CA&ES Currents Newsletter

Message from the Dean

Who

What

When

A Message from Dean Neal Van Alfen: Planning for Budget Cuts

Since my last budget message, I have continued gathering input on how the college can plan for a financial shortfall based on state budget projections. I requested that the CA&ES Dean’s Council serve as the primary group advising me on how we should reduce our permanent I&R and AES budgets by a total of about $1.7 million. We have solicited feedback on possible scenarios developed by the Dean’s Council during a retreat of department chairs and managers, with the College Executive Committee, and in a town-hall meeting for faculty, staff, and students. To assist in better dissemination of information related to the budget cuts, we have established a new budget planning website at http://caes.ucdavis.edu/ourcollege/budgetplanning.  

The Dean’s Council recommended that because of a demographic crisis facing the college, we should make every attempt to continue to replace faculty, despite our budget challenges. The average age of our faculty is close to 55, and we can expect about a 50 percent turnover of faculty in the next decade. Over the past two decades, new hires in our college have been adversely affected by the university budget climate and by decisions to push growth on campus in other colleges.

Since the Dean’s Council has recommended against downsizing faculty numbers to balance our budget, we must cut the operating budgets of most of our units. Our current plan is to reduce the budgets of the dean’s office and some special facilities by 8 percent, most other special facilities by 5 percent, and department RAC formulas by about 3.5 percent. In our report to Interim Provost Horwitz due April 25, 2008, we will also seek permission to start about ten new faculty searches next year. In addition, we plan to open searches for two Cooperative Extension specialists. The Dean’s Council will meet on April 15 to finalize these plans.

This budget plan places the highest priority on faculty replacement in order to avoid total turnover of faculty over a very short period of time in many of our departments. I recognize that even small cutbacks will be difficult to absorb, as we are still adjusting to the effects of the last budget crisis. Since this is unlikely to be our last budget cut, I will be appointing some committees in the near future to address options for adjusting to future cuts.

As always, I value your feedback. If you have questions or comments, please e-mail me.

Neal K. Van Alfen
Dean
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
nkvanalfen@ucdavis.edu

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Who

Eric Mussen: Distinguished Achievement Award

Cooperative Extension specialist Eric Mussen was awarded the Distinguished Achievement Award in Extension from the Pacific Branch of the Entomological Society of America (PB-ESA). The association represents 10 Western states and part of Canada. Mussen was honored at an April luncheon in Napa.

A honey bee specialist, Mussen is widely sought for his expertise on colony collapse disorder and other topics, including honey bee nutrition, diseases, pesticides, crop pollination, and beekeeping. The apiculturist appeared on Good Morning America in March, and has also been interviewed for The Lehrer Hour, The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and the public television documentary, California Heartland. Mussen serves as the state’s beekeeping industry liaison with the USDA, the EPA, the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, and the Apiary Inspectors of America. Mussen joined the Department of Entomology faculty in 1976.

Eric Mussen
(530) 752-0472
ecmussen@ucdavis.edu

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Kathy Keatley Garvey: ACE Gold Award

Kathy Keatley Garvey, a senior writer in the entomology department, received a Gold Award in the “Writing for Newspapers” category from the Association for Communication Excellence (ACE) for her story, “Bug Expert’s Testimony Key to Conviction in Mass Murder Case.” Garvey will be honored in June at the ACE conference to be held in Michigan. Her 2007 story appeared on the UC ANR website, and is also available on the Department of Entomology website at http://entomology.ucdavis.edu/news/kimseyinsecttestimony.html.

Kathy Keatley Garvey
kegarvey@ucdavis.edu
(530) 754-6894

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J. Edward Taylor: Paper Cited in The Economist

Professor J. Edward Taylor’s study on the economy of the Galapagos Islands was noted in the March 27, 2008, edition of The Economist. Taylor, an agricultural and resource economist, has written a journal paper on ecotourism and economic growth on the islands. The international newsmagazine reported on the findings of the paper, which is slated for publication in Environment and Development Economics.

J. Edward Taylor
taylor@primal.ucdavis.edu
(530) 752-0213

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What

Farmers Market

An on-campus farmers market, intended to give students, faculty, and staff increased access to local produce, has returned for its second season. It will be open on the Quad on Wednesdays, from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., through June 4. Among the dozen vendors participating in the market is our college’s Student Experimental Farm.

For more information visit http://healthcenter.ucdavis.edu/hep/eqfm.html.

