Dear University of California Community,
I have informed UC Board of Regents Chair Janet Reilly that I will step down from my role as president at the end of the 2024-25 academic year. My plan is to take a sabbatical, after which I will return to the faculty.
My time with the University of California began five decades ago as a medical student at UC San Francisco. In every role since then — as a practicing physician, a faculty member, a research scientist, and an administrative leader — I have been privileged to be part of a community that champions excellence and opportunity, the pursuit of new knowledge, and public service on behalf of Californians and people everywhere.
I am immensely proud of what our students, faculty, and staff have accomplished these past several years. You have weathered a global pandemic and historic natural disasters, dealt with international conflict and domestic political uncertainty, navigated the stresses and opportunities of daily life, all while making our University stronger, more resilient, more impactful, and more inclusive than ever before. It has been my honor to serve as your president.
Over the next year, we will continue the work that we have focused on during my tenure. That includes expanding student support and creating paths to a debt-free UC education, ensuring that more California students can reap the benefits of a UC degree, building on the University's academic and research excellence, and working to promote a safe and respectful community that fosters a free exchange of ideas.
On a personal note, Brenda and I have been touched and humbled by the expressions of gratitude, encouragement, and support we have received from thousands of you over these many years. Thank you very much.
Fiat Lux!
Michael V. Drake
President of the University of California
- Author: Michael Hsu
UC ANR Fire Network compiles expert advice on preparedness, evacuation tasks
The explosive growth of the Park Fire in Northern California was fueled by recent, intense heat waves and extremely dry vegetation – conditions seen at many locations across the state.
Given the potential for wildfire and smoke impacts during what is expected to be a protracted “fire season,” California residents should think ahead and complete emergency preparations: https://ucanr.edu/sites/fire/Preparedness/.
“If you are concerned that you or someone you know could be affected by fire or smoke, now is the time to take simple steps to prepare,” said Yana Valachovic, University of California Cooperative Extension forest advisor for Humboldt and Del Norte counties.
Valachovic and other members of the UC Agriculture and Natural Resources Fire Network are urging community members to tackle small but significant tasks to minimize potential fire damage. Many of these tasks can be finished in a weekend, such as:
- Clean debris from your roof and gutters.
- Inspect the area around your home and nearby structures and remove all combustibles (dead grass, plants, woody mulch, stored wood, etc.) in the first five feet, including under decks and stairs.
- Inspect the foundation, under-eave, and gable-end vents for holes and damage; add a layer of finer metal-mesh screens (1/8” mesh) to the vents to prevent ember penetration.
- Inspect the garage door bottom seal to make sure embers can't blow under the door.
- Replace the first five feet of wooden fences that attach to buildings with a noncombustible panel or gate.
A recently published report, “Retrofitting a Home for Wildfire Resistance,” also can help residents prioritize the measures that are most cost-effective and fit their budget.
Six things to do, six hours before evacuation
As evacuation warnings are issued for local communities, there are six important things to do in advance of an actual evacuation order, according to Valachovic:
- Close windows, pet doors and skylights.
- Move inside patio cushions, brooms and door mats; tie open wooden gates that attach to the house or deck to prevent a fire from traveling from the fence to the house.
- Relocate the barbecue propane tank away from home.
- Stage buckets of water and garden hoses in visible locations.
- Dress for evacuation: cotton clothes, sturdy shoes, hat and face protection and leather gloves.
- Put your “go bag” in your vehicle.
The UC ANR Fire Network website also includes downloadable checklists – in English and Spanish – for your go bag (https://ucanr.edu/sites/fire/Safety/Evacuation/Preparing_a_Go-Bag/) and for a host of important pre-evacuation tasks for your household, property, pets and livestock (https://ucanr.edu/sites/fire/Safety/Evacuation/).
“We want communities to be wildfire-prepared – not scared,” Valachovic emphasized.
Smoke exposure a significant public health concern
Hazardous smoke can blanket wide swaths of California – and much of the Western U.S. – during ongoing wildfire events. A primer on harmful health effects, a list of tips for reducing smoke exposure, and other resources and links can be found on the UC ANR Fire Network site: https://ucanr.edu/sites/fire/Safety/Air_Quality_and_Smoke/.
“If there's smoke in the forecast for the next few days, I would keep an eye on my local air quality at fire.airnow.gov,” said Katie Low, statewide coordinator for UC ANR's Fire Network. “And if the AQI – Air Quality Index – is high, I would limit my outdoor activity, wear an N95 mask if I do go outside, and run my air purifier.”
For instructions on making a DIY air cleaner, creating a “clean air space” in your home and fitting an N95 mask properly, visit the California Air Resources Board's “Smoke Ready California” page: https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/smokereadyca.
