UC Santa Cruz

“There is so much we could do much better with more data,” says CITRIS @ Santa Cruz Director Professor Patrick Mantey. “We focus on ways to get and process data, but especially emphasize putting that information to productive use.” Proximity to Silicon Valley makes Santa Cruz a natural place to foster relationships with the world’s industry leaders in putting data to work, and CITRIS embraces that opportunity.

In the Network Management and Operations (NMO) Lab, for example, students work directly with Cisco engineers on networking projects that have real-world applications. CITRIS @ Santa Cruz also focuses on developing technology needed to better exploit clean and sustainable energy sources. The Center for Sustainable Energy and Power Systems (CenSEPS), for example, works with the City of Santa Cruz on the dream of making the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf energy self-sufficient. The project looks at both technical and societal challenges and is using the wharf as a smart-grid testbed for exploring new monitoring, sensing, and networking technologies. CITRIS @ Santa Cruz also pursues ways to better monitor and manage California’s water supply. One employs a network of thermal probes to assess seepage rates at the base of a managed aquifer recharge pond. The method, which would allow a more responsible and predictable use--and reuse--of groundwater, could be applicable in many parts of the state and beyond; this project has developed into a collaboration with UC Merced. CITRIS @ Santa Cruz’s Knowledge Services and Enterprise Management certificate program emphasizes building databases that support decision making; it enjoys extensive participation from Yahoo!, IBM, Cisco and HP. And in 2009, Santa Cruz received approval for its Technology and Information Management (TIM) program to offer M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in this interdisciplinary field. CITRIS @ Santa Cruz applies advanced multimedia technologies for classroom teaching and distance learning. The Simularium, for example, has four projectors, a document camera, and recording and webcasting capabilities. The Santa Cruz component of CITRIS also explores medical applications of IT, such as rehabilitative robotics.