Javier González-Rocha
@javigr.bsky.social
Assistant Professor of Applied Mathematics | Baskin Engineering | UC Santa Cruz | Pursuing Wonderment
Reposted by Javier González-Rocha
Glad to tour @ucsantacruz.bsky.social’s AgTech Alliance center to see the latest ag technologies.
Focusing on sustainable, ethical & socially responsible technologies is vital to the longevity of our ag industry.
Focusing on sustainable, ethical & socially responsible technologies is vital to the longevity of our ag industry.
August 28, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Glad to tour @ucsantacruz.bsky.social’s AgTech Alliance center to see the latest ag technologies.
Focusing on sustainable, ethical & socially responsible technologies is vital to the longevity of our ag industry.
Focusing on sustainable, ethical & socially responsible technologies is vital to the longevity of our ag industry.
Visiting Durango, México! Food is amazing!
August 30, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Visiting Durango, México! Food is amazing!
Reposted by Javier González-Rocha
This week, Rep. Zoe Lofgren visited UC Santa Cruz to meet with students and researchers from UCSC Center for Agroecology to learn about the AgTech Alliance—a collab between #BaskinEngineering and social sciences to develop innovative technologies that support sustainable food production. 🌱
August 21, 2025 at 7:12 PM
This week, Rep. Zoe Lofgren visited UC Santa Cruz to meet with students and researchers from UCSC Center for Agroecology to learn about the AgTech Alliance—a collab between #BaskinEngineering and social sciences to develop innovative technologies that support sustainable food production. 🌱
Reposted by Javier González-Rocha
🤝 To fill gaps in the air quality monitoring network in Pajaro Valley, CA, a team led by #BaskinEngineering Professor
@javigr.bsky.social has deployed new sensors in the region—making crucial pollution data more accessible! @ucsantacruz.bsky.social
@javigr.bsky.social has deployed new sensors in the region—making crucial pollution data more accessible! @ucsantacruz.bsky.social
July 30, 2025 at 9:45 PM
🤝 To fill gaps in the air quality monitoring network in Pajaro Valley, CA, a team led by #BaskinEngineering Professor
@javigr.bsky.social has deployed new sensors in the region—making crucial pollution data more accessible! @ucsantacruz.bsky.social
@javigr.bsky.social has deployed new sensors in the region—making crucial pollution data more accessible! @ucsantacruz.bsky.social
Reposted by Javier González-Rocha
🔥 Newly deployed air quality sensors will fill gaps in the air quality monitoring network in Pajaro Valley, home to many agricultural workers—helping empower community decision-making for those most affected by wildfire smoke. Led by #BaskinEngineering Professor @javigr.bsky.social 👏 bit.ly/3IOQpuX
New air quality sensors enable community decision-making in Pajaro Valley region
Newly deployed sensors will fill in significant gaps in the area's air quality monitoring network
bit.ly
July 29, 2025 at 4:34 PM
🔥 Newly deployed air quality sensors will fill gaps in the air quality monitoring network in Pajaro Valley, home to many agricultural workers—helping empower community decision-making for those most affected by wildfire smoke. Led by #BaskinEngineering Professor @javigr.bsky.social 👏 bit.ly/3IOQpuX
Just installed 5 new PurpleAir sensors across Pajaro!
Now we’ve got real-time air quality data to help protect our families and farmworkers—especially during wildfire season. 💚
Check it out here: map.purpleair.com/1/mAQI/a10/p...
Grateful to build this with our community.
#Pajaro #PajaroValley
Now we’ve got real-time air quality data to help protect our families and farmworkers—especially during wildfire season. 💚
Check it out here: map.purpleair.com/1/mAQI/a10/p...
Grateful to build this with our community.
#Pajaro #PajaroValley
US EPA PM2.5 Air Quality Standards Interactive Map by PurpleAir
Watch: With two minute updates, The US EPA PM2.5 Air Quality Index (AQI) is a number used by US government agencies to communicate to the public how polluted the air currently is or how polluted it is...
map.purpleair.com
July 24, 2025 at 4:14 AM
Just installed 5 new PurpleAir sensors across Pajaro!
Now we’ve got real-time air quality data to help protect our families and farmworkers—especially during wildfire season. 💚
Check it out here: map.purpleair.com/1/mAQI/a10/p...
