Friday, February 21, 2025: THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT!  You can still come to our public symposium on Saturday February 22. 

Celebrating and Continuing Dick Cooley's legacy, founding chair of Environmental Studies at UCSC 

Hotel Accommodations: For those coming from out of town, here are a few recommendations for hotels that offer discounts for UCSC affiliates:

Hampton Inn on Mission St. Use this link for UCSC friends, family, and alumni rate.

Hotel Paradox on Ocean St. Use code UC0 at this link to search for rooms.

Location: UCSC Hay Barn

Parking: [NOTE- this info has changed.] Please plan on arriving early in order to get to the Hay Barn by 2:45 at the latest. Many people are coming and finding nearby parking will be a challenge. You will need to receive a parking permit from our event parking attendants in order to park in any lot on campus until 5pm on Friday afternoon. When you arrive, please first go to receive a permit from the attendant in lot 116. Lot 116 is reached by turning right at the stoplight intersection of Coolidge and Ranch View Drive. The attendant will be at this lot starting at 2pm and will issue you a permit and direct you to available parking. Depending on availability, you might park in 116, 115, 117a, or 117b (all are a close walk to the Hay Barn). NOTE: we would prefer to leave spaces open in lot 170 (next to the Hay Barn) for our speakers and folks with mobility issues. 

Should these nearby lots fill, the attendant at lot 116 will issue you a permit to park in the East Remote Parking lot. This lot will have many available spaces but is further away from the Hay Barn. If you need to park in this lot, park in the very back of this lot where there will be many available spaces. We will send a parking shuttle van to pick people up from this lot. The van will meet you at the campus shuttle stop found toward the back of the lot (see this pin for the exact location). The parking attendant will also give you a phone number to call if you're having trouble figuring out where to park or meet the shuttle. 

Registration: $45, which includes dinner, drinks, parking, and admission to the follow-up public symposium on Saturday, February 22nd. To attend the Friday celebration, you must REGISTER HERE by February 12 so that we have an accurate count for our caterer. 

Schedule: This afternoon and evening is all about connecting and reconnecting with former students, staff, faculty, and friends of Dick Cooley. 

2:15-2:45 Doors Open

3:00: Welcome and panel discussion. Retired faculty Jim Pepper & Craig Schindler, and alumnus Bob Childers will talk about the early days with Dick in Environmental Studies.  This panel will be moderated by retired faculty member Steve Gliessman.

4:15: It will be your turn to share stories and discuss conservation past, present and future. Alumnus John Gamman will pass the mic.

5:00: Continuing the Legacy, led by Jeff Bury, current Chair of Environmental Studies. There will be presentations about re-establishing ties with Alaska through the Environmental Studies Internship Program and the Wrangell Mountain Center.

6:00: Social gathering and dinner

8:00: After Dinner Fun! We’re hoping folks will bring a song, a poem, a tribute, a skit. And
we need an MC for this!

Saturday, February 22, 2025

Radical Then, Critical Now. Interdisciplinary Strategies in Environmental Conservation

The Friday Dick Cooley celebration coincides with the Annual Symposium of the Kenneth S. Norris Center for Natural History held the next day. 

Location: UCSC Hay Barn

Parking: Parking is free on the weekend. Please park in lots 116 and 115, both of which are a short walk from the Hay Barn. Lot 170, immediately adjacent to the Hay Barn, is reserved for anyone with mobility issues.

Admission is included with your registration for the Friday Cooley celebration

Schedule:

12:00 Alumni-student networking session focused on careers in conservation. Let us know if you would like to participate in this pre-symposium activity. 

1:30 Doors open to the public.

2:15 UCSC Faculty and student speakers

3:30 Live Music Celebration and Participatory Art

5:30 End

Symposium Event Details:

Careers in Conservation–This students-only pre-event will offer a structured networking opportunity for current students to meet alumni professionals working in various conservation-related fields. PIZZA will be included!!

Faculty Speakers:

Dr. Karen Holl, Distinguished Professor of Environmental Studies: Will speak about how we continue doing successful interdisciplinary conservation work now and in the future.

Dr. Gary Griggs, Distinguished Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences: “1970:  The First Environmental Studies Course at UCSC.”

Student Speakers:

Jonas Banta, Master of Fine Arts in Environmental and Social Practice: “Visions of World Renewal: Ecological and Cultural Restoration in Two salmon-bearing Watersheds in Alaska and California”

Natalie Twilegar, undergraduate in Environmental Studies.

Live Music: Following our speakers, our alumni string band will play a few songs in celebration of the UCSC conservation and natural history community

Participatory Art: Led by Norris Center Art+Science Graduate Fellows

Sunday, February 23rd

Optional Tour and Activities at the Ken Norris Center for Natural History

Location: Ken Norris Center for Natural History, Natural Sciences 2, room 239, Science Hill, main UCSC campus

Parking: Core West Parking Structure

Schedule:
9:00-12:00: Norris Center Activities–tour the Norris Center, view the Dick Cooley wall exhibit, take a student-led natural history walk, contribute to the oral histories of Dick’s students/colleagues

Questions?

We have set up a Facebook Page to serve as an electronic bulletin board for offering/requesting rides, housing, etc. If you have other questions, email norriscenter@ucsc.edu. See you in February!