Events

Movies to let you "Think Different": Just Mercy
2026-02-26 20:30 - 22:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Porter/Kresge Dining Hall, 411 Porter-Kresge Rd, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Join Porter College for a screening of Just Mercy
Whether it’s just entertainment and a study break, or you want to let your mind stretch in a different direction from your classes and homework. We hope you might find these films engaging.
Popcorn, hot tea, and cocoa will be provided.

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.

Food as Resistance Within the Black Diaspora
2026-02-27 09:00 - 23:30 | Cowell Coffee Shop, 1156 high St, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, United States
Join us for our second workshop to cook breakfast for the community and discuss food as resistance within the Black diaspora. Topics include: urban farming, food distribution in organizing, and afroecology. Make sure to RSVP: https://forms.gle/Gqwfp71fPbyzUaX67
This event is open to all students consistent with state and federal law.

Semiconductor Career Summit - From Campus to Silicon Valley
2026-02-27 09:45 - 16:00 | Stevenson Event Center, Stevenson Service Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
A SEMI Professional Development Seminar organized by the SEMI Silicon Valley Chapter – Connecting College Students to the Semiconductor Industry. Learn about career opportunities in high tech and acquire valuable, practical information that will help you choose career directions and plan for your success.
Come learn about careers in the semiconductor industry at the SEMI Professional Development Seminar hosted by UC Santa Cruz.

Listen to professionals in the industry talk about their roles and find out how to prepare for jobs in the Semiconductors Industry.
Discover semiconductor job opportunities you didn’t know existed (internship and entry-level) and how you can prepare for them through job searches, interviews, resumes, and more.
Meet with professionals and executives during our speed mentoring, mock interview, and networking sessions.

All majors are welcome! Students with a background in Engineering, Computer Science, Chemistry, Physics, Math, Data Science, and Business are strongly encouraged to attend.

Enjoy free food, free swag, and giveaways.
Students can come and go.

EVENT is FREE but registration is required. Register by Feb 20th to secure a lunch.
Event is organized by SEMI in collaboration with Career Success, Baskin Engineering and the Innovation & Business Engagement Hub.
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.
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 event date.

Sip Smarter
2026-02-27 11:00 - 14:00 | Porter/Kresge Dining Hall, 411 Porter-Kresge Rd, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Sip Smarter @ UCSC is your chance to grab a free drink, connect with friends, and learn how small choices can make a big impact. Stop by this drop-in campus event in partnership with Pepsi to enjoy one of nearly 1,000 canned beverages while exploring UCSC Dining’s move toward more sustainable packaging and right-sized portions.
Through quick, interactive activities, you’ll discover why aluminum cans can be a smarter option for the planet — and get the inside scoop on campus retail spots where you can find exclusive canned drinks not available in the dining halls. Swing by, sip, and see what it’s all about.
Date: Friday, Feb. 27
Time: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Location: Porter/Kresge Dining Hall

URBAN Lunch Hour: IRB Guidelines and Community-Engaged Research
2026-02-27 12:00 - 13:00
February 27, 2026 | Noon–1PM *ONLINE*
Institutional Review Board (IRB) guidelines are not fully aligned with the ethical priorities of community-engaged research. Join Dr. Rebecca London and Ned LeBlond as they discuss barriers and solutions for developing clearer practices and stronger collaborations between researchers and the IRB for supporting ethical community-engaged research at UC Santa Cruz.
This event is co-sponsored by UC Santa Cruz Campus + Community (C+C) and Urban Research Based Action Network (URBAN)
Register Here.

Get Certified in CPR, First Aid, and AED!
2026-02-27 13:00 - 15:00 | Scotts Valley Center
Location: Scotts Valley Center
Register for the training.
This Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED blended learning course equips you to recognize and care for various first aid breathing and cardiac emergencies involving adults, children, and infants. It is designed for individuals who need a certification that satisfies OSHA workplace or other regulatory requirements.
This class is taught in a blended learning format and the online portion must be completed before attending the Instructor-led skills session. A valid 2-year digital certificate for Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED is issued upon completion.
This training will be held on-site at the Scotts Valley Center. To register, please fill out the registration link.
For more information, please visit the Occupational Health Training website.
For questions or to schedule a training for your team, please contact Occupational Health Specialist, Elizabeth Tomlinson, at ektomlin@ucsc.edu.

