March 02, 2001
Christine Bruhn Selected IFST Fellow
Consumer food marketing specialist Christine Bruhn, Department of Food Science and Technology, was selected a fellow of the Institute of Food Science and Technology, United Kingdom. Bruhn was selected for her work to better understand consumer attitudes and perceptions and her leadership in communicating food safety and quality issues to the public. The senior grade of IFST membership requires 10 years appropriate experience plus substantial contribution to food science/technology or holding a position of seniority/authority in the profession.
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Susan Harrison and Kevin Rice Participate in Oak Ecosystems Study
Professor Susan Harrison, Department of Environmental Science and Policy, and associate professor Kevin Rice, Department of Agronomy and Range Science, are participating in an extensive, nine-month planning effort underway by leading UC environmental field scientists and staffs at the UC Berkeley, Davis, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz campuses. A $263,600 grant from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation to the University of California Natural Reserve System makes possible the development of a framework for long-term research, monitoring and training programs to restore and manage California’s threatened coastal-oak ecosystems. An interdisciplinary team of experts will assess the current state of scientific knowledge of California foothill woodland and grassland ecosystems and identify suitable sites where the programs can be conducted over the next decade. More than 3 million acres of California’s oak woodlands and grassland ecosystems have been identified as being at risk. These ecosystems are in decline biologically and also are being lost to residential and agricultural development. Studies show that even on undeveloped lands, many oak species are failing to reproduce. In many areas of coastal California, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find blue oaks and valley oaks less than 75 years old.
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Melvin George Presented Achievement Award
Cooperative Extension rangeland management specialist Melvin George, Department of Agronomy and Range Science, was presented the Professional Achievement Award by the College of Natural Resources Alumni Association and Utah State University. He was recognized for professional achievements and dedicated stewardship of rangeland resources. The award, presented at the Society for Range Management’s annual meeting in Kona, Hawaii, specifically cited George’s extension education and research program in grazing management and rangeland water quality, foreign consulting activities and professional service. George’s research focuses on range and pasture improvement, grazing management and rangeland water quality; rangeland management practices; and ranch planning.
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$500,000 Gift to Arboretum, Herbarium
Professor emeritus John Tucker has donated a half-million dollars to the UC Davis Arboretum and the UC Davis Herbarium to ensure the health of both facilities. Each will receive $250,000. According to arboretum director Kathleen Socolofsky, the arboretum’s share will establish the John M. Tucker Oak Collection Endowment Fund to maintain its oak trees, particularly those in the Peter J. Shields Oak Grove. More than 80 kinds of oaks are in the grove, many of them grown from acorns collected as part of Tucker’s research. Ellen Dean, the herbarium’s director and curator, said that the herbarium’s share is the first major gift toward construction of a $2 million facility to house more than 200,000 dried plant specimens. Many of the specimens, including an extensive oak collection, were acquired during the 39 years that Tucker directed the herbarium. Tucker joined the UC Davis faculty and began overseeing the Botany Herbarium in 1947. When he retired in 1986, the facility was renamed in his honor. The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the Division of Biological Sciences jointly administer the herbarium. Tucker was director of the arboretum in the 1970s and 1980s.
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Fantasy Tablescapes
Fantasy Tablescapes is a large art/design exhibition event created by 50 prominent artists and designers, including UC Davis design alumni. The table settings are creative, environmental installations utilizing unusual materials and fantasy themes. The exhibition will be held in the Design Gallery, Walker Hall, from March 12 through 16, 2001.
Rhonda R. O'Brien
Program Representative
Department of Environmental Design
rrobrien@ucdavis.edu
(530) 752-6223
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Wild Things!
Wild Things! - a UC Davis Arboretum series of wildlife events for families - features a UC Davis naturalist who will introduce exotic insects from New Guinea. Senior museum scientist Steven Heydon of the Bohart Museum recently returned from overseas where he collected insect specimens with the aid of local residents. He and his insects will be at Putah Creek Lodge on Friday, March 23, 2001, at 7 p.m. He will discuss the rich insect fauna of New Guinea and his work studying and collecting them. Wild Things! is free.
