Media Highlights
February 2009
This summary highlights media placements members of the UCSC community have garnered during the month of February 2009.
National and international
Economist Rob Fairlie was interviewed for a New York Times article on declining entrepreneurship in the financial crisis. Fairlie was also interviewed for Entrepreneur magazine about his latest book, which details the links between race and business ownership. And NewScientist reported on research by Fairlie, who found that mixed-race Americans are discriminated against just as much as African Americans in terms of salary.
The New York Times quoted Erika Zaveleta of environmental studies in its coverage of the unintended consequences of an environmental restoration effort on Macquarie Island. Zavaleta emphasized that the vast majority of invasive-species eradication initiatives have produced clear conservation gains, but she noted that unintended "ripple effects" underscore the need for planning and monitoring.
National Public Radio's "Day to Day" program featured a field report about researcher Chris Wilmers of environmental studies, who is tracking mountain lions to learn about their habits and habitat. It also aired on KQED Radio's "California Report."
Economist Lori Kletzer's most recent entry on the New York Times's blog Economix was about executive bonuses.
Seismologist Susan Schwartz was featured in widespread coverage of earthquake research, including stories in USA Today, Contra Costa Times, Sacramento Bee, Chicago Tribune, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Seattle Times, Houston Chronicle, Los Angeles Daily News, Las Vegas Sun, Associated Press, MSNBC.com, LiveScience, Science Daily, PhysOrg.com, Science Mode, and Inside Costa Rica.
Jonathan Fox of Latin American and Latino studies published an op-ed about the Latino vote in the U.S. presidential election in the Mexico City daily La Jornada.
Biochemist David Deamer's research on the origin of life on Earth was covered in the Christian Science Monitor, Albuquerque Express, Astrobiology Magazine, Science Daily, PhysOrg.com, Science Mode, Red Orbit, Insciences, Genetic Engineering News, and Medical News Today.
Research on "jumping genes" by biomolecular engineer David Haussler was covered by Science Daily, PhysOrg.com, Science Mode, Innovations Report, Genetic Engineering News, and Medical News Today.
Coverage of astronomer Sandra Faber receiving the Bower Award and Prize for Achievement in Science included stories in the Philadelphia Inquirer, San Jose Mercury News, Santa Cruz Sentinel, RedOrbit, and ITNews.
Jin Zhang, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, was quoted in coverage of his work on the use of gold nanoparticles for tumor therapy in Medical News Today, Science Daily, News Medical Net, BioWorld Today, Medical Industry Week, and Hindustan Times.
Ocean scientist Raphael Kudela's findings about the effects of a red tide on seabirds in Monterey Bay was covered by KUSP Radio, KION TV (lead story on evening news), Santa Cruz Sentinel, Science, Scientific American, Conservation magazine, Science Centric, PhysOrg, InSciences, Genetic Engineering News, Journal Watch, and others.
Karen Holl of environmental studies was quoted in a Discovery News Channel report about tropical forest recovery after clear-cutting. Although some new research indicates second-growth forests are recovering well, Holl stressed that secondary forests "are not a substitute for the original."
ScienceNews tapped dream researcher Bill Domhoff for comment about a new study that concluded people interpret dreams in ways that affect their waking life, especially when the dreams support pre-existing beliefs.
Astronomer Greg Laughlin was quoted in an article in New Scientist magazine about the search for Earth-like planets.
A UCSC story about theater arts alumna Marti Noxon's nomination for a Writers Guild of America award for her work on the acclaimed TV program Mad Men, was picked up by the American Movie Channel's blog site--amctv.com. The article also appeared on a number of television fan and celebrity web sites.
Environmental toxicologist Roberto Gwiazda was quoted in stories about the carcinogenicity of chromium in drinking water in Environmental Health News, Scientific American, and Newsfood.com.
Biologist Donald Potts was quoted in an article about ocean acidification in Chemical & Engineering News.
Astrophysicist Mark Krumholz was quoted in a Science Now story about massive stars.
The New York Times spotlighted Shakespeare Santa Cruz's recent fundraising effort and quoted acting arts dean David Evan Jones in an article about the financial struggle faced by San Francisco's Magic Theater and other mid-sized theater companies to stay afloat in difficult economic times. And Business Week highlighted Shakespeare Santa Cruz's emergency fundraising efforts in a story about how nonprofits are using all their ingenuity to raise enough money to stay afloat in tough economic times. In addition, the Chronicle of Philanthropy ran a story about how new technology and online communications have become important tools that are helping many arts and cultural organizations raise money during the economic recession, citing Shakespeare Santa Cruz's use of the Internet as an example.
