Greetings!

Robin Witmore
ISB 155
831-459-2201
robin@ucolick.org

I'm the UCO/Lick Publications and web specialist. I liaison between publishing astronomers, co-authors, and national journals, negotiate and administer permission to publish photos taken at Lick Observatory, design, write content for and maintain the public and administrative parts of the UCO website, and produce graphics and educational materials for UCO/Lick and its astronomers.

Previously I spent 10 years at Cabrillo College in the Visual and Performing Arts Department, assisting professors with instruction and helping students to complete sculpture in various media by suggesting and demonstrating tools and techniques. My personal areas of artistic specialization are bronze and precious metal casting, ceramic sculpture, and acrylic painting, and graphic design. I have also done major works in watercolor, concrete and welded steel, and was employed as a silver/goldsmith, jewelry designer, and lost wax caster for 12 years.

I've been a musician since childhood and currently play marimba and arrange and sing vocals. I'm a founding member of Kuzanga, the longest-lived marimba band in Santa Cruz, playing public gigs since 1994. I've played all sorts of music and instruments in the past, and Zimbabwean marimba is the most joyous. Check out some MP3 files from our CD.

Nature is my first love. Being in a redwood forest is my favorite part of working at UCSC. My vacations always involve getting to a river, forest, desert or lake and checking out the plants and wildlife, and the sounds of the non-civilized world. I have studied local flora and fauna extensively over the years and am a docent at the Long Marine Lab. I've also been a docent at Año Nuevo State Reserve and Natural Bridges State Park.

I'm an advocate for civil liberties, particularly freedom of the press and freedom of speech. I also read a lot, favoring nature, biographical, historical and life-affirming nonfiction, as well as old and culture-specific cookbooks.