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Call for Applications: Environmental and Economic Leadership Awards

Applications for the 2008 Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Awards must be received or postmarked by Tuesday, May 20, 2008. Individuals, organizations, businesses, trade associations, and communities may apply for the state’s highest environmental honor. Recipients are honored for exceptional leadership and contributions to conserving California’s natural resources, protecting the environment, and building our economy. To download an application, visit: http://www.calepa.ca.gov/Awards/GEELA/.

Anna J. McGuire
CalEPA
(916) 323-2514
amcguire@calepa.ca.gov

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Departmental Citations for Outstanding Seniors

All departments and major programs are encouraged to submit names of graduating seniors to receive citations for outstanding work. Two types of citations are available:

• Departmental Citations are for students with the highest academic record in the major or program.

• Citations for Outstanding Performance are for students who have demonstrated exceptional performance (not necessarily academic).

The deadline for submission of names is April 21, 2008. While departments may choose recipients based on their own criteria, the Committee on Undergraduate Scholarships, Honors and Prizes suggests the following guidelines:

• The citations should be reserved for students of true distinction; in any given year the department or major program may choose to honor one student, more than one, or no student.

• The citations should be given for excellence in the department or major program, and students should maintain a grade point average of 3.6 in courses given by the department or major program. Work outside the major may also be a factor in selecting the recipients. Activity relating to the work of the major or department, such as writing, experimentation, or creative work in the field, should be considered.

• ·Most recipients are majors in the department, but need not be if a substantial amount of work has been done with distinction in the department.

"Report of Departmental Citation" forms are available at http://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/scholarships/forms.html. Send only the name of the recipient(s) who will graduate in the 2007–2008 academic year to the Committee on Undergraduate Scholarships, Honors and Prizes, c/o Scholarship Office. Please indicate on the "Report of Departmental Citation" form which type of citation is to be issued to each student and the exact name of the department and major.

Typically, citations are presented near the close of the spring quarter and may be given in any manner deemed suitable by the department. If your department is having an award ceremony, please indicate the date on the form. For more information, contact the Scholarship Office at 752-2804.

Silas Hung
Animal Science
(530) 752-3580
sshung@ucdavis.edu

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Call for Applications: Innovative Developmental Awards

The Academic Federation is accepting applications for the 2008 Research Grant Program Innovative Developmental Awards (IDAs). These awards provide support for Academic Federation members in research titles to conduct exploratory research in new areas for which they currently have insufficient preliminary data for a competitive grant application to extramural sources. Research proposed in IDA applications may be formative in nature. Proposals should be creative, intellectually exciting, and show clear promise to yield findings that could serve as the basis for a well-defined future research application.

Based on total funds available this year for the program, it is expected that there will be five to seven awards ranging from $3,000 to $10,000 each. The 2008 Call for Applications and relevant documents can be found at http://academicfederation.ucdavis.edu/awards.cfm. The deadline for applications is 11:59 p.m. on Friday, April 18, 2008.

Kimberly Pulliam
Academic Senate Office
(530) 752-4918
kapulliam@ucdavis.edu

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Travel Grants: Academic Senate

The Academic Senate Committee on Research is now accepting applications from members of the Academic Senate for research meeting expenses to be undertaken between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009. Applications will be accepted until May 31, 2009.

Up to $800 can be reimbursed for any one meeting, domestic or international, although in no case can the award exceed the cost of travel and other allowable expenses. Applications will be considered for a maximum of one travel award per fiscal year. Applications must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the meeting.

To complete the online application, visit http://academicsenate.ucdavis.edu/committee_cor.cfm. Save a copy of the e-mail confirmation you receive shortly after submitting the online form. If you do not receive this e-mail, your application has not been successfully submitted, or the e-mail address entered on the form is incorrect.

Kimberly Pulliam
Academic Senate Office
(530) 752-4918
kapulliam@ucdavis.edu

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Travel Grants: Academic Federation

The Academic Federation Committee on Research is now accepting applications from members of the Academic Federation for partial costs to attend professional meetings to be undertaken between July 1, 2008, and December 31, 2008. Awards will consist of an $800 travel award for domestic or international travel, although in no case can the award exceed the cost of travel and other allowable expenses.

Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, May 2, 2008. All applications must be complete with the electronic signature of the department chair. If signatures are not obtained by the deadline, the application will not be considered for review.

To apply, complete the Application for Research Travel Expense http://academicsenate.ucdavis.edu/tg_form.cfm. Please note the link for specific instructions for Academic Federation applicants. (The Academic Senate Committee on Research uses the same form for their travel grants.)

Save a copy of the e-mail confirmation you receive shortly after submitting the online form. If you do not receive this e-mail, your application has not been successfully submitted, or the e-mail address entered on the form is incorrect.

