A transformational gift to uplift a generation
An approximately $20 million scholarship fund established by the late alumnus Richard “Rick” Sabatte will provide full four-year scholarships and living expenses to hundreds of scholars over the next three decades. The gift—the single largest cash gift the university has ever received—will benefit 30–50 students each year, starting this fall.
A galaxy far, far away
An international team co-led by a UC Santa Cruz astronomer discovered the two earliest and most distant galaxies yet confirmed, dating back to only 300 million years after the Big Bang.
Documenting a legacy
UC Santa Cruz, in partnership with the Dolores Huerta Foundation, secured a $1 million Mellon Foundation grant to establish public archives documenting the extraordinary legacy of social justice icon Dolores Huerta, highlighting the university’s leadership in preserving and amplifying the voices of women of color and advancing impactful research and education.
A lightbulb moment
Large language models like ChatGPT are changing our lives—but their energy costs and carbon footprint are sky high. UC Santa Cruz researchers have shown how to dramatically reduce both, using energy about equal to powering a lightbulb, while maintaining state-of-the-art performance.
From classroom to career
With a $1 million Mellon Foundation grant, the Humanities Division is redefining humanities education by launching the Employing Humanities initiative, equipping students with experiential learning opportunities and career-ready skills to thrive as socially-conscious leaders.
Reserve strength
The 2,400-acre Strathearn Ranch in San Benito County will become the newest UC Natural Reserve. Made possible by an estate gift to our campus, the reserve—to be stewarded by UC Santa Cruz—will serve as a living laboratory and outdoor classroom for field courses, research projects, and hands-on learning experiences.
Using AI to foresee climate-change impacts
UC Santa Cruz researchers are harnessing advanced AI to improve how scientists measure and predict the effects of climate change.
Creative Technologies is a new major for a new age
The new Creative Technologies major in the Arts Division prepares students to excel at the intersection of arts and technology, providing them with innovative skills, ethical insights, and a justice-focused perspective to bring to the future of creative industries.
Social media’s role in changing views of gender, sexuality
UC Santa Cruz researchers are advancing understanding of gender and sexuality in the 21st century with groundbreaking work that highlights the transformative role of social media in fostering diversity, while addressing cultural backlash and offering actionable insights for psychologists.
