- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
- Author: Liana Wolfe
Her named SRA in Los Angeles County
Calvin Her joined UC Cooperative Extension in Los Angeles County as a staff research assistant in February.
Her graduated with a BS in biology from Metropolitan State University in Minnesota and one day hopes to pursue a master's degree in Entomology. He has worked with both the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the California Department of Food and Agriculture. With the CDFA, Her worked within the invasive insect program to control the Mediterranean fruit fly and the Asian citrus psyllid. With the MDA, Her worked within the plant protection division to monitor the detection of invasive insect species in Minnesota such as the Velvet Longhorn Beetle, Brown Marmorated Stinkbug, Swede Midge and many others.
Working with Siavash Taravati, area IPM advisor, Her will be researching drywood and subterranean termites, pest ant monitoring and control, California pesticide licensing and doing literature reviews.
In his free time, Her raises Monarch butterflies and documents his efforts in hopes to inspire at-home conservation. Her can be reached at cvher@ucanr.edu.
Berry named SRA at South Coast REC
Kaitlyn Berry joined UC ANR as a staff research associate I in February. She will be assisting with the UC Landscape Plant Irrigation Trials at the UCANR South Coast Research and Extension Center.
Berry earned a BS in biological science with a concentration in marine biology and a minor in chemistry from California State University, Fullerton. She is currently completing her masters in biological science at CSU Fullerton and is a member of the Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Laboratory. Her thesis research focuses on the effects of artificial light pollution on the activity and foraging behavior of the Pacific kangaroo rat (Dipodomys agilis).
She has been a volunteer at the CSU Fullerton Biology Greenhouse Complex for five years. Her informal education in planting, propagating, and general maintenance of the teaching collection will allow her to effectively assist with the UC Landscape Plant Irrigation Trials.
Berry has enjoyed getting to meet and work with the SCREC staff. She is excited to be a part of UCANR and learn more about plant maintenance and research. Berry can be reached at kaiberry@ucanr.edu.
Thaoxaochay joins small farm program in Fresno County
C. Lilian Thaoxaochay joined UC Cooperative Extension's Small Farms and Specialty Crops Program in Fresno County as a COVID19 education specialist and research assistant in February. She is a first-generation Hmong American born and raised in Fresno. Her family has farmed in the Central Valley for over 30 years.
Thaoxaochay completed her undergraduate degree at Stanford University where she studied Anthropology and Asian American Studies. She was a Cota-Robles fellow at UC Santa Cruz where she received her MA in anthropology. Her previous research experience includes racial/ethnic health disparities and cultural competency in medical education. Her current research interests include the history of agriculture in Southeast Asia, refugee farming in California, and the future of small-scale growers in the Central Valley.
She can be reached at lilthaox@ucanr.edu.
Yabuki joins IT as digital communications specialist
Tetsuto Yabuki joined UC ANR Information Technology as a digital communications specialist on Feb. 26.
He brings over 20 years of web development experience, most recently serving as a solutions architect at Breyta in Davis. For the past three years, Yabuki worked as a contractor on the CropManage web application. He will continue to focus on CropManage at UC ANR.
Yabuki earned a Bachelor of Arts in computer science at Columbia University.
He will be based in the UC ANR building in Davis and can be reached at tyabuki@ucanr.edu. His Twitter handle is @TetsutoYabuki.
Lile honored for outstanding achievement in land stewardship
For his tremendous contributions to the science and management of rangeland ecosystems, David F. Lile received the Society for Range Management's Outstanding Achievement in Land Stewardship Award.
Over the past three decades, Lile has served the rangeland dependent communities of northeastern California as a UC Cooperative Extension livestock and natural resources advisor. Throughout his career, he has assiduously provided critical leadership to solve rangeland sustainability challenges facing these communities using science-based, solution-oriented approaches. His efforts have aided and facilitated improved policies, strategies and practices to implement partnership-based conservation programs to improve millions of acres of rangelands in the region. Stakeholders place high value on his technical expertise, his friendship and his ability to establish trust and confidence with a diverse community on topics ranging from sage grouse to water quality. He has worked tirelessly to build consensus around contentious topics and create collaborative, science-based solutions to enhance natural resources and sustain productive agricultural enterprises. Lile, who is based in Lassen County, has spent his career pursuing sustainable rangeland management, and this award recognizes that commitment to land stewardship.
