Ben Jealous was born into the Sierra Club. His parents were members of the organization’s Ventana chapter in central California and he grew up with the coastal redwoods as his playground. He organized his first protest – to stop the clear-cutting of an old-growth redwood forest – as a teenager. But today’s organization is not the Sierra Club of his youth, Jealous told students, staff, faculty, and community members at…
As the planet warms, Antarctica’s ice sheet is melting and contributing to sea-level rise around the globe. Antarctica holds enough frozen water to raise global sea levels by 190 feet, so precisely predicting how it will move and melt now and in the future is vital for protecting coastal areas. But most climate models struggle to accurately simulate the movement of Antarctic ice due to sparse data and the complexity…
A bite of food is about more than calories. Food production involves energy, water, and other resources and is shaped by economics, policies, and international relations. What we eat affects our health, expresses our cultures, and shapes communities."}">svg]:su-mt-3 md:[&>svg]:su--mt-2 lg:[&>svg]:su-mt-4 [&>svg]:su-w-41 [&>svg]:su-h-43 md:[&>svg]:su-w-[97px] md:[&>svg]:su-h-[102px] su-mr-8 lg:su-mr-19">A bite of food is about more than calories. Food production involves energy, water, and other resources and is shaped by economics, policies, and international…
Life may not have begun with a dramatic lightning strike into the ocean but from many smaller “microlightning” exchanges among water droplets from crashing waterfalls or breaking waves. New research from Stanford University shows that water sprayed into a mixture of gases thought to be present in Earth’s early atmosphere can lead to the formation of organic molecules with carbon-nitrogen bonds, including uracil, one of the components of DNA and RNA. The…
When you think about your favorite teacher, you probably don’t remember what grades they gave you – you remember how they made you feel. Maybe they got you excited about a book or a science experiment, showed you care during a hard time, or gave you a piece of advice that stuck.A new book from Isabelle Hau, executive director of the Stanford Accelerator for Learning, explores the science behind why…
Anita had never failed to pay her rent before. But when she lost her job, she fell behind. Her landlord gave her three days to pay up or face eviction. Anita quickly found a new job and secured rental assistance, but by then, the landlord had already filed an eviction case. Under California law, that meant she had no legal right to stay in her home, even though she now…
Kenneth Goodson, professor of mechanical engineering and senior associate dean for research and faculty affairs in the School of Engineering, has been named Stanford’s vice provost for graduate education and postdoctoral affairs, Provost Jenny Martinez announced. His tenure begins April 1. “I’m thrilled that Ken has agreed to be the next vice provost for graduate education and postdoctoral affairs. Ken is an example of an excellent mentor who truly cares about…
Stanford will increase scholarship totals and introduce a revenue-sharing model that will provide direct benefits to student-athletes, the latest move by the university in response to a college athletics landscape that has seen seismic shifts in the last few years. These actions follow from the expected settlement of litigation against the NCAA and college athletics conferences, known as the “House case.” The settlement, which is expected to receive final court approval…
Name the businesses leading the artificial intelligence arms race and it’s likely that Google, Nvidia, OpenAI, and Anthropic, among others, come to mind. What do these four companies have in common? Their founders are Stanford alumni.Jonathan Levin, the president of Stanford and a senior fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR), made this point during the kickoff session at the 2025 SIEPR Economic Summit – but not…
About 15 years ago, Glenn Carroll and Jesper Sørensen began teaching a mandatory course for first-year MBA students called Critical Analytical Thinking. “It was not a particularly popular course,” Carroll recalls. “These are kids that just came to business school, it’s their first quarter, and rather than learning about business, they’re learning about logic.”Carroll and Sørensen, professors of organizational behavior at Stanford Graduate School of Business, looked for ways to…
Jon Denney, Stanford’s vice president for development, has announced that he will retire from Stanford after six years in the role.“I have been incredibly fortunate to spend much of my life at Stanford – first as a student, and then for 28 wonderful years of my professional career,” Denney said. “It has been an honor to serve the university in so many capacities, and I am deeply grateful for the…
Dear graduate students,We are writing to share an important update about the package delivery program for students living on campus that will take effect in fall 2025.Over the past several years, the number of packages delivered to residences on our campus has reached a staggering volume of more than a half million per year. At the same time, package thefts, emissions from delivery trucks, trash, and concerns for student and…
Life began and diversified in the ocean, and now Stanford is providing a new, easier way for scientists to get a good look at it.The Molecular and Cellular Biodiversity Imaging Center, the brainchild of Christoper Lowe, biology professor in the Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences (H&S), is now open at Hopkins Marine Station. It allows researchers from a range of disciplines access to technology rarely found at a marine…
