Document Actions
CA&ES Currents Newsletter
December 03, 1999
College Wins First-Place Award for Web Site!
The
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences just received the
CASE District VII award of excellence for the best World Wide Web site
among those entered in the organization's 1999 Awards for Excellence
Program. The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)
Circle of Excellence Program identifies and rewards excellence in 44
categories in the areas of alumni programming; institutional relations;
electronic and new media; and periodicals and publications.
The award program recognizes the best efforts in institutional
advancement by CASE members, with particular acknowledgement of
creativity, quality and effective use of available resources in meeting
stated goals and objectives. One Award of Excellence and up to three
Awards of Distinction are presented in each category. The CA&ES
site went online in January 1999 following introduction at the Dean's
Council, chair's meeting, department manager's meeting and end-of-month
coffee. Student intern Ian Brewer ('99, Design) provided design and
technical expertise, with support from student intern Margarita
Camarena ('98, Design), now a career employee in the Dean's Office, and
Jack Holmes, Dean's Office computer resource specialist. Design and
development of the site was coordinated by Rhoda McKnight, college
publicist, college relations unit.
The Awards of Distinction were presented to Arizona State University
(two) and San Francisco State University (one). The award-winning
CA&ES site will be displayed during the conference in the exhibit
hall for Award of Excellence winners; all winners' names will be posted
on the CASE conference Web site.
Julia A. Munsch
Webmaster
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
jamunsch@ucdavis.edu
(530) 754-7771
Back to top ^
AIBS President's Summit Produced Historic Document
At
a United Nations-like gathering convened by the American Institute of
Biological Sciences (AIBS) in November, leaders from disciplines
ranging from microbiology to landscape ecology agreed that in today's
cross-disciplinary, international world, biologists must strengthen the
linkages among their fields of expertise and become more effective
communicators with the rest of society.
In an unprecedented demonstration of unity and strength by the
biological community, 57 presidents and other leaders of AIBS's
69-society member federation (with a collective membership of over
150,000 biologists) met for the first-ever AIBS President's Summit to
identify collective action plans in public policy, research funding,
education and career issues.
The leaders reached substantive agreements on new consensus procedures
for how their organizations can work together and with other scientific
bodies on matters of worldwide importance. The "Arlie Accords," signed
by three members of the College of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences, reflects the beginning of structural and visionary changes in
how AIBS societies can develop a shared plan for collective action in
support of biological research and education.
The document was signed by Neal Van Alfen, dean and president of the
American Phytopathological Society; Alan Hastings, professor,
Department of Environmental Science & Policy, and president of the
Society for Mathematical Biology; and Gary Polis, professor and chair,
Department of Environmental Science & Policy, and president of the
American Society of Naturalists.
For a complete list of AIBS member societies and organizations, go toAIBS Online
Back to top ^
Alexandra Navrotsky Selected Cruickshank Lecturer
Professor
Alexandra Navrotsky, sharing appointments in Department of Land, Air
and Water Resources; Chemical Engineering and Materials Service;
Chemistry; and Geology, was selected as an Alexander M. Cruickshank
Lecturer at the Gordon Conference on High Temperature Materials,
Processes and Diagnostics at Plymouth State College in Plymouth, New
Hampshire.
Each year, lecturers are appointed in the Biological, Chemical and
Physical Sciences Gordon Conferences. The lectures are presented at
Gordon Conferences and are in keeping with the Gordon Research
Conferences' tradition of presenting research at the Frontiers of
Science.
Back to top ^
Martina McGloughlin Addresses WTO
Martina
McGloughlin, director of the UC Davis Biotechnology Program, was a
featured speaker at two events at the World Trade Organization meeting
in Seattle. McGloughlin appeared at a news conference on Tuesday,
November 30, 1999, hosted by U.S. Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo. Distinguished
scientists discussed the benefits of biotechnology for human health and
the environment. Bond serves as chair of the Senate Appropriations
Subcommittee, which funds research activities at the National Science
Foundation. Joining McGloughlin on the news-conference panel were: Nina
Fedoroff, director, Life Sciences Consortium and the Biotechnology
Institute, Pennsylvania State University; Brian Larkins, professor,
Department of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona; and Douglas
Randall, professor, Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri.
