January 2021
Dean's Message: A New Year Together

Though the mood of the nation is somber after the startling events in the Capitol earlier this week, our campus remains committed to supporting our community. In a statement on Tuesday, Chancellor Gary May said: “No one is alone in this, and we remain optimistic. Let’s continue to take care of one another, knowing that, as always, we will get through this — together.” For those who are struggling, campus has produced a guide to help manage socio-political stress.

There is good news, though. We have a successful COVID-19 vaccine campaign underway in the Sacramento region, thanks in large part to UC Davis Health. Hope continues to grow for a return to some sense of normalcy, which seems to be within reach now.

In the College of Biological Sciences, the struggles of 2020 did not keep people from achieving amazing things. Our first newsletter of the year highlights accomplishments by dedicated faculty and staff who made sure their students had dynamic learning experiences, even when faced with the shutdown of many labs and classrooms. Additionally, new fellows were elected to the American Association for the Advancement of Science this past year — including four from CBS — and prestigious scholarships were awarded to deserving students.

As a new quarter begins, we expect what we've learned over the past two quarters to guide our continued successes of working and teaching remotely. 

Wishing you all a peaceful and healthy start to 2021.

Sincerely,


Mark Winey, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Biological Sciences
Distinguished Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology 
P.S. Please join us in supporting experiential learning with your gift TODAY!
News Highlights
Do you have questions about UC Davis COVID-19 tests?
Symposium: Wed., January 13 @ 5:00 p.m. PST
Do you have questions about the saliva test, ER and bedside COVID tests, the sewage test, Healthy Davis Together, or other COVID-related questions?

Chancellor Gary May will give opening remarks, Drs. Richard Michelmore, Nam Tran and Heather Bischel will explain UC Davis COVID tests. Students, faculty, staff and members of the general public will ask UC Davis experts their questions.
Mass Testing for COVID-19
Davis Enterprise - With the need for mass COVID-19 testing on campus, UC Davis offers a course in which students can work at the testing kiosks and learn more about the various aspects of the virus.

The two-credit course, titled “Mass Testing for COVID-19,” or EVE 198, is managed by David Coil and led by Professor Jonathan Eisen in the evolution and ecology department in the College of Biological Sciences.

“This course was designed to ‘make lemonade out of lemons’ with the pandemic,” Coil said. “This helps staff the testing kiosk and gives many students a great CV item and first exposure to a healthcare-adjacent setting.”
Biology Students Appreciate Hands-On Labs Delivered to Their Doors
Door-To-Door Lab Packet Deliveries
How do you give students a chance to have hands-on lab experience during a pandemic? That was the question motivating an innovative team from the introductory biology series courses.

Their solution? To mail more than 2,000 packets — each including seeds, soils of varying nutrient levels, instructions for growing fungi and even a tiny smartphone-compatible microscope — to introductory biology students in the fall quarter.
11 Professors Elected as AAAS Fellows, 4 from CBS
Eleven UC Davis professors, including four from the College of Biological Sciences, have been elected in this year’s class of fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, or AAAS, the world’s largest general scientific society.
CBS Student Receives Prestigious Marshall Scholarship
Sparking Innovation and Creativity: Human-Centered Design

January 13, 2021 @ 4:00 p.m. PST

UC Davis is a research powerhouse, taking on some of the greatest challenges of our time. You are invited to this exclusive online event series where you will get an insider’s look into the innovative ways our university is making a positive impact on the world.