16:00 - 20:30 | University Center, University Center, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Join us for the Innovation Impact Awards program celebration, a festive event honoring some of UC Santa Cruz’s most innovative and creative individuals and communities.
Thursday, May 7, 2026
4 p.m.
UC Santa Cruz National Academy of Inventors Chapter From Campus to Commerce panel featuring a group of dynamic campus innovators and external commercialization partners bringing innovations to market
5:30 p.m.
Hor d’oeuvre reception followed by the awards presentation and celebration
UC Santa Cruz University Center
College Nine Rd, Santa Cruz, CA
REQUEST REGISTRATION

The awards recognize faculty, researchers, staff, students, and community partners for their valuable contributions to innovations and creative scholarship that have sparked transformative change and societal impact.
This year we will be recognizing and celebrating the following inspiring awardees:
Innovator of the Year
Mike Beck, director of the Center for Coastal Climate Resilience, is advancing innovative nature-based solutions that protect coastlines and communities from climate-driven storms and flooding.
Translation of the Year
NeuroSWARM3, a groundbreaking neurophotonic technology developed in the Yanik Lab enables wireless, minimally invasive monitoring of brain activity at unprecedented scale and resolution.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Richard E. Green, professor of biomolecular engineering, has built a career defined by groundbreaking innovations in genomics and computational biology, and translating fundamental science into lasting societal impact.
Community Changemaker
Bud Colligan has used venture capital, philanthropy, and community partnerships to strengthen the economic vitality, health, and opportunity of the Monterey Bay and Central Coast regions.
The event will also bring together a dynamic and diverse group of people who contribute to an ecosystem and environment that spurs innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship at the university and within the community.
We hope to see you there!

Event supported by:
Carter, DeLuca & Farrell LLP
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Bozicevic, Field & Francis LLP
Santa Cruz Ventures

Social Movements Across Generations: A Film Screening and Platica with Carmen Perez Jordan
2026-05-07 17:00 - 19:30 | Cultural Center – Merrill College, 641 Merrill Rd, Santa Cruz, 95064, United States
When: Thursday, May 7, 2026
Where: Cultural Center at Merrill, UC Santa Cruz, 641 Merrill Rd, Santa Cruz, CA 95064
Time: 5:00-7:30pm, doors open at 4:30pm

Join us for an evening of reflection, storytelling, and dialogue rooted in the legacy and future of social movements. The program will feature a screening of Following Harry, a powerful documentary that offers an intimate look into the life, mentorship, and enduring influence of Harry Belafonte. Through personal stories and behind-the-scenes moments, the film captures how Belafonte shaped generations of organizers, artists, and leaders committed to justice, highlighting the deep connections between culture, movement building, and moral courage.
The film also features Carmen Perez-Jordan, a former UC Santa Cruz student, whose journey reflects the impact of Belafonte’s mentorship and the power of intergenerational leadership. Her story offers a personal lens into how movements are sustained, carried forward, and reimagined by new generations.
Following the screening, we will hold a plática with Carmen Perez-Jordan and Daniel “Nane” Alejandrez, two leaders whose work reflects the very legacy explored in the film. Together, they will engage in a conversation on movement-building across generations, the importance of mentorship, and what it means to lead with purpose in today’s social justice landscape.
This evening is an invitation to connect the past with the present, honor the shoulders we stand on, and imagine the future we are called to build together.

For questions or accommodations, please email elcentro@ucsc.edu.

Parking and Check-in: Parking is available via ParkMobile at Parking Lot 119. ADA parking is available at Parking Lot 119 with an ADA placard. Free parking is available at the East Remote lot starting at 5:00 PM. Please let us know if you need any accommodations and/or ADA parking in the form below.

Sponsored by: Chancellor’s Office, Dolores Huerta Research Center for the Americas, Latin American and Latino Studies, Stevenson College, College 9, John R Lewis College, Alumni Engagement, Lionel Cantu Queer Center, and Office of Leadership and Involvement.

Support El Centro: El Centro’s programs are made possible through a combination of student fees, supplemental grants, and the generous support of alumni, allies, and community members. Make a donation today using our secure online platform.

