- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
She's right at home with a "Oh, my drawers" of insect specimens, and the live critters in the petting zoo--the Madagascar hissing cockroaches, stick insects, tarantulas and more...She's eager to communicate science and draw interest in insects.
On April 29, Tabatha Yang was at UC Davis Chancellor Gary May's residence to accept the Chancellor's Outstanding Staff Award for Exceptional University Management and Exceptional University Impact with 11 other outstanding staff.
UC Davis distinguished professor emerita Lynn Kimsey, the 34-year director of the Bohart until her retirement on Feb. 1, accompanied her.
Sandy Batchelor, Human Resources WorkLife manager and awards committee chair, earlier said that Yang embodies "the spirit of engagement, innovation, and inclusivity that defines the university. With 15 years of dedicated service at the Bohart Museum, Tabatha spearheads a variety of educational initiatives aimed at demystifying and highlighting insects, spiders, science, and higher education."
"Through open houses, classroom visits, fairs, festivals, and other outreach programs, she helps the museum connect with more than 10,000 people each year. Under her leadership, museum walk-ins, tours and tabling events provide opportunities for students, staff and faculty to engage in science communication, highlight research and connect with others."
Yang annually chairs the committee that hosts UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day, a “Super Science Day” that showcases 10 to 12 museums or collections and highlights UC Davis' research, collections and biodiversity, drawing thousands to campus.
She is also the founder and director of Bio Boot Camps, an immersive experience that ignites passion and curiosity in teenagers from around the globe. These camps, held annually since 2011, except during COVID, offer a gateway to the wonders of ecology, scientific exploration, and campus life. Campers tour UC Davis and its museums and collections and embark on scientific explorations of the UC Davis Putah Creek Riparian Reserve, Quail Ridge Field Station, Bodega Marine Laboratory and Bodega Marine Reserve and UC Berkeley's Sagehen Creek Field Station. With needs-based scholarships, Tabatha ensures inclusivity, making dreams a reality for aspiring young scientists.
Tabatha, a Cornell University alumna, shares her science educational background with her husband, community ecologist and professor Louie Yang, a Cornell alumnus who received his doctorate from UC Davis. He joined the UC Davis entomology faculty in 2009.
The list of recipients of the inaugural award:
Exceptional University Management
- Nichole Mahaffey, clinical trials data team supervisor and assistant director of PRMS, Comprehensive Cancer Center Office of Clinical Research
- Santana Diaz, executive chef, Food and Nutrition Services
- Morgan Luthi, director of curriculum and educational technology, Office of Medical Education
- Wendy Lilliedoll, director of investigations, Office of Compliance and Policy
- Shannon Tanguay, budget director, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Dean's Office
- Jason Herum, diving safety officer, Bodega Marine Laboratory
Exceptional University Impact:
- Kelly Yurosky, pediatric bone marrow transplant coordinator, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
- Abigail Borbe, senior clinical research coordinator, Pediatrics
- Leah Galasso, technical project manager, Clinical Informatics
- Bill Tuck, fiscal officer, Physics and Astronomy
- Elizabeth Sturdy, director of mentoring and Academic Success Initiatives, Graduate Studies
- Tabatha Yang, Bohart Museum education and outreach coordinator, Department of Entomology and Nematology
Meanwhile, Yang is busily planning, scheduling and organizing more outreach activities.
Next Open House. The next Bohart Museum open house is from 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday, May 19. The theme: "Bees, Both Wild and Managed." It will feature the research of university professors (more information pending). All open houses are free and family friendly.
The Bohart Museum is located in Room 1124 of the Academic Surge Building, 455Crocker Lane. Professor Jason Bond succeeded Kimsey on Feb. 1 as the Bohart Museum director. He is the Evert and Marion Schlinger Endowed Chair of the Department of Entomology and Nematology, and the associate dean, UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. He also serves as president-elect of the American Arachnological Society.
- Author: Hanif Houston, The VINE
A series of VINE Build workshops aimed at equipping academic innovators with essential pathways to bring new inventions to market is being sponsored by The VINE, an initiative of University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), in collaboration with Farmhand Ventures. These workshops are designed to empower participants with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the complex landscape of technology commercialization.
"These workshops represent a unique opportunity for academic innovators to gain invaluable insights into the commercialization process," said Gabe Youtsey, UC ANR chief innovation officer and founder of the VINE. "By bridging the gap between academia and industry, we aim to catalyze innovation and propel advancements in technology and agriculture so we can enjoy the benefits sooner."
The half-day sessions will explore various aspects of commercialization as a mechanism for technology transfer. Led by industry experts, the workshops will cover user-centered design principles, inclusive innovation basics, the role of commercialization in technology translation, commercialization strategies, intellectual property licensing, transitioning from academia to business, and the differences between non-dilutive and dilutive funding.
"For academics looking to make a real impact, these workshops provide an invaluable platform," said Connie Bowen, co-founder and managing partner of Farmhand Ventures. "By participating in these sessions, innovators have the opportunity to turn their great ideas into tangible products that address the big challenges facing our industry today."
People involved in applied food and agriculture research – including professors, graduate students, undergraduate students and others – are encouraged to participate.
The workshops will be held across various locations in California on the following dates:
- Fresno: May 9, 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m., Smittcamp Alumni Center, Fresno State
- San Diego: May 23, 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m., Salk Institute Foyer, San Diego
- Davis: May 29, 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m Physical Sciences and Engineering Library, Conference Room, UC Davis
- Santa Cruz: Date and location to be determined.
For more information and to register for the workshops, please visit: https://bit.ly/vine-build-workshop
- Author: Mark P Bolda
- Author: Yu-Chen Wang
Following the rain of this past week Saturday, we've been hearing about a pretty significant outbreak of angular leaf spot in strawberry. We include some pictures from a field of Cabrillo taken the morning of May 6.
In the way of review, angular leaf spot in strawberry is caused by the bacterial pathogen Xanthomonas fragariae, and manifests itself as you can see in all the photos below. In particular, the underside of the leaf will take on a watery appearance in vein delimited areas of the leaf (Photo 3), and in often in the morning have a sort of goo there (and it is real sticky, brush your finger over it and you will know, this is the cytoplasm from the lysed plant cells).
Addressing the question: Is this a time to worry? All things considered, we think probably not, unless it rains again. What is very likely the cause of this heavier than average outbreak of angular leaf spot this year is the greater frequency of rainstorms, in other words unlike last year with huge intense rains interspersed with longer periods of dry, this year has experienced lighter rains but at more frequent intervals, creating lengthier durations of free moisture on the leaves which has created good growth conditions for Xanthomonas fragariae.
So if the trend from here on out is dry as it is supposed to be, there is less reason to worry about this outbreak becoming worse and causing trouble.