WELCOME TO CITRIS AT UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, MERCED

ABOUT US

WHO WE ARE

The Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS) is a research unit with the University of California, Merced and is one of the four CITRIS campuses: UC MercedUC BerkeleyUC Davis, and UC Santa Cruz. CITRIS at UC Merced addresses California’s most pressing societal and environmental problems by leveraging cutting-edge technologies and developing novel research in the focus areas of ag-food-tech, health, aviation, and remote sensing.  To equip the future workforce with skills and knowledge and inspire the next generation of innovators, we lead impactful outreach and education programs for all ages.

OUR PROGRAMS

Ag-Food-Tech

Ag-Food-Tech is an emergent strength of UC Merced’s faculty, with representation of experts from across the campus. Factulty address many aspects of production and adapt tools for food processing, contributing to many different production systems and California’s diversity of over 400 crops.

EDGE in TECH Initiative

The EDGE in Tech Initiative at the University of California (EDGE in Tech) is committed to addressing the challenges faced by women and other under-included identities in engineering and computer science fields by serving as a trusted center and resource that integrates research with action.

Tech for Social Good

The CITRIS TensorFlow for Social Good program, funded by Google Research, is designed to give undergraduate students a start in TensorFlow, Machine Learning; build camaraderie and teamwork, and add a project to their resumes while developing something of use to society.

NexTech

NexTech inspires middle school students about STEM. It brings an innovative and fun tech curriculum in order to introduce programming, engineering problem-solving and team science, along with helping them develop a sense of identity in STEM. UC Merced students take on the role of NexTech educators and guide the middle school students through building several versions of robots and puzzles. Students can see themselves succeeding in technology after exploring NexTech Robotics.

FLY CITRIS

Soar to New Heights with FLY CITRIS! Students not only gain valuable skills in programming but also cultivate critical thinking, mission planning, and spatial awareness. Equipped with CoDrone EDU drone kits and engaged in thrilling challenges, students embark on an extraordinary aerial adventure into real-world applications. As a bonus, they can even kickstart their journey towards a drone pilot license, opening doors to endless opportunities in the aviation industry.

RECENT NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS

Recent

Multinational Research Project Shows How Life on Earth can be Measured from Space

Two new papers share details of BioSCape, a biodiversity survey of the South African Cape. This multinational research project uses remote sensing and field surveys to understand one of the most biodiverse areas of the world...

Sensor Provides Cheap, Smart Way to Monitor How Much Water Crops Need

UC Merced mechanical engineering professor Reza Ehsani has developed an affordable, portable sensor clip to help farmers monitor their crops' water needs, aiding in more efficient irrigation and water conservation...

Professor Reza Ehsani receives 2024 CITRIS Innovation Fellowship and AIC Award

Congratulations to Professor Reza Ehsani, recipient of a CITRIS Innovation Fellowship and AIC Award to commercialize research on low-cost sensors for precision agriculture...
NASA International Space Apps Challenge 2024

The NASA Space Apps Challenge is a global hackathon that typically occurs annually and is sponsored by NASA’s Earth Science Division. It brings together problem-solvers, coders, scientists, designers, storytellers, makers, builders, artists, and technologists from across the globe. The goal is to use NASA’s open data to tackle real-world problems on Earth and in space.