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Image: Recital hall diagram

Music to our ears

Listen for the sound of shovels this Friday (May 2) at a groundbreaking ceremony for the Classroom and Recital Hall. Other sounds will include a new musical work and performances by a string quartet, Gamelan ensemble and Korean drumming group; and presentations and acknowledgment of those who have made this long-dreamed of project possible. The public program starts at 10 a.m. [ More, with slideshow… ]

NEWS SUMMARY

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

Vice Chancellor John Meyer to step down in June

His administrative portfolio over 14 years has expanded to include everything from finance and planning to the campus's physical operations and sustainability — in short, he and his team "keep the place running," he once said. Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi accepts Meyer's resignation with "great regret" while lauding him for his achievements, as well as "his calm and wise demeanor and appreciated humor (that) helped all of us think through complex problems." [ More… ]

3 join American Academy of Arts and Sciences

They already hold the title of "distinguished professor" at UC Davis: Margaret W. Ferguson, English; Robert Huckfeldt, political science; and John C. Wingfield, who holds an endowed chair in physiology. Now they are even more distinguished, as newly elected members of one of the nation's oldest academic societies and independent policy research centers. [ More… ]

Senate, federation awards: And the winners are …

Awards season is here in the Academic Senate and the Academic Federation, which are once again honoring their members for achievement in research, teaching and public service. Read about the recipients, and get the details for the awards reception. [ More… ]

UC summit: Learning to live with drought

Scientists at the UC Drought Summit — organized by UC Davis — say a "portfolio" approach is best for alleviating California's drought woes. Here's some of what's in the mix of possible solutions: water reclamation and gray water recycling, enforcing environmental laws, reregulating dammed rivers with natural flow regimes that benefit native fish, and developing groundwater reserves during wet years. [ More, with slideshow… ]

FIX 50: No real traffic snarls as Stage 1 progresses

Whatever you've been doing to get through or around Fix 50 in the past week, keep it up! Because traffic during Stage 1 seems to be doing OK, all things considered. Remember, though, Stage 1 is eastbound. Things could get worse in the westbound stage. Check out our Fix 50 resource page. [ More… ]

No more interim: de la Peña leads Undergraduate Education

Carolyn de la Peña, a professor of American studies, has been appointed vice provost and dean of Undergraduate Education, an office she led on an interim basis for the last 16 months. "Carolyn's service as interim vice provost has been marked by energetic and collaborative leadership," Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Ralph J. Hexter said in announcing her appointment, which followed an internal search. [ More… ]

TEDxUCDavis: 'Pause or Press Play?'

A chef and a chancellor, a politician and a physicist, engineers and dancers are among the scheduled presenters — sharing "ideas worth spreading" — at the fourth annual, student-organized TEDxUCDavis conference, set for this Sunday (May 4). This year's theme invites people to explore the moments in life that require a call to action, and those moments where pause is due. [ More… ]

NEWS BRIEFS: State food-ag board meets here next week

The state Board of Food and Agriculture is scheduled to convene at UC Davis next week for a meeting that will focus in part on the World Food Center and next-generation ag careers. Plus …

FEATURED COLLOQUIA

WORKSHOP

ANNOUNCEMENTS

EVENTS

Animal days: Cheetahs, raptors, reptiles, moths and more

Wednesday, April 30, and Saturday-Sunday, May 3-4

UC Davis offers myriad ways for people to connect with animals over the next several days, starting April 30 with Animal Connections: Our Journey Together, a traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian Institution, focusing on animals at home and on the farm, in the zoo and in the wild, and in the veterinary clinic. And, coming this weekend: open houses at the California Raptor Center and Bohart Museum of Entomology; and Wild Family Day in the arboretum, presented by the student organization Wild Campus, dedicated to the conservation of local flora and fauna. [ More, with video… ]

La Raza Cultural Days: Encendiendo Caminos (Igniting Pathways)

Through Saturday, May 3

Programs include Latin Dance 101: Cuban Fusion; Dreamers' Monologues; Walkout (film), youth conference and Chicana/o Studies Symposium, Noche de Estrellas talent show and an introduction to the language of the Aztec Empire of Mexico, plus La Gran Tardeada, a family event on the Quad (May 3). [ More… ]

Marrow Drive

Today-Wednesday, April 29-30, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., two locations

