Media Highlights
January 2009
This summary highlights media placements members of the UCSC community have garnered during the month of January 2009.
National and international
A report by astronomer Greg Laughlin and colleagues on an extrasolar planet with extreme temperature swings received widespread media coverage, including stories in the San Francisco Chronicle, Santa Cruz Sentinel, San Jose Mercury News, Contra Costa Times, Wired News, BBC News, National Geographic News, Discover, New Scientist, Sky & Telescope, Bloomberg News, Salon.com, MSNBC.com, CBC News (Canada), Edmonton Sun (Canada), Guardian (U.K.), Register (U.K.), Tech Herald, Science Daily, Space Daily, an Associated Press story that ran in the Boston Herald, Denver Post, Houston Chronicle, Minneapolis Star Tribune, and many other newspapers and online news sites around the country, as well as international coverage in Australia, France, India, Pakistan, and South Africa. In addition, he discussed his research on NPR's Talk of the Nation "Science Friday."
Economist Lori Kletzer was invited to contribute to the New York Times economics blog, where she described what she thinks the fed's $500 billion bailout should look like. Kletzer was also quoted in a National Journal article about the shortcomings of the nation's unemployment insurance system. Kletzer is a leading expert on labor economics and coauthor of a wage-insurance proposal designed to help make up the earnings gap when a laid-off worker is forced to take a new job that pays less.
The San Francisco Chronicle's Sunday, January 11, front page featured a story about a first-of-its-kind project, led by assistant professor of environmental studies Chris Wilmers, attempting to track Bay Area mountain lions, which are being seen in greater numbers as urban areas spread into the region's wildlands. The research was also featured in a report on Quest, KQED Radio's multimedia series exploring Northern California science, environment, and nature.
Postdoctoral researcher Chris Darimont of environmental studies hit a media home run with a paper about the impact of commercial fishing and hunting on the size and reproductive patterns of fish and other species. Among the news outlets that covered the story were the New York Times, NPR's Science Friday, Reuters, Britain's Telegraph, the BBC, the United Kingdom's Press Association, the online magazine National Parks Traveler, Digital Journal, New Scientist, EARTH magazine, Fox News, KUSP Radio, National Geographic Online, Scientific American's 60-Second Science Blog, the Santa Cruz Sentinel, Discovery News, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, ScienceNOW, wired.com, livescience.com, environmentalresearchweb.org, redOrbit.com, sciencedaily.com, and thetyee.com, as well as publications in Hungary, France, Poland, and Slovakia. Several Canadian newspapers also ran the story, including the Calgary Herald, Globe and Mail, and National Post.
A study led by biologist Marm Kilpatrick of disease transmission from Yellowstone bison to cattle received widespread coverage, including the San Jose Mercury News, Santa Cruz Sentinel, Associated Press, UPI,Forbes, Canadian Business, MSN Money, MSNBC, Scientific American, Wildlife Extra, Ag Weekly, Biology News Net, Science Daily, PhysOrg, Science Centric, Billings Gazette, and Casper Star-Tribune.
New findings by astrophysicist Mark Krumholz on how massive stars form received international coverage, with stories in German, Swiss, Russian, Dutch, and Spanish media, as well as USA Today, Santa Cruz Sentinel, Science Daily, Physics World, Live Science, Space.com, Red Orbit, and Science Blog.
Patricia Zavella of Latin American and Latino studies published an article about immigration reform in the winter 2009 issue of Ms. magazine.
Social psychologist Elliot Aronson's work was the focus of a lengthy Washington Post article, pegged to New Year's resolutions, about the most successful strategies that help people change their behavior. Years of research on cognitive dissonance suggest that feelings of inducing feelings of hypocrisy have lasting effects, according to Aronson. The JournalTimes.com also ran the article.
Engineer Jacob Rosen's medical robotics research was featured in the Santa Cruz Sentinel, Innovation Watch, MedGadget, Mechatronics Zone, PhysOrg.com, and BoingBoing.
