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CA&ES Currents Newsletter
January 31, 2003
MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN
A Message from Dean Neal Van Alfen: Prioritizing Budget Reductions
WHO
Clyde Elmore: Hall of Famer
Bruce Hammock: Scorpion’s Stings Make Headlines
Joy Mench: Humane Society Honoree
Calvin Qualset Receives Genetic Resources Conservation Award
Carl Winter Appointed to UN Food Organization
UC Davis, the National Academy of Sciences, and the USDA
IN THE NEWS
The Perils of “Experimental” Logging
Breastfeeding Helps Counter Obesity in Later Life
Sudden Oak Death Researchers Find Cause for Hope
WHAT
The $40,000 John Fox Steindler Graduate Fellowship
Graduate Fellowships: Gordon Research Conference on Agriculture
New Tree Guide on the Way
UC Mexus Annual Call for Proposals
Water Education Foundation Collaboration Publication
WHAT
California Colloquium on Water, Spring 2003
Dennis T. Avery Saves the Planet with Pesticides and Plastic
Nutrition Graduate Seminar Series
Water Education Foundation’s 20th Annual Executive Briefing
Arboretum Events
A Message from Dean Neal Van Alfen: Prioritizing Budget Reductions
Our
college is facing a major budget challenge since the Agricultural
Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension have been targeted for
significant cuts in the governor’s proposed budget. Given the very
large deficit that the state is facing next year we have to assume in
our planning that these proposals could become reality. Our plan to
meet the current 10% AES budget reduction is based on a principle that
cuts will be made by attrition through collapse of faculty and staff
positions vacated by retirements, etc. Although this will become
increasingly difficult as the cuts deepen, we will do everything we can
to protect those who currently hold positions. The challenge we face in
downsizing through attrition is that positions are lost randomly based
upon age or personal circumstances rather than through a prioritization
process. Prioritization will occur through reinvestments that will
begin even as we downsize because of the cuts. A series of faculty
committees will be organized through this coming year to assist in this
prioritization process. The first committees to be appointed have been
charged to plan for our future in the plant and pest sciences. Copies
of the letters that provide the charges and memberships of these two
committees are available for viewing at
http://caes.ucdavis.edu/college/budget/. Additional committees will be
formed in the future and charged with helping to reshape and
reprioritize the programs of our college. Although the circumstances
that are driving this process are dire, let’s work to be sure that we
are laying the foundation for maintaining the excellence of our college
for decades to come.
As always, we welcome your feedback. If you have questions or comments,
please e-mail me.
Budget information on the Web
Neal K. Van Alfen
Dean
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
nkvanalfen@ucdavis.edu
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Clyde Elmore: Hall of Famer
Clyde
Elmore, extension specialist for the Weed Science program in the
Department of Vegetable Crops at UC Davis, has been inducted into the
California Floriculture Hall of Fame. Elmore has worked extensively on
finding a viable alternative to methyl bromide as a biocide in
ornamental crops.
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Bruce Hammock: Scorpion’s Stings Make Headlines
While
researching a scorpion anti-venom, professor of entomology Bruce
Hammock recently discovered that South African scorpions produce two
kinds of venom -- an extremely painful first sting designed to drive a
threat away and a much deadlier subsequent sting if the threat
continues. Published this week, his article, “One Scorpion, Two Venoms:
Prevenom of Parabuthus transvaalicus acts as an alternative type of
venom with distinct mechanism of action,” generated a large amount of
news coverage.
CNN article
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Joy Mench: Humane Society Honoree
The
Humane Society of the United States recently honored professor of
animal science Joy Mench with an award for her course, Animal Science
103, which examines animal welfare from the animals’ point of view. The
2002 Animals and Society Award is intended to encourage high quality
college curricula and instruction in animal welfare. In addition to a
certificate of excellence, Mench will receive $1,000 for use in course
development.
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Calvin Qualset Receives Genetic Resources Conservation Award
Calvin
Qualset, founding director of DANR’s Genetic Resources Conservation
Program and professor emeritus in the Department of Agronomy and Range
Science, received the 2002 William L. Brown Award for Excellence in
Genetic Resources Conservation. The Missouri Botanical Garden, in
collaboration with the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Washington
University, and the World Agricultural Forum, sponsored a November
symposium in St. Louis to honor Qualset’s accomplishments.