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Native Plant Gardening
There are more than 5,000 species of plants native to California. They are increasingly popular for the home garden. Plants that are adapted to the local climate need less water and fertilizer and are less susceptible to disease than common garden plants. During a free public tour in the UC Davis Arboretum on Sunday, March 25, 2001, docent Taffy Bandman will point out popular native plants and share gardening tips. The tour begins at the Alumni and Visitors Center.
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Executive Committee Election
Academic Senate representation is needed for CA&ES Divisions of Agricultural, Environmental and Human Sciences. Academic Federation representation is needed for CA&ES Divisions of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Elected members serve a three-year term.
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Supplemental Hatch Funding Awarded
In October 2000, the college solicited proposals from faculty for temporary hatch funding which DANR released to the college to promote Agricultural Experiment Station (AES) faculty involvement in ANR workgroups; advance ANR workgroup priorities; and advance college priorities as articulated in the 2000-05 Academic Plan. A total of $228,852 was available for allocation. Sixty-two proposals totaling $579,209 were received. Twenty-five proposals were funded; but, unfortunately, many good proposals were not funded. This program will be reviewed by DANR and a determination will be made whether funding will be released for a similar program next fiscal year. A brief report of activities submitted by the recipients will be the basis of the review.
DeeDee M. Kitterman
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
dmkitterman@ucdavis.edu
(530) 752-9484
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Call for Nominations
The UC Davis Academic Federation has announced a call for nominations for the Academic Federation’s Award for Excellence in Research. The award recognizes contributions made to the research mission of the UC Davis campus by non-Senate faculty members. It carries a $500 stipend. Any member of the campus community (students, faculty, staff, alumni) may submit a nomination. Deadline: March 30, 2001
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LSI Research Collaborations
The Life Sciences Informatics Program was launched by UC with state funding to enhance California’s competitiveness in key industries, stimulate investment in California jobs and businesses, educate future high-tech employees and speed delivery of public benefits from UC research and education. Scientists with principal investigator status at a UC campus or affiliated national lab may submit a proposal for funding. Deadline: Letter of intent, May 10, 2001; full proposal, May 22, 2001
Guidelines are availableonline
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RFP: SAREP Grants
The UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program is requesting proposals for targeted research and education focusing on optimizing organic production, optimizing biologically integrated farming systems and promoting the development of sustainable community food systems. Deadline: April 3, 2001
More information availableonline
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RFP: Travel Grant Applications
The Academic Federation Committee on Research is accepting applications from members of the Academic Federation for partial transportation costs to professional meetings undertaken between July 1, 2001 and December 31, 2001. A request for funds may be submitted, even if paper or poster has not been accepted. These grants allow Academic Federation members to present their most up-to-date research results in a highly visible forum. Deadline: April 13, 2001
The application is availableonline
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RFP: National Parks Research Scholarships
The Canon National Parks Science Scholars Program will award scholarships to eight doctoral students in 2001. Selected students receive $25,000 per year for up to three years to conduct research in national parks. The competition focuses on four research topics within the biological, physical, social and cultural sciences. Students applying for 2001 scholarships must submit dissertation proposals that address these topics. Deadline: June 1, 2001
More information is availableonline
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RFP: Graduate Fellowship Grants Program
The Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service of the USDA is seeking applications for the Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate Fellowship Grants Program. Deadline: July 10, 2001
Online Application Kit
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RFP: CRSP Tenth Work Plan
The Collaborative Research Support Program ME is inviting proposals for the final work plan of the current CRSP grant. Proposals are solicited for continuing projects in promising areas not yet fully completed and for “gap” projects areas identified in the grant but not undertaken in the eighth and ninth work plans. The restricted request for proposals for the Pond Dynamics/Aquaculture CRSP Tenth Work Plan is for the period July 1, 2001 through April 30, 2003. Deadline: April 2, 2001
More information availableonline
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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:
Rhoda McKnight
(530) 752-9328
Contributors: Donna Gutierrez, Thomas Kaiser, Susan Kancir, Rhoda McKnight, Neal Van Alfen, John Weston.
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