This week's Friday Update is appearing a day early because of the César Chávez holiday.

—The Friday Update staff

Spotlight on…

Chancellor's Colloquium: Laura Tyson on the economic recovery Photo: Laura Tyson

Economist Laura Tyson is due at the Mondavi Center next Wednesday as the second guest in this year's Chancellor's Colloquium Distinguished Speakers Series. She says that the fate of many projects of national significance too often rides on local political considerations. [ More, with Q&A … ]

NEWS SUMMARY

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

Aggies go all out against Stanford in Coach Simpson's last game

In the end, "Davis" didn't slay Goliath, and it didn't really matter. The goal wasn't about winning the battle. It was more important for the Aggie women's basketball team to just pick up the rock and try. And what a good showing they made on college basketball's biggest stage — the NCAA Tournament. Read about this season to remember, and see our video tribute. [ More, with video … ]

Annual report now available

By any measure, Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi says, UC Davis had an extraordinary 2010. The year's achievements are highlighted in the newly released campus annual report, which describes the university's progress in pursuing its Vision of Excellence. [ More… ]

Regents approve borrowing options to fund pension plan

The UC Board of Regents has authorized the university to use a combination of low-cost borrowing options to transfer $2.1 billion to the UC Retirement Plan in 2010-11 and 2011-12. In this video, UC Chief Financial Officer Peter Taylor explains how this action will reduce UC's overall pension costs in the coming years and improve the current financial status of the retirement plan. [ More… ]

News briefs: Hyatt expansion, shared services brown bags and more

An expansion project is in the works for the Hyatt Place hotel that opened just over a year ago on the Davis campus. … Monthly brown bag meetings start next week for the shared service center project. … Sen. Lois Wolk has scheduled office hours from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, March 31, in the Memorial Union. … Soaring to New Heights tickets are on sale. … Active shooter training set for Wednesday, March 30. [ More… ]

'iMobot' rolls, crawls and creeps

An intelligent, reconfigurable modular robot invented by a UC Davis alumnus and a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering is headed for commercial development with the help of a grant from the National Science Foundation. In other robotics news, the team that won last weekend's FIRST Robotics high school competition was mentored by a UC Davis engineering student. The Citrus Circuits team, based at DaVinci High School in Davis, is now eligible for the FIRST Robotics national championship in St. Louis, April 27-30. [ More, with video … ]

In research: Study finds insiders profit as companies falter

Insiders have reaped substantial profits from increased trading of a faltering company's stock when the firm is renegotiating its debt, according to a new study by researchers at UC Davis and University of Otago in New Zealand. [ More… ]

UC suspends all nonessential travel to Japan

The UC Office of the President orders a suspension of all nonessential travel to Japan — by faculty, staff and students. "Only those researchers who have been requested by either the United States or Japanese government, with official documentation, and approval of their campus chancellor will be permitted to travel to Japan," said Nathan Brostrom, UC executive vice president for Business Operations. [ More… ]

Symposia, conference address malaria, other global health issues

UC Davis is presenting symposia in April in observance of National Public Health Week and World Malaria Day. Also next month, the campus is hosting the 13th annual Northern California Global Health Conference. Here are the dates: Public Health Week Symposium, April 5; Global Health, April 9; and World Malaria Day, April 25. Researchers interested in making presentations at the World Malaria Day event are asked to sign up by March 31. [ More… ]

DIRECTIVES and ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announcement: Forums continue next week for bio sci dean candidates

The campus community is invited next week to meet two more candidates for the position of dean of the College of Biological Sciences. The candidates are the last of four who are scheduled to visit. The first two forums took place March 15 and 17, and the next two are scheduled for Monday, March 28, and Thursday, March 31. [ More… ]

EVENTS

Spring showings: Doors, '60s communes, Least Favorite and Crow's Shadow Press

Exhibitions open March 28, March 31 and April 4

The Craft Center Gallery is first out of the gate with a new exhibition for spring, with Erin Jackson's Doors, a collection of oil paintings — on doors, not canvas. The Nelson Gallery presents Across the Great Divide (images of 1960s communes) and Least Favorite (addressing the question, What do your parents really think of what you do?), and the C.N. Gorman Museum presents Extended Voices: Prints from Crow's Shadow Press. [ More… ]

Lara Downes: Long Time Coming

Saturday, April 9, 8 p.m.; Sunday, April 10, 2 p.m.; Vanderhoef Studio Theatre, Mondavi Center

For her next concert at the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, Lara Downes offers a poignant reflection on Duke Ellington's enduring legacy, the power of hope in troubled times and the dramatic impact of American music on our nation's history. And Downes has more than her piano playing in store for the audience. Indeed, Long Time Coming is a multimedia concert — featuring music, film and spoken word. [ More… ]

Recreation: Boredom Busters

Monday through Friday, April 4-8

Campus Recreation offers another session of Boredom Busters for children in kindergarten through sixth grade. … Staff Assembly announces the details for bowling, volleyball, golf and all the other recreation activities that go with TGFS. … UC Davis Day with the Oakland A's is scheduled for Sunday, June 19, vs. the World Champion San Francisco Giants. [ More… ]

More calendar listings…