Rasanblaj as Spirit Turn: Gina Athena Ulysse in Conversation with Jennifer González
2026-05-07 18:00 - 19:30 | Institute of the Arts and Sciences, 100 Panetta Ave, Santa Cruz, United States
Please join us for a conversation between Gina Athena Ulysse and Jennifer González, discussing Ulysse’s solo exhibition Redwoods Rasanblaj: Origins & Disentanglements.
The internationally-lauded work of humanities professor Gina Athena Ulysse is on view at the IAS as an inaugural Faculty Spotlight Exhibition. The site-specific installation, produced in community from things collected, found, purchased and donated, centers on the concept developed by the artist of “rasanblaj”, a form of assembly and collage that transcends the formal use of materials to draw together people, spirits, and ideas.
The artist will be joined in conversation by noted art theorist and scholar Jennifer González, professor of history of art and visual culture.

Stanford Donor Center Blood Drive
2026-05-08 12:00 - 17:00 | Porter Hitchcock Lounge, 411 Porter-Kresge Rd, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060-4902, United States
For all of the advances in modern medicine, there is still no substitute for Whole Blood donations.
One single donation can save three lives.

Whole blood needed planned or emergency surgeries (including childbirth).
Red blood cells to help a patient suffering from chronic anemia or iron deficiency.
Platelets to help in the recovery of chemo-therapy patients
Plasma transfusions for patients with liver failure, severe infections, and serious burns

Schedule an appointment:

Schedule your appointment online
Phone: 888-723-7831
Walk-in’s gladly accepted (pending appointments scheduled)

All donors are entered to win four (4) Global Game tickets, will receive two (2) Free Earthquakes Tickets and a $20.00 eCard!
Sponsored by Porter College. Contact Porter_Activities@ucsc.edu for more information.
With support from the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)

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.

BME80G Seminar - Aubrey Streit Krug, "Living Roots: Perennial Grain Agriculture and Ethics of Care & Repair"
2026-05-08 13:20 - 14:25 | Jack Baskin Auditorium, 191 Baskin Cir, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Presenter: Aubrey Streit Krug; Director of the Perennial Cultures Lab at The Land Institute

About the speaker: Aubrey Streit Krug is a writer and researcher who investigates relationships among humans, plants, and places. She is the Director of the Perennial Cultures Lab at The Land Institute. She leads a team devoted to collaboratively advancing social and cultural research and educational efforts like civic science that feature transdisciplinary learning with communities to help realize more just, diverse, and perennial agricultures. Aubrey loves rocky prairie hillsides and holds a PhD in English & Great Plains Studies. Her most recent project, co-edited with Liz Carlisle, is the collection Living Roots: The Promise of Perennial Foods.

Hosted by: Professor Karen Miga, BME Department

The Annual Maya K. Peterson Memorial Lecture
2026-05-08 14:30 - 16:00 | University Center, University Center, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
“Colonizing Water: Empire, Commodification, and Appropriation in Africa”
Matthew Bender, Professor of History, The College of New Jersey
Friday, May 8, 2:30-4:00pm; Alumni Room @ UCSC’s University Center
In early 2018, the city of Cape Town nearly ran out of water. South Africa’s “Mother City,” renowned for its cosmopolitan population and natural beauty, faced the prospect of a “Day Zero,” when it would be forced to close its taps and force millions to queue for water rations. Across much of the continent, though, water scarcity is an everyday reality, with nearly 1 in 3 people lacking access to sufficient drinking water. How did this become the case? This talk explores the history of water on the African continent, using a historical lens to understand the present-day water crisis. It shows how these resources came to be “colonized” through the mechanisms of imperialism in Africa. European colonial actors in the 19th and 20th centuries attempted to transform the ownership, management, and meaning of water with the aim of harnessing its powers to advance their objectives. In doing so, they created deep seeded inequities and underdevelopment that has persisted in the decades since African colonies gained their independence. This historical analysis shows that many of the present-day obstacles to providing clean, safe water stem from legacies of colonial rule. Yet it also shows the many ways in which everyday Africans proved resilient, finding ways to thrive despite the odds.
Matthew Bender is Professor of History at The College of New Jersey. His research focuses on modern African social and cultural history, with interest in the environment, natural resources, and agriculture. A leading scholar in water history, he has authored numerous articles, essays, and chapters as well as a book entitled Water Brings No Harm: Management Knowledge and the Struggle for the Waters of Kilimanjaro (Ohio University Press, 2019).
This event is made possible by the generous support of the Maya K. Peterson Memorial Endowment.

