James Webb Space Telescope NIRCam Image of the “Cosmic Cliffs” in Carina Nebula

Office of Research

Welcome to the UC Santa Cruz Office of Research, your partner and point of connection to the innovators and changemakers at UC Santa Cruz.

We offer strategic, customized support for a wide range of research needs, including proposal development, compliance and training, and navigating industry relationships. 

We are here to help you advance your work and demonstrate its impact.

Achieving more

$235M

extramural funding in FY23

11.6%

increase in extramural funding

20.2%

increase in Department of Defense funding

26

new patents issued in FY23

Industry and community partnerships

Tight shot of high tech microscope with LED lights.

The Innovation & Business Engagement Hub facilitates access to faculty expertise, cutting-edge discoveries, and diverse talent to build long-lasting relationships that address your most pressing business needs.

waves breaking on the beach with birds flying in the distance.

The Center for Coastal Climate Resilience (CCCR) leverages its deep expertise in research and policy and practice to help communities adapt to climate change. We are expanding the development of solutions that benefit people and nature.


Research news

Illustration of active volcanoes on Moon

A ‘remelting’ of lunar surface adds a wrinkle to mystery of Moon’s true age

Much about the Moon remains shrouded in mystery, including its age. Analyses of samples brought back from the lunar surface indicate our celestial sidekick could be about 4.35 billion years old, which means it came to be at about 200 million years after the formation of our solar system.

Scientists collaborate on immersive technology to address climate challenges

The UC Santa Cruz Center for Coastal Climate Resilience (CCCR) and a team of scientists and science communicators at UC San Diego have developed an initiative focused on immersive technology that uses advanced hardware and software to simulate environments and experiences. The EcoViz project is part of a collaboration to address environmental challenges ranging from fire management to coastal protection with reef restoration.

Campus secures funding for innovative research projects addressing climate action and linguistic diversity

We now have the largest 3-D map of our cosmos ever created, thanks to a powerful instrument mounted atop a telescope in Arizona with a robotic array of 5,000 fiber-optic “eyes” that look into the night sky. A team of UC Santa Cruz astronomers hold crucial roles in the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) international collaboration.

Our annual report

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The Office of Research Annual Report highlights the variety of research and creative work happening at UC Santa Cruz. Learn more about our impact on the community, state, and the world.

See some of what happened in FY24.

Featured research videos

Last modified: Jan 06, 2025