September 03, 1999
Campus Memorial Service for Gary P. Moberg
A memorial service titled “A Tribute to Gary Moberg” will be held Tuesday, September 21, 1999, at 4 p.m. at the Putah Creek Lodge on campus. A reception follows at 5 p.m. Faculty, staff and students, as well as friends from campus and off-campus communities, are welcome to attend this tribute and celebration of his life. Professor Gary P. Moberg died Friday, August 13, 1999. He served as a faculty member in the Department of Animal Science for 29 years. He also taught courses for the Section of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior and was a member of the graduate groups in animal behavior and in physiology, which he previously chaired. Moberg served as associate dean for the Division of Animal Biology in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences for the past six years. In the spring of this year, he was named director of the Center for Aquatic Biology and Aquaculture.
Sharon E. Lynch
Assistant Director for Relations
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
selynch@ucdavis.edu
(530) 752-1602
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Gail Feenstra Named to Post by USDA Ag Secretary
USDA Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman named nutrition and food systems expert Gail Feenstra ('78, Dietetics) as state Community Food Security co-liaison. She will be point-of-contact and resource coordinator for all USDA-associated community food security and anti-hunger activities within California. The goal of USDA's Community Food Security Initiative is to create and expand grass-roots partnerships that build local food systems and reduce hunger. "Dr. Feenstra will bring dedication and commitment to this new role," said Glickman, "and I look forward to working with her to help achieve our food security goals in California communities." Feenstra currently coordinates the Community Development and Public Policy Program for the statewide UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SAREP). SAREP is one of several publicly funded, university-based programs supporting sustainable agriculture in the U.S. "Dr. Feenstra will bring dedication and commitment to this new role," said Glickman, "and I look forward to working with her to help achieve our food security goals in California communities." Feenstra currently coordinates the Community Development and Public Policy Program for the statewide UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SAREP). SAREP is one of several publicly funded, university-based programs supporting sustainable agriculture in the U.S.
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Alexandra Navrotsky Directs Nanophase Program
Professors and students from a multitude of disciplines are investigating how extremely small particles impact the world in which we live. Project Nanophase began in 1997 when academia realized the study of tiny particles, known as nanophases, had to be approached from several different angles. The investigation of smoke particles, soil dust and tidbits floating in water required the expertise of physicists, environmental engineers, materials science experts, chemists and agricultural experts. UC Davis formed a collaborative division called Nanophases in the Environment, Agriculture and Technology, or NEAT. Interdisciplinary Professor Alexandra Navrotsky of the Department of Land, Air & Water Resources is program director. A cross-disciplinary investigation includes professors from eight separate departments and four colleges at UC Davis. Study focuses on four specific areas: the physics and chemistry of the nanophases; how the particles are transported through air and water; how nanophases react and interact with living things; and environmental and public policy issues surrounding nanophases.
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Barry Wilson Instrumental in Regulation Change
Standardized procedures for clinical laboratories for assessment of cholinesterase activity in agricultural workers exposed to organophosphorus and carbamate insecticides has been placed into regulation by the state of California. This standardization will enhance the ability of illness surveillance units to evaluate illness cases that involve exposure to anticholinesterase pesticides. Professor Barry Wilson of the Departments of Animal Science and Environmental Toxicology played a critical role in this regulation change. His laboratory provided pivotal data indicating a need for a standardized method as well as a strategy to facilitate laboratory compliance with the new regulation. Wilson receives support from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) which funds university research at UC Davis. Wilson points out that this interaction of state government and NIEHS-supported university research illustrates the application of laboratory results to generation of a plan addressing an agricultural worker health issue.
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Development Highlights
Professor Kent Bradford, Department of Vegetable Crops and director of the new UC Davis Seed Biotechnology Center, announces that a recent $250,000 contribution from the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation brings a total commitment of $805,000 toward the $1.5 million campaign goal. Early leadership in the campaign has been provided by Sakata Seeds, Progeny Advanced Genetics, the J.G. Boswell Foundation, American Takii, Harris-Moran, Cal/West Seeds and Ball Horticulture Company. The Seed Biotechnology Center will be the focal point for interaction between the seed industry and the research and educational resources of UC Davis. It will coordinate research to address problems of importance to the seed industry and will provide continuing education in seed biology and technology. Its mission is to mobilize the research, educational and outreach resources of UC Davis, in partnership with the seed industry, to facilitate commercialization of new
Kent J. Bradford
Professor
Department of Vegetable Crops
kjbradford@ucdavis.edu
(530) 752-9098
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Predicting Fires Via Satellite
Remote sensing, a technique that relies on satellite images of Earth, is being used to monitor the amount of vegetation in an area and gauge the risk of wildland fires. Susan Ustin, associate professor, Department of Land, Air & Water Resources, is working with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the Los Angeles County Fire District and researchers at UC Santa Barbara to develop a better vegetation map of the fire-prone Santa Monica Mountains. A remote-sensing expert, she is using the next generation of satellite sensor capabilities. From 60,000 feet above the Earth, a prototype NASA airborne sensor produces infrared images of the 3,200-square-mile region, revealing not only how much brush is present but also the type and water content of the shrubs. This information indicates which areas are most vulnerable to wildfires, so that controlled burns can be planned to reduce wildfire danger in the most hazardous locations. And if a wildfire does start, the vegetation data can be combined with topographical information and wind data to predict in which direction the fire is likely to spread.
