Spotlight on…
Photo: Salmon fry

Saving the salmon

Watch as our researchers turn an off-season rice field into a nursery for salmon fry. Historically, salmon grew big and strong in these flood basins, and the hope is to enlist them again in efforts to restore the salmon population. And when the fish are removed, the fields can get back to growing rice, demonstrating a new model for ecology and the economy. More coverage: The Sacramento Bee and KQED. [ More, with video… ]

NEWS SUMMARY

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

Take a walk in the arboretum, help plan 'urban greening' of the east end

The city-campus connection will grow stronger this summer with the "urban greening" of the arboretum's east end, behind the Davis Commons shopping center, and along the Putah Creek Parkway, providing a vibrant green space and a dynamic educational resource. Next weekend, you're invited to join the planning process by taking a tour and attending a workshop. [ More, with slide show… ]

Central HR and gymnasts set high bar for survey

Efforts continue to get staff, faculty and students to take the Campus Community Survey, which, as of midweek had drawn a response rate of 27 percent — including nearly everyone in a major administrative unit on the Davis campus and almost the entire women's gymnastics team. In central Human Resources, good organization and rapport — and more than a dozen $10 gift cards — led to a 93 percent response rate among the unit's 70 or so employees in just two weeks. The gymnasts turned out with their coach for a Survey Night at the Student Community Center. [ More… ]

Federal tax credit improves infant health

The Earned Income Tax Credit is known to reduce poverty, but according to a new study from the Center for Poverty Research, it also is linked to reduced rates of low birth weight and increased average birth weight — key factors in measuring infant health. [ More… ]

Researchers identify most toxic air particles

Scientists at the Air Quality Research Center have, for the first time, developed a system that can determine which types of air particles that pollute the atmosphere are the most prevalent and most toxic. Emissions from vehicles, wood burning and residential cooking exhibited the most toxic effects at the study site in Fresno, which has one of the highest asthma rates in the nation. [ More… ]

Expanded background checks can cut gun violence, new report says

Emergency medicine professor Garen Wintemute concludes in a new report that gun violence in the United States can be substantially reduced if Congress expands the background check requirement on gun sales to cover firearm transfers between private parties. [ More, with video… ]

Soybean-mushroom extract shows promise for prostate cancer patients

A natural, nontoxic product called genistein-combined polysaccharide, already available in stores, could help lengthen the life expectancy of certain prostate cancer patients, researchers at the Health System have found. [ More… ]

All about community: Celebrating We Are Aggie Pride and our principles

UC Davis is all about community, especially Saturday (Feb. 23) and all next week, during two special observances: We Are Aggie Pride Week, promoting the student-led effort to raise money for fellow students in need (it's "students helping students," but, hey, staff and faculty can chip in, too). … And Principles of Community Week, celebrating our unofficial covenant to treat one another with civility, respect and mutual understanding, and to celebrate our differences. [ More… ]

Citigroup and Whole Foods executives to speak at GSM

The Graduate School of Management presents its 2013 Dean's Distinguished Speakers Series, beginning with Sandy Weill, former chairman-CEO of Citigroup. He will speak on the "Financial Future of Our Country" on Monday (Feb. 25). John Mackey, co-founder and co-CEO of Whole Foods Market, will speak on Wednesday (Feb. 27), and sign his book, Conscious Capitalism: Liberating the Heroic Spirit of Business. [ More… ]

NEWS BRIEFS: HR strategic review under way

A strategic review of Human Resources began this week, with assessment surveys going out to 1,000 people who have regular interaction with central HR on the Davis campus and in the UC Davis Health System. … UC President Mark G. Yudof says there will be no salary increase program for nonrepresented staff this fiscal year. … A research funding workshop set for next week will be a brown bag affair, offering an introduction to a variety of campus services for research and support. … We host 40 to 50 weddings a year, so why not a wedding fair? The second annual is scheduled for March 3, and UC Davis affiliates are being offered complimentary registration. [ More… ]

DIRECTIVES and ANNOUNCEMENTS

No directives or announcements were issued this week.

EVENTS

Mixed Heritage Week and Celebrate Your Body Week

Monday-Friday, Feb. 25-March 1

The Cross Cultural Center presents "Mixed Is MORE Than Enough," discussions, films, photo exhibitions and more. … ABIDE, the Association for Body Image Disordered Eating, presents "Mindful Eating," "iBody: Reclaiming Body Image in Social Media" and other programs. [ More… ]

WorkLife and Wellness brown bag: And the Winner Is ...

Thursday, Feb. 28, noon-1 p.m., MU II, Memorial Union

Sue Barnes, Retiree Center coordinator, shares tips and tricks that helped her win $39,750 on Wheel of Fortune, and a number of other prizes, including two trips to Disney World and one to Jamaica, and a year of free housecleaning. [ More… ]

Men's basketball goes national for the first time, on ESPN2

Thursday, March 7, 8 p.m.

Sure, it's a TV game, but we'd like to fill The Pavilion, too, for the viewers to see when we take on Long Beach State. Tickets start as low as $5. And don't forget the doubleheader tomorrow (Feb. 23): men's basketball vs. Northern Colorado at 1:30 p.m., women's basketball vs. Cal State Fullerton at 4. [ More… ]

More calendar listings…