Greg Watry

Greg Watry  

Editorial Director; Department Editor, Science & Technology

Greg Watry writes about people, research and initiatives in the mathematical and physical sciences, and is a member of the college’s communications and marketing team, serving as the team's editorial director. Watry's career includes experience in journalism, higher education and the private sector. His work has earned awards from the New Jersey Press Association, the Association for Communication Excellence and the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. He holds bachelor's degrees in English literature and communication (media production specialization) from Villanova University and a master's degree in science, environment and medicine writing from Columbia University.  

Older man with white hair and glasses, arms crossed, against star-filled galaxy backdrop

Capturing the Cosmos

  • by Greg Watry
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory recently launched its 10-year astronomical survey to create the most comprehensive, cinematic record of the universe. While thousands of people played a part in making the facility a reality, Tony Tyson played a formative role, acting initially as the facility’s founding director and now its chief scientist. We sat down with Tyson to discuss his background and the technology behind the Rubin Observatory’s revolutionary camera.
Man in hoodie standing inside hexagonal industrial metal frame with yellow logos

To the Stars: Physics Alum Builds a Career in Rocket Propulsion

  • by Greg Watry
UC Davis alum Roderic Vanderscoff always had his eyes on the stars. His love for space exploration was forged in his youth, informed by penchants for stargazing and science fiction, and conversations with his grandfather, an aerospace engineer who worked on the Apollo program. Today, Vanderscoff is following in his grandfather’s footsteps.
Two masked students in lab coats and blue gloves pipetting at a bench.

Research Classes Boost Confidence and Belonging for STEM Students, UC Davis Study Finds

  • by Greg Watry
At UC Davis, Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences, or CUREs, provide an alternative path to real-world research. They allow students to conduct authentic scientific research in the classroom. A new study appearing in the Journal of Chemical Education shows that CURE classes are an effective way of bolstering student confidence and sense of belonging in the sciences.

Why Earthquake Science Matters

  • by Greg Watry
In this video, UC Davis observational seismologist Amanda Thomas discusses the causes of the Venezuela doublet, why earthquake science matters and how Thomas’ research is helping us learn more about the tectonic shifts beneath our feet.
Three students in white lab coats with blue gloves smiling while handling lab equipment

BioInnovation Lab Connects UC Davis Undergraduate Students to Real-World Research

  • by Maria Sestito and Greg Watry
A maker space for undergraduate research, the BioInnovation Lab provides a place for students to learn basic lab skills, experiment, innovate and contribute to research while also providing access to technologies they might not otherwise have. Explore how College of Letters and Science faculty are using the space in their classes.