Grateful to build this with our community.
#Pajaro #PajaroValley
Now we’ve got real-time air quality data to help protect our families and farmworkers—especially during wildfire season. 💚
Check it out here: map.purpleair.com/1/mAQI/a10/p...
Grateful to build this with our community.
#Pajaro #PajaroValley
Just visited Zamora de Hidalgo and was lucky enough to catch this stunning view of the cathedral after a summer rain. The light, the stonework, the stillness—it all comes together in one timeless moment. 🌧️⛪✨ #ZamoraDeHidalgo #ArquitecturaMexicana #MéxicoMágico #TravelMoments
July 21, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Just visited Zamora de Hidalgo and was lucky enough to catch this stunning view of the cathedral after a summer rain. The light, the stonework, the stillness—it all comes together in one timeless moment. 🌧️⛪✨ #ZamoraDeHidalgo #ArquitecturaMexicana #MéxicoMágico #TravelMoments
Reposted by Javier González-Rocha
Globally, roughly a third more power is being generated from the sun this spring than last. If this exponential rate of growth can continue, we will soon live in a very different world, @billmckibben.bsky.social writes.
4.6 Billion Years On, the Sun Is Having a Moment
In the past two years, without much notice, solar power has begun to truly transform the world’s energy system.
www.newyorker.com
July 19, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Globally, roughly a third more power is being generated from the sun this spring than last. If this exponential rate of growth can continue, we will soon live in a very different world, @billmckibben.bsky.social writes.
Honored to attend the groundbreaking of the #DoloresHuerta Peace & Justice Cultural Center in #Bakersfield today with my wife Ruth, Director of #ValleyVoices.
Honored to stand with community and the #DoloresHuertaFoundation in the fight for Justice and equity.
Honored to stand with community and the #DoloresHuertaFoundation in the fight for Justice and equity.
June 29, 2025 at 12:49 AM
Honored to attend the groundbreaking of the #DoloresHuerta Peace & Justice Cultural Center in #Bakersfield today with my wife Ruth, Director of #ValleyVoices.
Honored to stand with community and the #DoloresHuertaFoundation in the fight for Justice and equity.
Honored to stand with community and the #DoloresHuertaFoundation in the fight for Justice and equity.
Big thanks to #jobyaviation for hosting our #BaskinEngineering students! The visit offered an inspiring look at aerospace innovation and the value of hands-on learning. Opportunities like this help shape the next generation of engineers.
#UCSC #UCSantaCruz #AppliedMath
#UCSC #UCSantaCruz #AppliedMath
June 28, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Big thanks to #jobyaviation for hosting our #BaskinEngineering students! The visit offered an inspiring look at aerospace innovation and the value of hands-on learning. Opportunities like this help shape the next generation of engineers.
#UCSC #UCSantaCruz #AppliedMath
#UCSC #UCSantaCruz #AppliedMath
Reposted by Javier González-Rocha
Recap of the annual #BaskinEngineering Undergraduate Project Showcase! 🛠️✨ Students brought bold ideas to life—from wildfire risk systems and muscle-activated prosthetics, to ROVs for kelp restoration, SARS-CoV-2 mutation validation, smart power monitors, and drones for VTOL search and rescue.
June 25, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Recap of the annual #BaskinEngineering Undergraduate Project Showcase! 🛠️✨ Students brought bold ideas to life—from wildfire risk systems and muscle-activated prosthetics, to ROVs for kelp restoration, SARS-CoV-2 mutation validation, smart power monitors, and drones for VTOL search and rescue.
Reposted by Javier González-Rocha
In our latest Krill Waves Radio, these coastal charmers lounge, swim, and vibe in cozy seal colonies all set to mellow lo-fi beats. Tune in, unwind, or just enjoy the seal serenity: youtu.be/r4fsBII2ZlU
2 Hours of Harbor Seals to Relax/Study To | Lofi Hip Hop | Monterey Bay Aquarium Krill Waves Radio
YouTube video by Monterey Bay Aquarium
youtu.be
June 20, 2025 at 5:22 PM
In our latest Krill Waves Radio, these coastal charmers lounge, swim, and vibe in cozy seal colonies all set to mellow lo-fi beats. Tune in, unwind, or just enjoy the seal serenity: youtu.be/r4fsBII2ZlU
Reposted by Javier González-Rocha
When the Pajaro Valley Unified School District began its California State Seal of Civic Engagement program in 2023, only three students were honored. This year, that number has jumped to more than 300.
www.santacruzsentinel.com/2025/05/29/m...
www.santacruzsentinel.com/2025/05/29/m...