The Wall Street Journal published a review of a new book by professor of history and literature Nathaniel Deutsch titled Inventing America's 'Worst' Family.
An article on the "Careers" web site of Science magazine about ethnic diversity in science journalism features prominently UCSC's Science Communication Program, with quotes from director Rob Irion and alum Kenneth Chang of the New York Times.
Stories about Baskin Engineering's new Keck Center for Nanoscale Optofluidics ran in the Silicon Valley Business Journal, Triangle Business Journal, Nanotechnology News, Nanotech Now, Nanowerk, BioOptics World, and AzoNano.com.
Jonathan Fox of Latin American and Latino studies fielded a call from the Associated Press about a father charged with arranging for his 14-year-old daughter to marry a neighbor in exchange for $16,000. The father is a member of an indigenous Mexican Trique community, in which such arranged marriages are not uncommon. Fox noted that the case is not the first he has heard of. The International Herald Tribune was among the papers that ran the story.
New Scientist magazine ran a story about biochemist David Deamer's research on the origins of life. . . . Biochemist Michael Robertson was quoted in a New Scientist story about RNA molecules evolving in laboratory test tubes. . . And physicist Anthony Aguirre was quoted in a New Scientist article about new ideas in cosmology.
Ocean scientist Raphael Kudela was interviewed about domoic acid poisoning in marine animals for the Public Radio International program Living on Earth.
An Associated Press story about the "leap second" added by official timekeepers at the end of 2008 included quotes from Lick Observatory analyst Steve Allen.
As part of a package of stories about dreaming, the Daily Oklahoman published an article about research professor of psychology Bill Domhoff's dream research. . . . Domhoff's work was also included among developments in dream research on the Softpedia web site.
Research professor Thomas Pettigrew of psychology penned a letter to the editors of Newsweek, thanking them for a column about the complex interaction between environmental and genetic factors that shape human behavior. Pettigrew called the subject one of the "most misunderstood by both the media and the public."
Research on ocean chemistry by marine scientists Adina Paytan and Elizabeth Griffith was reported on Environmental Research Web, Digital Journal, Science Daily, ScienceCentric, Mongabay, eScienceNews, Red Orbit, Huliq, and Hindustan Times.
Deborah Letourneau of environmental studies was quoted in a story on Scientific American's 60-Second Science Blog, about lady bugs. Letourneau said the news that lady bugs are more populous in organic olive orchards than those sprayed with pesticides was both "timely and useful."
Happy teachers produce students who score better on tests, according to a new North Carolina study conducted by UCSC's New Teacher Center for the governor's office. The results were published in an article in the Fayetteville Observer.
Planetary scientist Francis Nimmo was quoted in a story about the surface of Mars in Discovery News.
Food Management magazine tapped Scott Berlin of Dining Services for an article about the "green kitchen" that featured tips from commercial kitchen operators, manufacturers, and consultants. Berlin urged readers to adopt best practices in food sourcing, pollution prevention, waste collection and composting, and recycling, and he mentioned the campus's new solar-powered trash compactors.
Astronomer Jason Prochaska's research on star formation in the early universe was covered by the Santa Cruz Sentinel, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Science News, and Science Daily.
Astronomer Sandra Faber was quoted in an article in McClatchy Newspapers about advances in telescopes. . . . And a Science News for Kids feature on the Hubble Space Telescope included quotes from Faber.
The Apprenticeship in Ecological Horticulture was mentioned in an article in the Capital Times of Madison, Wisconsin.
In an article about the dire financial situation faced by San Francisco's Magic Theater, the New York Times noted that Shakespeare Santa Cruz was able to raise more than $400,000 in a short period of time when faced with a similar situation. . . . The Denver Post also reported on SSC's fundraising efforts in a story about theater companies facing an uncertain future. Similar stories citing SSC appeared in SF Weekly and the News Virginian.