McGloughlin also appeared on a WTO panel on Wednesday, December 1,
addressing "WTO agreements on sanitary and phytosanitary measures and
technical barriers to trade: dealing with new food production
technologies." The panel addressed a session of the Agricultural Trade
Conference, charged with identifying issues for the WTO negotiations.
Session moderator was policy analyst Paul Drazek, a former special
trade advisor to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman. Joining
McGloughlin on this panel was U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa; Lynn
Jensen, president of the National Corn Growers Association; Mike Yost,
chair of the American Soybean Association and American Oilseed
Coaliition; Keven Uresch, special trade advisor to the U. S. Senate
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry; and Ann Veneman,
former U.S. deputy secretary of agriculture and former California
secretary of agriculture.
Back to top ^
Emmy Werner Presented Dolley Madison Award
Professor
Emeritus Emmy Werner, Department of Human & Community Development,
is recipient of the Dolley Madison Award for Outstanding Lifelong
Contributions to the Development and Well-being of Children and
Families." From Zero-to-Three, a national organization concerned with
the well being of young children and their families, presented the
presidential award to Werner at a ceremony in Anaheim.
Werner's new book, "Through the Eyes of Innocents: Children Witness
World War II," published by Westview Press, was released this week. It
is based on diaries and journals of 200 children living in areas that
held opposing views about the war. The book chronicles how these
children endured World War II and the adversities they overcame.
Back to top ^
Pomology Department Wins Golden Strawberry Award
In
recognition of 50 years of research that has revolutionized strawberry
growing and invigorated the economy in southwestern Spain, the
Department of Pomology received the Golden Strawberry Award from the
Spanish province of Heulva. The Freson de Oro Award was presented in
September in the town of Lepe, Spain, to Candy Voelker of the
department.
The award, sponsored by the Bank of El Monte, honors a business or
organization that has contributed generously to Heulva's agricultural
industry. Presenters noted that the research by UC scientists was
responsible for the introduction and vigorous growth of the strawberry
industry in the province. "The department was surprised and delighted
upon hearing of the award," said Ted DeJong, chair. "It's always a
pleasure to see that our research positively influences not only
California agriculture but also other parts of the world." During
nearly five decades of research, UC Davis scientists have used
selective-breeding techniques to develop new varieties that are larger,
more colorful and flavorful and more productive over a long growing
season. The California strawberry industry, which raises 80 percent of
the strawberries consumed in North America, can now produce
strawberries year-round rather than just during a few weeks as is true
in other parts of the country. UC Davis' strawberry breeding program
currently is in the hands of Professor Douglas Shaw and pomologist Kirk
Larson, Cooperative Extension specialist, Researchers continually work
to improve commercial strawberries in terms of fruit quality,
production efficiency and resistance to pests and disease.
Thomas M. DeJong
Professor and Chair
Department of Pomology
tmdejong@ucdavis.edu
(530) 753-0123
Back to top ^
Daniel Sumner to Oversee APMP
The
University of California's central program for agricultural personnel
management and farm labor issues is moving to a new home. The
Agricultural Personnel Management Program (APMP) is now part of the
Davis-based UC Agricultural Issues Center. Daniel Sumner, center
director and the Frank H. Buck, Jr., professor in agricultural
economics, Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics, will
oversee the program. "This move will allow us to include agricultural
personnel and labor issues as a part of our integrated program of
research and outreach," Sumner said. "Farm labor issues have never been
more important - or more controversial - for California agriculture."
With its extension programs, APMP helps agricultural business operators
understand how their choices shape organizational structure, job
design, recruitment and selection, training and development, immediate
supervision, pay and benefits, employee communications, corrective
actions and other responses to problems. The program was established by
a specific augmentation to the university budget in 1981 and is one of
more than two dozen statewide programs managed by DANR.