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Carl Winter Appointed to UN Food Organization
Carl
Winter, director of the FoodSafe Program and Extension food
toxicologist affiliated with the Department of Food Science and
Technology, has been appointed to the United Nations Food and
Agricultural Organization/World Health Organization Joint Expert
Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) for a four-year term starting this
month. JECFA serves as a scientific advisory body to FAO, WHO, to
FAO/WHO member governments, and the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
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UC Davis, the National Academy of Sciences, and the USDA
Several
UC Davis-based scientists were part of the National Academy of Sciences
(NAS) committee that recommended the U.S. Department of Agriculture
refocus its $2 billion annual research budget to reflect changing
public values and needs. Davis scientists contributing to the report
include Janet C. "Jenny" Broome, UC Sustainable Agriculture Research
and Education Program (SAREP) associate director; Julian Alston,
agricultural and resource economics professor; and Christine Bruhn, UC
Cooperative Extension consumer food marketing specialist. The
subcommittees provided key input to the synthesis committee that wrote
the report. Synthesis committee members included Vice Provost William
Lacy; former SAREP Interim Director Robert Reginato; and professor of
animal science Ransom Baldwin, Jr. Committee members noted in their
report, “Frontiers in Agricultural Research: Food, Health, Environment,
and Communities,” that there is a need for high-level leadership to
support new directions in food and agricultural research.
To read a summary of the report or access a complete copy of the prepublication document, visit theNAS Web site
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The Perils of “Experimental” Logging
A
recent New York Times article outlined the U.S. Forest Service proposal
for experimental logging of 500,000 acres in the Plumas and Lassen
National Forests to see how it will affect the habitat of the
California spotted owl and the severity of forest fires. The Bush
administration's experiment will greatly increase the amount of timber
being taken from the two forests. "I think this is quickly going to
spiral into a device for getting around other restrictions on forest
practices, under the guise of scientific analysis," said Don Erman,
emeritus professor of the Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation
Biology.
Read the entirearticle
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Breastfeeding Helps Counter Obesity in Later Life
According
to a new study by Professor of Nutrition Kathryn Dewey, breastfeeding
helps babies learn to control appetite and has other effects that
counter obesity in later life. The role of breastfeeding in obesity
control is still small compared to predictive factors such as having
fat parents or eating an unhealthy diet and not exercising, but it is
still an important part of the picture. Dewey believes that breast-fed
babies are better able to stop eating when full, and bottle-fed babies
are often overfed, which can increase the amount of fat cells. Her
study, presented at a recent state conference on childhood obesity,
will be published in next month’s issue of Journal of Human Lactation.
More informationonline
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Sudden Oak Death Researchers Find Cause for Hope
At
a December symposium on Sudden Oak Death, associate professor of plant
pathology David Rizzo spoke of the possibility that the disease is not
necessarily lethal and that some plants are not vulnerable. Researchers
are hopeful but cautious that some types of resistance to Sudden Oak
Death might be found.
More informationonline
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The $40,000 John Fox Steindler Graduate Fellowship
CA&ES
is pleased to announce the 2003–04 John F. Steindler Fellowship, which
supports entering Ph.D. students studying in the general areas of
agricultural production, food and nutrition, molecular biology in
plants, agricultural commodity marketing, and rural/urban social
studies. The fellowship is intended to support students and encourage
them to pursue careers in teaching and research. Fellows receive a
stipend of $40,000, to be paid over 24 months, plus in-state fees and
nonresident tuition where necessary. Recipients will be selected from
among students nominated and ranked by their graduate program or group,
which then forwards the names of those nominated to Graduate Studies. A
“Supplemental Application for Fellowships” should be included for each
student. Nominations must be received in Graduate Studies by February
13, 2003.
Richard R. Engel
Director of Outreach
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
rrengel@ucdavis.edu
(530) 754-6249
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Graduate Fellowships: Gordon Research Conference on Agriculture
There
are fellowships available for graduate students to attend the Gordon
Research Conference on Agriculture. The conference, being held February
16–21, in Ventura, will emphasize genomics, proteomics and
biotechnology.
