Eleven UC Davis professors have been elected in this year’s class of fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, or AAAS, the world’s largest general scientific society.

The association elevates members to the rank of fellow in recognition of their scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications. 

We are entering the holiday season—a time that has always been about coming together to share a meal and spend time with family, and this is probably the most unusual Thanksgiving any of us will ever experience. We’re being advised not to do what is our natural tendency—to gather with the people we care about the most. This is a hard request after nine months of sheltering in place.

Eleven UC Davis researchers have been named in the annual Highly Cited Researchers 2020 list released by the Web of Science Group, which compiles statistics on scientific publishing. The list identifies scientists and social scientists who have published multiple papers ranking in the top 1 percent by citations in a particular field and year, over a 10-year period.

Citation counts represent how often a particular paper has been cited in other scientific publications.

In the spring of 1945, after months of rooting out Nazis from high ridges in the Italian Alps, 2nd Lt. Milton Hildebrand – executive officer (XO) of his company in the 10th Mountain Division – crossed the fabled Po River.

As the Germans retreated, news of the Americans’ arrival spread like wildfire across the villages of the Po Valley, and Italians thronged the roadway – waving; singing; throwing flowers; passing out wine, cookies and cheese; stretching out their hands to touch the passing soldiers and shouting: “Viva, viva gli americani!”

Chris Vogel, a research professor in the Department of Environmental Toxicology, is a 2020 laboratory safety award winner for his oversight of a laboratory focused on environmental and molecular toxicology.

Vogel was selected for the exceptional management of his lab, which is part of the Center for Health and the Environment (CHE). The Safety Services Lab Safety Awards are endorsed by the faculty-led Chemical and Lab Safety Committee and are given to scientists in individual units throughout UC Davis.

Distinguished food science and technology alumna Margaret Lawson (’77, M.S.’79) recently made an estate commitment to her alma mater that will make a profound difference in the development of future food scientists at UC Davis.

Professor Leigh Ann Simmons, chair of the Department of Human Ecology, has been elected a fellow of the American Academy of Health Behavior (AAHB). Fellow status is a special membership category in recognition of significant contributions to the field of health behavior research and demonstrated involvement in the organization. 

During the past fiscal year, 15 emerging startups executed agreements to access patented technology developed at the University of California, Davis.

“Startups play an essential role in advancing and commercializing new technologies that are developed by researchers and innovators at UC Davis,” said Prasant Mohapatra, vice chancellor of research at UC Davis. “These partnerships lead to substantial contributions to society in the form of new products, services and economic growth.”

Professor David Block, chair of the Department of Viticulture and Enology, has been elected a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). The honor affirms the high esteem with which his colleagues and peers view his distinctive professional achievements and accomplishments.