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Biotechnology Funding Opportunities
BioSTAR Matching Grants Deadline: October 15, 1999 Interdisciplinary Research and Training Grants Deadline: October 29, 1999 Economics, Business, Law and Public Education Grants Deadline: October 29, 1999 Opportunity Awards for Conferences and Workshops Deadline: Proposals accepted year-round Opportunity Awards for Improving Technology Transfer and Industry Relations Deadline: Proposals accepted year-round The award was named in honor of Harry Walker, Department of Land, Air & Water Resources professor emeritus. During his many years at UC Davis, he was an outstanding advisor and friend to hundreds of students. Walker also was a strong supporter of the college's network of departmental and Dean's Office staff advisors. Hendrickson advises students in the fermentation science and viticulture and enology majors. Raised in Woodland and a graduate of Woodland High School, she began her career at UC Davis as a telephone operator. She worked at the medical school and in the geology department before joining the Department of Viticulture & Enology.
UC Biotech website
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Funds for Field Research
The University Research Expeditions Program (UREP) provides funds and field assistance to UC researchers worldwide. Support is provided by selected members of the public who subsidize the research costs through their tax-deductible donations and contribute their own skills and time as short-term field assistants. UREP funds can be used for short- or long-term field research, as seed money for new research, to extend continuing projects, supplement other grants and to support graduate students or additional staff. Faculty or staff researchers from any UC campus are encouraged to apply for full or partial funding through UREP. Principal investigator status is not required for consideration. Graduate students may apply as independent field directors with the sponsorship of a faculty advisor or receive full or partial funding as assistants to a faculty member. Projects will be considered in any discipline that can incorporate UREP volunteer participation. Research projects involving specimen collection, excavation, interviewing, field observations, photography or surveying are particularly suited to UREP funding. Deadline: October 8, 1999 and April 6, 2000
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RFP: Genetic Resources Conservation Program
The UC Genetic Resources Conservation Program (GRCP) will provide short-term assistance in the conservation of imperiled living collections of genetic resources and genetic stocks critical to California for fiscal year 1999-00. Such assistance will be in the form of grants to individuals who have responsibility for collections of genetic materials (DNA, genes, vectors, genetic stocks, cytogenetic stocks, populations, species) that are in danger of being lost or are in need of attention to be safely conserved, documented and made available for research or other uses. GRCP is able to fund projects in the range of $1,500 to $2,500 each. Deadline: October 15, 1999
GRCP Online
Calvin Qualset
Director
GRCP
(530) 754-8501
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RFP: Agricultural Literacy and Issues Program
The University of California - Hansen Trust is soliciting proposals addressing agricultural literacy and agricultural issues. The program is designed to fund projects and programs that will: Facilitate progress in increasing the public's understanding and support of agriculture, including the relationship of agriculture to the economy and the natural resource base; Encourage the study, discussion and debate of agricultural/urban issues for better policy decisions and achieving balance among competing interests; and Assist in agricultural land preservation and educate the public in caring for the land. The exhibition is free and open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Deadline: October 20, 1999
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RFP: National Institute for Global Environmental Change
The Western Regional Center of the National Institute for Global Environmental Change (NIGEC) announces that funds will be available for fiscal year 2000-01. Each of the six regions within NIGEC has a slightly different research emphasis for their regional thrusts. Letters of Intent due: September 17, 1999 Proposals due: October 15, 1999
NIGEC-RFP Online
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RFA: Translational Cancer Research and Technology Transfer
The California Department of Health Services (DHS), Cancer Research Station (CRS) received a $2.5 million legislative augmentation for cancer research in fiscal year 1999-00. CRS will make these funds available to California researchers for translational cancer research and technology transfer. There is an enormous need for translational research to determine how recent laboratory and clinical advances in tertiary medical care can be translated in a compressed time frame to the vast majority of Californians. Specifically, research funding through the National Cancer Institute has shifted dramatically to focus on basic genetic and cellular aspects of cancer. The purpose of this RFA is to facilitate the transfer of the resultant technology, including advances in cancer and genetics, into primary care settings. CRS has a stated and explicit priority directed toward ethnically and culturally diverse, socio-economically disadvantaged and medically under-served populations.
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CA&ES Currents, the faculty/staff newsletter of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at UC Davis, is distributed every other Friday. News deadline is noon Monday preceding Friday publication. Send inquiries to Ann Filmer, afilmer@ucdavis.edu
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Issue Editor:
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(530) 752-9328
Contributors: Donna Gutierrez, Thomas Kaiser, Susan Kancir, Rhoda McKnight, Neal Van Alfen, John Weston.
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