Dateline archive:

New closure dates, centennial documentary, flu update — 10.16.09

UC Davis FRIDAY UPDATE

10.16.2009

News and information for faculty and staff


Spotlight on…

Start your engines race car

Airplanes, race cars, kinetic sculptures, underwater vehicles: You name it, our UC Davis students are on more than a dozen engineering design teams, learning tools of the trade that will help them in their careers. [ More… ]

NEWS

Campus reduces closure dates

Chancellor Linda Katehi on Oct. 14 announced a new closure plan for the Davis campus that trims four days off the original plan for the December-January holidays. Now, instead of being closed from Dec. 18 through Jan. 3, the campus will be closed from Dec. 24 through Jan. 3. [ More… ]

KVIE documentary UC Davis at 100 available online

If you missed Wednesday's premiere of UC Davis at 100, the half-hour documentary created by PBS station KVIE channel 6 for its ViewFinder series, you can still catch repeat showings today at 4 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 18, at 6 p.m. You can also watch the entire show online, read the transcript and view some of the photos. [ More… ]

Flu update: A letter to faculty and students

With the number of cases of H1N1 climbing, campus leaders are reminding faculty and students of their obligations during the health crisis. Students who come down with the flu have the responsibility to initiate conversation with their instructors. In turn, faculty are expected to provide reasonable accommodations for students who are unable to attend class and/or complete assignments in a timely manner. [ More… ]

Older than 60? Earlier viruses help fight H1N1

UC Davis researchers studying the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus, formerly referred to as "swine flu," have identified a group of immunologically important sites on the virus that are also present in seasonal flu viruses that have been circulating for years. These similarities appear to provide some level of immunity to the new virus. [ More… ]

Making it OK to say, 'Pass the salt'

As two federal panels begin work on 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and new regulations are being considered for sodium consumption, a new UC Davis analysis questions the scientific logic of decades-long governmental efforts to limit people's salt intake. [ More… ]

Boom: Profs to edit new California journal

Two UC Davis professors have been selected by UC Press to edit Boom, a new journal about California's cultures, politics and histories. The quarterly journal will debut in February 2011 and is funded by a $722,000 grant, which will also underwrite an annual conference on California studies at UC Davis. [ More… ]

Writing teacher earns Academic Federation's top honor

UC Davis' Academic Federation has awarded Gary Sue Goodman — writing teacher, administrator and "indefatigable networker" — this year's James H. Meyer Distinguished Achievement Award. Goodman is a lecturer with the University Writing Program and the faculty adviser for the program's new writing minor. She has been active in the Campus Community Book Project since it began, serving as its interim coordinator in 2006 and 2007. [ More… ]

Library offers restructuring information

The UC Davis University Library has launched a Web site to explain restructuring efforts now under way. The site provides answers to questions about the sciences libraries' restructuring activities, plans and proposals. Due to budgetary challenges, the library is reconfiguring its science libraries to form two science libraries that will be housed in three buildings instead of four. [ More… ]

DIRECTIVES

Faculty dress, fall commencement 2009

In preparation for fall commencement, faculty gowns, caps, tassels and UC Ph.D. faculty hoods are available at no cost and can be picked up from "will-call" at the Central Storehouse or delivered to the department for a nominal charge. [ More… ]

EVENTS

Get your spirit on — and your PJs — for homecoming

Today and tomorrow, Friday-Saturday, Oct. 16-17

Homecoming festivities this weekend include today's Pajamarino — at 4:50 p.m. at the Davis train station — followed by a 7 p.m. rally in downtown Davis featuring the marching band, Gunrock and spirit squad. Tomorrow's homecoming game against the Rams of Winston-Salem State University kicks off at 6 p.m. in Aggie Stadium. And don't miss this new addition to the celebration: The Art of Athletes, an exhibition by more than 20 UC Davis athletes, representing 12 teams, on view at the Log Cabin Gallery in downtown Davis through Sunday. [ More… ]

Collaboration between scientists and the public

Thursday, Oct. 22, 5 p.m., MIND Institute auditorium, 2825 50th St., Sacramento

The UC Davis Health System is hosting a free, public lecture by Alan I. Leshner, chief executive officer of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and executive editor of the journal Science, speaking on "The Evolving Context for Science and Society: Creating Strong Dialogues and a Collaborative Approach Between Scientists and the Public." To reserve a seat call (916) 734-7131. [ More… ]

On stage: Elephant's Graveyard explores how society deals with our elderly

Friday-Saturday, Oct. 23-24 and Oct. 30-31, 8 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 25 and Nov. 1, 2 p.m.; Vanderhoef Studio Theatre, Mondavi Center

With her new play, Elephant's Graveyard, Jade Rosina McCutcheon, an assistant professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance, takes a close look at getting older and being "put out to graze." UC Davis' Sideshow Physical Theatre, a laboratory for the exploration of contemporary issues in dance and theater, is putting on the play. [ More… ]

More calendar listings…