More than 300 Pajaro Valley Unified students honored with civic engagement award
“PVUSD students continue to lead with purpose, compassion, and a desire to make meaningful change,” Superintendent Heather Contreras said. “It is a profound honor to recognize mor…
www.santacruzsentinel.com
May 30, 2025 at 2:35 PM
When the Pajaro Valley Unified School District began its California State Seal of Civic Engagement program in 2023, only three students were honored. This year, that number has jumped to more than 300.
www.santacruzsentinel.com/2025/05/29/m...
www.santacruzsentinel.com/2025/05/29/m...
Reposted by Javier González-Rocha
Could charged water droplets have generate sparks which forged the first life on earth? Whether in a pond, a lake or a geyser, #BaskinEngineering Professor Emeritus David Deamer says, “these molecules would have accumulated wherever there was wave action or waterfalls.” bit.ly/4bDCZwi
Life on Earth May Have Been Jump-Started by ‘Microlightning’
Charged water droplets generate sparks that can forge organic compounds
bit.ly
March 18, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Could charged water droplets have generate sparks which forged the first life on earth? Whether in a pond, a lake or a geyser, #BaskinEngineering Professor Emeritus David Deamer says, “these molecules would have accumulated wherever there was wave action or waterfalls.” bit.ly/4bDCZwi
Reposted by Javier González-Rocha
Awesome quilt fair today in Santa Cruz - thank you Pajaro Valley Quilt Association! This quilt was so moving & beautifully made. #quilt #quilters #SantaCruz #Watsonville #california #farm #farmworkers #PVQA
February 23, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Awesome quilt fair today in Santa Cruz - thank you Pajaro Valley Quilt Association! This quilt was so moving & beautifully made. #quilt #quilters #SantaCruz #Watsonville #california #farm #farmworkers #PVQA
Reposted by Javier González-Rocha
“Hermanita.” #Jewel of a mosaic designed by #printmaker Juan Fuentes. 2400 sq.ft.!, next to many panels displaying the diverse cultural heritage of Watsonville, CA. Part of the Watsonville Brillante civic center project. #makersMartch #MosaicMonday #printmaking #artshare #mosaic
March 3, 2025 at 6:53 PM
“Hermanita.” #Jewel of a mosaic designed by #printmaker Juan Fuentes. 2400 sq.ft.!, next to many panels displaying the diverse cultural heritage of Watsonville, CA. Part of the Watsonville Brillante civic center project. #makersMartch #MosaicMonday #printmaking #artshare #mosaic
Reposted by Javier González-Rocha
This year, the Watsonville Film Festival will have a slate of films screened at CineLux Green Valley, but it will also have screenings in Santa Cruz and Salinas.
www.santacruzsentinel.com/2025/03/03/1...
www.santacruzsentinel.com/2025/03/03/1...
13th Watsonville Film Festival expands into other cities
WATSONVILLE — Just as it has for the previous 12 years, the Watsonville Film Festival will highlight movies from around the world that celebrate stories from the Latino community. This will b…
www.santacruzsentinel.com
March 4, 2025 at 2:28 PM
This year, the Watsonville Film Festival will have a slate of films screened at CineLux Green Valley, but it will also have screenings in Santa Cruz and Salinas.
www.santacruzsentinel.com/2025/03/03/1...
www.santacruzsentinel.com/2025/03/03/1...
