Miscellaneous
The Name of Yucca
The name “Yucca” was suggested by our friend Katie Mao.
Yucca refers to a diverse group of plants native to the Americas, known for their tough, sword-like leaves and tall clusters of white or cream-colored flowers. These resilient plants thrive in environments ranging from arid deserts to open grasslands. You can spot yucca in places like Joshua Tree National Park (where Joshua Trees are actually a type of yucca!), White Sands National Park, and even—surprisingly—at your local grocery store!
Outdoor Spirit
Our lab loves the outdoors! Xiaofan is organizing the EE hiking trips every semester.
Recent Hikes
Fall 2025: Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias Trail
A beautiful hike through ancient giant sequoias in Yosemite National Park.
Lab Events
Our lab also likes to find fun activities to do throughout the year! Here are some recent ones.
Recent Events
Spring 2026: LOST Escape Room at CenCal Escape Rooms
A fun escape room experience at CenCal Escape Room. We took home the record for the fastest time!
Presenting for UC Merced Research Week
Our Muscle Sensor and AgTech teams had the opportunity to present their research at the annual UC Merced Research Week.
This was our end of the semester celebration, celebrating our first year of lab activities!
