Emily Yu

Astrophysicist and author Ray Jayawardhana became Caltech’s tenth president on July 1. He previously served as provost at Johns Hopkins University and dean of Cornell University’s College of Arts and Sciences, and earlier spent a decade at the University of Toronto. Alongside his academic leadership, he studies the origins and evolution of planetary systems and writes about science for the public. On October 5, Jayawardhana spoke with the Tech about settling into the role and his emerging priorities for research, student life, and Caltech’s impact beyond campus.

Caltech is one of nine universities under federal investigation for alleged misuse of the J-1 visa program, Vice President JD Vance announced on October 8. The administration alleges that the universities are using international researchers to undercut wages for American graduate students and researchers. Other institutions named are MIT, Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Brown, Arizona State University, the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of California, Davis. The Department of Labor’s Off

California needs more homes than it is building. In 2022, the Statewide Housing Plan from the Department of Housing and Community Development called for 2.5 million homes to be built by 2030 in order to address the housing shortage. For the past three years, an average of 104,085 homes per year were authorized by building permits in the state, one-third of the 312,500 annual pace implied by the target. At Nova Cottage Co. in Pasadena, CEO Caroline

The personal belongings of Caltech professors past, including Richard Feynman, Linus Pauling, and Clair Patterson, went on the auction block, among other scientifically historic items. This summer, as part of its Geek Week, Sotheby’s hosted a History of Science & Technology auction at its New York headquarters on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, which featured several items that were once housed in Pasadena. Lots spanned over two centuries and numerous fields in science and technology. Items p

Hi everyone! Welcome (or welcome back!) to this small but intellectually mighty campus. With another year underway, there will be much to write about. A decision that makes sense to certain people may raise questions for others. Reporting can help explain how said decision was made, providing a better basis for discussion. An important role of the Tech is to make information more accessible and give people a place to share their perspectives. It is also a place to share the projects and ever

On May 19, an anonymous Reddit user posted in r/Caltech, a Reddit forum for Caltech-related posts, alleging food safety, sanitation, and workplace issues at Browne Dining Hall. The post appeared under the username “No-Environment-3923” and was titled “PSA from a former cook: Be very careful eating at Caltech Dining Halls (Browne).” The Tech messaged the user through Reddit, who accepted the m

(Photo: Bloomberg/Getty Images) All 22 members of the National Science Board (NSB), which oversees the National Science Foundation (NSF), were removed on April 24 without explanation. Members were notified by email that their positions were “terminated, effective immediately.” They included Aaron Dominguez (BS ’92), the board’s vice chair and provost of the Catholic University of America, and board me

Robert Indiana’s LOVE, one of the most recognizable works of 20th-century American art, is set to be part of The Huntington’s permanent collection later this year. Originally created as a drawing in 1964, LOVE turned the everyday word into an iconic symbol. Today, there are more than 50 LOVE sculptures installed worldwide. “We are deeply grateful to Terri and Jerry Kohl for their generosity in making this acquisition possible,” said Karen R. Lawrence, president of The Huntington. “Jerry b

On Friday, April 17, Caltech held the Student Life and Experience Conference (SLEC) in the Hameetman Multipurpose Room, bringing together students, staff, and faculty to discuss undergraduate life. Several committees presented findings and recommendations based on responses from the SLEC survey sent out in January. To kick off the conference, Joe Ramirez, Institutional Research and Assessment Associate, and Joseph D. Greenwell, Associate Vice President of Student Life, led “A Conversation on Stu

A constitutional crisis unfolded last week in Lloyd after residents of Purple and Kaos alleys announced their intention to secede and establish an independent state, the “Republic of Nugget.” The declaration came on March 31, when former President Isabella announced on behalf of the Purple and Kaos alleys that, “in the absence of our fearless leader” (current President Shan is off-campus this term), they had “elected to secede from Lloyd House in order to form our own independent state, the Rep

In 1915, Emilie Esther Scheyer came across The Hunchback (1911) by artist Alexei Jawlensky in Lausanne, Switzerland. The painting was so impactful that she was determined to meet Jawlensky, setting the course for her life and career, as well as the development of modern art in California. Dear Little Friend: Impressions of Galka Scheyer opened at the Norton Simon Museum last month. Organized by Curator Gloria Williams Sander, the exhibition focuses on Scheyer’s relationships with artists an

What would happen if all the trash humans have dumped into the ocean rained back onto land? The War Between the Land and the Sea considers what would happen if an underwater species suddenly revealed itself, fed up with the damage humans have inflicted on them through pollution and other actions at sea. The show is a spinoff in the Doctor Who universe, but viewers don’t need to know much to follow along beyond a few minor references to “The Doctor” interspersed throughout the show. The firs

From the gridiron to the front office, Terrance “Terry” Tumey’s career spans roles as a college football player and coach, an athletic director in Division I, II, and III institutions, and an executive at the San Francisco 49ers. He earne

Gold has captivated humanity for millennia. In 1848, the discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill in the Sierra Nevada foothills initiated one of the largest migrations in U.S. history and left a lasting impact on the environment. In artistic expression, gold also plays an important role. Beyond mines and the economy, what different stories does gold tell when encountered in art? When Associate Curator Maggie Bell and Assistant Curator Lakshika Senarath Gamage began combing through the gold objects o

How can clay from the Appalachian Mountains, Kilkenny stone from Ireland, and porcelain made in the Song Dynasty come together cohesively? In “the eight directions of the wind” at The Huntington, lauded author and artist Edmund de Waal explores how art made from these materials, among many pieces of porcelain and poetry, connects histories across borders and through time. Edmund de Waal was born in Nottingham, England, in 1964, and is the son of the former Dean of Canterbury, Victor de Waal. At

