First. Further. Forward

Editor's note: In honor of Black History Month, the UC Merced newsroom is highlighting some of the organizations, services and people who serve or represent the Black community on campus.

An organization that was created in a time of tragedy and crisis has been a force for good for UC Merced's Black community.

A study conducted by a UC Merced researcher found that people injured through violent acts have a substantially higher risk to die by or attempt suicide.

A new study co-authored by UC Merced researchers assesses the effect of a warming climate in pushing the elevation of snow to rain higher during a storm, increasing runoff and the risk of flooding.

UC Merced will be featured on Amazon Prime’s popular show “The College Tour,” a half-hour, student-driven program that showcases colleges and universities around the world. Each episode focuses on a single school, highlighting everything from campus life and academics to athletics, activities and more.

Hundreds of UC Merced supporters made it crystal clear they believe in the university's mission, giving a record-breaking amount to support current Bobcats and other members of the campus community, through scholarships and fellowships, research projects and more.

A total of 692 gifts were made during the campus's annual monthlong fundraising campaign, Give to UC Merced, which amounted to nearly $1.3 million in vital funding for the university.

Cesar Alvarado-Gil joins UC Merced as chief campus counsel, bringing his broad background in the law, deep affinity for education and firm ties to Merced.

"Higher education is critical for everyone - and particularly for those like me, who come from lower-income, socially disadvantaged backgrounds," Alvarado-Gill said shortly after being appointed by Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz. "Higher education is often the only gateway to success. To be part of that is very important to me."

Dozens of almond growers and researchers came to UC Merced on Wednesday for a summit on best practices for one of California's most important crops.

It was the first time the Almond Board of California hosted its Nutrient Summit on campus, and it highlighted the important partnership between the university and an industry that makes use of some of its most groundbreaking research.

UC Merced Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz welcomed attendees by pointing out the mutually beneficial relationship the university has with the growers.

For professors, it’s up or out when it comes to tenure and promotion: After five years on the job as assistant professors, junior professors’ promise is evaluated by their more senior colleagues.

2023 was a remarkable year in which UC Merced experienced tremendous growth and acclaim. Several milestones were reached, setting up the university to continue thriving in the near future and beyond. As we embark on a new year, here's a look back at the stories that shaped 2023.

Using magnetic resource imaging, or MRI, to harmlessly detect seeds in Mandarin oranges. Identification of pathogens in an image library with artificial intelligence (AI) to diagnose plant disease. Creating a robot to more efficiently manufacture a robot. Building a user-friendly database to organize information for a global tech organization. Production-grade employee coaching and training applications for a large cold chain industry and a multinational computer storage company.