Back to top ^
DANR Temporary Funds Reported
According
to James MacDonald, executive associate dean, official word has been
received from DANR regarding UC Davis requests for temporary funds "The
temporary funds went heavily toward one-time expenditures for physical
facilities or equipment," MacDonald said. "This pattern may change in
the future as the new workgroup structure settles in and workgroups
start requesting temporary funds for high-priority projects." The
awards, including DANR funds and matching funds, include: 1.
Specialized Equipment for Small-to-Medium-Sized Plot Research
Department of Agronomy & Range Science DANR awarded - $260,000
CA&ES awarded - $40,000 Department match - $40,000 2. Western
Center for Agricultural Equipment Department of Biological &
Agricultural Engineering DANR awarded - $100,000 CA&ES awarded -
$100,000 Department match - $70,000 3. UC Davis Daily Foods Research
and Extension Facility Department of Food Science & Technology DANR
awarded - $150,000 CA&ES awarded - $100,000 Department match -
$100,000 4. Lighting and Cooling Upgrades of Greenhouse Facility
UC/USDA Research Center, Salinas DANR awarded - $34,000 CA&ES match
- $5,000 The college also recommended that DANR support the start-up of
two research projects. One project is titled "Research at the
agricultural-urban interface," and the other is titled "Development of
an economic database to improve management of California's renewable
marine resources." These projects were not funded. While many members
of the Program Council felt that these were worthwhile projects, there
was a strong feeling that such projects should come forward with the
sponsorship of a workgroup. This opinion is consistent with how similar
research proposals were handled and represents a move to enhance the
role of workgroups in setting priorities.
Back to top ^
Study Shows Tahoe Ban Reduced MTBE
A
ban on high polluting, two-stroke boat engines dramatically reduced
MTBE and other fuel pollution in Lake Tahoe this past summer, compared
with previous years, according to UC Davis scientists. John Rueter,
Department of Environmental Science & Policy, a member of the UC
Davis Tahoe Research Group, said that the elimination of such engines -
imposed by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency at the beginning of the
1999 boating season - reduced both MTBE and toluene concentrations in
the Sierra Nevada lake by 90 percent or more.
Scientists sought to determine which action had the greater impact on
MTBE pollution: service stations in the Tahoe basin selling MTBE-free
gasoline or the ban on certain types of engines. "The engines had more
impact," Reuter said. The study's findings are significant because they
show "that MTBE can be controlled through the management of boating
practices."
Back to top ^
Wine & Grape Symposium
An
organizing committee led by Cooperative Extension enologist Christian
Butzke has arranged five timely enology breakout sessions with more
than two dozen speakers at the upcoming Unified Wine & Grape
Symposium to be held January 25-27, 1999, in Sacramento. Topics include
Optimizing Quality and Yield, Stuck Fermentation, 2000 User's Guide to
Presses, Microoxygenation and a winemaker's workshop titled "What is
Ripeness?"
Christian E. Butzke
Cooperative Extension specialist
Department of Viticulture and Enology
cebutzke@ucdavis.edu
(530) 752-9312
Back to top ^
2000 Water Tours
The
Water Education Foundation's tours offer participants a firsthand look
at the water facilities, rivers and regions critical in the debate
about the future of water resources in California and the West. Issues
of water supply, water quality, environmental restoration, flood
management, water marketing and water conservation are addressed by a
wide range of speakers representing different viewpoints.
The first 2000 tour is the Lower Colorado River, March 29-31, 2000. The
three-day, two-night tour follows the course of the lower Colorado
River through three states. It includes a private tour of Hoover Dan, a
boat ride on Lake Mead, a visit to the Salton Sea, tours of the MWD of
Southern California facilities at Gene Village, and visits to Southern
California agricultural and urban regions.
Back to top ^
Satellite Programs
Dr.
and Mr. Alexander Swantz added a gift of $106,000 worth of securities
to the Charitable Remainder Unitrust they established in November 1997.
