The University of California, San Diego’s acclaimed UCSD Near You alumni outreach program continues this winter in Irvine and New York City. This innovative series brings outstanding UC San Diego faculty and alumni speakers together with fellow graduates, parents and friends around the country. At each event, speakers share their research and accomplishments that help to enhance the university’s local impact, national influence and global reach.

“UCSD Near You helps our alumni stay connected with UC San Diego and informed about the university’s breaking news and research,” notes Armin Afsahi, assistant vice chancellor of Alumni Affairs at UC San Diego and executive director of the UC San Diego Alumni Association. “These stimulating educational events offer alumni a great opportunity to network with fellow graduates who reside in their same regions while hearing insights from UCSD’s  stellar faculty.”

UCSD Near You winter events, open to UC San Diego alumni, students, parents, and the media, include:
“Advice to the New Administration: With a new president in the White House, is there a light at the end of the economic tunnel?”
Feb. 27, 5 p.m. – Shady Grove Country Club, Irvine

A distinguished panel of UC San Diego faculty experts will analyze the nation’s financial crisis and offer perspectives and advice on the U.S. economy for the new Obama administration. The panel, including UC San Diego Economics professors James Hamilton and Ross Starr, along with Bruce Lehman, professor at the UC San Diego Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies, will address the impact on stock, energy, credit and derivatives markets and the effect of the recent financial rescue packages.

“The Science of Baseball”
March 3, 6:30 p.m. – Tonic East, New York

How can we improve our understanding of the game of baseball through the use of statistics? Sabermetrics, derived from the Society of American Baseball Research (SABR), is the analysis of baseball through objective evidence, especially statistical methods. Mets statistical analyst Ben Baumer, ’03, and Mark Thiemans, dean of the UC San Diego Division of Physical Sciences, will lead a discussion about how the distinctive nature of one of American's favorite pastimes makes it an ideal setting for probability models, and how correlations of certain statistics can help discern skill from luck.

For more information about UCSD Near You and to register for events, please visit www.ucsdnearyou.ucsd.edu or call (858) 534-3900.