Media Highlights
May 2009
This summary highlights media placements members of the UCSC community have garnered during the month of May 2009.
National and international
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The cover story of the May issue of Scientific American, "What Makes Us Human?," focuses on research conducted in biomolecular engineer David Haussler's lab. Haussler's research is also mentioned in an editorial in Genome Technology magazine. The research described in the Scientific American article received widespread media coverage at the time it was published in 2006 (see press release for details.)
The Wall Street Journal's blogs Independent Street and Digits quoted economist Rob Fairlie in coverage of a report about entrepreneurial activity and trends during the last 12 months. Fairlie authored the widely covered report, which is issued annually by the Kauffman Foundation. Other coverage appeared in the Dallas Morning News, Charlotte Observer, the Kansas City Star, and The Bulletin of Philadelphia, Marketwire, Targeted News Service, the Charlotte Observer, and USNews.com, which titled their piece, "Who's Crazy Enough to Have Started a Business in 2008?". Fairlie was quoted in in coverage of the Kaufman Foundation's report on entrepreneurial activity, authored by Fairlie.
Astronomer Greg Laughlin is quoted in Discover magazine's May cover story about the search for planets that might support life.
Economist Lori Kletzer was quoted in a Wall Street Journal article about companies hiring new employees even as they fire workers.
Slate magazine interviewed anthropologist Nate Dominy for a column exploring the question of whether obesity existed in ancient times.
Research on a new tool for monitoring algal toxins in coastal waters led by ocean scientist Raphael Kudela was reported by PhysOrg.com and Insciences.org. Kudela was also quoted in a recent story about algal toxins in Metro Santa Cruz.
Bloomberg.com tapped the expertise of sociologist Hiroshi Fukurai in its coverage of changes to Japan's judicial system.
Astronomer Bruce Margon, vice chancellor of research, was quoted in a Chicago Sun Times story about the Hubble Space Telescope repair mission.
The May issue of Artweek includes a story about "Some Assembly Required," an exhibit featuring 13 artists at UCSC's Sesnon Gallery curated by gallery director Shelby Graham.
Physicist Michael Riordan was quoted in an article about the history of the transistor in Physical Review Focus.
An article about gravity and black holes on PhysOrg.com featured research by the late Donald Coyne, adjunct professor of physics.
Molecular biologist Harry Noller was featured in a Nature news article about the use of protein crystallography to study the structures of complex biological molecules.
Anthropologist Adrienne Zihlman responded to a reader's query in Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper about what makes all young animals look cute to humans.
Biologist James Estes was featured in a story about killer whales, sea otters, and other marine mammals in the Sunday Times (U.K.) and the Australian.
In her Betty at Large blog, Elizabeth Blozan of the International Documentary Association covered the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival and wrote up the film Sounds of the New Hope by Eric Tandoc, a graduate student in social documentation. She also ran a photo of Soc Doc grad Tad Nakamura and gave a nod to two films by Renee Tajima-Pena of community studies: Whatever it Takes and Who Killed Vincent Chin?
Professor emeritus Nancy Stoller of community studies commented on the expanded use by prisons of videoconferencing to provide medical consultation for inmates. She was quoted in coverage that appeared in the Arizona Capitol Times and Stateline.org, an online resource produced by The Pew Center on the States.
An article about research on the origins of life in New Scientist magazine included a quote from biochemist William Scott.
The Wall Street Journal ran an article about former Seagate CEO Bill Watkins's fund-raising efforts for the Grateful Dead Archive, which is housed at McHenry Library.
A story about a visit to UCSC by famed African TV producers, directors, and stars Isaac Moses and Nneka Isaac-Moses was reported by nigeria.com, Afrora.com, nigeriancinema.com and voiceofnigerians.com..
Softpedia picked up a report by wired.com that featured psychology's Craig Haney discussing the psychological effects of solitary confinement.
India Abroad noted the role of UCSC's Satyajit Ray Film and Study archive in preserving and promoting the work of India's renowned filmmaker Satyajit Ray.
A Wall Street Journal article about plans to change street lights in San Jose quoted astronomer Burt Jones on the potential impacts on Lick Observatory.