Lile was presented the award at the SRM Annual Meeting held virtually in February.
Oberholster honored by ASEV for extension
The American Society for Enology and Viticulture announced Anita Oberholster, UC Cooperative Extension enology specialist, will receive its 2021 ASEV Extension Distinction Award.
Oberholster will receive the award and present “The Challenges of Modern Extension Programs” at the 72nd ASEV National Conference, to be held virtually June 21-24, 2021.
Oberholster completed her doctorate in wine sciences at the University of Adelaide, Australia, in 2008 and worked at the Department of Viticulture and Oenology at Stellenbosch University until 2011, when she became a UC Cooperative Extension Specialist in the Department of Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis. As a UCCE specialist, her research focuses on current issues in the grape and wine industry and she provides research-based information to grape growers and members of the wine industry. Her research includes the impact of climate on grape ripening and phenolic development, grapevine red blotch disease and smoke exposure in the vineyard. Another major focus for Oberholster is the impact of different winemaking techniques on wine composition and quality.
“I love science, agriculture and wine. My job is the perfect blend,” said Oberholster. “Working with the grape and wine industry has been extremely rewarding and I am especially grateful to the ASEV for this high honor and recognition.”
Oberholster has been a member of ASEV since 2011 and served as board director from 2014 to 2020. She served on the ASEV Best Paper Committee and was an American Journal of Enology and Viticulture reviewer and a National Conference moderator and speaker. She continues to serve on the ASEV Technical Program Committee.
She is also a member of several other organizations, including the American Chemical Society, Groupe Polyphenols, West Coast Smoke Exposure Task Force, UC Davis Chemical and Laboratory Safety Committee, Viticulture & Enology and Food Science and Technology Graduate Group Executive Committees, Robert Mondavi Institute Executive Committee and is chair of the UC Davis Viticulture & Enology Extension Coordination Committee. She reviews for 25 peer-reviewed journals and different funding proposals.
- Author: Kathy Eftekhari
- Author: Linda Forbes
The UC President's Advisory Commission (PAC) met via Zoom on March 22.
Vice President Humiston provided updates on COVID-19 operations, the UC ANR budget, recently completed strategic plans for the division and the research and extension center system, and the status of land sales in Davis, at Hansen REC and at South Coast REC.
PAC members had a lively discussion on ways to effectively capture input from the full commission on both emerging issues and longer-term topics of interest. VP Humiston suggested that UC ANR could host monthly “special topics meetings” to be led by each of our statewide program and initiative leaders so that the PAC may communicate directly with UC ANR personnel regarding needed research, programs and opportunities. This new initiative is scheduled to launch by early May with the first topic being integrated pest management.
In the afternoon, President Drake joined the group for presentations and discussion on the rural-urban interface.
Darren Haver, assistant vice provost and director of South Coast REC and Orange County UCCE, kicked-off this section of the agenda with a presentation outlining the concept for a new UC ANR “Hub for Urban Living.” The vision is to establish a network of researchers from multiple institutions, government and community agencies, and the private sector who are interested in engaging in a physical and virtual, interdisciplinary space that connects the power of research to address short and long-term issues impacting the sustainability of urban life. A systemwide hub design workshop is scheduled for May 18 to further develop the concept.
Three PAC members also presented on related topics. Paula Daniels, co-founder and chair of the Center for Good Food Purchasing, talked about regional food systems; Connie Stewart, executive director of initiatives at Humboldt State University, gave a presentation on UC-CSU partnerships; and Lucas Frerichs, associate director of state policy at The Nature Conservancy, talked about private-public research partnerships.
