HIGH IMPACT RESEARCH AND SERVICE TO SOCIETY

Since universities drive innovation, the group will then visit the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC). UCSC’s mission is to deliver progressive, bold, fearless education that benefits both the individual and the planet. A commitment to environmental stewardship and community engagement is central to the University’s core values and an enduring source of pride for the entire campus. UCSC is home to one of the world’s top marine mammal research centers at Long Marine Laboratory, overlooking Monterey Bay—the second-largest marine sanctuary in the world. UCSC is also the proud custodian of five stunning natural reserve sites on the Central Coast —from 25 acres on Año Nuevo Island to 4,200 coastal acres in beautiful Big Sur.

INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Participants will hear from and interact with cross-sector leaders in Santa Cruz who are working on exciting innovation & entrepreneurship collaborations, including Startup Sandbox biotech incubator, Santa Cruz accelerator, Launchpad, SVLink and other programs aimed at rapid commercialization of research and innovation.

LEADING IN ORGANIC FARMING

UC Santa Cruz has been a leader in organic farming for the last 40 years. Through our research, education, and outreach programs, the campus’s Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems (CASFS) works to create agriculture and food systems that sustain both human communities and the environments in which they live. They work to undertake projects with faculty, staff, and students from throughout the university. Beyond the campus collaborating with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), growers, community members, visiting students and researchers, and state and federal agencies, including UC Cooperative Extension and the US Department of Agriculture. Participants will learn more about the organic farming industry in Santa Cruz, our community, and global collaborations, and taste some of the local flavor!