Academic Support

Dean's Welcome

Division of Physical & Biological Sciences
Nat Sci II Annex
University of California
Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064
Phone: 459-2931
Fax: 459-4161
Maps & Directions

Dean's Welcome

Every day, UC Santa Cruz scientists are redefining our understanding of the world in which we live -- working to meet, in the words of the UC Regents,"the societal and community needs of the State of California, and its people, and the health and well-being of all mankind."

UCSC is a young campus, founded in the years after the discovery of DNA, the launch of Sputnik, and the publication of Silent Spring. Our youth has allowed us to approach the sciences in a new way, avoiding high barriers between the traditional disciplines. We strive instead for truly multidisciplinary approaches to today's most challenging problems in human health, the environment, and advanced technology, as when investigators at the Center for Adaptive Optics use new technologies to image both the human retina and clouds on Neptune or when the STEPS Institute connects faculty from several departments and divisions to investigate regional climate change and its effect on water management. Our innovative approaches pay off: studies have shown that UCSC's programs in the physical and biological sciences have unusually high impact, as measured by citation counts.

Nobody benefits more from this stimulating research environment than our undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students. The goal of UCSC since its founding has been to achieve the strengths of an outstanding public research university while preserving the scale and personal atmosphere of a selective collegiate campus. We strive to give every student access to inquiry-based learning opportunities, ranging from laboratory and field studies courses to senior thesis options. Faculty and staff contribute time and expertise to programs that provide academic support to current students. They also engage in educational outreach programs that encourage greater participation in the sciences and help prepare students to succeed at UCSC.

We invite you to discover the physical and biological sciences at UC Santa Cruz. Explore this web site. Visit the Seymour Marine Discovery Center or the historic Lick Observatory. Attend a public lecture given by a world-class UCSC scientist. And please consider supporting the Division's education, research, and outreach activities with a financial gift. Your partnership helps us ensure continued excellence.

Stephen E. Thorsett
Dean, Division of Physical and Biological Sciences
Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics