- Author: Jim Downing
In the past year, UC has announced several agreements with major publishers of scholarly journals, including Elsevier and Springer Nature. These agreements include provisions for funding to cover the article processing charges (APCs) for open-access publication of articles in those publishers' journals. APCs would otherwise be borne by authors.
Under the agreements, UC campus libraries all contribute to a systemwide fund to cover the APCs.
This message is to clarify that all UC ANR personnel – advisors, specialists, academic coordinators and all staff – are eligible for funding for open-access article processing charges under these agreements.
Here's how the process works: After acceptance of an article in one of the journals covered by the agreements, the corresponding author will see the default open-access option in the publishing workflow. If the author chooses open access, the systemwide fund will automatically cover the first $1,000 of the APC to the publisher. APCs are typically greater than $1,000. If the author has research funding to cover the remaining APC, those research funds will be used to cover the balance. If the author does not have research funding to cover the remaining open access fee, the systemwide fund will cover the balance.
Here's a link to a comprehensive FAQ about the Elsevier agreement, which takes effect April 1. The agreement also restores and expands online access for UC personnel to Elsevier's paywalled journal content.
The Springer Nature agreement went into effect in January – here's information on that agreement.
Here's a page with information on all the other similar agreements with journal publishers.
The UC Davis Open Access Publishing site is a good resource for general questions about open access publishing.
Jim Downing can also help answer questions at jdowning@ucanr.edu.
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
Several of Calloway's former students are working on a book chronicling her role in establishing the research base for addressing nutrition and health problems across the lifespan.
If you knew Calloway, and would be willing to write a few sentences on your interactions with her, please contact Mary Blackburn at mlblackburn@ucanr.edu.
A renowned human nutrition scientist, Calloway was recruited as chair of the Department of Nutritional Sciences at UC Berkeley in 1961. She is known worldwide for her pioneering metabolic research in food irradiation, food composition, nutritional needs during space travel, protein and energy requirements, nutrient needs during pregnancy and lactation, and functional consequences of malnutrition on health and well-being of populations – particularly vulnerable populations. Of note is her work on the National Academy of Sciences' National Research Council and Food and Nutrition Board to establish the 1969-1974 and 1989 Recommended Dietary Allowances, and her advocacy on the U.S. National Committee for the International Union of Nutritional Sciences for the reduction of hunger and malnutrition.
As the first woman appointed to the position of provost at UC Berkeley, she advocated forcefully, and persistently, for hiring and promoting women, and for racial/ethnic diversity among faculty. In 1999, the Regents of the University of California created an endowed chair in human nutrition at Berkeley in her name.
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
The University of California Office of the President seeks employee comments on the two policy changes proposed below.
PPSM-2.210 Absence from Work – Pay for Family Care & Bonding Employee Consultation Period
The University of California is proposing revisions to PPSM-2.210 (Absence from Work), which applies to staff employees in the Professional & Support Staff, Managers & Senior Professionals, and Senior Management personnel groups.
PPSM-2.210 has been updated to include language that describes the new Pay for Family Care and Bonding option, which will be implemented on July 1, 2021. Please note that only the sections of the Absence from Work policy that were updated as part of this review are included.
The proposed policy is posted at https://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/Administration/Business_Operations/Controller/Administrative_Policies_-_Business_Contracts/Policy_and_administrative_handbooks/ANR_Administrative_Handbook/Recent_Updates/.
If you have any questions or if you wish to comment, please contact Robin Sanchez at rgsanchez@ucanr.edu no later than April 24, 2021. Please indicate “Absence from Work Policy” in the subject line.
UC Health Participation in Activities under the End of Life Options Act
The University of California Office of the President invites comments on a proposed Presidential Policy UC Health Participation in Activities under the End of Life Option Act. The policy is proposed to be revised and includes the following key issues:
- The issuance of the Interim Presidential Policy: UC Health Participation in Activities under the End of Life Option Act in 2016, coincided with the issuance of the End of Life Option Act (California Health and Safety Code §443, et seq., referred to in this policy as the “Option Act”) which allows terminally ill adult patients with the mental capacity to make medical decisions to request to be prescribed and self-administer an aid-in-dying drug to end their life if specific conditions are met.
- The Option Act establishes specific procedures and requirements to be followed by patients and health care providers who choose to assist them. It also provides that, upon proper notice, a health care provider may “opt out.”
- UC Health has chosen not to opt out but acknowledges the rights of individual employees to refrain from participating in activities authorized under the Option Act.
- It is the policy of the University of California to extend to its patients the choices made available through the Option Act and to comply with its terms. The University, however, neither requires nor encourages any individual provider to participate. Participation in activities authorized under the Act is strictly voluntary.
