A team of scientists affiliated with the UC Davis Foods for Health Institute and entomology professor Bruce Hammock are among the recipients of the 2020 Chancellor’s Innovation Awards, which recognize faculty, project teams and community partners for their work, dedication and success in improving the lives of others and addressing the needs of society.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the rural parts of the UC Davis campus have seen an influx of visitors seeking alternative recreation spots close to home — sometimes too many visitors and sometimes with adverse consequences.

Officials say habitat is being damaged, agricultural research threatened and wildlife impacted in the Putah Creek Riparian Reserve and other areas of south and west campus.

The UC Davis Public Scholarship and Engagement Program has awarded funding to 14 new research projects, including five to faculty in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, that will address diverse issues such as climate change, the welfare of families, and cultivating a new grain crop. 

Gwen Chodur is the 2020 recipient of the Neal Van Alfen and James MacDonald Graduate Student Award for her research in molecular and nutrigenomic nutrition and her commitment to social justice, food literacy and food security.

“The quality and scientific merit of Gwen’s work is outstanding,” said her major professor, Francene Steinberg, chair of the Department of Nutrition. “She is an exceptionally strong student with good analytical, statistical, critical thinking, writing and organizational skills. She is also a wonderful teacher and mentor who enjoys working with students.”

Andrea Guggenbickler, Jim Fadel and Kiara Cuevas are recipients of this year’s Eleanor and Harry Walker Advising Award. The award supports and recognizes excellence in peer, staff and faculty advising in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

UC Davis is highlighting 55 of its most significant women in history as part of a celebration marking the 150th anniversary of the admission of women to the University of California. Some of these highly accomplished women have strong ties to the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

The one word that keeps coming to mind as we collectively reinvent our day-to-day lives is resilience. While these changes to our world were brought about suddenly, our college is adapting well and remains flexible in our efforts to educate our dedicated students, conduct essential research and engage the public in new ways. Even though we are all sheltering in place, our spring remains incredibly busy and full of online activity.

Thanks to greenhouse staff and students in the UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CA&ES), 6,300 tiny tomato and strawberry plants originally planned for Picnic Day giveaways will soon find a good home.

“We’re reaching out to local food banks, community gardens and students here on campus to find places and ways to safely distribute these plants,” said Saarah Kuzay, graduate student researcher with the Horticulture and Agronomy Graduate Group.

Bryan Jenkins, chair of the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, is the recipient of a major award from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE).

Jennifer Schmidt, a Ph.D. candidate in plant sciences, has been selected as the 2020 recipient of the Kinsella Memorial Prize for outstanding research on a doctoral dissertation.