Dear Cal alums, parents, and friends,
What was on your menu as you celebrated Independence Day? Maybe it included a burger topped with juicy tomatoes, a salad or veggie side, and strawberries for dessert. California’s farming industry grows a hefty portion of the nation’s fruits, nuts, and vegetables, thanks, in part, to science conducted across the University of California. UC Berkeley’s very own Eugene Hilgard, who joined the faculty in 1875, figured out how to remove salts from alkali soils in the Central Valley, helping to turn once-barren land into one of the world’s most productive farming regions.
Though our university was founded 92 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, its pioneering spirit has always matched that of the nation’s. An engine for America’s success, Berkeley has transformed the lives of our students and the trajectory of society. Our research has fundamentally shaped modern science and technology. Our students and alums have served in uniform across generations. And our campus is a vital laboratory for civic participation. We are proud to claim such a varied legacy — to strengthen the nation, to put its choices to the test, and to insist it live up to its ideals.
As America observes its 250th birthday, we compiled a list of 25 Berkeley ideas, people, and innovations that have lit the way throughout its history. The list includes:
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Alum leadership in building the foundations of the National Park Service and in transforming American law;
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The founding of the Free Speech Movement and the Disability Rights Movement;
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The development of new tools to understand workplace burnout, to shape the modern internet, and to detect earthquakes;
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Inventions and breakthroughs that have sparked revolutions in areas including personal computing and biology.
As America’s next 250 years begin, public universities must remain embracing places of learning, discovery, opportunity, and mobility, so that tomorrow’s students and faculty can thrive, at scale, in building better lives and a better nation. To that end, we must continue to invest in public higher education. I am deeply grateful that our donors heed that call year after year. In fact, Berkeley raised $1.03 billion from nearly 60,000 people in the fiscal year that just ended in June — a banner year. We also welcomed the largest number ever of new Builders of Berkeley, visionary philanthropists who have given $1 million or more. Thank you for caring so deeply about Berkeley and for investing in it as a cornerstone of the American experience.
Fiat Lux, and Go Bears!
Chancellor Rich Lyons
Chancellor’s Choice
Homecoming registration now live — It's Berkeley Time! Start planning your trip back to campus for Alumni and Parents Weekend at Homecoming on October 9–10, 2026, whether you want to reconnect with old friends, share Cal with your family, or simply feel that unmistakable Berkeley energy again. Enjoy lectures, celebrations, and community moments you've always loved, plus new experiences that will make coming back to Cal so special. Reserve your spot today at homecoming.berkeley.edu
Cal football tickets now live— Tickets are on sale for Cal football, now led by Travers Family Head Football Coach Tosh Lupoi. Home-game themes include the first-ever Grateful Bears, honoring the iconic Grateful Dead (October 17); the 129th Big Game (November 21); and Hometown Heroes (November 28), recognizing military personnel, first responders, and other everyday heroes. Purchase your tickets today.
Agentic AI Summit — Join a two-day summit (in person or online) featuring more than 200 speakers from academia, industry, policy, and other areas to explore agentic AI, an emerging form of AI that can complete tasks with minimal supervision. The program will span cutting-edge research, wide-ranging applications, and critical safety and security challenges, advancing the frontier of responsible and secure agentic AI systems. August 1–2 on the Berkeley campus. Learn more and register.