Kimberly Pulliam
Academic Senate Office
(530) 752-4918
kapulliam@ucdavis.edu

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Call for Nominations: Business Officer Institute

The University of California Office of the President is seeking nominations for participants in the next session of the Business Officer Institute, which will meet from Monday, June 2 to Thursday, June 5, 2008, in Newport Beach. UCOP is especially interested in individuals who are the lead business officers for their unit, who have broad decision-making and/or supervisory responsibility in an academic or administrative department for budget, finance, internal control, human resources or sponsored projects. UCOP covers the cost of the institute, including private room and most meals.  Departments are expected to cover the cost of travel, incidentals, and two evening meals.

Nominations are due Friday, April 18, 2008. Additional information can be found at http://sdps.ucdavis.edu/boi.htm.

Chuck Yannacone
Staff Development and Professional Services
(530) 754-8791
cgyannacone@ucdavis.edu

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Call for Nominations: James H. Meyer Distinguished Achievement Award

Nominations are being accepted for the 36^th annual James H. Meyer Distinguished Achievement Award. The campus community can nominate members of the Academic Federation who merit recognition for career-long contributions to the mission of the university and a commitment to the campus community.

This award will be presented in the fall and carries a stipend of $1,000. The deadline for nominations is Thursday, May 15, 2008, at 5 p.m. Submit nominations electronically to nlkilpatrick@ucdavis.edu.

For more information, visit http://academicfederation.ucdavis.edu/documents/Meyer-Call-20080315.pdf

Nancy Kilpatrick
Academic Senate Office
(530) 752-2220
nlkilpatrick@ucdavis.edu

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Climate Change Seminars in Sacramento

A lunchtime seminar series on climate change for non-specialists is meeting twice monthly in Sacramento. The coordinated series of talks began in January and covers aspects of climate change science relevant to state policy formation. The seminars are aimed at state agency representatives, legislative staffers, and other policy professionals. The lectures are held in the Cal/EPA Building at 1001 I St. every other Thursday at noon.

The lecture series is presented by the Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, the John Muir Institute of the Environment, the Air Quality Research Center, and the UC Institute for Research on Climate Change and its Societal Impacts. Time is allotted for discussion after each talk. Although the topics are presented in a logical sequence, each lecture is independent. Missing some presentations does not detract from understanding others.

Reservations are not required. Sandwiches and drinks are provided at a nominal cost.

Dates and topics for future seminars are as follows:

April 24: Climate Change Impacts on Agriculture

May 8: Factors Causing Climate Change in California

May 22: We said WHAT? Assembly Bill 32

June 5: Short-Term Climate Change Mitigation Strategies for California

June 19: Long-Term (2050) Climate Change Mitigation Strategies for California

Terry Nathan
LAWR
(530) 752-1609
trnathan@ucdavis.edu

Philip Duffy
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
duffy2@llnl.gov

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Retirement Readiness

In support of the Retirement Readiness Program, the UC Davis benefits office is offering several workshops presented by the campus representative from FITSCo (Fidelity Investments Tax-Exempt Services Company). The workshops are designed for all employees and will be offered at various times and dates in April, May, and June. All sessions are in the Memorial Union, Garrison Room. Topics include:

• Enrolling in Your UC Retirement Savings Program
• Determining Your Investment Strategy
• NetBenefits
• Achieving a Sound Retirement
• The Fundamentals of Retirement Income Planning
  

If you wish to attend the workshops in a series, FITSCo recommends following the order listed above. Reservations are required for all workshops. The FITSCo Reservation Line is available Monday through Friday, 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Pacific Standard Time at (800) 642-7131.

Bill Brooks
Benefits Office
(530) 754-5875
webrooks@ucdavis.edu

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Arboretum Events

For more information, visit the arboretum website: http://arboretum.ucdavis.edu.

“Folk Music Jam Session”; Friday, April 18, noon to 1 p.m., Wyatt Deck.

The arboretum's folk music jams are held outside on the Wyatt Deck next to the redwood grove. Campus and community folk musicians are invited to play together informally during this acoustic jam session. Bring your fiddles, guitars, mandolins, penny whistles, pipes, flutes, and squeezeboxes, and join fellow musicians for bluegrass, old-time, blues, Celtic, klezmer, and world music. Listeners and musicians of all skill levels welcome.

“What’s New? Bicycle Tour of Arboretum Highlights”; Saturday, April 26, 11 a.m., Buehler Alumni and Visitors Center.