Another useful tool is the crowd-sourced #FireMappers fire activity map – powered by the National Alliance for Public Safety GIS Foundation, GISCorps, and CEDR Digital – accessible through the UC ANR Fire Network site: https://ucanr.edu/sites/fire/Safety/Current/.
/h3>/h3>/h3>- Author: Carolle Juliano
If you live in the California Central Valley and fancy yourself a summer vegetable gardener, you've probably tried your hand at growing tomatoes. And that's all types of tomatoes, from slicers, to cherries to heirlooms to beefsteak. After all, our neighboring city and state capitol is nicknamed “Sacratomato” for a reason. In years past, the hot summer air of Davis was heavy with the scent of processed tomatoes from the Hunt Wesson Cannery and street intersections were marked with red orbs spilled from the open-topped transport trucks.
Times do change, however. The cannery is gone and the number of commercial tomato fields has diminished. But home gardeners persist in their pursuit of the perfect tomato, however vexing and challenging the current environment is. With temperatures reaching triple digits regularly and for extended periods during our summers, “full sun” has taken on a damaging effect. Case in point, my 'Fourth of July' indeterminate tomato plant.
Most of its fruit show signs of solar yellowing caused by high temperatures (above 85 degrees F) accompanied by high light intensity. The normal red coloring of a tomato is lycopene. This fails to form at 86 degrees F, leaving carotene, which is either yellow or orange, as the sole fruit coloring.
But if you look closer, beyond the discoloration, you'll notice something else. Look at the flattened, whitish area on the top of the lower right tomato. That's radiation damage caused by intense sunlight. In actuality, it's sunburned or “sunscalded”. Left exposed to more sun, the skin will deteriorate further to become paper thin and vulnerable to bacteria or fungi.
Once the damage is done, there is no remedy. Fortunately, if no pathogen has set claim, the fruit is still edible with the scalded portions removed.
So what can be done to prevent future sunburn since scientific models predict an ever-increasing heat index? To start, backyard gardeners can be selective regarding the tomato varieties they choose. For example, I now know that the 'Fourth of July' is a small-leafed plant unable to fully shade its fruit. Next year, I'll look for plant varieties with broader leaves and more shade potential. That might include 'Celebrity' or 'Champion' varieties, both on the UCCE Master Gardeners of Yolo recommended list.
On the other hand, Sungolds (growing next to the suffering 'Fourth of July' plant) seem to thrive in high temperatures and full sun exposure, producing consistent, sweet fruit. Or perhaps it's time to move the veggie garden to a different part of the yard with an easterly exposure, which would afford plenty of sunshine but avoid the harshest part of the afternoon heat. Another option might be moveable pots.
However, this year, I've opted for a different approach. Welcome to my tomato resort where tomatoes have it “made in the shade” cool ??.
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
Born in Tonbridge, England, but a resident of Canada since 1945, Jeremy received his bachelor's degree in zoology, with honors, from the University of Western Ontario in 1969, and his doctorate in entomology and ecology from North Carolina State University in 1972. He served as a professor at Western Ontario from 2004 until his death.
"Jeremy died as he lived, tenacious and determined to the last--qualities that served him well as he blazed a trail through life," according to his obituary in Legacy.com. "He was recognised internationally as an eminent research scientist, publishing hundreds of papers, holding many positions of distinction and receiving countless accolades and awards. These include, among many others, President of the Royal Society of Canada, the Humboldt Research Fellowship in Germany, and the Order of Canada for his services to education. He was a passionate and enthusiastic educator his whole life, an ambassador equally at ease with everyone from VIPs to children."
"He received several national awards for his outreach activities, often saying the publication that he was most proud of was What is an Insect?, a children's book he co-wrote with Let's Talk Science which has been translated into five languages, and is used as a teaching aid in schools across Canada."
The professor, fondly nicknamed "The Bug Man," treasured his 500 (plus) insect-themed T-shirts, his favorite attire. One of them was "The Beetles," the all-time best seller designed and sold by the UC Davis Entomology Graduate Student Association. Mimicking The Beatles (George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and John Lennon) crossing Abbey Road in a single file, the t-shirt depicts four beetles sauntering across the road. Beneath each beetle image is the family name: Phengogidae, Curculionidae, Cerambycidae and Scarabaeidae. Think glowworm beetles, snout beetles, long-horned beetles and scarab beetles.
"If you look closely," we wrote in a Bug Squad blog posted Dec. 4, 2023, "these UC Davis beetles are all wearing clothes--maybe designer clothes designed just for them? Three are barefoot, and one, the long-horned beetle, is wearing shoes. EGSA records don't indicate who designed The Beetles, but it's a keeper. It never fails to draw smiles. (EGSA sells this t-shirt and others at https://ucdavisentgrad.square.site.)