Astrophysicist Piero Madau was quoted in a Wired News story about the use of supercomputers in scientific research.
A New York Times article about relations between the U.S. and China noted that UCSC lecturer in Chinese David Keenan inspired current Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner to learn Chinese when both were at Dartmouth in the late 1970s.
Robotics research by computer engineer Jacob Rosen was featured in Robotics Trends.
Glaciologist Slawek Tulaczyk was quoted in a Science Now article about a microbial ecosystem discovered beneath an Antarctic glacier.
Research on white dwarf stars by astronomy graduate student Rachel Strickler was covered by Science Daily and PhysOrg.com.
State and regional
Biologist Glenn Stewart's work with peregrine falcons nesting on buildings in San Francisco and San Jose was covered by the San Jose Mercury News and Contra Costa Times, as well as Bay Area broadcasters including KCBS and KLIV radio and KTVU and KGO TV.
The appointment of Arthur Ramirez as dean of the Baskin School of Engineering was covered by the Silicon Valley Business Journal, San Jose Mercury News, Contra Costa Times, Santa Cruz Sentinel, Nanotechnology News, MSN Money, and Real World Engineering.
The San Jose Mercury News and Santa Cruz Sentinel interviewed David Yager and quoted Chancellor Blumenthal in a feature story about Yager's appointment as new dean of the Arts Division. InsideBayArea.com picked up the story about David Yager's appointment as new Dean of the Arts Division.
Astronomer Sandra Faber was featured in a San Jose Mercury News article about the shuttle mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope. And a Mercury News story about astronomer Steve Vogt and the Automated Planet Finder telescope was reprinted in the Santa Cruz Sentinel and Monterey Herald.
The Contra Costa Times ran a story about theater arts professor Danny Scheie and his role playing the title character in the new comedy You, Nero at Berkeley Repertory Theatre.
The San Luis Obispo Tribune is the latest paper to run an article quoting professor emeritus of community studies Nancy Stoller on the use of videoconferencing to provide health consultations for prisoners.
Film and digital media student Michael Tucker was featured--and associate film professor Gustavo Vazquez was quoted--in a Contra Costa Times story about Tucker's film The Reunion of Amillia Marbleberry, the closing night selection of the National Film Festival for Talented Youth in Seattle.
Graduate student Hilary Melcarek was quoted in a Contra Costa Times article about the popularity of small farms and gardens. The story also ran in the San Jose Mercury News.
Local
This month in the Santa Cruz Sentinel:
A story ran about the work of UCSC film and digital media students featured in the Santa Cruz Film Festival this May--as well as a story about history alum Cary Fukunaga's new feature film Sin Nombre--both on the front page of the paper's weekly arts and entertainment section. . . . The paper reported that music graduate student Noah Meites was one of nine young classical composers named winners in the 57th annual BMI Student Composer Awards which recognize "superior creative talent." . . . Daniel Press of environmental studies was quoted in an article about expected low turnout during the special election. . . . A front page story ran on the UCSC "Ode to Santa Cruz" contest held in conjunction with an Arts & Lectures appearance by author/humorist Garrison Keillor. Headlined "Ode to Santa Cruz: Garrison Keillor Reads Poem that Captures City's Spirit," the article included a copy of the winning ode. A Contra Costa Times columnist also gave a nod to the "Ode to Santa Cruz" poetry competition. . . . There was a front-page story about the Grow a Farmer campaign to raise funds for permanent apprentice housing on the Farm. . . . Coverage of the Intellectual Forum and Reunion Weekend included a story about the $745,000 raised by grads. . . . The paper published a front-page profile of wildlife photographer and UCSC alumna Suzi Eszterhas. . . . A lengthy advance ran about the campus appearance of Ethel Long-Scott, which is being sponsored by the Center for Justice, Tolerance & Community. . . A story was published about music alumna Rebecca Jackson who created, and is directing and coordinating, the annual Santa Cruz "Music in May" chamber music festival.
An article about Big Creek Reserve in the Monterey County Herald included quotes from reserve director Mark Readdie and biologist Donald Croll.