First. Further. Forward

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What Do Driverless Cars and Building Evacuation Routes Have in Common? A Lab at UC Merced

Step into Ross Greer’s lab — gingerly, because there’s a makeshift racetrack on the floor — and you will see multiple projects aimed at making autonomous vehicles smarter and safer.

And these projects are getting global recognition.

Student from Modesto Ready to Make an Impact at UC Merced

This is part of a series of profiles of new UC Merced Bobcats enrolled for the fall 2026 semester.

Anthony Savala Alvarez comes to UC Merced this fall with several accomplishments under his belt: He graduated high school with a grade point average of 4.1, earned the California Seal of Biliteracy, and took part in several sports, including varsity soccer, cross country and track and field.

UC Merced Recognized Among Nation’s Best Colleges in Money’s 2026 List

UC Merced continues to rank among the nation’s top universities, earning a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 in Money’s 2026 “Best Colleges in America” report. 

The annual evaluation scores more than 700 institutions nationwide using a range of factors, including graduation rates, cost of attendance, instructor access and economic mobility. 

CalTeach, Bakersfield Migrant Program Opening Doors for Young Minds

A new partnership between UC Merced's CalTeach program and the Bakersfield City School District gave middle-school children from migrant families a rare opportunity to live and learn on a college campus while exploring science in a hands-on, deeply engaging way.

The collaboration began when the Bakersfield program, called Migrant Education Program DFD21, contacted UC Merced to expand its efforts to expose students to higher education. Funding issues have shuttered similar programs elsewhere in California.

Heat Waves Making Wildfires Worse in the Western United States

Key points:

• Researchers found that heat waves are a critical enabler and driver of wildfire-burned areas across the western U.S.

• The findings suggest that heat waves contribute not only to increased flammability, but to longer burn periods and increased lightning.

• Burned area in forests during the summer more than doubled between 2001 and 2024. Most of this recent increase - 64 percent - occurred during heat waves.

Regional Answers Best Option to Address Global Water, Energy Problems

A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine calls for the U.S. Department of Energy to develop innovative technology and infrastructure at the intersection of the nation's water and energy systems.

The country's energy and water systems are profoundly interconnected, and disruptions can cascade rapidly across both, says the report from the Committee on Enabling DOE Regional Energy-Water Technology Pilots.

Work Aimed at Increasing Computer Security Earns CAREER Award

Electrical engineering Professor Qian Wang has received a CAREER award for her research into quantum computing.

She is the 42nd researcher from UC Merced to earn a CAREER award from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

A Brand-New Degree and a Stellar Job Offer to Accompany it

UC Merced prides itself on its high social mobility ranking (No. 3 among public schools in the country, according to the Wall Street Journal). Social mobility is defined as the ability to move between socioeconomic tiers.

But what does that mean, really?

Bobcats Outbuild Bears in Timber Strong Competition

A doghouse built by Bobcats for a famous beagle beat out a fairytale structure hammered together by Bears.

UC Merced's student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers took part in the annual Timber-Strong Design Build competition in April, going up against UC Berkeley in a day-long contest at nearby Lake Yosemite.

Working in teams, students were challenged to design, construct and evaluate a two-story light wood-framed structure that balances sustainability, architectural appeal and structural performance.