Dateline UC Davis will take a break over the holidays. We'll be back in January.

— The Dateline staff

Spotlight on…
Image: Season's Greetings

Healthy holiday wishes

Vegetable letters highlight this year's holiday card from Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi and her husband, Spyros Tseregounis. The veggie letters, of course, represent UC Davis as the one university uniquely positioned to shape the future of food and health through extraordinary research and teaching. Click on a letter to learn more about snow peas, pomegranates, olives and walnuts and more. And don't forget the star anise! [ More… ]

NEWS SUMMARY

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

Dean Owens to return to scholarship

Jessie Ann Owens says she will step down from her dean's post on June 30, at the end of her eighth year as leader of the Division of Humanities, Arts and Cultural Studies. A musicologist and professor of music, she will join the faculty following a year of research leave. [ More… ]

Chancellor's STAR Awards announced

Eleven staff members are the first recipients of Chancellor's STAR Awards, recognizing MSP and PSS employees who have gone "above and beyond" in support of the campus's core values. Each award comes with a $1,500 prize. [ More… ]

HOLIDAY ROUNDUP

NEW IN THE NEW YEAR

US education roundtable held here

Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi, Reps. Ami Bera and John Garamendi, and the Department of Education's Jamie Studley, deputy undersecretary, host forum on college access and affordability, and President Obama's proposal for a college ratings system. [ More, with video… ]

LEED platinum for building that's green from top to bottom

A month after being named a Green Building Super Hero, UC Davis has scored another platinum award for sustainable construction: the Segundo Services Center. How green is it? A portion of the roof is "alive" with drought-tolerant grasses and other greenery. [ More, with slideshow… ]

In surprise finding, blood clots absorb bacterial toxins

Blood clots play an unexpected, helpful role in protecting the body from life-threatening bacterial toxins, by absorbing them, according to research led by Peter Armstrong, professor of molecular and cellular biology. He's the lead author of a PloS ONE article on the discovery. "I was ecstatic" about the finding, he says. "It was one of those moments that makes the rest of the slogging worthwhile." [ More, with video… ]

Photos sought for 'Women Feed the World' program

The Campus Community Book Project and other campus sponsors are seeking photos for a January event showcasing women's contributions to agriculture, food and nutrition — from fields to packinghouses and markets, in businesses, labs, restaurants and homes, and to our plates. The program, "Women Feeding the World: Farmers, Mothers and CEOs," is free and open to the public, in conjunction with the 2013-14 campus book, Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide. [ More… ]

NEWS BRIEFS: STA Travel closes its MU office

STA Travel has closed its Memorial Union office permanently, but will continue to serve faculty and staff by phone and email. … Labor deals announced: UC says it has reached tentative accords with three UPTE bargaining units. … Hacking incident at Adobe threatens UC Davis email accounts. ... Keep alert for seasonal online scams, IET advises. Bioletti Way is closed this winter break at the Giedt Hall-Kemper Hall bike path, for road work. [ More… ]

FEATURED COLLOQUIUM

ANNOUNCEMENTS

No announcements were issued this week.

EVENTS

WORK-LIFE BROWN BAG: Five Essentials to Stress Reduction

Thursday, Dec. 19, noon-1 p.m., multipurpose room, Student Community Center

Bob Graykowski offers "straightforward choices to reduce serious illness like heart disease, high blood pressure, depression and immune deficiency." No preregistration. [ More… ]

BASKETBALL: Complimentary tix for faculty and staff

Thursday, Jan. 9 and 16, 7 p.m., The Pavilion at the ARC

Davis campus and UC Davis Health System faculty and staff can get two complimentary tickets for each game, both of which are Big West Conference home openers: Aggie women vs. Cal State Northridge, Jan. 9; and Aggie men vs. UC Riverside, Jan. 16. Send in your ticket request by email, then pick up your tickets starting Jan. 6. [ More… ]

BOOK PROJECT: Author's talk and panel discussion

Monday, Jan. 13, Jackson Hall, Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts

Nicholas Kristof, co-author of Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, participates in a Forum@MC ("All Hands on Deck: Supporting Women in STEM"), 4-5 p.m., free and open to the public; and gives a talk, 8-9:30 p.m., followed by a book signing. Tickets required for the talk. [ More… ]

More calendar listings…