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
Vice President Glenda Humiston spoke to the Council of UC Staff Assemblies delegation at their quarterly meeting on March 4. To give the CUCSA delegates an overview of UC ANR, she presented "Bringing the power of UC directly to all Californians."
Starting with UC's establishment as a land grant institution in 1868, Humiston described how ANR serves Californians through campuses, county offices, statewide programs and institutes, and research and extension centers. She also explained how ANR partners with all 10 UC campuses, the national labs and medical centers on projects.
Turning to external partnerships, Humiston provided several examples of ANR's collaborative projects, including the new AI Institute for Food Systems, bringing ultra-fast broadband capability to Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center and the surrounding area, and South Coast REC's new HUB for Urban Living.
“Her presentation was great, and it was well received,” said Dohee Kim, ANR's senior delegate. “She answered questions after her presentation regarding organization fiscal matters (budget stuff) and how ANR is getting through the pandemic.”
CUCSA delegates represent Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Los Angeles, UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC San Diego, UC San Francisco, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, UC Office of the President and UC ANR. Each site sends a senior and junior delegate. LeChé McGill is currently ANR's junior delegate.
The delegates meet quarterly with the locations taking turns to host. The March meeting was hosted by UC ANR.
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
The second season of Water Talk podcast begins Friday, April 2. The weekly podcast will feature discussions of agriculture, water policy, environmental and social justice, climate change and other issues related to California water.
This year's podcast will definitely include drought, says co-host Faith Kearns, California Institute for Water Resources academic coordinator, “In California, drought is not if, it's when.” The organizers plan to invite guests from every corner of the state, from border to border.
“The Water Talk team has new members!” the Water Talk team tweeted. “We were thrilled to welcome ultra-talented Claire Bjork and Victoria Roberts as production support for Season 2, thanks in part to an ANR Renewable Resources Extension Act grant.”
A sneak preview of Season 2 is posted on Twitter at https://twitter.com/podcast_water/status/1376612903000842242.
In addition to listening to the podcast, you can follow @podcast_water on Twitter for water-related news.
To catch up on Season 1 of Water Talk, visit http://watertalkpodcast.com.
The Water Talk podcast is hosted by UC Cooperative Extension specialists Mallika Nocco and Samuel Sandoval Solis, both based in UC Davis Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, and Kearns.
- Author: Jodi Azulai
Image by Pixabay
ANR Learning & Development Webpage
Past webinar recordings
EXTENSION DELIVERY
Hard Times, Hard Questions: Communicating science with difficult people
Thursday, April 15, 2021
Noon - 12:30 pm
With Peggy G. Lemaux, Ph.D.
Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, UC Berkeley
Learn tools that will
- Engage the science-skeptic members of your audience
- Make you relatable to them
- Have your message resonate
Some simple suggestions
- Know your audience
- Listen to their concerns and stay calm
- Make it relevant
- Keep it simple; use analogies and avoid jargon
- Encourage questions; answer factually
Zoom access:
https://ucanr.zoom.us/j/751701428?pwd=Q1ZrbUtoQVJwMXJVRkQydUlwNytJQT09
Password: 4Learning | +1 669 900 6833 | Webinar ID: 751 701 428
Innovation Skill-Building Experience (Q2, Session 1)
April 20, 2021
10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
For Extension Foundation Members Only.
Members can register here.
April 20, 2021
April 27, 2021
May 4, 2021
May 11, 2021
Do you have a project idea that needs incubation, innovation and ways to get to implementation and impact faster? Are you looking to learn about design thinking and lean experimentation combined with Cooperative Extension's best practices for solving important community issues? Are you interested in becoming an Innovation Facilitator/Coach for future Impact Collaborative events and to support your institution's teams and teams across the nation? Read more here.
Learning to Teach Online (LinkedIn Learning)
Staff author Oliver Schinkten draws the connections between high-quality instruction and online education. He provides a framework for creating a digital classroom and guidance to get students interacting with the course material, the instructor, and each other. Collaboration is the key to making the learning experience more dynamic. Course link.