"Career Success Resources" for UTC Transfer/Continuing Students
2026-02-27 16:00 - 17:00
Come and find out ALL that Career Success has to offer to UCSC students – every resources is FREE for you! Resume/Cover Letter feedback, Career Coaching Appointments, Graduate School Preparation, Interviewing Skills, Networking Opportunities, Career Fairs, Professional Development Workshops and MORE!
All students are welcome. The presentation will last 30 minutes, followed by a 15-minute Q&A.
We will provide captions for the presentation. If you have disability-related needs, please contact the Career Success office at csuccess@ucsc.edu or (831) 459-4420 as soon as possible.

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

Pachanga 2026: Noche de Baile
2026-02-27 18:00 - 21:30 | Cultural Center – Merrill College, 641 Merrill Rd, Santa Cruz, 95064, United States
Join El Centro, the African American Resource and Cultural Center (AARCC), and Merrill College for our annual Noche de Baile as part of Pachanga 2026! For years, El Centro and the AARCC have collaborated on Pachanga, an annual event series during Black History Month focused on uplifting and celebrating AfroLatinidad. Each year, the series culminates in a Noche de Baile, where folks come together in community and dance. This year’s baile will be held on Friday, February 27th from 6 PM to 9:30 PM at the Cultural Center at Merrill.
We are excited to welcome Portsha Jefferson, of Rara Tou Limen in Oakland, CA, who will be offering a live traditional Haitian dance workshop. Stick around for an open dance floor featuring beats from DJ Rianna! We will have delicious food, refreshing beverages, and an evening filled with música y comunidad!
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.

Lunar New Year Santa Cruz Warriors Game
2026-02-27 19:00 - 21:00 | Kaiser Permanente Arena, 140 Front St, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, United States
The Division of Student Affairs & Success Leadership & Involvement is excited to partner with the Santa Cruz Warriors for a special Lunar New Year–themed game on Fri, 2/27/26 at 7 p.m. at Kaiser Permanente Arena .
Doors open at 6 p.m.
Tip-off at 7 p.m.
Bring your friends to cheer on the Sea Dubs as they take on the San Diego Clippers . Enjoy a special lion dance halftime performance, community gathering, and more!
A limited number of FREE student tickets will be distributed first-come, first-served at campus tabling pop-ups:
Wed, Feb 11 | 1:30–3:30 PM | S&E Library
Fri, Feb 13 | 1:30–2:30 PM | S&E Library
Wed, Feb 18 | 1:30–3:30 PM | McHenry Library
Don’t miss this chance to celebrate Lunar New Year and rep the Sea Dubs!

Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour, Santa Cruz
2026-02-27 19:00 - 22:00 | Rio Theater, 1205 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz, 95062, United States
For the 35th year, UC Santa Cruz Adventure Rec is thrilled to bring the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour to Santa Cruz! Each November, the Banff Festival in Canada showcases the year’s most breathtaking, inspiring adventure films—and we’re bringing the very best of them to the Rio Theatre, February 27, 28, & March 1, 2026.
Each night features completely different films. Join us for one, two or all three nights!
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE.
Your ticket purchases help Adventure Rec raise over $20,000 to reduce students’ Rec trip costs by up to 50%. Thank you!

The Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival is one of the largest and most prestigious mountain festivals in the world! Hot on the heels of the Festival that is held every fall in beautiful Banff, Alberta, the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour hits the road. With stops planned in over 600 communities and more than 40 countries across the globe, the Banff World Tour celebrates amazing achievements in outdoor storytelling and filmmaking worldwide.
From the over 400 entries submitted into the Festival each year, award-winners and audience favorites are among the films that are carefully selected to play in theaters around the world.
Traveling to remote vistas, analyzing topical environmental issues, and bringing audiences up-close and personal with adrenaline-packed action sports the 2025/26 World Tour is an exhilarating and provocative exploration of the mountain world.
For more information contact Adventure Rec (adventurerec@ucsc.edu; 831-459-2806).
Thank you to our local sponsors!…

Allterra Solar
Land Trust of Santa Cruz County
KZSC 88.1
Pacific Edge Climbing Gym
Good Times
Woodstock’s Pizza

Lunar New Year SC Warriors Game with ISSP
2026-02-27 19:00 - 22:00 | Kaiser Permanente Arena, 140 Front St, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, United States
Lunar New Year Santa Cruz Warriors Basketball Game
Date: Friday, February 27
Time: 19:00 Tipoff
Location: Kaiser Permanente Arena
Click here to RSVP for free ticket(s)

We are teaming up with the SC Warriors to offer a limited number of free tickets to their upcoming Lunar New Year-themed game!
Sign up above and let us know how many tickets you’d like. Students should download the SC Warriors app and link their Ticketmaster account in order to receive the digital ticket.

