Norris Center

Walking through a field of wildflowers at Carrizo Plain National Monument

The Reserves of Inspiration gallery showcasing art and specimens

insect teaching collection by saul villegas

Norris Center Display including ringtail "cat"

Nature News

bsp Internships are available at the Bird School Project for Winter 2021! Work with students, work with birds, and earn credit! Learn more here.

Fascinated by fungi? Mystified by mushrooms? Curious about chitin? Apply now to take ENVS 19, Natural History of the Fungi. Apply here. See here for more information.

Science Illustration Natural History Illustration (ENVS 18) is being offered again in Winter 2021! Learn more here, or sign up as soon as you can!

Upcoming Events

Jan 21: Applications for the Summer 2021 cohort of Field Science Fellowships are due! Undergrads and faculty pair up and get money to do research on the reserves.
Jan 31: Virtual Opening Event of Look. Act. Inspire. Click for registration information
Feb 1: Dorris Duke Scholarship applications are due. Apply now to participate in a 2-year conservation mentorship program targeted explicitly and underrepresented groups in science.

Norris Center Blog

Using Progesterone to Determine the Beginning of Prenancy in Northern Elephant Seals

Northern Elephant seals become pregnant and gestate their embryos while out to sea in the Pacific Ocean. Jesse Cole, Norris Center student award winner, sampled progesterone in Elephant Seals hauled out over multiple years. Using progesterone, Cole determined multiple important milestones in Elepahnt Seal natural history, including when pregnancy officially begins.

Randy Morgan Initiative

We recently launched a website highlighting how we're carrying on the legacy of naturalist-extraordinaire Randall Morgan. Check out the website for more information on Randy's legacy, and the ongoing work at the Norris Center.

UC Natural Reserve Resurvey

The Norris Center and the UCSC Natural Reserves are teaming up to study our changing planet with biodiversity surveys. Read about our results from one year at Younger Lagoon.

Featured Videos

The Norris Center has been making videos for Tuesday Newsday to celebrate nature on campus! This installment featured the spring reptiles and amphibians on campus. For more information check out n orriscenter.ucsc.edu/herps