Reflections of Us Evening Bazaar - 2nd annual AA/PI/SWANA Heritage Night Market
2026-05-08 17:00 - 21:00 | Upper Quarry Amphitheater, 15 McLaughlin Drive, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
It’s time for the 2nd annual AA/PI/SWANA Heritage Night Market on FRIDAY, MAY 8TH, from 5-9PM @ the QUARRY AMPHITHEATER!
In celebration of AA/PI Heritage Month in May and SWANA Heritage Month in April, AA/PIRC invites you to join us for the Reflections of Us Evening Bazaar — an evening full of free food, games, performances, and the opportunity to support small student businesses! This year’s special guest, will be RC Avenue. We can’t wait for you all to come hang out with us and listen to great music!
BIG THANK YOU to our SPONSORS: The Women’s Center, Cantú Queer Center, and College Nine & John R. Lewis College Activities Office!
RSVP at bit.ly/aapiswana-nm26 to get email reminders for the event, and please complete our interest form at bit.ly/aapirc-nm26 if you are interested in joining our planning committee, being a day-of volunteer, tabling, performing, and/or vending.

Guitar Virtuoso Hao Yang in Concert—An Evening of Classical Guitar Music from Around the World
2026-05-08 19:30 - 21:00 | Music Center, Meyer Drive, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Join acclaimed classical guitarist Hao Yang as she brings her extraordinary talent to the stage, fresh off winning the prestigious 2024 Koblenz International Guitar Competition, “Hubert Käppel,” and placing second at the 2024 GFA International Concert Artist Competition. A recipient of the Clifton Foundation’s Emerging Artists Award, she has captivated audiences at Carnegie Hall, the Kimmel Center, Miller Theatre, and the National Centre for the Performing Arts, and has appeared as soloist with the Chursächsische Philharmonie in Germany. A passionate chamber musician, Hao made her Carnegie Hall debut premiering “Talking Guitars” by composer Paul Lansky, and regularly collaborates across diverse ensemble settings—from guitar quintets to voice and guitar—bringing fresh perspectives to both traditional and contemporary repertoire.
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ADMISSION
– This event is open to UCSC affiliates only.
– Attend in person at the Music Center Studio 131 at UC Santa Cruz.
– Open seating (no ticket required).
– Venue has limited seating and early arrival is encouraged.
– Doors are scheduled to open 30 minutes prior to event start time.
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PARKING
– Parking via permit, ParkMobile, or $11 cash/credit via the on-site event attendant.
– 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.
– UCSC affiliates must purchase their permits before arriving at the event in order to receive their discounted UCSC rate. Attendants will only sell the non-affiliate-priced permits.
– More information provided by UCSC Transportation & Parking Services (TAPS)
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This program is open to all UCSC affiliates consistent with state and federal law.

[Cancelled] UCSC Wind Ensemble
2026-05-08 19:30 - 21:30 | Music Center Recital Hall, 400 McHenry Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
event update: this event is cancelled (per notice on May 8 at 4:30 p.m.)
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The UCSC Wind Ensemble, directed by Nathaniel Berman, brings fantasy and imagination in a spring quarter concert, featuring music from the film Spirited Away, composed by Joe Hisaishi; The Dream of Angus, by Rolf Rudin; music depicting train journeys, by Alexis Shapiro and Steve Danyew; Sound and Smoke, by Viet Cuong; and Steampunk Suite by Erika Svanoe.
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ADMISSION
– this event has been cancelled

