Patty Guerra

UC Merced Alum, Now a Robotics Expert for Amazon, Advises Students to Get Their Hands Dirty

January 6, 2026

Kevin Arrieta is pictured speaking to an electrical engineering class at UC Merced.

Kevin Arrieta got into robotics to avoid getting into trouble. Arrieta said he joined the robotics club at his Compton high school after the teacher who ran it gave him an ultimatum. "I had gotten in with the wrong crowd," he said. "I had a physics teacher who told me, '...

A flexible material that gets stronger the more it is hit and conducts electricity is shown.

Stretchy Material That Gets Stronger When Hit Has Exciting Potential

Much of the work Yue (Jessica) Wang does at UC Merced sounds like science fiction: She creates flexible material that gets stronger the more you hit it. And it conducts electricity. Science, yes....

The 2023 spring commencement ceremony at UC Merced is shown.

UC Merced Announces Spring Commencement Speakers

The speakers who will address graduating UC Merced students at their commencement ceremonies May 10-12 come from a variety of backgrounds and achievements, but all three are vanguards in their fields...

The Science and Engineering 2 Building is pictured.

UC Merced Adds Several New Engineering Majors

UC Merced's School of Engineering is expanding its offerings into some exciting areas. Most recently, the university added a major in aerospace engineering, one of the fastest-growing...

Students compete in the Aqua Arcade Game Jam at UC Merced.

Students Create Games to Teach About Safe Water

Ensuring people have access to reliable, clean water is no game. Except when it is. UC Merced's Secure Water Future interns, administrative assistant and coordinator joined the university...

Volunteers take part in a painting project at Lake Yosemite.

California Volunteer Program Expansion Effort Makes UC Merced Stop

Sometimes public service at UC Merced looks like finding ways to grow crops with a changing water supply. Or delving into how children translate for their non-English-speaking parents. And...

Traffic is shown along a stretch of Bellevue Road near UC Merced.

UC Merced Lands Grant for Making Roads Safer for Bicyclists, Pedestrians

A major route to UC Merced could soon begin to be much safer under a project to install, test and assess several bike lane and other safety interventions. The Bellevue Road safety project will be...

An electric vehicle charger on the UC Merced campus is shown.

Study Urges New Approach to Energy Planning

The world of energy is changing so quickly that the processes used for planning can’t keep up. UC Merced electrical engineering Professor Sarah Kurtz took part in a study that showed how...

UC Merced students hold a drone at a recent competition.

New Aerospace Engineering Major Links UC Merced to Skyrocketing Industry

The newest major in UC Merced's School of Engineering is one of the most exciting subjects in - and out of - this world. Aerospace engineering, one of the fastest-growing industries in the...

Gov. Gavin Newsom discusses upcoming federal and state solar projects with other officials.

New Canal Project Expands on UC Merced Solar Research

Federal and state government officials journeyed to the western corner of Merced County on Thursday to announce a new project to place solar panels on the water in the Delta-Mendota Canal. The...