News

Sifuentez Appointed to Head Center for Humanities

June 28, 2018

As new director of the Center for the Humanities, Professor Mario Sifuentez ’ sights are set on a fuller understanding of rural communities and how best to help them. He’s got a multi-pronged plan for work that will be done through the center during his three-year-term. He wants to focus on...

Drawing Graphic Lessons: Comics Teach, Evaluate Difficult Concepts

June 20, 2018

Though illustrations have been used to convey ideas and information since before language existed, after Benjamin Franklin published the world’s first editorial cartoon in 1754, comics emerged a distinct avenue for visual storytelling. Now, comic art has come into classrooms at UC Merced and abroad...

Following a Devastating Pandemic, California’s Sea Stars are Evolving

June 19, 2018

In 2012, Environmental Systems graduate student Lauren Schiebelhut was collecting DNA from ochre sea stars living along the Northern California coast — part of an effort to study genetic diversity in various marine species that serve as indicators of habitat health. She had no idea that just one...

Engaging with Spiritual Allies Increases Confidence in Conflict, Studies Show

June 18, 2018

A new Pew Research survey shows that one-third of Americans have trust in a higher power or spiritual force, whether they call it “god” or not, and two new studies show that people who think they have that force in their corner feel empowered in battle. Two novel experiments by UC Merced Cognitive...

Outstanding Student Awards Celebrate the Cream of the Crop

June 15, 2018

Verenize Arceo of Winton has represented UC Merced at the state Capitol, but her most recent achievement is closer to home. The history major is among the 20 graduates in the Class of 2018 honored as Outstanding Students, an award bestowed by each school and presented at a scholars reception hosted...

Beaudin Named Campus’ Second Winner of Prestigious Pew Award

June 14, 2018

Biology Professor Anna Beaudin was named a member of the 2018 class of Pew Biomedical Scholars today, one of 22 early-career researchers nationwide to receive this year’s prestigious award. “I am thrilled and humbled to be joining such an accomplished and talented group of scientists as a 2018 Pew...

Berhe Selected by National Academies to Serve as “New Voice” for Science

June 8, 2018

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) just announced that they’ve selected Professor Asmeret Asefaw Berhe to serve as an inaugural member of the Academies’ newest initiative — New Voices in Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (SEM). Funded by a grant from the Gordon...

Grad Students Shine on the International Humanities Stage

June 7, 2018

UC Merced Interdisciplinary Humanities doctoral students made a splash in Spain this summer, presenting papers at the XXXV International Congress of the Latin American Studies Association (LASA) in Barcelona. “They gave orderly, brilliant presentations that covered everything from the pre-classical...

Grad Student Awarded Thesis of the Year for Work in Public Health

June 5, 2018

UC Merced public health graduate student Erendira “Dida” Estrada's master’s thesis, “Development of a participatory health communication intervention: An ecological approach to reducing rural information inequality and health disparities,” was named Thesis of the Year by the Health Communication...

Study Finds That Gene Transcription Can Serve as Brain’s Timekeeper

May 31, 2018

Neurons keep time. These brain cells – which are responsible for the brain’s “heavy lifting,” from information processing to memory formation – seem to "know" how long they’ve been exposed to sensory stimulation. Now, scientists are starting to understand how they do this. Neurobiology Professor...