In an abrupt move, the National Science Foundation (N.S.F.) has narrowed eligibility for its Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). With effectively no transition period and little advance notice, the change has caught thousands of prospective applicants by surprise. Only senior undergraduates, first-year graduate students in their first graduate degree program, and bachelor’s degree holders with no prior enrollment in any graduate degree program can apply. Previously, students could also

The Rose is a South Korean band that unexpectedly had their big break in Europe after their 2017 single “Sorry” went viral on YouTube. Their documentary, “Come Back To Me,” chronicles the group’s rise and struggles, detailing the band’s beginnings and the passion each member has for music, as well as the challenges and obstacles that nearly ended the band. A pivotal moment in The Rose’s trajectory was a lawsuit against their former management, which they fought for two years and eventually won.

Looking down from a plane, Wang Mansheng felt uneasy about how much of the Earth is now covered by roads and buildings. Reflecting on this environmental change, he stated, “Pure nature is now unattainable except through my imagination or brush.” His new works at the

Caltech jointly sued a third federal agency last Monday over another 15% cap on indirect cost rates–this time at the National Science Foundation (NSF). The lawsuit comes amid growing uncertainty about the agency’s future, as NSF has terminated over 1,400 grants in the past month and has reportedly halted all funding actions for the time being. The action aga

On April 14, Caltech joined eight other American research universities in filing a lawsuit against the Department of Energy (DOE). The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order to block DOE’s decision to cap the indirect cost rate on all academic grants at 15%. “If DOE’s policy is allowed to stand, it will devastate scientific research at America’s universities and ba

“For stars from Bette Davis to Angelina Jolie, the ultimate rite of passage since the 1950s has been sitting for the legendary Don Bachardy,” Michael Slenske wrote for The Hollywood Reporter. On Saturday, over 100 works of art and archival materials from Bachardy’s life and career will be on display at The Huntington’s MaryLou and George Boone Gallery. One of L.A.’s most acclaimed portraitists, Bachardy’s works convey a sense of intimacy and capture his subjects with remarkable likeness. Whil

Over the last month, a series of federal funding cuts to scientific research has created disruptions and uncertainty for various agencies and institutions. The National Science Foundation (NSF), which funds research across all disciplines of science and engineering, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which funds climate research and oversees environmental monitoring, are both facing significant reductions to their budgets and staff cuts of up to 50%. In addition to

Caltech joined several other leading American research universities in a lawsuit against the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Filed on February 10, the lawsuit challenges what it describes as “a flagrantly unlawful action… that, if allowed to stand, will devastate medical research at America’s universities.” On February 7, the NIH announced that indirect costs for all new and existing grants would be standardized at a rate of 15%. When a grant is awarded, direct costs are how much is spent

As one of the world’s most powerful empires was crumbling, its line of succession was also in dire straits. After losing his first wife and only son to smallpox, Philip IV of Spain faced an urgent need for a male heir. So, to consolidate the dynastic power of his family, Philip IV married his 14-year-old niece, Mariana of Austria, who had originally been betrothed to his late son. Following their marriage, a portrait of Spain’s new queen consort was commissioned. Last month, the Norton Simon Mu

After 14 years as Caltech’s Director of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation, Betsy Mitchell announced earlier this month that she will be stepping down in the spring. Regarding this decision, she stated that it is “just time for a change” in an email to the Tech. Mitchell is the former world (1986-1991) and American (1986-2002) record holder in 200-meter backstroke. During her time at the University of Texas at Austin, she was a 7-time individual NCAA champion in swimming and the NCA

In “The Ballad of East and West,” Rudyard Kipling states that “East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet.” On the contrary, Raqib Shaw demonstrates how art can unite the two with striking effect. Last month, Raqib Shaw: Ballads of East and West opened at the Huntington Art Gallery. Organized by the Frist Art Museum and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, along with curator Zehra Jumabhoy, the exhibition culminates its national tour at the Huntington. It is the artist’s f

On Monday, November 4, faculty representatives Professor Gil Refael, Chair of the Faculty Board, Professor Jennifer Jahner, Dean of Undergraduate Students, and Professor Omer Tamuz, Chair of the First Year Admissions Committee, hosted open office hours for students who wanted to hear more about the changes to Caltech’s undergraduate admissions practices. These changes involved reinstating standardized testing and reducing the role of athletic recruitment in admissions. Before taking questions,

On Saturday, November 2, Caltech Swim & Dive defeated the Occidental College Panthers at De Mandel Aquatics Center. The Caltech divers achieved victories and top three finishes. In women’s 1-meter and 3-meter diving, Ava Balanon (’28, Fleming), Jana Woo (CS ’26, Page), and Kassie Kristufek (’28, Fleming) finished top three in

“Blended Worlds: Experiments In Interplanetary Imagination,” an exhibit at the Brand Library & Art Center in Glendale, seeks to elucidate the universe through collaborative works by artists and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientists and engineers. The exhibit features a series of interdisciplinary works that challenge visitors to reflect on how deeper connections with nature can cultivate a renewed sense of wonder and curiosity about Earth and the universe.  “The magic of art is that it e

In an email to the Caltech community on September 5, 2024, Professors Kevin Gilmartin and Gil Refael announced two changes to the Institute’s undergraduate admissions process—reinstating standardized testing and reducing the weight of athletics. These changes “reaffirm Caltech’s commitment to academic merit and excellence, and are crucial to fulfilling the Institute’s Mission: ‘to expand human knowledge and benefit society through research integrated with education.’ ” Regarding athletics, the