Pitch-In! Campus Clean Up Day 2026!
2026-05-09 10:00 - 12:00 | Porter College, D-Building, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Help us keep our campus and county beautiful. Come volunteer to pick up litter across the county and campus. Our meet-up spot will be in front of the Porter Squiggle! We’ll be picking up litter, beautifying our campus, and celebrating with some snacks and prizes. Bring a friend, and help us save the planet! If you’re unable to join us on campus, visit the Pitch In Santa Cruz website to find a location near you! 🙂
Link to RSVP: https://forms.gle/47k8KgANTHGz5Yy86

Where Cultures Bloom — We Belong here
2026-05-09 12:30 - 15:00 | Oakes Learning Center
Where Cultures Bloom is a large-scale cultural celebration centered on community, expression, and belonging, grounded in the idea that UCSC is shaped by the diverse identities and voices of those who call it home. This event serves as an open platform for students to showcase their creativity and lived experiences through mediums such as spoken word, music, dance, drag, and visual art.
Bloom is intentionally designed as a collective cultural exchange, inviting students from across campus to come together, share their stories, and celebrate. Through performance, art, food, and connection, the event creates space to affirm that we belong here, together.
FREE food, flowers, and Oakes/RCC merch.
Location: Oakes Upper Lawn
Call for Performers:
We are inviting students who are interested in sharing their talents and lived experiences through performance. This includes (but is not limited to):

Music (solo or group)
Dance
Spoken word/poetry
Drag performance
Cultural performance
Any creative or expressive art form

We welcome performers of all backgrounds and experience levels who are excited to contribute to a community-centered event focused on belonging and expression.
Interest Form:
Students can sign up HERE

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.

Johns, M. (CMPM) - Playing Together in a Co-Designed Future: Building Resilience Through Community-Centered Gameful Design
2026-05-11 08:00 - 10:00 | Engineering 2, Engineering 2 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Complex societal problems (e.g. wicked problems) such as those brought on by climate change can be addressed through a combination of Research through Design (RtD), co-design, and Serious Games (SG) by inviting affected communities to take part in developing iterative, experimental solutions and exploring their potential impact. In the course of my research, I have proposed a framework for design research that engages with wicked problems at the community level through gameful design, which is based on existing literature in HCI drawing from RtD, co-design, and SG. Core elements of the framework include supporting diverse perspectives, interdisciplinarity, working with local knowledge, and aligning different concepts with specific gameful elements to support meaningful interactions and discussion.
In a specific case study, my proposed framework is applied to create a gameful intervention to support wildfire resilience in communities at the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) which face particular risks from natural hazards. Through a community co-design process, open discussions have identified consistent pain-points and challenges faced by communities who have experienced wildfires or evacuations, e.g. traffic congestion in areas with one road in and out, while also pinpointing differences in their approaches based on local conditions, such as whether or not to encourage people to evacuate on foot. Through an RtD approach, important ideas have emerged about how serious games can be utilized in this space. For example, a common approach to serious game design is to align the win condition of a game with specific learning outcomes or desired changes. However, when working with wicked problems there are often complex social dilemmas and conflicting values without clear right answers. In these cases there is a need to map dilemmas and trade-offs to game mechanics rather than mapping learning outcomes to win conditions.
The gameful intervention developed through this dissertation integrates local knowledge from communities alongside expert knowledge from disciplines including fire science, social science, engineering, and design. The resulting artifact leverages a minigame design to map different concepts to specific and approachable game mechanics. Through universal and inclusive design practices, the games can be accessible to a broad audience including both children and older adults. The cooperative multiplayer aspects of the games encourage discussion and collaborative play between friends, community members, and particularly intergenerational play within families. In addition to contributing RtD reflections as a result of the project, I also measured change in resilience at the individual and community levels after deployment of the games through qualitative and quantitative methods. This dissertation contributes to knowledge about what game design has to offer to addressing wicked problems, with specific approaches to better serve communities facing complex risks such as those associated with a rapidly changing climate.
Event Host: MJ Johns, Ph.D. Candidate, Computational Media
Advisor: Katherine Isbister
Zoom: https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/7959349044?pwd=[REDACTED]