The gift designation for the College of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences is undesignated at this time; but the donors are supportive of
the college's new environmental initiatives, particularly the study of
water-use policy.
Rick A. Swantz
Director of Development
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
raswantz@ucdavis.edu
(530) 752-7961
Back to top ^
Development News
Most
satellite programs are free. College-level credit courses are available
to county and campus Cooperative Extension staff and their clientele
and other educational institutions. There is a registration fee for
each course. For a listing of satellite programs, computer and
videotape courses in the agriculture, natural resources, youth
development, and food, nutrition, family and consumer resources areas,
contact Karen Berke.
Back to top ^
2000 UNCF-MERCK Science Initiative
The
College Fund/UNCF and the Merck Company Foundation have established
scholarship awards for outstanding African American students pursuing
studies and careers in the field of biomedical research. At least 37
awards will be given annually: 15 $25,000 awards at the undergraduate
level; 12 $40,000 awards at the graduate level; and 10 $70,000 awards
at the postdoctoral level. Each applicant for the UNCF Undergraduate
Science Research Scholarship must be an African American
undergraduate-degree candidate in the academic year 2000-01, a life
sciences or physical sciences major with a minimum GPA of 3.3
(cumulative and in major subjects), committed to work as an intern for
two summers at a Merck research facility and a U.S. citizen or
permanent resident. Applicants for the UNCF Merck Graduate Science
Research Dissertation Fellowships must be African American, enrolled
full time in a doctoral program in the life or physical sciences,
within two years of completing dissertation and a U.S. citizen or
permanent resident.
Each applicant for the UNCF Merck Postdoctoral Science Research
Fellowship must be African American, a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral
degree recipient in a life science or physical science by the end of
the academic year 1999-00 and appointed in a postdoctoral fellow during
the 2000 calendar year at an academic or non-academic research
institution.
This appointment must be for a minimum of 12 months. The applicant must
be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
Back to top ^
Life Sciences Informatics Program
The
Life Sciences Informatics (SLI) Program is part of UC President Richard
Atkinson's plan to enhance California's economic competitiveness,
stimulate investment and growth investment in California jobs and
businesses, accelerate delivery of public benefits from UC research and
education, train a highly skilled workforce and improve communications
technology, equipment and processes. LSI supports innovative
interdisciplinary research at the interface of life sciences and
mathematics, statistics, computational and information sciences and
engineering. Any UC researcher with prinicpal-investigator status is
eligible to apply. Special emphasis will be placed on
multi-disciplinary projects and projects that provide research training
opportunities for students and post-doctorates.
LSI supports engineering and basic science disciplines. The research is
pre-commercial, from basic to proof-of concept. Areas include:
agricultural sciences, animal sciences, chemistry, biological sciences,
engineering, environmental sciences, food sciences, medicine,
veterinary medicine and zoology.
Letter of Intent Deadline: February 8, 2000 Proposal Deadline: February
22, 2000
Life Sciences website
Back to top ^
RFP: Cling Peach
The
California Cling Peach Growers Advisory Board is soliciting research
proposals for 2000-01. The funding level is expected to be similar to
1999 levels.
Thomas M. DeJong
Professor and Chair
Department of Pomology
tmdejong@ucdavis.edu
(530) 753-0123
Back to top ^
RFP: IPM Grants Program
The
Regional Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Grants Program supports the
continuum of research and extension needed to increase implementation
of IPM methods from development of individual pest control tactics to
the integration of tactics into an IPM system to extension education
and training. The goal of the program is to provide support for
projects that develop and help users implement IPM systems that are
profitable and environmentally sound over the long term, reduce
reliance on pesticides; and protect and conserve ecosystem quality and
diversity.
Funding is available to research and extension staff at land-grant
universities in the region. The Western Region will provide funding for
three types of IPM projects in fiscal year 2000: research, extension
and research-extension
Nick Toscano
Coordinator
Western Regional IPM Special Grants
nick.toscano@ucr.edu
Back to top ^