If you have any questions, please contact us at iprogramming@ucsc.edu.

Random With A Purpose (RWAP) XXXlV—The Experiment
2026-02-27 19:30 - 21:00 | Second Stage, Second Stage, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Random With A Purpose is a popular annual student-directed and -choreographed dance showcase.
Per directors Lydia Wallman and Brennah Lyons, this year’s production, The Experiment, “serves as a platform for collaborators to develop work that does not yet exist in the physical world and to investigate elements of community and features a cast that reflects UC Santa Cruz’s diverse student population through a wide range of dance styles and perspectives.”
Admission

General admission $5–$20 “Pay What You Like”
FREE for UCSC undergrads (ticket required).
Tickets available on Eventbrite.
Doors open 30 minutes prior to the 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.

Advisories
This performance is approximately 90 minutes with a 15-minute intermission and includes: flashing lights and mature language.
Event dates

Fri. Feb. 27: 7:30 p.m.
Sat. Feb. 28: 7:30 p.m.
Sun. Mar. 1: 2:00 p.m.
Thu. Mar. 5: 7:30 p.m.
Fri. Mar. 6: 7:30 p.m.
Sat. Mar. 7: 7:30 p.m.
Sun. Mar. 8: 2:00 p.m.

Parking

Parking by permit, ParkMobile, or $11.00 cash/credit card via the on-site parking attendant
Arts parking 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.
Refer to Transportation & Parking Services for more information.

This program is open to all members of the public consistent with state and federal law.

The Rite of Strings— "One Night Only" concert with UCSC Music Department faculty and special guests
2026-02-27 19:30 - 21:00 | Music Center Recital Hall, 400 McHenry Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Audiences are invited to a concert featuring Christopher Mallett, guitar; William Coulter, guitar; Robert Miller, guitar; and Grijda Spiri, violin.
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ADVISORIES
– Seating is first-come, first-served
– No intermission
—
ADMISSION
– FREE and open to the public
– Open seating (no ticket required)
– Doors are scheduled to open 30 minutes prior to event start time.
—
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.
– 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)
—
This program is open to all members of the public consistent with state and federal law.

Practical Activism Conference
2026-02-28 00:00 - 23:59 | Colleges Nine and John R. Lewis College Multi-purpose Room, 615 College Nine Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Join us for the 23rd annual Practical Activism Conference. This day-long, student-coordinated conference features speakers, workshops, tabling and hands on opportunities.

UC Davis Alumni Careers & Identity Conference 2026
2026-02-28 08:30 - 15:50
Join fellow UC alumni in Sacramento for a dynamic, in-person conference exploring
topics at the intersection of career and identity. Enjoy interactive breakout sessions,
meaningful networking opportunities and important conversations designed specifically
for UC alumni.
Open to graduates from all UC campuses, this event welcomes anyone interested in the
topics presented.
Registration and experience include:
● Full conference program and materials
● Professional headshots
● Light breakfast and catered lunch
● Exhibitor fair
● Prize giveaways and more
Register by January 31 to take advantage of early-bird pricing.
Standard registration closes February 21.
Learn More and Register

Education Innovation Workshop: Math Atlas
2026-02-28 09:00 - 15:00 | Silicon Valley Campus, 3175 Bowers Avenue, Santa Clara, CA, 95054, United States
Welcome to The Math Altas!
In this one-day workshop, learning specialist Elizabeth Powell will be sharing her 35 years of experience as an educator in evidence-based strategies from The Math Atlas framework. We’ll talk about instructional effectiveness and learner engagement in one-on-one math settings.
You’ll get to evaluate the real-world implications of visual, verbal, and multi-sensory approaches to math instruction by reflecting on case examples and adapting them to the needs of individual learners and you’ll discover how The Math Atlas methods strengthen conceptual understanding and procedural fluency in mathematics.
This workshop is very welcoming to those who have struggled in math as well as those who love it!
Note: Teachers are welcome to attend, but we’ll be focusing on individualized instruction rather than classroom techniques.
Welcome to our immersive Education Innovation workshop series.
Join master educators to explore the most current, evidence-based best practices to keep your knowledge and skills up to date and to strengthen your ability to support every student. Each session is led by an expert in the field with real-world experience, who will guide you through the material and help you apply it immediately to your work. This workshop is sponsored by the UCSC Silicon Valley Extension Educational Therapy certificate program.
Enroll today.

