Institute of the Arts and Sciences

The Institute of the Arts and Sciences is an interdisciplinary public forum located in the Arts Division at the University of California, Santa Cruz. With a wide-ranging program of speakers, exhibitions and events, the IAS showcases artists, scholars and activists who address the critical issues of our time.

Events from this organizer

Today

  • students stand in front of a wall with multiple photographs on it

    First Friday Alumni Event at the IAS

    Featured
    Institute of the Arts and Sciences 100 Panetta Ave, Santa Cruz, United States

    Join fellow Banana Stugs past and present on First Friday at the IAS. This alumni-focused event will feature immersive art and science exhibition tours led by current students as well as refreshments, crafts, and other entertainment. Tours will be offered at 5:30 and 6:30 pm of Weather and the Whale, an art and science exhibition […]

  • Poster for documentary film

    How Long is Long Enough: Screening and Conversation

    Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos 1817 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, 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 […]

  • Like Water: A Participatory Walk from the Edge of the City to the Sea

    Intersections of Climate Change
    Institute of the Arts and Sciences 100 Panetta Ave, Santa Cruz, United States

    Inspired by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, Bruce Lee, and the Hong Kong protestors, join artist A. Laurie Palmer, in collaboration with Cid Pearlman and Ilia Dolgov to practice moving together as a body of water, walking west from the Institute of the Arts and Sciences, along Delaware Ave., to the ocean. On the way, participants will […]

    FREE and open to the public
  • people on a dark stage

    Screening: Queering Movement, Stories Embodied Film Shorts

    Institute of the Arts and Sciences 100 Panetta Ave, Santa Cruz, United States

    The IAS, BBQueer Fest, and Motion Pacific invite you to attend “Queering Movement: Stories Embodied,” an evening celebrating short films by local Black, brown and queer artists and dancers. The screening and Q&A with filmmakers and participants showcases the interplay of activism, movement, and performance. Social hour to follow! Light snacks and (non-alcoholic) refreshments will be provided. Films are in […]

  • sea lions swimming with their heads above water

    Pesticide Impacts in and around Monterey Bay lecture

    Intersections of Climate Change
    Institute of the Arts and Sciences 100 Panetta Ave, Santa Cruz, United States

    The short- and long-term health impacts of pesticide use for local communities on land as well as in the ocean are addressed in a conversation with Yanely Martinez, Katherine Gabriel-Cox, Adam Scow and Logan Pallin. This event is presented as part of as part of the Intersections of Climate Change series, and is organized with […]

    FREE and open to the public

  • dark skies reveal an orange smoky fire on the horizon

    Climate Justice and the Moss Landing Battery Fire Panel

    Intersections of Climate Change
    Institute of the Arts and Sciences 100 Panetta Ave, Santa Cruz, United States

    As part of the Intersections of Climate Change Lecture series there will be a panel discussion including marine geologist Ivano Aiello and environmental studies scholars J. Mijin Cha and Dustin Mulvaney focused on the climate justice issues raised by the Moss Landing Battery Storage System fire. The Intersections of Climate Change Series is organized with […]

    FREE and open to the public
  • pile of mahjong tiles

    Lunar New Year First Friday with Santa Cruz Mahjong Club

    Institute of the Arts and Sciences 100 Panetta Ave, Santa Cruz, United States

    Celebrate the Year of the Horse on Friday, February 6, at the Institute of the Arts and Sciences for a night of student-led craft activities and (beginner-friendly) mahjong play hosted by the Santa Cruz Mahjong Club. Craft materials and light refreshments will be provided at this family friendly event. — ADMISSION – FREE and open to […]

  • California Firefighter Cancer Research Study Panel

    Intersections of Climate Change
    Institute of the Arts and Sciences 100 Panetta Ave, Santa Cruz, United States

    In the month of February, The intersections of Climate Change lecture series will host a panel discussion with Dr. Shehnaz Hussain and Fire Captain Jamie Gabriel. They will discuss ongoing research in cancer being the leading cause of death among California firefighters and why preventative interventions remain elusive. The Intersections of Climate Change Series is […]

    FREE and open to the public

  • Electroacoustic Performance and Artist Talk with the Whale Liberation Front

    Intersections of Climate Change
    Institute of the Arts and Sciences 100 Panetta Ave, Santa Cruz, United States

    Experience a performance and talk by composers and sound artists Corey Diane and Peter J. Bowling, two members of the Whale Liberation Front. The Intersections of Climate Change Series is organized with the Friedlaender Lab in conjunction with Weather and the Whale. — ADDITIONAL SERIES EVENTS – Thurs. Feb. 5, 6:00 p.m: Intersections of Climate […]

    FREE and open to the public

  • Unexpected Returns: The Historic Entanglements of Fire, Settlement, and Stewardship in the Santa Cruz Mountains

    Intersections of Climate Change
    Institute of the Arts and Sciences 100 Panetta Ave, Santa Cruz, United States

    Join UCSC  faculty members Miriam Greenberg and Andrew Matthews as they discuss the deep regional histories of fire, from indigenous burning, settler ranching, fire suppression, and much more. This event is part of Intersections of Climate Change,  a series organized with the Friedlaender Lab in conjunction with Weather and the Whale. ADMISSION – FREE and […]

    FREE and open to the public
  • Fire Graphic

    Unexpected Returns: The Historic Entanglements of Fire, Settlement, and Stewardship in the Santa Cruz Mountains

    Institute of the Arts and Sciences 100 Panetta Ave, Santa Cruz, United States

    March 4th, 2026 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Miriam Greenberg and Andrew Matthews will present the findings of UCSC researchers who have spent three years studying the ecological, social, and political economic processes that have set the stage for contemporary wildfires, in what has become known as the “Wildland Urban Interface” (WUI). Come and […]

  • Weather and the Whale Book Launch and Closing Party

    Institute of the Arts and Sciences 100 Panetta Ave, Santa Cruz, United States

    March 6, 2026 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. The IAS will host a Celebration of the release of the Weather and the Whale catalog with an after-hours viewing of the exhibition and a conversation with three of the exhibition collaborators and catalog contributors: Guillermo Delgado-P, Kailani Polzak and Zac Zimmer. Distributed by University of Minnesota […]

  • “The Cigarette Surfboard” screening with filmmaker Ben Judkins (Kresge ’17)

    Join Banana Slug alumni filmmaker Ben Judkins (Kresge ’17, film and digital media) and “ciggy board” creator Taylor Lane for a screening of their award-winning documentary, The Cigarette Surfboard (presented by the California Coastal Commission’s Whale Tail Grant). 5:00-6:00 PM | alumni meet & greet with light refreshments 6:00-7:35 PM | film screening 7:35-8:30 PM | filmmaker discussion 8:30-9:00 PM | mingle REGISTER ABOUT […]

    Free