Skip to the main content
Seal of UC San Diego UC San Diego 60th Anniversary

60 years of creating
better tomorrows

Six decades ago, a group of like-minded changemakers pioneered a school free from the constraints of tradition and expectation. Their unprecedented vision for higher education proliferated a new way of thinking and pushed daring intellectuals to venture outside the accepted norms. Today, we honor their founding philosophy and those who carry on the nontradition.

Evenings of Nonconventional Wisdom

Join us as we celebrate UC San Diego’s 60th anniversary with our Evenings of Nonconventional Wisdom virtual event series highlighting ongoing contributions to the most pressing issues of our time and featuring interactive presentations by the leading-edge UC San Diego community.

Upcoming Events

Evenings of Nonconventional Wisdom
Getting Our Climate Act Together: Addressing Climate Change at All Levels
Thursday, April 29, 2021
5 p.m. PDT

The science is in: Climate change is real. So, what now — and how? Join us for the third of five virtual Evenings of Nonconventional Wisdom events to hear expert perspectives on new and practical ways we can protect the health and well-being of our global population, our most vulnerable communities and our environment.

Learn More
Crossing Borders: Exploring San Diego’s Dynamic Binational Region
Thursday, May 27, 2021
5 p.m. PDT

UC San Diego exists on the edge: of a continent, of a country, and on the leading-edge of possibilities. And that allows us to see both the complex challenges facing border communities and an exciting array of opportunities. Join us for “Crossing Borders: Exploring San Diego’s Dynamic Binational Region” and explore the myths and realities of our vibrant binational region.

Fast Forward: Staying Ahead of Tomorrow
Wednesday, June 23, 2021
5 p.m. PDT

Sixty years ago, a group of like-minds had a vision for a different kind of university — one focused on advancing the frontiers of knowledge through a culture of nonconventional thinking. Join us for “Fast Forward: Staying Ahead of Tomorrow” as we showcase a few such visionaries and see why UC San Diego remains ahead of tomorrow.

Past Events

The Fear Factor: Examining Mistrust and Vaccines
Monday, February 22, 2021

Watch the first virtual Evenings of Nonconventional Wisdom event, featuring a discussion of negative public perceptions of vaccines, their historical drivers and how we can address past injustices and build confidence in this important health care technology as the world embarks on a vaccination campaign that is critical to combatting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Full STEM Ahead: The Journeys of UC San Diego Women in Science
Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Watch the second virtual Evening of Nonconventional Wisdom event, highlighting the extraordinary achievements and experiences of our leading-edge students, alumnae, faculty and researchers at UC San Diego. Explore a few of these personal journeys as told by the women who have lived them.

Lifetime
Legacy
Award

Irwin and Joan Jacobs

Introduced this year, the Lifetime Legacy Award was created to recognize individuals who exemplify a dedication beyond philanthropy and personally help shape UC San Diego and the institution’s impact on the world.

Irwin and Joan Jacobs are dedicated advisers and longtime supporters of UC San Diego. Their devotion to transforming the world through science, technology, the arts and healing is evidenced through their extraordinary philanthropy, such as directing $100 million in gifts toward the Jacobs Medical Center in La Jolla and $110 million to Jacobs School of Engineering. They have also endowed faculty chairs and supported numerous scholarships, UC San Diego School of Medicine, the School of Global Policy and Strategy, the Stuart Collection and the Rady School of Management. Both have served as board members on the UC San Diego Foundation and currently serve as honorary chairs for the Campaign for UC San Diego. Irwin Jacobs is founding chairman and CEO emeritus of Qualcomm Incorporated and is a founding faculty member of UC San Diego. Joan Jacobs is a long-term board member of the La Jolla Playhouse and co-founder of the Friends of the International Center and the Friends of the Stuart Collection. She also currently chairs the UC San Diego Health Sciences Board of Advisers.

Chancellor’s
Medalists

The Chancellor’s Medal is one of the highest honors given to distinguished visionaries who have led astonishing and successful endeavors to improve the quality of education, research and our local communities.

This Year’s Honorees
Elaine Galinson Portrait
Elaine Galinson
Rebecca Moores Portrait
Rebecca Moores
Photo of Herbert and Nicole Wertheim
Herbert and Nicole Wertheim
Photo of Gary Mary West
Gary and Mary West
View Past Honorees

Revelle
Medalists

The Revelle Medal is the highest honor given by the Chancellor to UC San Diego faculty emeriti or retired faculty for their sustained, distinguished and extraordinary service to the campus.

This Year’s Honorees
Rae ArmantroutProfessor Emerita, Literature
Ruth Covell Portrait
Ruth Covell, M.D.Dean Emerita, School of Medicine
Katja Lindenberg Portrait
Katja LindenbergDistinguished Professor Emerita, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Richard Madsen
Richard MadsenDistinguished Professor, Sociology
Kirk Peterson
Kirk Peterson, M.D.Dean Emeritus, Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center
View Past Honorees

UC San Diego is turning 60!

Help us celebrate by sharing a video with a happy birthday message or story about what UC San Diego means to you. Post your message on social media with #UCSD60.