Monterey Bay Aquarium Trip
2026-02-28 10:30 - 16:30 | Cowell College, 257 Cowell-Stevenson Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Join International Student Services and Programming (ISSP) for our annual trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. This will be a great time to get to know each other more while exploring an exciting and beautiful location.

The trip will be limited to 30 participants. Non-international students can also sign up, but priority will be given to those who are a part of the Global Mentorship Program and/or are international students. The cost of participation is $25 and includes a round-trip shuttle service and entry to the aquarium. Fees will be charged to your UCSC account following the event (no pre-payment is required).

We recommend bringing about $20 for lunch and souvenirs. You can also bring your own lunch/snacks if you’d prefer.

Please RSVP here by Friday, February 20th to reserve your spot!
Date: Saturday, February 28
Time: 10:30-16:30
Location: Cowell Circle, UCSC Campus
Meeting Location: Please meet at Cowell Circle between 10:15-10:30 for this exciting day trip!
The last day to cancel is Wednesday, February 25th. If you cancel beyond this date, you’ll be responsible for the $25 participation fee.
If you have any questions, please contact us at iprogramming@ucsc.edu.

Formula Slug Open House
2026-02-28 12:30 - 17:30 | Jack Baskin Engineering, Baskin Engineering 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
We’re excited to announce our Formula Slug Open House at Baskin Engineering on Saturday, February 28th.
Last season we placed 18th out of 120 teams representing UC Santa Cruz at the national FSAE competition, the result of a year spent designing, manufacturing, and testing our electric race car. The open house is an opportunity to see the work and decisions made behind the scenes, as well as a sneak peek into the changes being made on our next race car, FS-4.
RSVP FORM: https://forms.gle/VqZ2Pz8NdhSxhpt37
Itinerary:
12:30 PM – 1:00 PM: Guest Arrival & Seating
1:00 PM – 1:45 PM: Team Overview @ Jack Baskin Engineering (JBE) Auditorium
1:45 PM – 2:30 PM: Alumni Panel: Experiences Beyond FSAE @ JBE Auditorium
2:30 PM – 4:30 PM: Lab Tours, Subteam Showcases & Networking @ Baskin Courtyard
4:30 PM – 5:00 PM: Closing Remarks & Acknowledgements

March is Hummingbird Month at the UCSC Arboretum & Botanic Garden
2026-03-01 00:00 - 2026-03-31 23:59 | Arboretum, 122 Arboretum Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
March is Hummingbird Month at the UCSC Arboretum & Botanic Garden
This time of year, the Arboretum hosts both Anna’s and Allen’s hummingbirds, the two most common species in Northern California. “The density of hummingbirds—the number per area in the Arboretum—is ridiculously high,” says Bruce Lyon, Professor Emeriti of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UCSC. “You can watch them feeding on ﬂowers, you can watch their courtship, you can watch them chasing different species. It’s a great opportunity to see some pretty amazing hummingbird biology.”
In celebration of this special time of year, we invite you to visit the garden as much as possible! We will have presentations, workshops, and tours throughout the month. See our webpage for a schedule of activities and more information about hummingbirds and the abundance of plants at the Arboretum that attract them.
We will also feature hummingbird merchandise and hummingbird-attracting plants at our gift shop and nursery. Visit Norrie’s Gift & Garden Shop, Tuesdays thru Sundays from 10 – 4. For more information visit: https://arboretum.ucsc.edu/garden-shop/
All events are free with paid admission: Adults: $10, Seniors $8 and Youth 4-17 $5. Current UCSC students are free. Rain cancels outdoor activities.
Current Arboretum members are always free and enjoy other great benefits year-round! Join Today at https://arboretum.ucsc.edu/get-involved/join-us/

