After 12 years as dean of the Physical & Biological Sciences Division at UC Santa Cruz, I will soon be passing the baton to the newly appointed and internationally recognized astronomer, Bryan Gaensler. Dr. Gaensler is currently director of the Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Toronto, where he is a professor in the David A. Dunlap Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics and a Canada Research Chair in Radio Astronomy. He brings a diverse range of skills to our campus, and I have every confidence that he will provide the science division with exceptional leadership. His role as dean begins August 15.

Leading the division since 2011 has been an incredible privilege, and I could not be prouder of our many achievements over that time. We’ve grown extramural funding to the division by more than 40 percent, attracted a diverse group of high-caliber faculty, built new innovative research and teaching programs, driven a transformation in effective and inclusive teaching inside and outside the classroom, and much more. After a year on sabbatical leave, I will return to teaching and research in the Earth & Planetary Sciences Department.

I want to close by thanking the faculty, staff, and students whose ideas and hard work are the source of all our achievements, and the friends, donors, and supporters who have invested their wisdom, time, and resources to ensure our success.

Fiat Slug,

Paul Koch

Dean, Physical and Biological Sciences

UCSC Newscenter | Young Supernova Experiment releases first set of transient survey data

UCSC Newscenter | Minke whales are as small as a lunge-feeding baleen whale can be

UCSC Newscenter | First images released from James Webb Space Telescope’s largest general observer program

UCSC Newscenter | Marine mammal reproduction rests on a precarious tipping point of ocean resources

The Lick Observatory will soon open to more community college students around the Bay Area, thanks to a $5.4M grant to be used towards a major expansion of new education & outreach programs.

UCSC Newscenter | Winning Grad Slam presentation highlights disease threat to Hawaiian birds

UCSC Newscenter | MLK Convocation speaker points way to STEM success

NPR | Listen to Beth Shapiro on NPR: It's boom times in ancient DNA research

Nature | Mother–daughter duo work together to find new worlds

UCSC Newscenter | Local educators shared expertise at the first STEM Education Central Coast Conference

Santa Cruz Sentinel | Forum led by the Center For Coastal Climate Resilience highlights role of insurance in climate disasters

IMPACTFUL EVENTS

Confronting Climate Change 2023: Join us for Heat! Climate Change and Human Health

Please join us virtually on Thursday, April 13, at 6PM for a discussion about the health effects of climate change. Presenters will discuss the social and economic transformations that will be required in order to address the health impacts of climate change, and together we will think about how climate change might inspire us to work towards a more livable future. Confronting Climate Change is an annual public event that brings together scientists, artists, policy experts, and community members. Everyone is welcome! Register here.

CAREERS in science at UC Santa Cruz: