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OpenLab is a unique faculty-led research center at UC Santa Cruz dedicated to developing interdisciplinary collaborations with national and international artists, scientists, faculty, and students that address the challenging issues of our time.

PAST and CURRENT Research Initiatives

[ 2023- current ]  Climate Culture: Climate Action a new OpenLab research initiative to help coastal communities understand, connect, and respond to climate risks. The complex array of interconnected crises we confront today is so extensive that it challenges the head and the heart to fully comprehend. It is, therefore, essential to share and expand diverse narratives to reflect the breadth and depth of human experience. Whether through literature, film, art, or oral traditions. 

[ 2019 – current ] Arts + Genomics Initiative

A collaboration to realize the potential of multidisciplinary research by developing creative artworks for the general public to see, understand, and respond to genomics research.

[ 2018- current ]  The Algae Society BioArt Design Lab

A collective of artists, designers, and scientists working internationally to share the beauty and wonder of algae through workshops, exhibitions, and publications. Several of The Algae Society’s founding members worked closely with OpenLab and Professor Jennifer Parker during their academic careers at UC Santa Cruz.

[2010 – current]  Art + Astrophysics

The lab works closely with OpenLab founding Professors Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz and Jennifer Parker with support from the UCSC NSF REU- Lamat Summer Research Program, OpenLab, and the SLUG: Supercomputer lab for Undergraduates.

[2019 – 2021] UC Placemaking

As a cultural practice, placemaking values diversity and equity, providing access to those often underrepresented or excluded from the public process. UC Berkeley, Davis, Santa Cruz, and Santa Barbara supported and amplified the public, place-based research of our UC artists, designers, and media practitioners who are working across fields in collaboration with multiple stakeholders to enact social change.

[2018 – 2020] IDEA Hub

A campus-wide initiative for students created to spread social and creative entrepreneurship at UC Santa Cruz. A network of incubation facilities, fellowships, seminars, workshops, and mentorships provides students space to think critically about the challenges facing society and propose pathways for meaningful intervention.

[ 2014 – 2016 ] Blue Trail: Imagination + Innovations for Ocean Sustainability brought together the vision and expertise of exciting leaders, including those in the arts, science, design, placemaking, and environmental fields. http://bluetrail.ucsc.edu/

[ 2009 – 2016 ] OpenLab + DANM Mechatronics

This collaborative research cohort at UC Santa Cruz creates interactive art and design projects as part of OpenLab’s collaborative Art + Science research initiative at UCSC.

[2008 – 2014] SonicSENSE

Using the creative diversity of computational media and traditional visual art practices, sonicSENSE cultivates space for sharing, questioning, and exploring interdisciplinary frameworks, methodologies, and experiences.