Add Space Daily to the list of publications that reported on research by postdoctoral researcher Chris Darimont of environmental studies on the impact of human predation on trait change in fish and mammals.
The Advocate of Baton Rouge ran a story about the Dickens Project accompanied by photos taken at UCSC's annual summer Dickens festival, quoting literature professor John Jordan and noting that the scholarly consortium was founded and is headquartered at UCSC. And London's The Independent published an obituary for leading Victorian scholar Sally Ledger, noting that she had been an integral part of the Dickens Project at UCSC since 2005.
State and regional
Vice chancellor for research Bruce Margon was quoted in an article in the San Jose Mercury News and Contra Costa Times about the impact of the federal stimulus plan on universities.
Hydrogeologist Andrew Fisher was a guest on KALW public radio in San Francisco to discuss water issues in California on the "Your Call" call-in show.
Biologist Scott Shaffer's research on sooty shearwaters was referenced in a Los Angeles Times story about bird migrations.
This month in the San Jose Mercury News:
An article about local amphibians featured biologist Barry Sinervo. . . . A story about the return of a peregrine falcon pair to their City Hall nest box quoted biologist Glenn Stewart. . . . A recent story quoted politics professor Dan Wirls discussing the political aspirations of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.
Coastal geologist Gary Griggs was quoted in a story about beach erosion in the Malibu Times.
Environmental studies postdoc Chris Darimont was interviewed by KGO TV about his study of how commercial hunting and fishing is speeding up trait changes among fish and other species.
The San Francisco Chronicle quoted professor emerita of American studies Judy Yung in an article about the reopening of the upgraded Angel Island Immigration Station museum. The Los Angeles Times quoted Yung in another story about how Chinese detainees at Angel Island wrote poems on the immigration center's walls to vent their sorrow and desperation. Via magazine also included Yung in a separate piece about Angel Island.
BeyondChron, an alternative online daily in San Francisco, wrote up psychology professor emeritus Bill Domhoff's new book The Leftmost City, a political history of Santa Cruz.
In environmental studies, research by postdoctoral fellow Sharon Martinson was mentioned in an article about climate change in the Sierra. The article appeared in Moonshine Ink, which publishes news about Truckee and Lake Tahoe.
In an article about how the economy is significantly affecting Bay Area theater companies, the San Francisco Chronicle noted that Shakespeare Santa Cruz will present a reduced 2009 season after an emergency fund drive in December.
Local
This month in the Santa Cruz Sentinel:
Biologists William Sullivan and Camilla Forsberg were featured in a story about the UCSC Stem Cell Symposium. . . . Politics professor Dan Wirls was tapped for comment about the political aspirations of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, who appears to be running for governor. . . . The New Teacher Center's annual symposium in San Jose featured a keynote address by Congressman Mike Honda and attracted reporters from the Sentinel and KTVU TV. . . . A story about a new grant for stem cell research quoted Ann Pace, associate director of the Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering.
. . . Anthropologist Nancy Chen's new book about food and medicine was the subject of a story. . . . The paper reported that the 2009 UCSC Scholarship Benefit Dinner was a success, quoting Chancellor Blumenthal and alumna Catalina Berumen, and noting that over $165,000 was raised for undergraduate scholarships. . . . The paper reported that UCSC alumna Marti Noxon won a Writers of Guild of America award for best dramatic television series as a member of the writing team for "Mad Men."
. . . Economist Nirvikar Singh was featured in coverage of a new business incubator sponsored by UCSC and the city of Santa Cruz.
. . . Chip Lord, professor of film and digital media, was interviewed for an article about his commissioned project to create video art at the Los Angeles International Airport, also noting his exhibition at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. . . . Humanities Division dean Georges Van Den Abbeele and history professor Edmund "Terry" Burke III were quoted in a story about Noel Q. King, UCSC professor emeritus of history and comparative religion, who died on February 1 at the age of 86. . . . The paper covered research on a potential cancer therapy using gold nanoparticles developed by chemist Jin Zhang.