UCSC Family Opera—Mozart's "The Magic Flute"
2026-03-01 13:00 - 14:30 | Music Center Recital Hall, 400 McHenry Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Voice students, accompanied by Luke Shepherd on piano, perform an abridged version of Mozart’s The Magic Flute. This is a family-friendly production of Mozart’s most famous fairytale. Duration is approximately 1 hour with music and dialogue presented in English. The two matinee performances showcase two different casts.
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ADVISORIES
– Loud noises (thunder sound effects)
– Flashing lights
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ADMISSION
– FREE and open to the public
– Open seating (no tickets or registration required)
– First-come, first-served
—
FULL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
– Two performance of back-to-back matinees at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
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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.
– 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)
—
This program is open to all members of the public consistent with state and federal law.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) Awareness Week
2026-03-02 00:00 - 2026-03-06 23:59
Join us for OPT Awareness Week at UC Santa Cruz, a supportive and informative series designed to help international students learn about and confidently prepare for Optional Practical Training. You’ll learn application steps, key timelines, and employment rules while connecting with advisors and peers who are here to help you succeed. Whether you’re just starting to explore OPT or ready to apply, this week offers the tools and clarity you need to move forward with confidence.
Visit our website to explore the different workshops and sessions.

ECE 290 Seminar: Precision Nuclear Medicine: Engineering Solutions from Acquisition to Analysis
2026-03-02 10:40 - 11:45 | Engineering 2, Engineering 2 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Presenter: Spencer L. Bowen, Assistant Professor in the Departments of Radiology and Biomedical Engineering, UT Southwestern Medical Center
Description: The Bowen Lab focuses on the development of tools for positron emission tomography (PET) and hybrid systems (e.g. PET/CT), to advance precision imaging for the care and study of oncology, neurology, and cardiology patients. Quantitative metrics from PET are integral to both patient workup and clinical research. However, current approaches to enable quantitative imaging have substantial performance limitations that can compromise study conclusions, fail to generalize across exams and scanners, expose patients to additional ionizing radiation, or necessitate invasive procedures. To address these key barriers, Dr. Bowen and his team investigate advanced acquisition techniques, image reconstruction algorithms, and post-processing methods. Their studies span from digital simulations to human subjects research. This lecture will cover recent developments by the Bowen Lab, including 1) advanced PET data correction methods for low-dose and standalone exams, 2) non-invasive fully quantitative imaging, and 3) leveraging topical sensors to detect faulty radiotracer injections.
Bio: Spencer L. Bowen, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Radiology and Biomedical Engineering at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He earned his doctorate in biomedical engineering from University of California, Davis, where he developed hardware and algorithmic solutions to enable quantification with a breast PET/CT scanner. Dr. Bowen then worked as a research fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital on precision PET imaging methods for combined PET/MR. Prior to joining the UT Southwestern faculty in 2020, he served as a research assistant professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech-Carilion. Dr. Bowen’s research program is funded by both industry and the NIH. His work has been featured on the cover of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine and detailed by the press.
Hosted by: Professor Soumya Bose, ECE Department
Zoom Link: https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/97975378707?pwd=[REDACTED]