But back to Jeremy O'Neil and his love of insect-themed T-shirts. On July 26, his friend and colleague, UC Davis distinguished professor Walter Leal, recently elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences, posted an image on X (formerly Twitter) of McNeil wearing his UC Davis Beetles T-shirt. "Jeremy McNeil (Nov. 20, 1944 – July 18, 2024) had 500+ entomology-themed T-shirts, but this is--without a doubt--the number one! I am slightly biased because I like beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, not because I'm a @ucdavis faculty of course."
According to Legacy.com, all of McNeil's t-shirts will be "catalogued and sold to raise money for charity."
Jeremy Nichol McNeil would have loved that--but maybe not quite as much as he loved entomology and inspiring others to learn about insect science.
- Author: Lauren Fordyce
- Author: Karey Windbiel
In recent years, the UC Statewide IPM Program has received an influx of questions from UC Master Gardeners and the general public about homemade pesticides. Below is our official statement on homemade pesticides and guidance for UC Master Gardeners when discussing pesticides with clientele.
A brief definition of homemade pesticides: Mixtures formulated with household ingredients (i.e. dish soap, vinegar, garlic, cooking oils, etc.) with the intent to use for killing, controlling, reducing, or repelling a pest (insects, mites, pathogens, weeds, vertebrates) are considered pesticides. Homemade pesticides might also include mixtures of commercially available pesticides (for example neem oil) with household ingredients.
UC IPM statement on homemade pesticides: Homemade pesticides, as defined above, should not be recommended or suggested by UC Master Gardeners to the public as a method for controlling pests. Unless included within UC ANR peer-reviewed publications, homemade pesticides generally have not been studied in replicated research trials and therefore have not been scientifically proven to effectively control pests. The ingredients used in homemade pesticides vary widely, and their effects on the environment (natural enemies, pollinators, water quality, soil quality) and humans have not been studied or proven to be safe or less-toxic.
What should UC Master Gardeners do? UC Master Gardeners share science-based, unbiased information and resources with the public. This includes UC ANR publications and other resources on the UC IPM website that have been written by UC academics and peer-reviewed for accuracy. On page 222 of the UC Master Gardener Handbook, it states, “All pesticide recommendations to the public must be recommendations published by UC. Do not recommend home remedies for use as pesticides…”?
When discussing pest control strategies with the public, UC Master Gardeners should provide options and resources. This follows UC IPM's integrated approach, which seeks to solve pest problems while minimizing risks to people and the environment.
In the process of presenting pest solutions, you may suggest pesticide active ingredients but not specific products. These must be referenced in the UC IPM Pest Notes for the pest you are dealing with. For example, if a client is looking for a pesticide to use to control aphids, you may suggest horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps because these pesticides are listed as options in the Pest Notes: Aphids publication. When “oils and soaps” are mentioned in UC IPM publications, we are referring to commercially available oils and soaps that are formulated specifically for use as pesticides- not household oils and soaps meant for cooking, cleaning, or other purposes.
Homemade pesticides are not advised for several reasons:
- They are not registered by the U.S. EPA and are not in compliance with the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Pesticides are legally required to be registered by the U.S. EPA for sale and use or comply with FIFRA exemptions.
- They do not come with detailed product labels like commercially available pesticides. Pesticide product labels have instructions for use, including the amount to use, frequency of applications, how soon after application you can harvest crops, and whether the product can even be used on edible crops. Safety and disposal information is also listed, including what to do if someone is exposed and needs to seek medical attention.
- Pesticide product labels are legal documents that users are required to read and follow. If someone gets harmed while using a labeled product, they can seek legal action. If they did not use the product according to label instructions, they would likely lose their case. Homemade pesticide recipes and advice shared online and through social media, vary from one to another and do not include these important details that prevent harm or litigation. Home remedies shared by UC Master Gardeners that are not backed by research could subject the University to litigation if a user experiences damage or injury from advice given.
- Some household products included in homemade pesticide recipes include additives and ingredients that are synthetically made that could harm the environment because they were not formulated to be used outdoors, on plants, or in a manner different from the ingredient's intended purpose. Most dish soaps are not naturally occurring substances nor are they biodegradable. They can contain detergents and degreasers that are harmful to groundwater and aquatic and soil organisms.
A note about acetic acid, or vinegar: Pesticides with the active ingredient acetic acid and labeled as herbicides can be used to control small or young weeds. However, household acetic acid (vinegar) products labeled for kitchen or cleaning uses, should not be used as herbicides. Keep in mind that products containing more than 10% acetic acid are dangerous and often these pesticides will have the signal word DANGER as high concentrations of acetic acid is corrosive and can cause irreversible eye and skin damage.
If you have any questions about pesticides or would like information about pesticide training for your program, contact the UC IPM Urban Team at ucipm-community@ucanr.edu.
-- Lauren Fordyce & Karey Windbiel-Rojas, UC IPM
References
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/PI288
https://www.epa.gov/minimum-risk-pesticides