Bring your bike, and discover the evolving landscape of the arboretum. Get an insider’s view of garden improvements and recent additions. Docent Kend Linderholm will point out art fusion projects, the new nursery location, big plans for the east end, and more. This will be an easy, slow bicycle ride lasting about an hour and covering less than five miles.

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When

Chevron on Climate Change: April 16, 2008

A representative from Chevron Corporation will speak on climate change on April 16 from 4–5:30 p.m. in PES 3001. Gemma Heddle, carbon management advisor with Chevron’s corporate health, environment and safety department, supports Chevron’s strategic actions on climate change. Heddle has dual M.S. degrees in technology and policy, as well as in civil and environmental engineering, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Juan Cervantes
John Muir Institute of the Environment
(530) 752-5643
jmcervantes@ucdavis.edu

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Water Resources Coordinating Conference: April 17, 2008

The University of California Center for Water Resources is sponsoring the third Water Resources Coordinating Conference from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 17, 2008, at the Heidrick Ag History Center in Woodland. This year, the conference will focus on the unique research programs and water centers throughout the UC system. April 14, 2008, is the registration deadline for the free conference. Please visit www.waterresources.ucr.edu for more information.

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Picnic Day: April 19, 2008

Come celebrate UC Davis on Saturday, April 19. Start with the pancake breakfast at 7:30 a.m., stay for the parade and dozens of events at the annual Picnic Day, a campus tradition since 1909. This year’s parade marshals will be our college alumnus Martin Yan of “Yan Can Cook” and Davis native Antoinette “Butterscotch” Clinton, an internationally-renowned singer and beatboxer. For the first time in Picnic Day history, the campus will also honor three members of the academic community — two from our college — with the title “Distinguished Faculty Member.” This year, the distinguished faculty are professors Charlie Bamforth, food science and technology; Andy Waterhouse, viticulture and enology; and Virginia Hamilton, communication.

For a complete listing of Picnic Day activities, visit http://www.ucdavis.edu/spotlight/0408/picnic_day_2008.html.

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Blood Drive: April 23–24, 2008

The ASUCD blood drive will be on Wednesday, April 23 and Thursday, April 24 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Freeborn Hall. The stage is reserved for UC Davis staff. Donors will receive a free t-shirt or Baskin-Robbins coupon.

Heather Sharp
Blood Source
(800) 995-4420, ext.11042
heather.sharp@bloodsource.org

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Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day: April 24, 2008

Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day, when employers nationwide host children at their workplaces, is Thursday, April 24. The event is intended for girls and boys ages 8 to 12 years.

Human Resources' WorkLife unit is again coordinating a day of campuswide events that will encourage visiting youth to think critically about how their future work can lead to a better world. TODS events are open to all UC Davis faculty, staff, students, and their guests. Release time is appropriate with advance supervisory approval.

For more information regarding Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day on campus, please visit the WorkLife website at http://www.hr.ucdavis.edu./Work_Life/tods.

Karen Hull
Human Resources
(530) 752-3383
kshull@ucdavis.edu

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Rose Day: April 25, 2008

The California Center for Urban Horticulture, in partnership with Foundation Plant Services, will host the CA&ES Rose Day on Friday, April 25, 2008. Join fellow rose enthusiasts in discussions of rose production, hybridization, marketing, and pest/disease issues with national and international industry leaders. The $150 conference registration fee includes a Flower Carpet® Scarlet groundcover rose, campus parking, admission to the event, and a catered lunch. CCUH is also offering a limited number of remaining tickets at half-price to students, faculty, staff, and affiliates (including Master Gardeners and Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum).

The morning event will take place in the Mondavi Center’s Studio Theatre. After lunch, there will be a tour of eight acres of roses at Foundation Plant Services, west of the campus. In the afternoon, All-America Rose Selection winners and other roses will be available for sale on Foundation Plant Services grounds to the general public and conference attendees. Proceeds will benefit the programs of the California Center for Urban Horticulture at UC Davis.

Please register by Wednesday, April 16, 2008, at: http://ccuh.ucdavis.edu/events

Missy Borel
California Center for Urban Horticulture
(530) 752-6642
mjborel@ucdavis.edu

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Policy Watch Seminar: April 30, 2008

Professor J. Edward Taylor will present Reforming Reforms: Mexico’s Rural Development Policy on Wednesday, April 30 from 12:10–1:00 p.m. in 360 Shields Library. The talk is part of the Policy Watch Seminar Series presented by the Department of Agriculture and Resource Economics.