CM Seminar - "From Sibelius to Game: Crafting Adaptive Music for 'Kingdom Come: Deliverance'"
2026-03-02 12:30 - 13:30 | Silicon Valley Campus, 3175 Bowers Avenue, Santa Clara, CA, 95054, United States
Presented by: Adam Sporka
Description: “This talk explores the technical and creative processes behind the music of Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, where I served as a music programmer, and soundtrack contributor. Using our proprietary Sequence Music Engine and music logic module, we authentically scored the game’s 1400s Bohemia setting with segment-based adaptive music driven by in-game variables. Our workflow centers around the notation program Sibelius and our custom tool Converdi, which streamlines the production by converting the score symbols to preliminary MIDI streams per individual VSTs and by extracting the precise timing data necessary for the segment transitions. This enabled us to spend more time on the creative aspects of music and less time on production and implementation.”
The key takeaways from the talk are as follows:
* Production should start with a complete score, and not just the MIDI exports therefrom
* Custom automation tools can streamline the music creation workflow and reduce the production time
* Resequencing is more suitable for classical and medievalesque music than layering
* Rapid music prototyping allows for early testing of adaptive music directly in the game
Bio: Adam Sporka is a software developer by trade, a musician by domain, and a scientist by approach. As a researcher, developer, and educator in game audio, he places a special focus on interactive music. He has served as the technical music director for Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (Warhorse Studios) and is the author of the Sequence Music Engine, a proprietary adaptive music middleware used in both games. As a composer, he contributed to the soundtrack of both Kingdom Come: Deliverance games, writing some of the most memorable medievalesque and early renaissance pieces on the soundtrack. Currently, he teaches game audio at the University of California, Santa Cruz. He received his Ph.D. and habilitation in human-computer interaction from the Czech Technical University (Czech Republic) and was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Trento (Italy). He has published more than 50 articles in the proceedings of international conferences and academic journals. Adam is currently appointed as a principal engineer at Embody, a Sunnyvale-based game audio software company focused on the commercial applications of the head-related transfer function.
Hosted by: Professor Christina Chung
When: March 2, 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/98763397019?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 987 6339 7019
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Statistics Seminar: Decoding Phytoplankton Responses to a Changing Ocean
2026-03-02 16:00 - 17:00
Presenter: Francois Ribalet, Research Associate Professor, School of Oceanography, University of Washington
Description: François Ribalet will present new observational technologies and computational approaches for studying phytoplankton responses to ocean warming. Using SeaFlow, a custom-built automated flow cytometer deployed on over 100 research cruises, his team has collected nearly 850 billion cell measurements across global oceans. Matrix population models applied to these data reveal how temperature affects phytoplankton division rates and biomass. The research shows that Prochlorococcus, the ocean’s most abundant photosynthetic organism, experiences sharp declines in growth above 28°C. Climate projections incorporating these metabolic constraints predict a 40-60% decrease in Prochlorococcus production in tropical regions by 2100, with Synechococcus partially compensating through a 20-40% increase. These shifts between dominant phytoplankton groups will likely disrupt ocean food webs and carbon cycling, raising questions about whether tropical ecosystems can adapt to warming oceans.

Bio: François Ribalet is a research associate professor at the University of Washington studying phytoplankton and their role in ocean food webs and carbon cycling. He combines field observations with statistical models to understand how environmental changes affect the growth and community dynamics of these microscopic organisms.
Hosted by: Statistics Department

AM Seminar: The Evolving Landscape of AI for Science and Engineering: Bridging Simulation, Experiment, and Multi-scale Dynamics
2026-03-02 16:00 - 17:00
Presenter: Aditi Krishnapriyan, Assistant Professor, UC Berkeley
Description: Recent advances in large-scale scientific datasets are creating new opportunities for machine learning (ML) methods to more effectively capture scientific phenomena with greater accuracy and reach. In this talk, I will discuss how these advances are both shifting ML design paradigms and enabling new scientific inquiries. This includes investigations into understanding if neural networks can autonomously discover fundamental physical relationships from data, and demonstrating how more flexible machine learning modeling design choices enable capturing physical dynamics across multiple scales. I will also explore how generative modeling approaches rooted in statistical physics can be applied to accelerate the sampling of dynamic pathways, and as a framework to align and bridge the gap between simulated data and experimental observations.
Bio: Aditi Krishnapriyan is an Assistant Professor at UC Berkeley where she is part of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, and Berkeley AI Research; as well as a faculty scientist in the Applied Mathematics division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. She holds a PhD from Stanford University, supported by the DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellowship, was the Luis W. Alvarez Fellow in Computing Sciences at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and is a recipient of the Department of Energy Early Career Award and RCSA Scialog. Her research focuses on developing physics-inspired machine learning methods that bridge machine learning with physical science applications to capture phenomena across multiple length and timescales.
Hosted by: Applied Mathematics

Free Coffee, Snacks, & Conversation
2026-03-03 09:00 - 11:00 | Merrill College Office, 641 Merrill Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Enjoy a cup of coffee, cocoa, or tea, and a breakfast snack with Merrill Provost McGuinness. Stay and chat with him and Poppy the Merrill Chihuahua, or take it go.
See you outside of the Merrill College office, across from the Merrill Mailroom.

