Nine bold new research projects, from decoding fungal networks to mapping the genetic secrets of aging, just got seed funding from the UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute, and a new wet lab partnership with SCWorks could soon give them all a home.

UC Santa Cruz researchers are monitoring Southern California wetlands to measure carbon storage, methane emissions, and air quality. Their findings could help California make smarter decisions about future climate investments and restoration projects.

Professor Daniel Kim at UCSC has announced a partnership with Oxford Nanopore Technologies to advance RNA liquid biopsy for early cancer detection.

SFIG is launching UCSC’s first student-run investment fund, expanding finance access through a nonprofit endowment, industry partnerships, certifications, research tools, and real-world investing experience.

As AI reshapes the job market, universities must do more than prepare students for employment. They should become incubators for entrepreneurship, teaching critical thinking, curiosity, ethics, and innovation so young people can build the future, not just enter it.

Doug Erickson, a UCSC English and Latin Literature grad, reflects on Anthropic co-founder Daniela Amodei’s ABC News interview, arguing AI makes empathy, communication, and humanities-trained judgment essential as startups shift from coding to coordination.

Interested in learning about the latest scientific research and innovations? Check out UC Santa Cruz’s Science in the Neighborhood series!

Drawing from personal experience as a UCSC literature major, we can examine how AI tools are reshaping education.

David Deamer and David Haussler have received the highest professional distinction awarded to academic inventors.

UC Santa Cruz alumnus Aviv Elor, co-founder of Immergo Labs, has been honored with the 2025 UC Santa Cruz Outstanding Recent Alumni Award.

Have an idea for a business that will help improve the ocean or climate? Check out this program hosted by the Sustainable Ocean Alliance.

The Genomics Rooftop Mixer brought together leaders in genomics, biotech, and entrepreneurship. Hosted by Santa Cruz Works and UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute, it showcased breakthrough ideas through lightning talks and demos—capturing the final spark of summer in inspiring photos.

UC Santa Cruz has earned a prestigious spotlight on TIME’s Best Inventions of 2025 list, recognizing two groundbreaking projects with significant contributions from the university's researchers, students, and alumni.

CareerLoop, a free digital platform developed by UCSC student William Zhao, is addressing the growing need for job seekers to move beyond the traditional resume by providing a simple, accessible tool for building professional portfolios.

Linda Hirsch, a postdoctoral fellow at UC Santa Cruz who is supported by the Center for Coastal Climate Resilience, is exploring how technology can help individuals and communities prepare for and recover from climate-related hazards.

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory has unveiled its first breathtaking images from the world’s largest digital camera.

A Nobel Prize-winner, a Johns Hopkins doctor, and a university leader on why billions of dollars in NIH funding is worth the price.

Colligan Clinical Diagnostic Lab is now CLIA-certified to test pediatric cancer samples using advanced RNA sequencing, aiming to identify life-saving treatments by detecting targets traditional DNA tests may overlook.

Explore how technology can spark social change. 

UC Santa Cruz’s Quarry Amphitheater welcomes the Parliament Funkadelic featuring George Clinton on April 26.