Gordon Conference Web site
Rachel Goodhue
Assistant Professor
Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics
goodhue@primal.ucdavis.edu
(530) 754-7812
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New Tree Guide on the Way
The
Center for Urban Forest Research will soon unveil its fifth and newest
tree guide, “Northern Mountains and Prairies Community Tree Guide,”
designed for the cold and snowy climate region covering the
northwestern and north central U.S., including portions of California
and Nevada. Other guides in the series cover the Inland Empire, South
Coast, and San Joaquin Valley. To see the guides online, visit the site
below and select “Tree Guides” under product type.
http://cufr.ucdavis.edu/search.asp
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UC Mexus Annual Call for Proposals
The
2003 call includes UC Mexus grants for principal investigators; UC
MEXUS-CONACYT grants for collaborative projects by teams of UC and
Mexican researchers; dissertation research grants for UC graduate
students, and travel/small grants for UC principal investigators.
More information, submission deadlines and forms
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Water Education Foundation Collaboration Publication
The
Water Forum Agreement signed in April 2000 by 40 Sacramento region
water purveyors, public officials, community group leaders,
environmentalists, and business representatives capped six years of
analysis, discussions and negotiations. The new publication explains
the contents of the agreement, discusses the stages of interest-based
negotiations, and offers insight on lessons learned by Water Forum
participants.
Order a copy at theWater Education Foundation Web site
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California Colloquium on Water, Spring 2003
On
Feb. 11 the Water Resources Center Archives at UC Berkeley presents
“Droughts and Deluges of California’s Past Millenium,” a public lecture
by Scott Stein, professor of geography and environmental studies at
CSU, Hayward. Reception: 4:45–5:30 p.m., 410 O’Brien Hall. Lecture:
5:30–7 p.m., 105 North Gate Hall.
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Dennis T. Avery Saves the Planet with Pesticides and Plastic
CA&ES
is sponsoring two events with Dennis T. Avery, director of the Center
for Global Food Issues at the Hudson Institute. On Wednesday, Feb. 5, 3
p.m., in 2005 PES, Dennis will present a student round-table
discussion, titled “What’s Wrong with Global Warming?” On Thursday,
Feb. 6, 4 p.m., at the Buehler Alumni and Visitors Center, he is
hosting an open seminar, “Saving the World’s Forests and Wildlife with
High-yield Farming and Forestry.”
Sharon A. Berg
Administrative Specialist
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
saberg@ucdavis.edu
(530) 752-3483
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Nutrition Graduate Seminar Series
Candidates
for the John E. Kinsella Endowed Chair will be holding the following
upcoming seminars: On Feb. 3, Susan Ebeler, associate professor of
viticulture and enology, will present “Wine Flavor and Health Effects:
How are they related?” and on Feb. 10, Andrew Waterhouse, professor and
interim chair of viticulture and enology, will present “Wine
Phytochemicals: Measurements and Effects.” Both seminars take place in
Surge III, Room 1309, at 4:10 p.m.
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Water Education Foundation’s 20th Annual Executive Briefing
March
12–13, Sacramento. Join top policymakers and agricultural,
environmental and urban stakeholders as they address important water
issues, including the Colorado River, desalination, and the Bay-Delta.
More informationonline
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Arboretum Events
Feb.
2, 11 a.m. Mediterranean-style Gardening. Meet at the Arboretum Terrace
Garden, located next to Border’s Books on First Street. Feb. 2, 2 p.m.
The Storer Garden in Winter. Meet at the Gazebo on Garrod Drive.
Parking is free on the weekends.
Feb. 9, 2 p.m. Elegant Acacias: Flowering Trees for Winter. Meet at
Arboretum headquarters on LaRue Road. Free parking across the street.
Feb. 11, 7 p.m. Lecture on Container Gardening for the Central Valley
led by Ernesto Sandoval, curator of the UC Davis Botanical
Conservatory. Veterans Memorial Center Club Room, 203 East 14th Street.
Feb. 12, Noon. Join superintendent Warren Roberts for a lunchtime
stroll. Meet at the Gazebo on Garrod Drive.
Feb. 16, 11 a.m. How to Encourage Wildlife in the Garden. Meet at the
Arboretum Terrace Garden, located next to Border’s Books on First
Street. Feb. 16, 2 p.m. Herbs for the Central Valley Gardener. Putah
Creek Lodge.
Arboretum calendar
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