Dateline archive:

Opera prof, faculty-staff honors, SmartSitel — 6.8.12

UC Davis FRIDAY UPDATE

THIS FRIDAY'S DATE (6.8.2012)

News and information for faculty and staff


Spotlight on…

Opera professorship to Ortiz

Photo: Pablo Ortiz

Pablo Ortiz has been named the first Jan and Beta Popper Professor in Opera, enabling the composer to write more opera and expand public access to singing theater. Listen to Ortiz's "Her Secret." [ More, with video… ]

NEWS SUMMARY

More stories at Dateline UC Davis and UC Davis News and Information

Hull moves from HR to Organizational Excellence

Davis campus Human Resources chief Karen Hull is moving into a new role to oversee Organizational Excellence, and Susan M. Gilbert is stepping in to lead HR, effective Monday (June 11). [ More… ]

People may be forcing an irreversible tipping point for Earth

Professors Alan Hastings and Geerat Vermeij are among 22 scientists who say in a new paper that humankind may be forcing an irreversible, planetary-scale tipping point that could severely impact fisheries, agriculture, clean water and much of what Earth needs to sustain its inhabitants. [ More, with video… ]

LAURELS: Faculty members honored for scholarly writings

Three faculty members have been recognized recently for their scholarly writings: Samuel Sandoval Solis, assistant professor, Department of Land, Air and Water Resources; Paul Griffin, professor, Graduate School of Management; and Afra Afsharipour, acting professor, School of Law. … Other Laurels for faculty and staff include a gold award for a photo of a honeybee fleeing the scene of a bite … Also, watch UC Davis' award-winning video on animal agriculture. [ More… ]

SmartSite upgrade, then a broader look into educational technology

Information and Educational Technology is planning a significant upgrade to SmartSite, tentatively scheduled overnight, Friday-Saturday, June 22-23. Later this year, IET plans to initiate a campus discussion that considers changes in social and mobile media, including the ongoing evolution in SmartSite’s Sakai platform. [ More… ]

Maize diversity discoveries may help ease world's hunger pangs

UC Davis and its new partner in genomics research, BGI, contribute to new research that shows ancient farmers had a stronger impact than modern plant breeders on the evolution of maize, or corn. Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra, associate professor, described the research as "critically important to plant breeders as they work to increase corn yield in the face of global population growth and climate change." [ More… ]

Microscopic creatures took a big hit, too, in Deepwater Horizon oil spill

We all remember the images of oiled birds and turtles in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. But the microscopic creatures in coastal sands suffered massive harm as well, writes postdoc Holly Bik of the Genome Center in new research published this week in the journal Public Library of Science (PLoS) ONE. [ More… ]

SAFETY SPOTLIGHT: Is your back trying to tell you something?

The June-July issue of UC Safety Spotlight offers tips on proper lifting, sitting and standing, and advice to limit your twisting and reaching. Also, warm up before work and take stretch breaks. [ More… ]

NEWS BRIEFS: Voluntary time reduction, military pay policies up for renewal

The UC Office of the President is accepting comments through June 25 on the proposed renewal of two policies: Employee-Initiated Reduction in Time, or ERIT, and Supplement to Military Pay. ... Four specialties of the UC Davis Children's Hospital earned top-50 status in the "Best Children's Hospitals" rankings from U.S. News and World Report. ... The Mountain Gorilla One Health Program has a new official name: Gorilla Doctors. [ More… ]

DIRECTIVES and ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Town hall to address the search for communications leader

The campus announced a June 25 town hall for students to provide input on the upcoming nationwide search for an associate chancellor of Strategic Communications. Two more town halls are planned for staff and faculty. … Forums with the candidates for athletics director have concluded, the videos are posted online and comments are being taken until noon Tuesday (June 12). [ More… ]

EVENTS

Bridging Art and Science

Through June 27, Buehler Alumni and Visitors Center

In this annual photography exhibition, students explore the conceptual connections between art and science, and the role of art and science. … Also, student sculptors are showing what they created from earth plaster — a green alternative to plaster and cement. [ More… ]

MIND Institute featured in KVIE's 'Autism: Emerging from the Maze'

Wednesday-Thursday, June 13-14; and Sunday, June 17

Director Leonard Abbeduto and Research Director David Amaral are featured, along with the parents who launched the institute. [ More… ]

THE ARTS: Henry V, up-close and personal, in the arboretum

June 14-July 1, gazebo, arboretum

The Davis Shakespeare Ensemble, in partnership with the Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum, presents Henry V. "Join us on the battlefront as our tight-knit company of only five actors reimagines this large-scale war epic as an up-close and personal experience!" [ More… ]

More calendar listings…