Mary Davis
Institute of Governmental Affairs
(530) 752-5570
mvdavis@ucdavis.edu

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Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety Seminar: May 5, 2008

Agricultural Ergonomics Research at UC Davis: Past, Present and Future will be the topic of the WCAHS monthly seminar on Monday, May 5. The talk, given by Professor Fadi Fathallan of the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. in 3201 Hart Hall.

Fadi Fathallan
(530) 752-1612
fathallah@ucdavis.edu

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Garbanzo Bean Field Day: May 6, 2008

The Garbanzo Bean Field Day will be held Tuesday, May 6, at West Side REC in Five Points. The program begins at 9 a.m. with updates on performance of public and private varieties by Steve Temple and a talk on Ethiopian Garbanzo Production by Teshale Assefa. A field tour will follow, with presentations on diseases, breeding research, and post-emergent treatments in garbanzos, concluding at 11:30 a.m.

Janice Corner
Agronomy Research and Information Center
(530) 752-7091
jecorner@ucdavis.edu

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TGFS Picnic: May 7, 2008

The annual Thank Goodness for Staff Picnic is scheduled for Wednesday, May 7. Recreational activities leading up to the day of the picnic include volleyball, bowling, softball, and golf. There will also be a fun run scheduled on the day of the picnic. Sign-ups for many of these activities can be found at http://campusrecreation.ucdavis.edu and http://staff.ucdavis.edu.

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Wheat Workers Meeting: May 12–13, 2008

A joint meeting of the Western Wheat Workers, Wheat CAP, WERA-97, and NCERA-184 will be held May 12–13 at the ARC Ballroom B and Hallmark Inn. The program will consist of a joint technical session on Monday morning and state reports on Monday afternoon, followed by a tour of the campus Genomics Center, and WERA-97 and NCERA-184 business meetings. There will be a social hour and dinner on Monday evening. On Tuesday, there will be a Wheat CAP Meeting, a Western Wheat Workers Business Meeting, and a NCERA-184 technical session in the morning, followed by a field trip in the afternoon.

For registration and more information, visit http://groups.ucanr.org/westernwheat/index.cfm.

Janice Corner
Agronomy Research and Information Center
(530) 752-7091
jecorner@ucdavis.edu

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Small Grains/Alfalfa and Forage Field Day: May 14, 2008

The Small Grains/Alfalfa and Forage Field Day will be Wednesday, May 14, at the Agronomy Field Headquarters from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It is designed primarily for grain and alfalfa growers, PCAs, seed companies, and handlers of certified seed. The Small Grain Field Day, in the morning, is organized by Lee Jackson (lfjackson@ucdavis.edu). It will feature progress in field research on wheat, triticale, barley, and oat. CCIA will sponsor and host a BBQ lunch at noon. The Alfalfa/Forage Field Day, organized by Dan Putnam (dhputnam@ucdavis.edu), will be in the afternoon. Visit http://calendar.ucanr.org/ near the end of April to see the agendas.

Janice Corner
Agronomy Research and Information Center
(530) 752-7091
jecorner@ucdavis.edu

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Global Climate Change Conference: May 30–31, 2008

The California Center for Urban Horticulture will host the “CA&ES Global Climate Change and Your Backyard” conference on Friday and Saturday, May 30–31, 2008.

Conference highlights include a panel discussion moderated by Ira Flatow, NPR’s science correspondent and host of Talk of the Nation. The keynote address will be given by Katy Moss Warner, president emeritus of the American Horticultural Society. Conference topics will investigate the impacts of global climate change and its relationship to horticulture and the urban forest.

The $150 general admission conference registration fee includes admission to the event, parking, and lunch on both Friday and Saturday. Admission for UC Davis Arboretum members and master gardeners is $125.

Please register by Monday, May 19, 2008, at the following link:

http://ccuh.ucdavis.edu/events.

Missy Borel
California Center for Urban Horticulture
(530) 752-6642
mjborel@ucdavis.edu

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Visit CA&ES Currents online at http://caes.ucdavis.edu/NewsEvents/currents.

CA&ES Currents, the faculty/staff newsletter of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the University of California, Davis, is published the second Thursday of each month.

News deadline is noon Monday preceding Thursday publication. Send news items to editor, rderieux@ucdavis.edu.

Editor: Robin DeRieux
Writing: Robin DeRieux, Neal Van Alfen
Editorial review: Ann Filmer, Thomas Kaiser

To be added to or deleted from this electronic newsletter list, please send an e-mail to: caeseditor@agdean.ucdavis.edu.

The University of California does not discriminate in any of its policies, procedures, or practices.

The university is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.