Patty Guerra

Technology Revolution in Agriculture Needs Investment in Humans as Well as Machines

 Key Findings:

  • Interest in agricultural technology is here. Among 10,856 respondents from Central Valley agricultural communities, 16.5% expressed interest in agtech training, more than three times those interested in general agriculture programs.

  • The challenge is not motivation; it is access. The study says childcare, internet connectivity and flexible scheduling as core constraints on participation in technical education..

NASA Administrator Offers UC Merced Students a Glimpse of Their Future

It might seem that an airfield filled with old planes is a strange place to talk about the future of space flight. But Jared Isaacman, the administrator of NASA, said the Castle Air Museum was the perfect setting to talk about what's ahead.

Isaacman visited the former Air Force base last week to tour the planes and talk with students, including a contingent of more than 30 from UC Merced. The group included undergraduate and graduate students, members of the university's first nanosatellite team, and faculty conducting NASA-supported research.

UC Merced Experts in Soil, Agriculture Join UC ANR

Two UC Merced-affiliated scientists have joined University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Lauren Hale, a soil microbiologist in UC Merced's Department Life and Environmental Sciences, and Mohammad Maharlooei, an assistant professor of UC Cooperative Extension in agricultural waste management and bioenergy production, are among a number of recent hires by UC ANR as the organization works to address the pressing needs of people across California.

How Much Does Wildfire Reduce Forest Water Use and Increase Runoff?

Wildfire is reshaping the forests of California's Sierra Nevada and affecting the water those forests supply to downstream users.

A paper published in Hydrology and Earth System Science reports that the effect of wildfire on potential runoff from the state's main water-supply watersheds has increased in the period 1985-2023, most markedly since 2019.

Solar Company Partners with UC Merced to Test New Panels

UC Merced is no stranger to solar panels. The campus, built to be sustainable from the beginning, is home to thousands of them, and they provide a good chunk of the electricity that powers the university.

But one very special panel was recently installed on the top of the Science and Engineering 2 Building.

The panel was crafted by Tandem PV, a Fremont company that uses perovskite-silicon tandem technology to make high-efficiency solar panels that integrate into existing manufacturing supply chains.

Remodeled Applegate Zoo, Including UC Merced-Sponsored Bobcat Exhibit, Celebrates Opening Day

Bobcat kittens Boomer and Bobbie scampered, played and splashed in their pool Friday morning, blissfully unaware they were part of a major celebration at Merced's Applegate Zoo.

The zoo, closed since Jan. 1 for remodeling, reopened to a large crowd eager to see the new black bear exhibit, remodeled bobcat habitat and other improvements.

UC Merced's Flores Honored for Work with the Community and Labor Center

The Pacific Sociological Association recently honored UC Merced sociology Professor Edward Flores, faculty director of the university's Community and Labor Center, with its Distinguished Contribution to Sociological Praxis Award.

According to the selection committee, Flores earned the distinction for his contributions to improving the lives of working families and underserved populations in California's Central Valley.

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.

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