Tech for Social Good supports cross-disciplinary student projects and events aiming to address significant social challenges with technology-based solutions.

Musk, after folding xAI into SpaceX, is pitching “data centers in space”: satellite-based compute powered by solar energy to dodge Earth’s grid and politics. It’s alluring, messy, and launch-heavy: ~580 car-years of CO2 per Falcon Heavy launch.

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

The #1 New York Times bestselling authors of Designing Your Life return with a groundbreaking guide to transforming your daily routine into one brimming with joy, purpose, and meaning.: How to Live a Meaningful Life

The City of Santa Cruz and Santa Cruz Sister Cities Committee is forming an adult delegation to attend the three-day global Waves of Change Forum in Biarritz, France, June 1-3, 2026. As sister cities, Santa Cruz and Biarritz have much in common, in particular their desire to remain sustainable and resilient coastal towns. 

Community pressure paid off: the Murray Street Bridge moves toward a two-way automated signal. A petition helped common sense win, proving local engagement can change outcomes. More green lights ahead.

Thank you to all who joined us last night for the 2025 Titans Awards! We include individual videos of each Titan, and a smattering of photos.

Tech workers are speaking out after deadly ICE actions in Minneapolis, urging companies to end ties with immigration enforcement. Hundreds have signed an open letter calling on CEOs to cancel ICE contracts.

Most people instinctively avoid conflict. We've been conditioned to see disagreement as inherently negative, something to smooth over or sidestep entirely. But this aversion comes at a cost.

If you’re like most nonprofit professionals right now, you’re hearing about AI everywhere. Maybe you’re curious. Maybe you’re skeptical. You might think it is another tech trend and it’s not important unless it can help you meet next quarter’s fundraising goals. Well… this article is for you!

Nonprofits don’t need big budgets to benefit from AI. This guide shares seven low-cost moves: spot major donors, triage email, draft social posts, personalize stewardship, speed grants, add website chatbots, and auto-summarize meetings. The rule: humans verify, protect data always.

The launch featured student Shark Tank–style pitches, a fireside chat, a discussion with panelists, and a digital ribbon-cutting that officially launched the 3DE Club platform.

In a talk with young innovators, Joby Aviation founder JoeBen Bevirt demystifies entrepreneurship: start with real problems, prototype relentlessly, learn from failure, and build strong teams. His message: curiosity plus discipline turns ideas into impact.

The County of Santa Cruz introduces the county's Regional Inoperable Next Generation (RING) radio system.

Doug Erickson, Executive Director of Santa Cruz Works, has been invited to become an honorary member of UC Santa Cruz’s National Academy of Inventors Chapter, recognizing his impact on invention commercialization and the regional innovation ecosystem built through Santa Cruz Works’ growth and partnerships.

On February 7, Santa Cruz celebrates 18 years of Santa Cruz Works, born as Santa Cruz New Tech Meetup, whose county proclamation turned a monthly gathering into an innovation engine.

Santa Cruz County is advancing a new framework for utility-scale battery storage that strengthens grid reliability while putting safety first. Inspired by lessons from Moss Landing, the plan bans higher-risk chemistries, adds monitoring and setbacks, and treats storage as essential climate infrastructure.

From the Jack O’Neill Lounge overlooking Cowell’s, Doug Erickson explains why tiny Santa Cruz punches above its weight in innovation. From UCSC genomics to Joby aviation, local founders keep building. Santa Cruz Works exists to keep that talent home.

3D Entrepreneurs (3DE) Club launches January 25 at the Santa Cruz MAH, raising funds to help kids (8-12) experience ideation-to-commercialization. It’s a bet on natural intelligence: creativity, confidence, and value creation in an accelerating world.

Steve Fortunato’s CEO Works talk reframed leadership as hospitality: stop acting like a hero extracting value, start hosting to create it. After decades of keynote speakers, he stands out as the best corporate retreat speaker I’ve ever heard.