For your free Linkedin Learning account, contact help@ucanr.edu.
Diversity - Equity - Inclusion
Various dates – see below.
Register for a session now! - Register early because each session is limited to 35 participants!
Bias, in its most simplistic definition, is having a preference for one thing over another. Also, biases come into play in our impressions and judgment of people, especially those whose identities and experiences are different from our own.
Workshop leaders are Mikael Villalobos, associate chief diversity officer in the Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at UC Davis, and Eric Sanchez, diversity and inclusion educator, UC Davis.
Who should attend: Those who have not participated in this type of learning are encouraged to register. Priority will be given to people who have not had previous access to this learning topic. There will be a waiting list for those who are interested but regularly engage with bias-related topics.
Objectives: We will explore how we make snap judgments about people by understanding our socialization that informs our biases.
Participants will be introduced to theory and language in understanding implicit and explicit bias.
Using personal reflection, experiential exercises and case studies, participants will gain greater awareness when they engage in bias and gain essential knowledge and skills (tools) in how they recognize and mitigate biases in both personal and professional domains.
By participating in one of these workshops, you have the opportunity to support the ANR Strategic Plan 2020-2025 goal to develop an inclusive and equitable workplace, and employ a workforce that reflects the racial, ethnic, and gender diversity of California.
Choose one session
Each of the following two-hour workshops will be tailored to job roles as indicated below but you are welcome to sign up for the session that fits best with your schedule.
People who deliver programs to clientele - Including but not limited to academic coordinators, UCCE advisors, UCCE specialists, community educators, CE field workers, REC and staff research associates.
Wednesday, April 7, 9-11 a.m.
Tuesday, June 1, 9-11 a.m.
Monday, June 7, 10 a.m.-noon
People who work with volunteers - Including but not limited to volunteer coordinators and managers
Monday, May 10, 10 a.m.-noon
People who support to others in ANR - Including but not limited to administrative and support staff
Thursday, May 20, 10 a.m.-Noon
Cancellation: Participants must notify us of cancellations in writing to ANR Program Support at least one week prior to the session for which they're registered.
Registration & Logistics: ANR Program Support or call (530) 750-1361
May 2021 – Every Tuesday, 3-4 p.m.
May 4– The Asian Pacific Identity: Experiences and Stories
May 11 – Asian Pacific Farmers in California: Past and Present
May 18 – Violence in Asian Pacific Communities: Exclusion, Internment, and Hate Crimes
May 25 – Supporting Our Friends and Colleagues: Bystander Intervention Training
Thank you to the Planning Team
Sibani Bose, Surendra Dara, Charles Go, Pam Kan-Rice, Janice Kao, Dohee Kim, Vikram Koundinya
Elaine Lander, Tunyalee Martin, Yu Meng, Stephanie Parreira, Devii Rao, Marisa Tsai, Sua Vang
Racial Equity Capacity Building Workshops
Read more here.
The Wallace Center's Food Systems Leadership Network is excited to partner with the Interaction Institute for Social Change's Curtis Ogden and Aba Taylor to design and deliver two capacity building workshops and customized coaching for network members to operationalize racial equity and anti-racism in their organizations and their program work.
These trainings are part of the FSLN's CORE Project to embed racial equity into its framework for systems change; learn more on the CORE webpage here.The FFRJW Training is a four-part, virtual workshop for 12 food systems leaders who are actively engaged in facilitating discussions around racial equity that lead to impactful action. Applications are due April 12 and participants will be notified by April 16. Space is limited to 12 FSLN members. Click to read more.
Building support
Big Dig Day & Social Media: Strategies for success
Wednesday, April 28, 2021
10 - 10:45 a.m.