Stanford economist and Nobel laureate Guido W. Imbens will become the next faculty director of Stanford Data Science (SDS), an initiative housed within the Office of the Vice Provost and Dean of Research that supports research and scholars through data-driven discovery and data science education opportunities across campus. Imbens will begin his term on April 1, succeeding Professor Emmanuel Candès, the Barnum-Simons Chair in Mathematics and Statistics, who has served…
With Stanford Service Corps, students design solutions on campus to prepare for global challenges | Stanford Report Skip to content
Students at the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School recently visited Stanford to learn from leading researchers in artificial intelligence and aerospace technology.The goal of the Test of AI & Emerging Technologies course, which took place over 10 days in January, was to help the students prepare for testing and evaluating AI-guided aircraft and satellites, which are expected to play a prominent role in future defense operations.During the first part…
New paper examines why COVID-19 mortality was higher in the U.S. than in some East Asian countries | Stanford Report Skip to content
APPOINTMENTS WITHOUT LIMIT OF TIME:Kerr, Orin, Professor of Law, effective January 1, 2025Morrison, Matthew , Associate Professor of African and African American Studies, effective February 16, 2025Wakefield, Claire , Professor of Pediatrics, effective June 1, 2025APPOINTMENTS FOR A TERM OF YEARS:Adams, Leslie, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, for the period January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2028Islam, Md Tauhidul, Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology, for the period February…
Speaking to parents of undergraduates on Friday morning, President Jonathan Levin noted the unique and special environment that Stanford offers its students.“The kind of culture and spirit of the American West – where we’re located – it just opens up your mind to different opportunities,” he said.He explained that at Stanford, students can explore their interests and different ideas, meet different people, and experience different cultures and ways of thinking.…
The Faculty Senate approved proposed modifications to the Research Policy Handbook from the Committee on Research and received an update from the president and provost on federal policy matters during its meeting Thursday.Federal policy updatePresident Jonathan Levin highlighted concerns about federal support for university research that have been exacerbated by staff reductions at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). “The indirect cost reduction that…
Imagine being able to speed up evolution – hypothetically – to learn which genes might have a harmful or beneficial effect on human health. Imagine, further, being able to rapidly generate new genetic sequences that could help cure disease or solve environmental challenges. Now, scientists have developed a generative AI tool that can predict the form and function of proteins coded in the DNA of all domains of life, identify molecules…
Stanford faculty members Jennifer Cochran and Christopher Manning have been newly elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). This honor is among the highest professional distinctions accorded engineers and recognizes accomplished experts from business, academia, and government.“As a member of the National Academy of Engineering, these professionals belong to a select group of national and international peers who advance the welfare and prosperity of the nation by providing independent…
Using a series of more than 1,000 X-ray snapshots of the shapeshifting of enzymes in action, researchers at Stanford University have illuminated one of the great mysteries of life – how enzymes are able speed up life-sustaining biochemical reactions so dramatically. Their findings could impact fields ranging from basic science to drug discovery, and provoke a rethinking of how science is taught in the classroom.“When I say enzymes speed up…
As computing and data continue to influence nearly every facet of society, Stanford University is committing to the future of both with the opening of the new Computing and Data Science (CoDa) building."}">svg]:su-mt-3 md:[&>svg]:su--mt-2 lg:[&>svg]:su-mt-4 [&>svg]:su-w-41 [&>svg]:su-h-43 md:[&>svg]:su-w-[97px] md:[&>svg]:su-h-[102px] su-mr-8 lg:su-mr-19">sAs computing and data continue to influence nearly every facet of society, Stanford University is committing to the future of both with the opening of the new Computing and Data…
A new report by researchers at Stanford and Harvard finds that while the average U.S. student still lags behind pre-pandemic achievement levels in reading and math, students in a number of school districts across the country have regained the ground they lost in both subjects.The analysis, which provides exclusive data on district-level changes in student achievement from 2019 to 2024, identifies 102 medium and large districts now performing above pre-pandemic…
Artificial intelligence-powered chatbots are getting pretty good at diagnosing some diseases, but how do chatbots do when the questions are less black-and-white? For example, how long before surgery should a patient stop taking prescribed blood thinners? Should a patient’s treatment protocol change if they’ve had adverse reactions to similar drugs in the past? These sorts of questions don’t have a textbook right or wrong answer – it’s up to physicians…
A corn plant knows how to find water in soil with the very tips of its roots, but some varieties, including many used for breeding high-yielding corn in the U.S., appear to have lost a portion of that ability, according to a Stanford-led study. With climate change increasing droughts, the findings hold potential for developing more resilient varieties of corn.The study, published in the journal Science, uncovers genetic mechanisms behind…
