August 18, 2000
Joan Wright and John Miles Receive Distinguished Service Award
Cooperative Extension education research specialist Joan Wright, Department of Human and Community Development, received the 2000 Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Teaching - Specialist by the UC Academic Assembly Council which represents CE advisors and specialists. Wright has been a CE faculty member since 1986, strengthening DANR connections with local, state and federal agencies, as well as with community-based organizations. Professor John Miles, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, is the recipient of the 2000 Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding and Creative Teamwork. The award recognizes his work with the UC Agricultural Ergonomics Research Center. It was presented by the UC Academic Assembly Council program committee of Lake County Cooperative Extension. Miles' main research interest is the design of hardware and systems to improve ergonomics related to work in agriculture and forestry. Tools and systems for fruit picking are being redesigned to make the work less hazardous while maintaining or improving fruit quality and minimizing the harvesting costs.
Back to top ^
Harry Kaya Elected Society of Nematologists Fellow
Professor Harry Kaya, Department of Nematology, was elected a Fellow of the Society of Nematologists. He was honored for providing leadership and vision to the discipline. Kaya, currently serving as department chair, established insect nematology as a viable sub-discipline, giving it a critical focal point that has led to breakthroughs such as the exemption of nematodes from EPA registration. He also lobbied to elevate insect nematology to the same pathogen status as protozoa, bacteria, etc. This has been significant in the development of insect nematology from a concept to a legitimate field of study.
Back to top ^
Colin Carter and Julian Alston Elected AAEA Fellows
Professor and chair Colin Carter and Professor Julian Alston, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, were elected Fellows to the American Agricultural Economics Association (AAEA) at the group's annual meeting in Tampa, Florida. The association presents only four to six awards each year. The award, recognizing the highest level of contribution to the profession, is the most prestigious honor an agricultural economist can receive from AAEA peers. AAEA has 3,500 members; less than three percent of members receive this award. Following her one-year leave from UC, Schneeman will return to her faculty position in the Departments of Nutrition and Food Science & Technology. Others from the department recognized at the ceremony: Professor Jeffrey Williams received the Distinguished Teaching Award for Graduate Teaching, More Than 10 Years Experience. Professor James Wilen, with former graduate student James Sanchirico, received honorable mention, Quality of Research Discovery Award. Marketing specialist Leslie "Bees" Butler received the Distinguished Extension Program, Group Award. Professor Richard Sexton was invited to give the annual Waugh Lecture and was presented a medal.
Colin A. Carter
Professor
Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics
cacarter@ucdavis.edu
(530) 752-6054
Back to top ^
Kate Scow Elected SSSA Fellow
Soils and biochemistry associate professor Kate Scow, Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, was elected a Fellow of the Soil Science Society of America, the group's highest award. A leading soil microbiologist, Scow's work in coupling physical and microbiological processes in soil is unique in the soil microbiology community. Her research is focused on the kinetics of biodegradation, interactions of sorption, diffusion and biodegradation of polyaromatic hydrocarbons, and bolatile organic chemicals and bioremediation of MTBE. Scow also was named to the editorial board of the journal American Society for Microbiology, Applied and Environmental Microbiology. Board members are selected on the basis of demonstrated competence and achievement in their scientific discipline, evidenced by quality of research accomplishments, publications in scientific journals and national reputation.
Back to top ^
John Bruhn Elected IAFP Fellow
Dairy foods Extension specialist John Bruhn, Department of Food Science and Technology, was elected Fellow of the International Association for Food Protection. He received the recognition at the group's annual meeting in Atlanta. Bruhn is director of the Dairy Research and Information Center (DRINC). His research focuses on dairy bacteriology, dairy chemistry and processing of dairy foods.
Back to top ^
Linda Bisson Presented Honorary Research Lecturer Award, Jeffrey Granett & Andrew Walker Honored
Linda Bisson, professor, geneticist and Amerine chair, Department of Viticulture and Enology, was presented the Honorary Research Lecturer Award from the American Society for Enology and Viticulture at its annual meeting in Seattle. The award recognized "valued research for the grape and wine industry." The lecture title was "The Biological Resilience of Saccharomyces: Strategies for Adaptation to the Natural Fermentative Environment." Bisson was a member of the organization's board of directors. She currently is a member of the Technical Projects Committee and of the Editorial Board and Publications Committee for the "American Journal of Enology and Viticulture." Bisson's research is focused on regulation of glycolysis in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and related organisms, specifically hexose transport, and its control; and genetic construction and physiological analysis of improved yeast strains for wine production, including investigation of expression of foreign genes in yeasts. At the same meeting, professor Jeffrey Granett, Department of Entomology, and associate professor Andy Walker, Department of Viticulture and Enology, and collaborators received the Best Viticulture Paper Award for "Grape Phylloxera populations adapted to Vitis berlandieri X V. riparia rootstocks." Authors were L. Kocsis, J. Granett, M.A. Walker, H. Lin and A.D. Omer. It was selected as the best publication in viticulture for 1999.
Back to top ^
Bo Lonnerdal Awarded Honorary Doctorate in Medicine
Professor Bo Lonnerdal, Department of Nutrition, was awarded an honorary doctorate in medicine by the University of Uppsala, Sweden, his alma mater, for achievements in nutrition research and continued active collaboration with Swedish universities regarding teaching, training and research. Lonnerdal's research focuses on infant nutrition and the physiological significance of breast milk.
Back to top ^
Deborah Elliott-Fisk Elected to NASULGC Post
Professor and chair Deborah Elliott-Fisk, Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology, was elected to the executive committee of the Section on Fish and Wildlife Resources of the National Association of State Universities and Land-grant Colleges. Elliott-Fisk's research interests include biogeography, ecosystem management, paleoecology and conservation biology, especially in mountain systems and California.
