Dateline archive:

Achieve UC, autism therapy, Meyer award winner — 10.26.12

UC Davis FRIDAY UPDATE

10.26.2012

News and information for faculty and staff


Spotlight on…

UC: Achieve the college dreamPhoto: Luther Burbank student

This young woman and hundreds of other students heard encouraging words last week from Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Ralph J. Hexter, during his visit to Luther Burbank High School as part of Achieve UC, a new UC-wide effort to bring campus leaders and others into high schools in low-income communities with lower-than-average rates of attending college, and encourage the students to strive for academic success. [ More, with multimedia… ]

NEWS SUMMARY

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

Promising results seen from treating autism in very young children

The MIND Institute's Sally Rogers sees a normalization of brain activity, decreased symptoms and improved social skills in children as young as 18 months, the result of intensive early intervention therapy. [ More… ]

Evolution of new genes captured

Like job seekers searching for new positions, living things sometimes have to pick up new skills if they are going to succeed. Research from microbiologist John Roth's lab is showing for the first time how living organisms do this. The observation, published in the journal Science and also covered by Scientific American, closes an important gap in the theory of natural selection. [ More… ]

Rice agriculture accelerates greenhouse gas emissions

More carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, coupled with rising temperatures, is making rice agriculture a larger source of the potent greenhouse gas methane, according to a study by a research team that includes plant scientist Chris van Kessel. But the authors note that relatively simple changes in rice cultivation could help reduce methane emissions. [ More… ]

Chancellor Linda Katehi blogs about her recent opinion pieces

In the San Francisco Chronicle, the chancellor and alumna and U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier write: "Securing a robust and reliable stream of research funding must become a top priority for the United States." In The California Aggie, the chancellor urges students to "let your voice be heard" on Election Day, listing some of the important decisions they'll help make as voters on Nov. 6. And in a post on Maria Shriver's blog, the chancellor writes about being "blessed to have access to a top-flight education," and wonders "where I would be today had it not been for my mother's help and belief in my ability to attend" college. [ More… ]

Police Department to launch student cadet program

The campus Police Department is establishing a student cadet program, beginning in January, with the expectation that the department will eventually hire the top cadet each year as a police officer. "It's an opportunity for the police to work with the community, and build more connections between students and the department," Chief Matt Carmichael said. "There are a lot of students with interest in the Police Department." [ More… ]

NSF grant bolsters campus's research data network

The campus research data network will see significant upgrades in speed and performance over the next two years, thanks to a $992,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. The upgrades will also provide new opportunities for research and teaching in networking science and computer security. [ More… ]

Yudof urges UC community to vote Nov. 6, plans Web chat next week

President Mark G. Yudof encourages everyone in the UC community to vote in the Nov. 6 election, and reminds that California's Proposition 30 "could prove pivotal to the University of California and its immediate future." … He is expected to discuss the same topic in a Web chat Nov. 2, with everyone in the UC community invited to participate. [ More… ]

Research engineer Kayhanian wins James H. Meyer award

His job title is research engineer, but Masoud Kayhanian does so much more: He develops courses and teaches them, he serves on thesis and dissertation committees, he played a key role in UC Davis academic missions to Iran … and the list goes on. In recognition of all he has done for the university, the Academic Federation has chosen Kayhanian to receive its highest honor: this year's James H. Meyer Distinguished Achievement Award. [ More… ]

NEWS BRIEFS: Graduate education topic for town hall next week

A task force on graduate education will hold a town hall on Tuesday (Oct. 30) to share highlights of the group's final report and gather feedback. … UC Davis keeps getting better and better at trash reduction at Aggie Stadium. … Human Resources announced help desk hours for open enrollment. … A training program is offered for health professionals and other staff members who might work with students who are veterans. ... A new security certificate for moobilenetx and resnetx is due to be installed early next week. … Mail Services announced its seventh annual holiday food drive, Nov. 1-16. [ More… ]

DIRECTIVES and ANNOUNCEMENTS

No directives or announcements were issued this week.

EVENTS

MUSIC: A concert OUTSIDE the Mondavi Center

Friday, Oct. 26, 6:30 p.m., Corin Courtyard, Mondavi Center

The Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts is the place to be tonight, even if you're not attending the Eddie Izzard comedy show. Outside, before the Izzard show, everyone is invited to afree concert — an ensemble performance by the Harley White Jr. Orchestra, a Sacramento group known for its jazz and blues. [ More… ]

Library seminar: 'The Book: Where It's Been and Where It's Going'

Monday, Oct. 29, 10 a.m.-noon, Library Instruction Lab, Shields Library

Recent increases in the sales of e-books have given a new urgency to the question of the future of the book, and perhaps we are raising the question only because the book as we have known it is doomed to extinction. But how do we know this, and what exactly is a book, anyway? [ More… ]

Halloween special: 'Vampire_Power'

Wednesday, Oct, 31, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., UC Center Sacramento

A forum on: "Vampire Power: Slaying Energy Use in the Consumer Electronic Supply Chain," presented by the UC Davis Policy Institute for Energy, Environment and the Economy. [ More… ]

More calendar listings…