SEACoast Spring Slow Seminar: More-than-Human Water Engineers
2026-05-11 08:00 - 10:00 | Humanities 1 Building, 257 Cowell-Stevenson Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, United States
The Center for Southeast Asian Coastal Interactions (SEACoast) at University of California, Santa Cruz and Aarhus University Research on the Anthropocene (AURA) invite you to join us for our Spring Slow Seminar on Monday, May 11, 2026 from 8:00 am – 10:00 am PST / 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm CET.
Professor Anna Tsing (Anthropology, UCSC) will facilitate our conversation drawing on a selection of scholarship on more-than-human water engineering in wetland environments. In our reading and discussion, we will consider the following questions: Can nonhumans be ecosystem engineers? Are sago palms “the beavers of Southeast Asia”? What agents shape the salt/freshwater line? How is Southeast Asia relevant to understanding wetlands around the world?
Please register for the Slow Seminar by filling out this Google Form. Registered guests will receive copies of the selected readings via email.
This is a Hybrid event. Participants may join in-person at UCSC or Aarhus or by Zoom. The Zoom link will be sent out at least 1 hour before the event.
Registration will close at midnight on May 10, 2026.
New to Slow Seminars? Check out SEACoast’s definition here.

ECE 290 Seminar: Speaker Asir Intisar Khan - Engineering Heterogeneous Interfaces for Energy Efficient Electronics
2026-05-11 10:40 - 11:45 | Engineering 2, Engineering 2 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Presenter: Asir Intisar Khan, Assistant Professor in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (EECS), University of California, Berkeley
Description: With the rise in global data demands, energy efficiency in electronics is becoming increasingly important for sustainable progress in AI, healthcare, IoT, and beyond. Emerging technologies, such as neuro-inspired computing and the 3D integration of logic and memory devices, offer great promise for overcoming the energy and latency limits of today’s data-intensive applications. Realizing these advances, however, require innovations in materials, transport physics, and device engineering. In this talk, I will discuss how atomic-scale engineering and integration of heterogeneous materials and devices can address these intertwined challenges with a few examples from our recent works on (i) engineering heterostructures for low-power memory and high-frequency logic, (ii) emerging quantum materials for low-resistance interconnects and (iii) nanoscale thermal management strategies. These advances highlight the innovation opportunities in transformative materials and multifunctional nanodevices for 3D-integrated, energy-efficient electronics.
Bio: Asir Intisar Khan is an Assistant Professor in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (EECS) at the University of California, Berkeley. He is a faculty scientist in the Materials Science Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and serves as a co-director of Berkeley Emerging Technology Research Center. His research focuses on charge, heat, and spin transport at nanoscale interfaces of electronic materials to address the energy and latency limits of emerging computing technologies. Khan received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University and his BSc from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. His interdisciplinary work has been recognized with the AVS Russell & Sigurd Varian Award, IEEE Electron Device Society Ph.D. Fellowship, Materials Research Society Gold Graduate Award, and several best paper and presentation awards at leading venues, including the IEEE VLSI, MRS Fall Meetings, and the AVS Symposium.
Hosted by: Professor Soumya Bose, ECE Department
Zoom Link: https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/97975378707?pwd=[REDACTED]