Back to top ^
Robert Rice Awarded Fulbright Grant
The U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board announces that Professor Robert Rice, Department of Environmental Toxicology, was awarded a Fulbright grant to teach environmental science in the Russian Federation. He is among approximately 2,000 U.S. grantees who will travel abroad for the 2000/2001 academic year through the Fulbright Program. Recipients are selected on the basis of academic or professional achievement and because they have demonstrated unusual leadership potential in their fields. Rice's research interests include mechanisms of action and interaction of toxic and physiological agents affecting keratinocyte growth and differentiation; biochemistry and expression of specific keratinocyte markers; and metabolic activation of toxic agents in keratinocytes.
Back to top ^
Mark Francis Presented Ahwahnee Award
Landscape architecture professor Mark Francis, Department of Environmental Design, received an Ahwahnee Award from American Institute of Architects, American Planning Association, and Local Government Commission for his design of Central Park in Davis and the Davis Farmers Market. According to AIA, Central Park was selected as one of the best projects built in the last 10 years, exemplifying the creation of more livable, pedestrian-oriented and transit-based communities throughout the Western U.S. The award was presented to Francis at the Urban Land Institute and Local Government Commission's "Smart Growth Conference" in San Diego. Francis also received a Centennial Medallion for his design of Central Park from the American Society of Landscape Architects. The park was recognized as one of the most important designed landscapes in the last century. A bronze plaque presented to the City of Davis is being installed in Central Park next to the Children's Fountain. Francis currently is designing a 100 acre, $8 million art and nature park for the Indianapolis Museum of Art.
Back to top ^
Development Update
Thanks to the generosity of Mel Olsen, the Joe A. Heidrick, Sr. Western Center for Agricultural Equipment will open for classes this fall quarter. Olsen's $100,000 gift establishes the Mel and Dorothy Olsen / Alpha Gamma Rho Teaching Laboratory at the facility. Olsen received a certificate in dairy industries from UC Davis in 1934.
Rick A. Swantz
Director of Development
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
raswantz@ucdavis.edu
(530) 752-7961
Back to top ^
Highway 16 Safe Communities Coalition Meeting
A meeting of the Highway 16 Safe Communities Coalition will be held Thursday, September 14, 2000, at 2 p.m. at the Yolo County Flood Control District at Highway 16 and Road 94B. Staff research associate Martha Stiles of the Department of Human and Community Development is program coordinator. A "drop-in" public information workshop will be held Tuesday, August 22, 2000, between 4 and 8 p.m. at Esparto High School. The California Department of Transportation will address traffic concerns on Highway 16 between Interstate 505 and the community of Brooks. Exhibits of the existing route will be on display; Caltrans staff will be available to talk with individuals. There will be no formal presentation.
Back to top ^
Environmental Toxicology "Fall Welcome, 2000"
The Department of Environmental Toxicology will hold its "Fall Welcome 2000" event on Wednesday, September 27, 2000, in the Foster Room of Meyer Hall. From 3 to 5 p.m., there will be a make-your-own-sundae bar, and experts will tell you about environmental issues...with a special focus on UC Davis' environmental toxicology major.
Back to top ^
Plant Science Award Winners
Congratulations to recipients of the 2000 Milton D. and Mary M. Miller Plant Science Award: Stephen Enloe, Ph.D. student in plant biology Nicholaus Madden, M.S. student in international agricultural development Ronald Sayler, Ph.D. student in plant pathology Misty Swain, M.S. student in horticulture and agronomy Theresa Ward, M.S. student in animal science
Back to top ^
Best Student Paper Winner
Martin Smith, Ph.D. student in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, recently was honored as winner of the Best Student Paper competition at the tenth biennial meeting of the International Institute for Fisheries Economics and Trade. Smith received a framed certificate and a check for his paper titled "Two Econometric Approaches for Spatial Fisheries Management." He is completing a thesis examining the biological and economic implications of marine reserves.
Back to top ^
Sierra Watersheds Tour
The Water Education Foundation has scheduled a three-day tour that will explore efforts to coordinate downstream and upstream issues in three diverse watersheds: the American River, Truckee River - including Lake Tahoe - and Yuba River. The Tour leaves Sacramento on Wednesday, September 13, 2000, and returns Friday, September 15. Tour registration fee includes meals, transportation and accommodations. Registration deadline: August 25, 2000
Back to top ^
RFP: SARE
The administrative council of the western region USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (WSARE) program is accepting proposals for its competitive grants program. The program encourages research and education designed to increase knowledge concerning integrated systems of plant and animal production practices having both a site specific and regional application. While additional funding for organic agriculture and on-farm demonstrations may become available, no additional call for proposal will be issued. The WSARE grant program carries a significant congressional mandate to depart from "business as usual," requiring that farmers, ranchers, etc. be significantly involved in the planning, implementation and educational outreach of any SARE project. Deadline: October 16, 2000
More information at theWSARE website
Back to top ^
Visit CA&ES Currents online at http://caes.ucdavis.edu/NewsEvents/News/Currents/default.aspx
.
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
.
Issue Editor:
Rhoda McKnight
(530) 752-9328
Contributors: Donna Gutierrez, Thomas Kaiser, Susan Kancir, Rhoda McKnight, Neal Van Alfen, John Weston.
Some Web links cited in this newsletter may be inaccessible to off-campus sites. If you want to view the full stories on the Web from off campus, you will need to provide a username and password the first time you try to view a story: username: clips password: newz
To be added to or deleted from this electronic newsletter list, please write to caeseditor@agdean.ucdavis.edu
.
The University of California does not discriminate in any of its policies, procedures or practices. The university is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.