Join Emily Delk, director of annual giving, and Dora Garay, social media strategist, as they share how to make the most of UC ANR's Big Dig Day (June 4, 2021) giving campaign to raise money for your program. You will learn how to plan your campaign, including themes, tools and timelines. Together we will learn the ins and outs of using social media to promote your campaign—from the basics of each platform to more advanced strategies to expand your reach. Zoom access:
https://ucanr.zoom.us/j/751701428?pwd=Q1ZrbUtoQVJwMXJVRkQydUlwNytJQT09
Password: 4Learning | +1 669 900 6833 | Webinar ID: 751 701 428
Proposal Development and Proposal Process
Wednesday, April 28, 2021
3 – 4 p.m.
Learn about the steps involved in the proposal submissions process from developing your idea to submission.Vanity Campbell and Kendra Rose will go over identifying funding opportunities, developing the project concept, building collaborative teams, drafting the proposal, submitting to Office of Contracts and Grants for review, and submission to the sponsor. Zoom access:
https://ucanr.zoom.us/j/751701428?pwd=Q1ZrbUtoQVJwMXJVRkQydUlwNytJQT09
Password: 4Learning | +1 669 900 6833 | Webinar ID: 751 701 428
Office, team and personal management
Thursday, April 8, 2021
3:30-4 p.m.
Join Mark Bell and Jodi Azulai to discuss key takeaways from three short videos that feature giving and receiving feedback. The objective is to help lighten this sometimes difficult process. Come ready to change your mind and lighten the load! Join Zoom meeting:
https://ucanr.zoom.us/j/94900422680?pwd=SzFGbGtwdUpXVHlMT3o5UHhIdllMQT09 | Meeting ID: 949 0042 2680 | Passcode: 2Lighten | One tap mobile+16699006833,,94900422680# US (San Jose) or +12532158782,,94900422680# US (Tacoma)
Collaborative Facilitation Advanced Workshop Series - Advanced
Apply here.
Dates: Tuesdays - April 27- May 11, 2021
2 hours/session (virtual)
Limited to 24 participants. Your application will be reviewed and you will be notified about your participation. Preference will be given to participants who have previous learning or experience in meeting facilitation.
This course is designed for people who have already learned basic meeting facilitation. It is open to all UC ANR academic and staff employees, including statewide program volunteers.
Collaborations and group processes are complex, dynamic and unpredictable. Successful processes are based on shared understanding and learning, and work towards common goals. However, we know that this doesn't always happen. Then what?
Collaborative facilitation and group process tools support success, allowing everyone to feel heard and to contribute. Whether you have a lead facilitator role or are a group participant, join us in learning appropriate and applicable facilitation tools to use before, during and after your meetings.
This course will cover the following topics:
Session I - review and include building teams to “compete” for the correct responses to challenges with meetings.
Session II - prevention and intervention tools.
Session III - dealing with difficult people, including ourselves.
Session IV - tools to manage conflicts combining all the tools you have learned and experienced.
Apply here.
Learn the six habits of the most successful people in history. Hal Elrod describes how they changed his life—and how they can change yours, too—in this course adapted from the podcast How to Be Awesome at Your Job. Elrod is one of the highest rated keynote speakers in America, creator of one of the fastest growing and most engaged online communities in existence, and author of one of the bestselling books in the world, The Miracle Morning. For your free Linkedin Learning account, contact help@ucanr.edu
Critical Thinking Course Link (LinkedIn Learning)
By focusing on root-cause issues critical thinking helps you avoid future problems that can result from your actions. In this course, leadership trainer and expert Mike Figliuolo outlines a series of techniques to help you develop your critical thinking skills. He reveals how to define the problem you're trying to solve and then provides a number of critical thinking tools such as blowing up the business, asking the 5 whys and the 7 so whats. Read more here.
Career Management Toolkit (UC Davis)
Whether you are on a specific career path or considering new options, perhaps the UC Davis Career Management Toolkit will inspire you to develop your talents and engage them. The best person to manage your career is you!
Learning about yourself and understanding your interests, personality, skills and values are fundamental to engaging your work in meaningful ways.
Effective strategies for career exploration can help you identify a satisfying career and accelerate … Read more here.
Credits:
Everyone can learn something new
ANR Learning & Development
Office: 530.750.1239
jlazulai@ucanr.edu
