One World, One UC Davis
Photo: Professor Ruihong Zhang at the campus's anaerobic digestion facility

Putting waste to work

"We're helping businesses and communities achieve their sustainability goals, while making a social and economic impact," says Professor Ruihong Zhang, inventor of a technology called "high-solids anaerobic digestion" — a means of efficiently converting food and agricultural waste into renewable energy here on campus and at two commercial plants in Sacramento. [ More… ]

NEWS SUMMARY

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

Partnering with industry and government

Three programs this week demonstrate the strength of UC Davis collaborations:

National recognition for community engagement

UC Davis joins an elite list of U.S. universities recognized for community engagement locally and around the world. The classification from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching affirms what Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi describes as UC Davis' long and proud tradition of serving people and society. [ More, with audio from Provost Ralph J. Hexter… ]

Nearly 80,000 applicants for fall: A new record

UC Davis reports a record high 79,930 applications for enrollment this fall; freshman applications are up 6.8 percent to 64,582 and transfer applications are up 6.5 percent to 15,348. "Our strategic recruitment efforts, especially in California, have contributed to a wonderful pool of applicants," says Walter Robinson, associate vice chancellor of Undergraduate Admissions and Enrollment Planning. [ More, with audio from Walter Robinson… ]

Survey coming on 1-year-old smoke-free policy

At the one-year mark for the Davis campus's ban on smoking and all tobacco products, indoors and out, the steering committee that implemented the policy is exploring next steps "to ensure all have the right to breathe clean air." The committee announced that it will soon send a survey by email to all staff, faculty and students to evaluate the effectiveness of the smoke- and tobacco-free policy thus far and to assess the campus climate for future enforcement strategies. [ More… ]

'Grand Challenge' funding opportunity in brain science

The Office of Research and the School of Medicine's new Behavioral Health Center for Excellence have called for applications for BRAIN-STIM Awards of up to $200,000 for research aimed at stimulating and strengthening proposals for extramural funding associated with President Obama's BRAIN Initiative (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies). [ More… ]

RESEARCH: Drug dramatically reduces diabetes symptoms in mice

Professor Bruce Hammock's lab discovered the potent enzyme inhibitor that is now proving effective in preventing and even reversing diabetes in genetically obese mice. [ More… ]

Communications help comes on preapproved vendor list

UC Davis departments can now quickly hire external marketing vendors who have been vetted and preapproved. Services provided by the vendors include freelance writing, graphic design, marketing strategy, media buying, mobile application design and development, photography, videography and website design. [ More… ]

Negotiations continue between Blue Shield and Sutter Health

UC Human Resources says there will be no disruption of care during a six-month transition period that began with termination of the Blue Shield-Sutter Health contract on Dec. 31. Negotiations are ongoing, and UC officials are optimistic the two sides will come to terms. "There is no need for employees or retirees to make changes at this time," HR officials said in a notice posted Jan. 9 on UCnet. [ More… ]

NEWS BRIEFS: A butterfly sighting, but no beer yet

Professor Art Shapiro and others are looking for the year's first cabbage white, but, if you want to win his contest, you'll need a photo or specimen. Plus…

TRENDING: Follow the bouncing (basket)ball!

This week's social media highlights are all about basketball, men's and women's. A YouTube video shows Aggie fans storming the court in The Pavilion after the men's team defeated Long Beach State in overtime, on national TV. Aggie Pride was so electric that ESPNU quickly announced it's coming back Jan. 31. … On the women's side, "senior sharpshooter" Kelsey Harris leads the nation in three-point percentage. [ More, with video… ]

FEATURED COLLOQUIA

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND DIRECTIVES

DIRECTIVE: Major changes to regulations for federally sponsored research

The Office of Research defines the university's initial implementation strategy for a smooth transition to the government's new Uniform Guidance for federal awards. [ More… ]

ANNOUNCEMENTS

EVENTS

Bone Marrow Donor Registration

Wednesday-Thursday, Jan. 14-15, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Silo

Conducted by the Asian American Donor Program, which says there is a great need for bone marrow donors, particularly ages 18 to 44 who are from multiracial and multiethnic communities, because a patient is most likely to match with a donor from the same ethnic group. "Your heritage can help save a life! Register today. It only takes 10 minutes." [ More… ]

AT THE ARBORETUM: Walk with Warren

Wednesday, Jan. 14, noon-1 p.m., meet at the gazebo

Join Warren Roberts, arboretum superintendent emeritus, for a fun, informative stroll in the west end gardens. [ More… ]

EXHIBITIONS: Stone and flame

Campus Community Book Project

MUSIC: Griffith Jazz Nonet

Thursday, Jan. 15, 12:05-1 p.m., Vanderhoef Studio Theatre, Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts

Led by Sam Griffith, director of UC Davis Jazz Ensembles. Shinkoskey Noon Concert Series. Free. [ More… ]

SCREENING: Seeds of Time

Thursday, Jan. 15, 6-8 p.m., 1005 Genome and Biomedical Sciences Facility

"From Rome to Russia and, finally, a remote island under the Arctic Circle, (Cary Fowler's) passionate and personal journey may hold the key to saving the one resource we cannot live without: our seeds." Followed by a discussion led by Professor Paul Gepts, whose research and teaching program focuses on crop biodiversity and genetic resources. [ More… ]

More calendar listings…