GEISEL REVITALIZED
� Whether you know it as Central , Not- So-Central or Geisel , the UC San Diego Library is an unforgettable icon . Yet for all the time you spent inside studying , you might not recognize it next time you step through those doors .
Longtime campus supporter Audrey Geisel launched the Geisel Library Revitalization Initiative with a philanthropic investment intended to transform the interior of the building named for her and her late husband , the venerable “ Dr . Seuss .” In order to meet the evolving needs of students in the digital age , the three-phase renovation focuses on updating the most heavily used areas of the building — floors 1 , 2 and 8 — to create modern , technology-rich spaces to advance learning and research .
The project kicked off with the opening of Audrey ’ s Café , a new coffee shop that has quickly become a popular spot to refuel between study sessions . Additional campaign support is now spurring on the second and third phases of the Library ’ s transformation , providing ample space for individual student study on the eighth floor , as well as the ability to serve as a one-of-a-kind venue for campus events .
NEW VISION Collaborative study areas and an event venue will highlight the top floor of Geisel Library .
The final and most extensive phase of the renovations is expected to begin in the 2019 – 20 school year , when the first and second floors are reconfigured to offer more collaborative study space , new technology to support research and learning , and a modern exhibition gallery to invite community involvement .
FIELD OF THE FUTURE : DATA SCIENCE
� Artificial intelligence . Machine learning . Computational biology . Long before the term “ data science ” was coined , UC San Diego was a pioneer in the disciplines that ultimately led to this rapidly developing field . Now a new institute will harness the power of big data to advance and transform research and train the next generation of data science leaders .
The Halicioğlu Data Science Institute , named in honor of computer science alumnus and benefactor Taner Halicioğlu ’ 96 ( pictured right ), will enable researchers seeking to make sense of massive amounts of data generated from their studies to apply data science tools to better understand and make predictions about the world around us .
“ Data science is transforming biology , physics , chemistry , medicine , math and
many other fields in addition to computer science ,” says Halicioğlu , whose gift to UC San Diego last year made the institute possible . “ Take personalized medicine and genomics . Gathering , sequencing , analyzing and storing an individual ’ s genetic makeup will allow physicians to find causes and correlations that can determine how things are related and what they reveal . That ’ s the kind of fundamental transformation data science is bringing to almost every field .”
A core group of faculty and staff researchers , many of whom are connected to other schools and divisions on campus , will lead the institute ’ s efforts . In addition , professors from other disciplines are expected to affiliate with the center , making them eligible to compete for seed grants , collaborate with data science faculty and access the institute ’ s data science expertise .
Academically , the institute is developing a five-year , BS / MS degree program for students interested in specific areas of data science , like health informatics ,
business analytics , biostatistics and digital archaeology . It will also be a key resource for San Diego ’ s high-tech and biotech industry , as well as local governments , by offering training programs and opportunities to collaborate on data science applications for health care , transportation , energy , water and other sectors of the regional economy .
All this is only a sample — learn more about the impact of the Campaign for UC San Diego at campaign . ucsd . edu
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