For people with weakened immune systems, common molds lurking in the environment – in the soil, along damp walls, or on a forgotten apple – can cause dangerous infections deep inside the body. These invasive mold infections can quickly become fatal without treatment, yet they are difficult to diagnose without invasive procedures such as a tissue biopsy.Now, a blood test developed at Stanford Medicine offers a safer, faster way to…
A country of 17,000 islands is at the forefront of a global effort to sustainably feed billions of people in the coming decades. Because it is rich in blue foods – fish, shellfish, seaweed, and aquatic plants – Indonesia is well positioned to pioneer a model for other countries to tap the ocean’s vast potential while conserving it. In collaboration with the Indonesian government, civil society, organizations, and businesses, Stanford…
Several groups across Stanford will recognize and celebrate Black History Month this February with events including a speaker series, a pop-up shop, a service day at the farm, and more.Many events are part of the Black Community Services Center’s Black Liberation Month programming, this year themed “Food Justice Is Justice for All.” The month’s theme ties to the center’s 2025 goal of celebrating “Our Tables, Our Stories: Nourishing Our Collective…
In October 2024, Stanford reported preliminary enrollment data for the entering undergraduate Class of 2028, the first class to be admitted under the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling on race-conscious admissions.Stanford has now reported final enrollment numbers for the class as part of the 2024-25 Common Data Set, a data-reporting effort used across higher education institutions.A summary of the final enrollment data for the first-year class can be found below,…
In briefli]:su-m-0">Compared with mining and processing new chemicals, the battery recycling process analyzed in the study:Emitted 58% to 81% less greenhouse gas emissionsUsed 72% to 88% less waterAnd used 77% to 89% less energyCarbon emissions aside, energy use correlates with air pollutants like soot and sulfurRecycling lithium-ion batteries to recover their critical metals has significantly lower environmental impacts than mining virgin metals, according to a new Stanford University lifecycle analysis…
In briefli]:su-m-0">Stanford’s new Mail and Package Services (MPS) centralizes mail handling with a Newark receiving warehouse and same-day campus delivery via electric vehicles.Redesigned package centers and 24/7 lockers offer students flexible, secure access to their packages.The program cuts delivery truck traffic, reduces emissions, and incorporates waste diversion to support Stanford’s sustainability goals.A state-of-the-art receiving warehouse opening in 2025 will further enhance mail handling efficiency and capacity.Stanford University has introduced a…
For anyone serious about becoming a top athlete, well-known steps to success include intense conditioning, a health-conscious diet, and grueling hours of practice. However, a unit developed by Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE) Professor Jo Boaler highlights a variable often overlooked in the formula for athletic achievement: the ability to use data to identify pain points in performance and adjust accordingly.For the new Basketball Data Analytics unit – published on youcubed,…
Stanford University Libraries (SUL) have assumed permanent stewardship of the California Historical Society Collection, a trove of over 600,000 items spanning the history of California and the West since the 18th century.The collection, acquired in collaboration with the Bill Lane Center for the American West, will become known as the California Historical Society (CHS) Collection at Stanford and will be made available to the public and academic community in the…
The control panel to the human experience is hidden inside a bony box. We can thank our skulls for keeping our brains safe. But this protective case also makes the three-pound organ that generates our mental lives and behavior particularly challenging to study and treat. Add to this the sheer complexity of the human brain – 100 billion neurons, with more than 100 trillion connections among them. It is perhaps not…
Leaders of the Associated Students of Stanford University (ASSU) outlined key student priorities, and President Jonathan Levin discussed potential impacts of the new presidential administration for Stanford during the Faculty Senate meeting on Thursday.In the student government’s annual report to the senate, ASSU President Diego Kagurabadza and Vice President Divya Ganesan highlighted issues important to students such as free speech, AI, academic accommodations, admissions, and social life. The ASSU represents…
Emeritus Professor Paul Yock, MD, formerly the Martha Meier Weiland Professor in the School of Medicine, a professor of bioengineering and of cardiology, and founding director of Stanford Biodesign (now the Stanford Mussallem Center for Biodesign), traveled to Washington, D.C., earlier this month to receive the National Medal of Technology and Innovation in a ceremony at the White House.The medal was awarded to Yock in recognition of his work in…
A compound with the unpresuming designation of EBC-46 has made a splash in recent years for its cancer-fighting prowess. Now a new study led by Stanford researchers has revealed that EBC-46 also shows immense potential for eradicating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections. Compared to similar-acting agents, EBC-46 excels at activating dormant cells where HIV is hiding, the study found. These “kicked” cells can then be targeted (“killed”) by immunotherapies to fully clear…
Almost 58 years ago, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered a speech on poverty and racism, “The Other America,” at Stanford. This month – on King’s actual birthday, Jan. 15 – the Stanford community commemorated the event with a screening and discussion of King’s speech. Projected on a 16-foot-wide movie screen constructed on stage in Memorial Church, the black-and-white film made the slain civil rights leader feel present to the…