The proposed policy is posted at https://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/Administration/Business_Operations/Controller/Administrative_Policies_-_Business_Contracts/Policy_and_administrative_handbooks/ANR_Administrative_Handbook/Recent_Updates/.
If you have any questions or if you wish to comment, please contact Robin Sanchez at rgsanchez@ucanr.edu no later than June 24, 2021. Please indicate “UC Health Option Act” in the subject line.
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
In March 2020, when California issued a shelter-in-place order to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus, we didn't know how long the pandemic would cause upheaval or how it would affect us. We all adapted in different ways. How has this past year changed you?
For the one-year anniversary, Ricardo Vela and the News and Information Outreach in Spanish team asked ANR colleagues to reflect on their feelings about the past year.
NOS produced the video “One year later.” In the video, 18 ANR colleagues and 4-H members describe how the pandemic has changed their lives. In a year of trials and tribulations, we all have a story to tell. Some lost loved ones, while one found love. Some are sad, some grateful, and others share messages of hope.
View “One year later” on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScwiHj_a9-Q.
UC colleagues from across the system also shared their stories of hardship, courage, gratitude and resilience at https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/covid-19-year-reflections.
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
He was born in San Francisco to Frank and Maria Peri Ponzio and raised in Hopland.
“Growing up on a farm and ranch gave him a knowledge of and appreciation for hard work, and the importance that farming plays in supporting our society,” said Carol Ponzio. “Education was also important to the Ponzio family and Richard spent the rest of his life in pursuit of education for himself and contributing to the education of others.”
Ponzio earned a BA and MA from San Francisco State University. He started his career teaching elementary school in Ukiah and later Mill Valley. After receiving his Ph.D. in education from UC Berkeley, he worked at UC Berkeley and Mills College training teachers.
As a UCCE specialist in the Department of Human and Community Development at UC Davis, Ponzio's research focused on collaboration and advancing student learning in science education and teaching.
Ponzio approached teacher education as a fellow inquirer, always finding ways to ignite interest in his students, freeing them to be innovative and encouraging them to be observant and to listen to their students.
“Richard Ponzio was a good friend and colleague,” said Michael Marzolla, emeritus UCCE 4-H youth development advisor for Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. “His contribution of developing a science-based approach to the 4-H program that engaged 4-H youth as hands-on, minds-on citizen scientists continues to this day. It spread from California throughout the nation. He did this with good humor with a twinkle in his eye.”
In 1997, Charles Fisher of the University of Michigan and Ponzio co-authored the book “The Joy of Sciencing,” focused on cross-age teaching and community action. Fisher and his wife and research partner Freddy Hiebert collaborated with Ponzio on several projects over the years.
“The title of the book, The Joy of Sciencing, fully describes Richard C. Ponzio's long-standing professional commitment,” wrote Fisher and Hiebert. “Richard believed in the power that engagement in hands-on science experiences could have in the learning and the agency of individuals, especially children and adolescents. For almost half a century, Richard Ponzio created learning contexts that make engagement in science a reality for thousands of students and teachers. By the time Richard joined Cooperative Extension at UC Davis in 1987, he had created numerous opportunities for students as a classroom teacher (Ukiah, Mill Valley) and for pre-service and in-service teachers at UC Berkeley and Mills College.”
At UC Davis, Ponzio designed and developed 4-H youth programs including Science Experiences and Resources for Informal Education Settings (4-H SERIES); Science and Youth (4-H SAY), Youth Experiences in Science (4-H YES) and others.
“These programs, and their implementation in many states across America, express Richard's vision of collaboration (including cross-age tutoring) and learner empowerment as key ingredients in learning,” Fisher and Hiebert said.
Ponzio's curriculum “Earthquakes: Beyond duck, cover, and hold,” published in 2001, is still used by teachers.
“The development and implementation of these projects required collaboration among numerous agencies and individuals at several levels,” wrote Fisher and Hiebert. “Richard was highly successful in creating teams of colleagues and in securing funding to create innovative programs for young participants and their teachers.”
Ponzio retired from UC in 2008.
“Richard's numerous collaborators will remember him as a very warm, generous and humorous promoter of learning and joy,” Fisher and Hiebert said. “For many of his friends and colleagues, there will be memories of sailing on San Francisco Bay on his beloved sailboat Ragnarök or stomping grapes to make his home-made (and prize-winning) wines. Richard's legacy will continue through those who share his vision of joyful learning.”
Marzolla also remembers Ponzio as a skilled fly fisherman, gardener and beekeeper.
Ponzios is survived by his life partner Carol, son Frank, and brother Jim and his wife Ann. A celebration of his life will be held in 2022. Donations can be given to Alzheimer's Disease Research.