CM Seminar - Robby Ratan, "Examining AI-Infused Pedagogy in Non-Technical Undergrad Classes: AI-vatars, Book-bots, and CompAInions, Oh My"
2026-05-11 12:30 - 13:30 | Engineering 2, Engineering 2 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Presented by: Rabindra (Robby) Ratan
Description: “Novel communication technologies have always presented challenges and opportunities in education. Since my days as a wee assistant professor of media and information, I have embraced this chaos. In 2015, I implemented avatar-based discussion forums into my classes to study the Proteus effect (i.e., the phenomenon of avatar characteristics influencing user behavior). In 2022, I began teaching my undergraduate classes in virtual reality to study how this medium enhances classroom engagement. Most recently, I have been experimenting with AI-integrated assignments, such as personalized AI-vatar learning assistants, a book-bot that supports my flipped-classroom model, and AI companions that help students learn longitudinal research methods. This talk will share some early research findings on these pedagogical AIpproaches, highlighting potential contributions to theories of media psychology and the broader scholarship of teaching and learning (SOTL).”
Bio: Rabindra (Robby) Ratan (PhD, USC Annenberg; MA/BA, Stanford University) is Professor and AT&T Endowed Chair at Michigan State University’s Department of Media and Information, where he directs the Social and Psychological Approaches to Research on Technology-Interaction Effects (SPARTIE) Lab. His research examines how media technologies (e.g., avatars, AI, XR) influence meaningful outcomes (e.g., learning, well-being) across societal contexts (e.g., education, health, industry), with particular focus on avatar-mediated communication, human-AI interaction, teaching with VR and AI, and the Proteus effect (i.e., avatar characteristics influencing user behaviors). He has published over 85 peer-reviewed articles and his first book, Avatars: What they are and why they matter, is forthcoming in late 2026.
Hosted by: Professor Katherine Isbister
When: Monday, November 3, 2025 from 12:30PM to 1:30PM
Location:
IN-PERSON @ UCSC Main Campus, E2-280.
Viewing room @ SVC 3212.
LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED AT BOTH LOCATIONS! Faculty and students are highly encouraged to attend.
Zoom info:
https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/98277318572?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 982 7731 8572
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Living Roots: The Promise of Perennial Foods
2026-05-11 13:25 - 14:30
Liz Carlisle from UC Santa Barbara

In Person Location: ISB 221
Zoom Link

Living Roots makes the case for putting perennial foods at the center of our farms and our plates, to add flavor and nutrients to our diets while reducing emissions and making our food system more resilient to climate change and economic uncertainty. With contributions from James Beard Award-winning chefs, Macarthur genius grant-winning scientists, and a host of farmers who are leading the way on perennializing agriculture, the book takes readers on a behind-the-scenes tour of the largest food forest in the United States, the test plots developing the first commercial perennial grains, and the vast grasslands where Indigenous communities are returning bison to their prairie homelands. In the process, each contributor shares their unique story of learning with these long-lived plants about how to root deeper in the face of existential challenges, speaking directly to readers charting their own path on a rapidly changing planet. This talk will open with a brief overview of the case for perennials, followed by space for dialogue about perennial agroecology, public scholarship, and the collaborative and feminist methods that inform this project.

Seminar Series | Living Roots: The Promise of Perennial Foods with Liz Carlisle
2026-05-11 13:25 - 14:30 | Interdisciplinary Sciences Building, 7487 Red Hill Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Host: Dani Klawitter
Living Roots makes the case for putting perennial foods at the center of our farms and our plates, to add flavor and nutrients to our diets while reducing emissions and making our food system more resilient to climate change and economic uncertainty. With contributions from James Beard Award-winning chefs, Macarthur genius grant-winning scientists, and a host of farmers who are leading the way on perennializing agriculture, the book takes readers on a behind-the-scenes tour of the largest food forest in the United States, the test plots developing the first commercial perennial grains, and the vast grasslands where Indigenous communities are returning bison to their prairie homelands. In the process, each contributor shares their unique story of learning with these long-lived plants about how to root deeper in the face of existential challenges, speaking directly to readers charting their own path on a rapidly changing planet. This talk will open with a brief overview of the case for perennials, followed by space for dialogue about perennial agroecology, public scholarship, and the collaborative and feminist methods that inform this project.
In person and on Zoom
Meeting ID: 949 5253 7079
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Mocktails and Mock Interviews with EOP and USS
2026-05-11 14:00 - 16:00 | Academic Resources Center (ARC), 408 McHenry Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Join us for an afternoon soirée of delicious mocktails and delightful mock interview conversations.
Get inquisitive with your fellow soirée companions as we delve into the do’s and don’t of interviews, then take a turn yourself to debut your interview skills and practice proper interview etiquette.
Questions and Accommodations may be addressed to your gracious hosts at bridgekk@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.
To learn more, please visit UC Nondiscrimination Statement or Nondiscrimination Policy for UC Publications.