UCSC Orchestra—Bravada and Tchaikovsky
2026-03-03 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 winter concert, featuring Flagello’s Bravada and selections from Tchaikovsky, including the Overture–Fantasy from Romeo and Juliet and Solemn Overture from The Year 1812.
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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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CSE Colloquium - Improving Efficiency and Reliability of Foundation Models in Clinical AI
2026-03-04 11:00 - 12:15 | Engineering 2, Engineering 2 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Presenter: Vasiliki “Vicky” Bikia, PhD, Stanford Department of Biomedical Data Science and Institute for Human-Centered AI (HAI)
Abstract:
Deploying foundation models in health requires both computational efficiency and reliable generation. In this talk, I present two studies that address these dimensions separately but with a shared goal of real-world clinical deployment. The first study focuses on reduced-resolution distillation for multimodal clinical data, particularly medical imaging. As model and input sizes increase, inference cost and memory constraints become major barriers to deployment. We investigate how high-capacity teacher models can transfer structured knowledge to compact student models trained on downsampled images, using embedding-space supervision to preserve clinically meaningful representations while reducing computational footprint. The second study examines the reliability of AI-generated clinical text. Foundation models are increasingly used to produce discharge summaries and patient-facing explanations, yet fluency does not guarantee safety. We develop a structured evaluation framework grounded in clinical error taxonomies and clinician-calibrated metrics to quantify hallucinations, omissions, and semantic misalignment. Together, these studies emphasize that scalable clinical AI requires not only smaller and faster models, but also rigorous evaluation of generative reliability before deployment.
Bio:
Vasiliki Bikia is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Stanford University, affiliated with the Department of Biomedical Data Science and the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI). She received an Advanced Diploma in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and a Ph.D. in Bioengineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL). Her research focuses on medical foundation models, structured representations of health data, and the evaluation of generative systems in clinical settings. Previously, she was a Machine Learning Scientist at the Mussallem Center for Biodesign at Stanford University, where she developed software pipelines to improve data accessibility and interoperability in digital health applications. Vasiliki was selected as an MIT Rising Star in EECS (2025) and as an Emerson Consequential Scholar (2025), and is actively engaged with the Silicon Valley entrepreneurial ecosystem through collaborations at the intersection of research, industry, and healthcare. She is an organizing member of the Conference on Health, Inference, and Learning (CHIL) and serves as Unconference Chair for the 2025 and 2026 editions, where she leads the design and execution of the entrepreneurship-focused track bridging academic research and real-world deployment. Her work has appeared in venues including IEEE journals, npj Digital Medicine, Nature Communications, and leading AI conferences, and she has contributed to multiple funded research proposals and clinical studies at the intersection of AI, medicine, and translational impact.
Hosted by: Professor Nikos Tziavelis
Location: Engineering 2, E2-180 (*Refreshments such as coffee, tea, fresh fruit, and pastries will be provided)
Zoom: https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/93445911992?pwd=[REDACTED]

Penguin Random House Info Session for UC Santa Cruz Undergraduates
2026-03-04 12:00 - 13:00 | https://events.ucsc.edu/event/penguin-random-house-info-session-for-uc-santa-cruz-undergraduates/
Looking to break into the publishing field? Join us for an insightful information session with an experienced recruiter at Penguin Random House!
This session is exclusively for UCSC students and will provide an overview of pathways within publishing and careers at Penguin Random House. You will learn about their dynamic internship program and get insider tips for navigating the recruitment process. Don’t miss this opportunity to ask questions and hear directly from a publishing professional!
Register here
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Shields, S. (CM) - Procedural, Player-Centric Game Balancing
2026-03-04 13:00 - 17:00 | Merrill College, College Office, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
Game balance is a term widely used among players, researchers, and designers of games. It is a concept that feels vitally important to how we make and play games – but when we try to define it or implement it, we seldom get the same definition twice. Balance appears differently to whoever is judging it, but as researchers and designers we still must translate this element of game design into technical practice. It also is an expensive and time-consuming subject, one that requires a constant loop of playtesting and design iteration through nearly the entirety of the game development process.
This work seeks to focus our understanding of balance while offering procedural methods to either increase speed or improve quality when performing balancing tasks in game design and research. It accomplishes this by offering a taxonomy of balance alongside a generic design framework that can be used to apply balancing strategies to any game context. It additionally provides a catalog of balancing methods, allowing designers to use common patterns to apply procedural balancing to their games. Finally, I offer three technical examples using the taxonomy and framework, putting theoretical knowledge of balance into concrete technical systems.
Balance ultimately helps us design games that make us feel fairness in our play. By sharpening and optimizing our understanding of the term, we improve the games we make and open new doors in game systems design.
Event Host: Sam Shields, Ph.D. Candidate, Computational Media
Advisor: Edward F. Melcer
Zoom- https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/98956788669?pwd=[REDACTED]
Passcode- 713173