Reposted by Javier González-Rocha
The women’s walkout: Lessons from the 1980s Watsonville cannery strike buff.ly/VA1fvlE via Wallace Baine, with screenings set for tomorrow as part of the Watsonville Film Festival
The women’s walkout: Lessons from the 1980s Watsonville cannery strike
The Watsonville Film Festival will mark the 40th anniversary of the Watsonville cannery strike with a re-screening of Jon Silver's 1989 documentary on the strike, and Silver's new short film on the…
buff.ly
March 7, 2025 at 8:00 PM
The women’s walkout: Lessons from the 1980s Watsonville cannery strike buff.ly/VA1fvlE via Wallace Baine, with screenings set for tomorrow as part of the Watsonville Film Festival
Reposted by Javier González-Rocha
How human-like are #AI chatbots? 🤔 A team led by #BaskinEngineering Prof Magy Seif El-Nasr found that #ChatGPT over-empathizes but struggles with positive emotions, exaggerating human tendencies. It also shows more empathy when told the person is female—revealing biases in AI empathy. bit.ly/43pRKAB
AI chatbots perpetuate biases when performing empathy, study finds
A new study explores how GPT-4o, the latest model from OpenAI, evaluates and performs empathy compared to humans, and finds major gaps exist.
bit.ly
March 5, 2025 at 11:53 PM
How human-like are #AI chatbots? 🤔 A team led by #BaskinEngineering Prof Magy Seif El-Nasr found that #ChatGPT over-empathizes but struggles with positive emotions, exaggerating human tendencies. It also shows more empathy when told the person is female—revealing biases in AI empathy. bit.ly/43pRKAB
Happy New Year! 🎊🍾🎈
January 1, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Happy New Year! 🎊🍾🎈
Reposted by Javier González-Rocha
If you want to know the name of the NIMBY who has been blocking the repairs to the Santa Cruz wharf since 2016, her name is Gillian Greensite and she deserves the blame for what happened today
www.goodtimes.sc/the-wharfs-c...
www.goodtimes.sc/the-wharfs-c...
The Wharf’s Controversy | Good Times
Why the city wants to upgrade the wharf, and why one group is fighting to maintain the status quo
www.goodtimes.sc
December 24, 2024 at 12:27 AM
If you want to know the name of the NIMBY who has been blocking the repairs to the Santa Cruz wharf since 2016, her name is Gillian Greensite and she deserves the blame for what happened today
www.goodtimes.sc/the-wharfs-c...
www.goodtimes.sc/the-wharfs-c...
Reposted by Javier González-Rocha
My USEPA webinar & an excellent follow-up panel discussion on layer risk reduction for schools 4 yrs ago.
Four yrs down & not much progress. To say we swung & missed would be generous. In most cases we never came to the plate. It was never rocket science, folks.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPfH...
Four yrs down & not much progress. To say we swung & missed would be generous. In most cases we never came to the plate. It was never rocket science, folks.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPfH...
Indoor Air Quality in K-12 Schools: Addressing the Concept of Layered Risk Amidst COVID-19
YouTube video by U.S. EPA
www.youtube.com
November 29, 2024 at 12:05 AM
My USEPA webinar & an excellent follow-up panel discussion on layer risk reduction for schools 4 yrs ago.
Four yrs down & not much progress. To say we swung & missed would be generous. In most cases we never came to the plate. It was never rocket science, folks.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPfH...
Four yrs down & not much progress. To say we swung & missed would be generous. In most cases we never came to the plate. It was never rocket science, folks.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPfH...
Reposted by Javier González-Rocha
BIG DEAL. Congrats to all involved!
🚨Breakthrough alert🚨 In what could one day become a new treatment for epilepsy, researchers from our Braingeneers group at @ucsantacruz.bsky.social, UCSF, and UC Berkeley have used pulses of light to prevent seizure-like activity in neurons. 🧠
news.ucsc.edu/2024/11/teod...
news.ucsc.edu/2024/11/teod...
How optogenetics can put the brakes on epilepsy seizures
In what could one day become a new treatment for epilepsy, researchers at UC San Francisco, UC Santa Cruz and UC Berkeley have used pulses of light to prevent seizure-like activity in neurons.
news.ucsc.edu
November 15, 2024 at 9:13 PM
BIG DEAL. Congrats to all involved!
Reposted by Javier González-Rocha
The @ucsantacruz.bsky.social campus, with the redwoods forest and the live turkeys (not talking about the faculty here!) has to be one of the most beautiful campuses anywhere.
November 20, 2024 at 2:39 AM
The @ucsantacruz.bsky.social campus, with the redwoods forest and the live turkeys (not talking about the faculty here!) has to be one of the most beautiful campuses anywhere.