Saturday, September 09, 2023

University of California, San Diego

 Earlier this summer, I attended an academic conference in San Diego. 

I had hoped to visit a few different college campuses while there but only had time to visit one, the University of California, San Diego. From the Old Town Transit Center, it was easy enough to catch a light-rail train (known in San Diego as a trolley) to UCSD's campus in the community of La Jolla.

Despite the institution existing for only 62 years (young, as far as major universities go), UCSD "faculty, researchers, and alumni have won 27 Nobel Prizes as well as three Fields Medals [in mathematics], eight National Medals of Science, eight MacArthur Fellowships, and three Pulitzer Prizes," according to Wikipedia.

Perhaps because it developed during the counterculture 1960s, UCSD has some rather eccentric and eclectic architecture on campus. Shown below first is the Geisel Library (1970), named after Theodor Seuss Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss) and his wife Audrey. 

Shown next is the Jacobs School of Engineering, which features a seemingly precarious house that was hoisted to the top via crane in 2011. Presumably it illustrates some type of engineering or physics principle! People can go inside the house but it's not something I would have wanted to do.


Not quite as exotic but still interesting is the "neighborhood" containing the Social Sciences Public Engagement and Arts and Humanities complexes. As indicated by the red arrow below, there is an outdoor terrace midway up the building.


Other parts of the campus are geared to promote entertainment, arts, and relaxation. One can attend events at the Epstein Family Amphitheater...


...enjoy campus murals...


...get a little rest on a hammock...


...or look out at mountains.