More than 70 people learned about the research and education opportunities offered by UC Merced’s new Merced nAnomaterials Center of Energy and Sensing (

School of Natural Sciences Dean Juan Meza has been elected to the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s (AAAS) council, representing the Section on Mathematics.

After 10 weeks of competition — including a wild flurry of activity at the end — UC Merced placed second in the University of California’s first-ever Cool Campus Challenge.

Professor Linda Hirst, with the School of Natural Sciences, has been elected to the executive council of GSOFT, the new Topical Group on Soft Ma

UC Merced staff and administrators encouraged about 400 Le Grand High School ninth- through 12th-grade students to aim for a University of California education. The visit on Nov. 19 was part of Achieve UC, a systemwide effort to deliver a simple message to students: College, and a UC education, is within reach.

UC Merced’s interim Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Life Brian O’Bruba urged the students to see themselves as college material.

The season of giving is just around the corner, and UC Merced is getting in the spirit. On Dec. 1, the campus will participate in #GivingTuesday, a global day dedicated to giving back. All around the world, people will come together for the unified purpose of celebrating generosity and giving.

With the exception of the Classroom and Office Building, restricted access to the UC Merced campus has been lifted. Classes are canceled for today but will resume on Friday, Nov. 5. 

Meanwhile, the Division of Student Affairs has released the following information regarding student services available today and Friday:

Members of the UC Merced Alumni Association’s Alumni Campus Employees (ACE) chapter stepped up this Halloween to help with the annual Boys and Girls Club Trunk or