UC San Diego

Diving into What's Next for the Class of 2026 UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography honored more than 200 graduating students this month for their outstanding academic achievements at this year’s Scripps Recognition Ceremonies. The graduates’ time at Scripps Institution of Oceanography equipped them with an array of expertise...

As graduates streamed onto RIMAC Field for All Campus Commencement on June 13, cheers echoed across the crowd, cameras flashed and proud families settled into their seats. For members of UC San Diego’s Class of 2026, the moment marked the culmination of years spent pursuing answers — and the beginning of new questions still to come. 🔱🎓

It was a message that resonated throughout an evening filled with celebration, reflection and anticipation for the journeys ahead.

During the ceremony, Chancellor Khosla; Nobel Prize-winning immunologist and UC San Diego alumnus Fred Ramsdell ’83; and six student speakers encouraged graduates to embrace curiosity, pursue new possibilities and move forward with confidence, even when the answers aren’t immediately clear.

🗞️ Read more in UC San Diego Today: https://bit.ly/4eyzs4c

“My journey at UC San Diego has been shaped by growth, community, and a desire to help others learn. Coming into college, I was naturally quiet and reserved. For a long time, I preferred observing rather than speaking up, and navigating a large university initially felt intimidating. Over time, I learned that growth often begins before you feel ready.

One of the biggest challenges I faced was overcoming my own shyness and discomfort with putting myself out there socially. During my first quarter, I started attending Data Science office hours not only to improve academically but also to become more comfortable engaging with others. What began as small conversations gradually turned into friendships, mentorship opportunities, and a strong sense of belonging.

At UC San Diego, I pursued opportunities that combined my technical interests with service and community. As a DSC 40B tutor, an Undergraduate Research Scholar, and a Bonnie Reiss Leading on Climate Fellow, I had the chance to contribute to research, sustainability-focused data projects, and student learning. These experiences taught me that meaningful impact comes not only from solving difficult problems, but also from helping others understand them.

One of my proudest accomplishments was tutoring students in Data Science. Watching a student gain confidence after finally understanding a challenging concept reminded me how powerful teaching and mentorship can be. Those moments reinforced my passion for making complex ideas more accessible and creating supportive learning environments.

The most valuable lesson I learned at UC San Diego is not to wait until you feel completely ready before taking the next step. Some of my most meaningful experiences began when I felt uncertain or unprepared. By consistently showing up, I found opportunities, friendships, and a community that transformed UC San Diego into a second home.

As I continue my journey at Columbia University pursuing a master's degree in computer science, I hope to carry that same spirit of curiosity, growth, and service forward.”

– Fong Clement Vo (he/him), Data Science Major, Class of 2026

What if astronauts could grow their own medicine in space? 🚀

UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering engineers are developing a way to use plants as mini pharmaceutical factories, producing and harvesting medicines on demand without destroying the plant. This could be a game changer for long space missions where medications expire quickly and resupply is not an option.

Even better, the same approach could bring low-cost drug production to resource-limited areas here on Earth.

Carbon dioxide levels have reached a new milestone and it’s part of a long-term trend scientists have tracked for decades.

Researchers at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography report that atmospheric CO₂ hit 432 ppm in May 2026, continuing a steady increase that shapes global climate patterns.

This foundational dataset, measured at Mauna Loa Observatory, informs international research and helps guide decisions on climate action. Rising CO₂ levels are linked to extreme weather, ocean acidification and broader environmental change.

Understanding these trends is critical to building a more resilient future.

Link in comments to read more. 🔗

“I spend my days teaching computers to listen for the earliest whispers of Alzheimer's disease.

I came to UC San Diego chasing a question that would not let me go: How do we catch Alzheimer's disease before it catches the person? Computational neuroscience pulled me in because it lives at the seam between mathematics and human experience. Dr. Judy Pa's lab offered me something I had not found anywhere else, a place where dementia research leaves the lab and meets people where they live. What sealed it for me was a harder truth. The communities most affected by Alzheimer's, including African and African diaspora populations, are often the least represented in studies that shape how the disease is diagnosed and treated. I wanted to study it for the people the field has been forgetting.

I grew up in Nairobi, watching my mother raise me as a single mom and build a career in a field that did not always make room for women like her. She never sat me down to teach me resilience. She just lived it out loud, in front of me, every day. By 16, I had absorbed enough of her quiet stubbornness to leave Kenya on a scholarship for United World College in Costa Rica, surrounded by students from over 70 countries. From there, I went to Pomona College and then to UC San Diego for my PhD.

My community here came together one room at a time. I found it when my labmates became collaborators. I found it in the Graduate and Professional Student Association, where I served as Vice President of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. I found it in the African Graduate Students Association, which I founded so that students from across the continent and the diaspora would walk onto this campus and find a home, not a waiting room to find their people. I found it on the mat, teaching free Pilates classes to fellow graduate students who needed somewhere to put the week down for an hour.

Build the table you want to sit at. If the community does not exist, start it. If the question is not being asked, ask it. If the path is not visible, walk it anyway, and leave footprints for whoever is coming behind you.”

-Cynthia Nyongesa (she/her), PhD in Neurosciences, Class of 2026

As the new physicians crossed the stage at the UC San Diego School of Medicine's Doctor of Medicine commencement, family and friends beamed with pride, reflecting on the years of dedication that led to this milestone moment.

Among the graduates were several students whose journeys at UC San Diego began long before medical school. They arrived as undergraduates, discovered mentors and lifelong friends, developed a passion for medicine and research, and ultimately chose to continue their education at the School of Medicine. Now, as they begin residency training across the country, they carry forward a legacy of service, discovery and compassionate care.

Read more about the MD Class of 2026 ⬇️ https://go.ucsd.edu/4fyVt56

Yasoda Satpathy, MD, graduated with the UC San Diego School of Medicine Class of 2026 at just 21 years old. 🎓

Dr. Satpathy graduated from high school at 14 years old, earned her undergraduate degree and began medical school at 17 years old.

Now 21 years old, she will begin training at UCLA in internal medicine in July.

“I am super excited,” said Dr. Satpathy. “It hasn’t hit me completely yet. It’s going to take a little time. I am lucky to have a very supportive family and an amazing group of friends, so this has been a beautiful journey.”

Congratulations, Dr. Satpathy!

Image descriptions:
1: Dr. Satpathy waving after being hooded at MD Commencement.
2: Dr. Satpathy posing at her high school graduation.
3: Dr. Satpathy posing at Match Day 2026. Her sign reads, " I MATCHED! in Internal Medicine at UCLA"
4: Dr. Yasoda Satpathy poses at her undergraduate graduation.