Dear Cal alums, parents, and friends,
While the California Golden Bears lost against UCLA last Saturday, the game was a big win in other ways. Excitement and anticipation filled the air; the stadium was packed, the student section was rocking, and I felt a palpable sense of community and connection. Like so many other friends and fellow alums I ran into, I was lifted by the ties that bind us together.
After the game, Tosh Lupoi, our new coach, rightfully accentuated the positive. He expressed confidence that he and the team have the means and the motivation to learn from the loss, using “the sting” of defeat to improve. That’s what the Berkeley way is all about: unrelenting pursuit of evolution and excellence. I can’t wait to see how this season unfolds.
Of course “the sting” of defeat is not confined to the field. If a student performs poorly on a test, or a professor’s research project veers off track, they could just give up. Instead, we aim, as a community, to hold fast to the belief that there has got to be a better way. Examples of this permeate every corner of campus.
The University of California system is launching the Regents Innovation Awards to recognize faculty and community partners across all 10 UC campuses who turn research into real-world impact. Berkeley nominated five people — and could have nominated 500.
For example, after co-developing a custom CRISPR therapy that saved a child with a life-threatening genetic disorder, Professor Fyodor Urnov set out to make that kind of treatment repeatable. He is now leading a multi-institutional initiative to develop on-demand CRISPR therapies for children born with rare immune diseases. In another example, City of Berkeley staffer Elizabeth Redman Cleveland is spearheading several efforts to help make the city more attractive to startups that wish to stay here, especially those spinning out of UC Berkeley. Their success will lead to new technologies, jobs, and opportunity creation for the surrounding community.
Urnov and Redman Cleveland almost certainly did not arrive at this moment without a hitch. They faced complex processes, pushback, budget constraints … you name it. But they seized the freedom and agency that Berkeley has given them to imagine, explore, and pursue a different future. And thankfully, we, the Cal family, are cheering them on.
Fiat Lux, and Go Bears!
Chancellor Rich Lyons
Chancellor’s Choice
Oski's B-Day Bearathon— Celebrate Oski's 85th birthday by supporting his favorite causes. Every gift helps students thrive, whether you are giving to scholarships, wellness programs, mentoring, or student groups. Make an even bigger impact by becoming an ambassador, spreading the word, and voting for where an additional $1,000 should go. Running September 16-18. Learn more at bearathon.berkeley.edu
Learning opportunities — There is always something you can do to engage with Berkeley and learn. Here are some suggestions:
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Film: “A Job in the Shade: The Emily Vasquez Story” — This inspiring film chronicles Vasquez’s remarkable journey from the agricultural fields of California to becoming the first Latina appointed to the Sacramento County Superior Court. September 26, 6 p.m., International House. Tickets are limited. Reserve your spot.
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Event: Astro Night— Take part in guided stargazings using the astronomy department’s telescopes, and enjoy out-of-this-world lectures. The next two Astro Nights are on October 1 and November 5 at 6:30 p.m. in Campbell Hall. Explore more details.
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Lecture: “Experiments in Art and Geography”— Drawing from his work on mass surveillance, computer vision and AI, psyops, and neuroscience, artist Trevor Paglen will discuss art-making as a means of representing geographic research and as a research method in its own right. October 7, 3:30 p.m., McCone Hall.