Patty Guerra

Project Aims to Put AI to Work Reducing its Own Energy Needs

April 8, 2026

Photo depicts Elizabeth Nowadnick, center, surrounded by members of her lab on campus at UC Merced.

It's no secret that artificial intelligence uses a lot of electricity. A standard ChatGPT query consumes approximately 0.34 watt-hours - roughly 10 times more than a Google search. According to the Pew Research Center, U.S. data centers consumed 183 terawatt-hours of electricity in 2024 -...

A solar project at a Merced dairy provides heated water around the clock.

Solar Projects Yielding Exciting Potential for Dairies, Other Industries

A company started by UC Merced founding faculty member Roland Winston - and staffed by alumni - is looking for partners for some exciting solar projects. And the government could cover the costs....

Professor Elizabeth Nowadnick with a computer visualization of a ferroelectric crystal structure.

UC Merced-led Research to Focus on Reducing Power Needed for Computing

Computer technology has exploded in recent years and is only going to keep growing, with ever more use of artificial intelligence and connected devices that communicate, or the Internet of Things...

Former School of Engineering Dean Mat Matsumoto with Professors Anita Bhappu and Alejandro Gutierrez and most of the Center for Advancing Diversity in Engineering fellows at the Fall 2022 Innovate to Grow event.

Innovate to Grow Expands to Include, Inspire First-Year Students

Innovate to Grow is a twice-yearly celebration of student ingenuity hosted by the School of Engineering (SoE). In a way, it's a science fair for college students to help solve problems...

UC Merced Provides Unique Opportunities for Undergrad Research

Christina Georges didn't choose UC Merced because of the opportunities she would have to conduct research as an undergraduate. "When doing my own research on UC Merced in high school, I...

UC Merced engineering students at the SHPE conference in Charlotte, N.C.

UC Merced Students Earn Wins, Job Offers at National Engineering Conference

UC Merced students came away from a national engineering conference with some big wins — including a first-place finish in a famous design competition and job offers from some of the...

A new website offers farmers vital growing information.

New Website Offers Farmers Vital Information at Their Fingertips

When planting crops, farmers confront numerous questions. Among them: Will it get too hot? Is it likely frost will stunt growing? When is the best time to plant? What kind of pests could...

Trees have been placed in four locations for people to select families for whom to buy gifts.

UC Merced Students, Faculty, Staff Help the Needy at the Holidays

Throughout the year, the UC Merced Community Engagement Center (CEC) offers a variety of opportunities for students to work for the betterment of the area. But at the holidays, faculty and staff...

Professor Joshua Viers, coordinator Danny Royer and Professor Tom Harmon describe plans for UC Merced's smart farm.

Ground Tilled, Crops to be Planted at UC Merced’s Smart Farm

Land has been tilled at UC Merced’s smart farm, the first physical step in developing the state-of-the-art project. “Even though it’s just a blank field, we have overcome...

Rakesh Goel is the new dean of the UC Merced School of Engineering

Q&A with the new Dean of Engineering at UC Merced

Rakesh Goel developed an interest in earthquakes at an early age — and rather abruptly. As a small boy in India, one of his first memories is of experiencing an earthquake....