The Asian American Donor Program is back on campus to collect more tissue samples — from a simple swab of the inside of the cheek — hoping to find a match for Chao Wei Yu, a UC Davis postdoc who needs a marrow transplant in his fight against leukemia. All donors are welcome, but the program acknowledges that the best match for Yu is likely to be another person of Asian descent (Yu is Taiwanese). Look for the AADP tables outside the Coffee House (Memorial Union) and the Silo. [ More… ]

Thank-a-Thon: It's for students, staff and faculty

Wednesday, April 30, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., in front of the Student Community Center

Express your gratitude — on paper or on video — for contributions to The Campaign for UC Davis. Take a selfie, step into a photo booth! Have fun! [ More… ]

NEW BOOK: The Tupac Amaru Rebellion

Wednesday, April 30, noon-1 p.m., lounge, Memorial Union bookstore

A presentation by the author, history professor Charles F. Walker. With a question-and-answer session and book signing. [ More… ]

BROWN BAG: Local Hikes and Other Outdoor Adventures

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

Looking to get away from Davis for a few hours? Bradley Gasawski offers information on close-by and easily accessible activities. Part of the WorkLife and Wellness series. No preregistration. [ More… ]

Keyboard Festival

Thursday-Sunday, May 1-4

Bach Harpsichord Concerti (May 1, free); Chamber Music with Early Keyboards (May 2); Symphony Orchestra: Berlin, Leipzig and Stockholm (May 3); forum (May 4, free); Works for Piano (May 4, free); and Artist-in-Residence Eric Zivian, Piano and Pianoforte (May 4). [ More… ]

Chemical Engineering and Materials Science: 50th Anniversary Celebration

Friday-Saturday, May 2-3

Tentative program includes class meetings, family-friendly activities, poster session, Materials Science Magic Show and Coffee Lab demonstration. [ More… ]

THEATER: Gruesome Playground Injuries

Friday-Saturday, May 2-3, 8 p.m., and Sunday, May 4, 2 p.m., Arena Theatre, Wright Hall

M.F.A. students Cooper Wise and Megan Caton present this tale of two scar-crossed lovers, whose lives intersect at the most bizarre intervals, leading the two childhood friends to compare scars and the physical calamities that keep drawing them together. Suggested donation $5. [ More… ]

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: Particle Fever with Q&A

Friday, May 2, 8:30 p.m., Varsity Theatre, 616 Second St., Davis

One week after 200 people came to see this new documentary, and to participate in a question-and-answer session afterward with UC Davis physicists, the organizers are showing it again, with physicists John Conway, Robin Erbacher and Markus Luty on hand for the Q&A. $12. [ More… ]

Bicycle Auction

Saturday, May 3, 8 a.m. viewing, 9 a.m. auction, north entry parking garage

The campus's Bicycle Program is offering more than 400 abandoned and unclaimed bikes of many types, descriptions and conditions: cruisers, mountain bikes, road bikes, BMX and a few children's bikes. [ More… ]

Rose Weekend

Saturday-Sunday, May 3-4, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. both days, Foundation Plant Services, 455 Hopkins Road, Davis

Rose field tours, question-and-answer booth and rose plant sales both days. Speakers and rose tissue culture information booth Saturday only. Free admission. [ More… ]

LGBTQIA Pride Week: R.O.A.H.R. (Redefining Open Hearts Active History Revolution)

Monday-Friday, May 5-9

Events include Pride Kickoff, How Queer Media Influences Us, What the Law Thinks LGBT People Look Like, Queer Disability, LGBTQIA Pride Open Mic, keynote by UC Davis alum Migz Espinoza — and the LGBTQIA Resource Center's 20th Anniversary (May 7). [ More… ]

'From Tea House to Tea Bar: A Miniature of Social Development'

Monday, May 5, noon-1 p.m., Silverado Sensory Theatre, Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science

The Confucius Institute presents another in its series of tea and beverage workshops. [ More… ]

Big Day of Giving 2014

Tuesday, May 6, 12:01 a.m.-midnight

The School of Education and the Arboretum and Public Garden are participating in this year's Day of Giving, a collaboration of the Yolo, Sacramento Region and Placer community foundations. Donors have 24 hours to give to nonprofit organizations, and "match sponsors" will add on to each donation. In other words, it's philanthropy to inspire philanthropy. [ More… ]

More calendar listings…