Recent News
Cal Poly Virtual Tomato Spectacular Plant Sale Offers Plant Pickup on Campus
Apr 16, 2021
SAN LUIS OBISPO — Cal Poly’s annual Tomato Spectacular plant sale will be held virtually this year, with online ordering beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 17, and continuing until mid-May or until plants are sold out.
Reservations will be required to pick up plants within five days of purchase. Customers can select a time from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning Tuesday, April 20.
The Tomato Spectacular will offer more than 70 different types of tomato plants.
Cal Poly Study Sounds Alarm on Effects of Noise Pollution on Plant Communities Over Time
Apr 14, 2021
First-of-its-kind study reveals that loud, equipment sounds negatively impact a New Mexico woodland habitat years later
SAN LUIS OBISPO — Though noise may change by the moment for humans, its effect on trees and other plants lasts longer. A Cal Poly study, published today (April 14) reveals that human noise pollution affects an ecosystem’s plant life diversity even after the din has stopped.
In a study conducted 12 years ago near natural gas wells in a New Mexico woodland dominated by piñon pine and juniper trees, researchers found that there were 75% fewer piñon pine seedlings in noisy sites as in quiet ones. This was most likely due to the noise driving away the Woodhouse’s scrub jays, which plant thousands of pine seeds while storing them to eat during the winter months.
Cal Poly’s College of Architecture and Environmental Design to Host Annual Design Village Conference Virtually on April 17
Apr 8, 2021
SAN LUIS OBISPO — Cal Poly’s Design Village Conference, a spring ritual for Central Coast architectural students and their counterparts across the state, will be virtual this year.
One of the College of Architecture and Environmental Design’s (CAED) largest and most-anticipated events, the annual conference typically draws hundreds of students from colleges and universities throughout California and beyond to participate in Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing philosophy.
This year’s event will be at a smaller scale with 10 schools and 15 teams, but there will be a wider range of student perspectives brought to the event. The public is invited to view the entries and student presentations and to vote online to determine the winner of one of the categories.
Cal Poly Launches Amazon Web Services Discovery Days April 14 and 21
Apr 6, 2021
SAN LUIS OBISPO — Cal Poly will host its first Amazon Web Services (AWS) Discovery Days on April 14 and 21, allowing students and professionals access to free one-day training events to introduce AWS cloud services.
The AWS Discovery Days are designed to provide a glimpse into a variety of cybersecurity, cloud optimization, digital literacy and high-tech topics with the goal of creating interest in and an overall understanding of cloud computing and AWS infrastructure services.
Cal Poly and Its Students Infuse $1 Billion into Central Coast, Economic Impact Study Reports
Apr 1, 2021
For every dollar invested by the state at the Learn by Doing university, analysis shows, a nearly tenfold increase in industry activity is generated throughout California, using data from the 2018-19 fiscal year
SAN LUIS OBISPO — Cal Poly’s economic contributions ripple throughout the county, region and state like a wave, supporting thousands of jobs and generating more than $1.6 billion in industry activity and over $105 million of state and local tax revenue, according to an economic impact study released today.
During 2018-19, the campus spent more than $1 billion, made up of $535.1 million in operational expenditures, $132.5 million in auxiliary costs and $70.1 million on construction projects. In addition, Cal Poly’s more than 20,000 students spent nearly $280 million.
The study was commissioned by the California State University, the nation’s largest four-year public university system with more than 485,000 students and 52,000 faculty and staff spread across 23 CSU campuses — including Cal Poly — and eight off-campus centers throughout the state. Researchers from ICF International Inc., a global advisory and digital services provider, utilized data from the 2018-19 academic year.
Cal Poly Study Finds Light Pollution Drives Increased Risk of West Nile Virus
Mar 26, 2021
SAN LUIS OBISPO — A new study from Cal Poly and the University of South Florida (USF) is the first to provide direct evidence that light pollution is driving infectious disease patterns in nature.
The research team previously determined mosquitoes and birds are attracted to artificial light at night, greatly enhancing the likelihood that the insects will spread West Nile virus to animals and humans.
Their new findings published this week in the “Proceedings of the Royal Society B” are in contrast to previous studies that have blamed urbanization due to its human population density and breeding hotspots, such as drainage systems.
Cal Poly Team Wins First at National Grocers Association Student Case Study Competition
Mar 19, 2021
SAN LUIS OBISPO — A team of four Cal Poly agricultural business seniors won first place in the National Grocers Association 2021 Student Case Study Competition for their presentation on how grocers can combat the major economic issues caused by COVID-19 by staying competitive through their “local supply chains” against low-price operators.
The Cal Poly team included students Katherine "Scottie" Lester, Joshua Smith, Annika Bertelsen, and Amber Eckert. Agribusiness Associate Professor Ricky Volpe advised the team.
Cal Poly Professor Co-Authors Study Showing Humans Contribute to Nuisance Tidal Flooding
Mar 10, 2021
SAN LUIS OBISPO — Human interventions in many coastal areas across the U.S. — including construction of piers and jetties and harbor dredging — have contributed to nuisance flooding, according to a study co-authored by a Cal Poly engineering professor.
Cal Poly Wind Bands to Present Virtual Concert Titled ‘Community’ on March 14
Mar 4, 2021
SAN LUIS OBISPO — Cal Poly’s Wind Ensemble and Wind Orchestra will present a virtual concert titled “Community” at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 14.
“Music has the ability to bring together minds and souls,” Director of Bands Christopher J. Woodruff said. “For this concert, the members of the Cal Poly Wind Bands explore the connections between individuals that make us part of a larger whole, whether they are performing in person or remotely.
Cal Poly Symphony’s Virtual ‘Soloist Showcase’ Set for March 12
Mar 4, 2021
SAN LUIS OBISPO — The Cal Poly Symphony will present its annual Soloist Showcase through a virtual presentation at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 12.
The symphony held auditions in November for student soloists from a variety of majors for the opportunity to be featured in the showcase. The winners were computer engineering major Kiran Manikonda on clarinet and Grant Smith, a double major in civil engineering and music, on piano.