Chemists Roger Linington and Scott Lokey were quoted in a Wired News story about the UCSC Chemical Screening Center.
Associate college administrative officer Mari Ortiz-McGuire was quoted in a story about ethnic-themed campus housing in Diverse Issues in Higher Education.
Boulder Colorado's Daily Camera noted that UCSC had established the Rosalie Sorrels Archive in the University Library, adding that the famed American folk singer/storyteller was a contemporary of Pete Seeger and Studs Terkel.
State and regional
Biologist Ronald Schusterman was quoted in a San Francisco Chronicle story about walruses.
Biologist Samantha Simmons was quoted in an article about elephant seals at Año Nuevo state reserve in the San Mateo County Times and Santa Cruz Sentinel.
In a recap of the best theater of 2008, San Francisco Chronicle critic Robert Hurwitt named theater arts professor Paul Whitworth "MVP" of the year--noting that the former artistic director of Shakespeare Santa Cruz "gave one of the performances of a lifetime" in Conor McPherson's Shining City at SF Playhouse in October, adding that "in a year festooned with outstanding performances, Whitworth raised the bar."
The Contra Costa Times, Monterey Herald, and Santa Cruz Sentinel ran a story about Mark Snyder's research on changes in coastal winds due to climate change.
Chancellor Blumenthal, Arts dean David Evan Jones, SSC artistic director Marco Barricelli and SSC managing director Marcus Cato were quoted in a variety of local and regional media about Shakespeare Santa Cruz's fundraising efforts in late December. Coverage included two front page stories in the Santa Cruz Sentinel, plus reports in the San Jose Mercury News, Mid-County Post, Monterey County Herald, and on KUSP, KAZU, KSBW-TV, KION TV, KTVU, and Fox-News.
A Ventura County Star profile of a printmaking instructor at Ventura College noted that she was drawn into the field by art lecturer/printmaker Paul Rangell, while attending UCSC as a student.
Local
This month in the Santa Cruz Sentinel:
The mountain lion research led by Chris Wilmers of environmental studies was showcased on the front page. . . . The paper reported that first-time director and UCSC alumnus Cary Joji Fukunaga received the award for best "Directing, U.S. Drama," at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. . . . It was announced that UCSC was hosting a symposium moderated by literature professor and Jewish Studies director Murray Baumgarten in collaboration with an exhibit at the Museo ItaloAmericano in San Francisco. . . . Vice chancellor of student affairs Felicia McGinty and feminist studies professor Bettina Aptheker were quoted for an article about the inauguration of Barack Obama. . . . In a story about how Congressman Sam Farr voted on a resolution supporting Israel, Ronnie Lipschutz commented on Farr's decision to break with his party with a nonvote of "present." The story also ran in the Monterey County Herald. . . . The Sentinel and San Jose Mercury News ran a story about Earth scientist Andy Fisher's research on underground water in Pajaro Valley.
. . . The paper published a section-front article about the popularity of home food production. The piece was linked to a series of public workshops offered by the Friends of the UCSC Farm & Garden. . . . In an article about this year's annual Gail Rich Awards to heroes of the Santa Cruz arts scene, it was noted that 2009 award winners Rowland and Pat Rebele had previously established a chair in art history at UCSC. . . . Professor Emeritus Carter Wilson of community studies was quoted in an article about the new film, Milk. Wilson was a screenwriter on the 1984 documentary The Times of Harvey Milk. The article also appeared on the San Jose Mercury News web site. . . . A presentation by biologist Donald Potts on the biological effects of ocean acidification was covered. . . . A story ran about environmental toxicologist Peter Weiss and his performance as "The Singing Scientist," which also appeared in the San Jose Mercury News.
Media Newswire published the press release about anthropologist Nancy Chen's new book Food, Medicine, and the Quest for Good Health, and the Santa Cruz Sentinel also published an article about Chen's book.
Local online news site Courant Times ran a story about the Seymour Marine Discovery Center.