University News

Transparent Worms with Glowing Proteins May Help Fertility Treatments

Andy Fell — November 21, 2024

The development of maternal egg cells is pivotal for survival – but also precarious. During meiosis, the DNA-containing chromosomes can easily be broken or lost, causing infertility, miscarriage or genetic disorders like Down syndrome. Scientists have struggled to study these crucial cellular events in humans and other mammals.

Making High-yielding Rice Affordable and Sustainable

Andy Fell — November 20, 2024

Rice is a staple food crop for more than half the world’s population, but most farmers don’t grow high-yielding varieties because the seeds are too expensive. Researchers from the University of California’s Davis and Berkeley campuses have identified a potential solution: activating two genes in rice egg cells that trigger their development into embryos without the need for fertilization, which would efficiently create high-yielding clonal strains of rice and other crops.

THE DOWNLOAD: Study Abroad Photo Contest

Cody Kitaura — November 19, 2024

Students traveled all over the globe this year, and 10 photos from Bhutan, Bolivia, France and more are finalists in the 2024 Study Abroad Photo Contest.

Voting in two categories — places and people — is open until 5 p.m. on Dec. 6.

Vote on the Global Learning Hub website

�ٺ��Ƶ Fall Athletes Are Playoff-Bound

Cody Kitaura — November 19, 2024

Two teams of Aggies are headed for postseason play, and a third looks likely. The �ٺ��Ƶ men’s soccer team won the Big West Championship last week, clinching an automatic berth to the NCAA tournament. The university’s women’s volleyball team will head to its own Big West tournament next week following the completion of regular season play; the team currently sits at first place in the conference.

Volunteers Sought for Campus Emergency Response Team

Cody Kitaura — November 19, 2024

�ٺ��Ƶ Safety Services will establish a Campus Emergency Response Team (CERT) in 2025, and now is the time to volunteer.

Volunteers will receive education about disaster preparedness and training in basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations.

Probiotics and Prebiotics: Hype or Health?

Jocelyn C Anderson — November 19, 2024

Consumers may have noticed a recent trend in food and beverage products labeled probiotic or prebiotic. The products often say they “support a healthy gut” or “boost your immune system” by providing good microbes that are often missing from people’s diets. But how can consumers know if these products are really good for them?

Newest Hellman Fellows Have Wide Range of Expertise

Cody Kitaura — November 19, 2024

The work of 12 early-career faculty members will get a boost as this year’s class of Hellman Fellows. They will receive grants ranging from $16,000 to $49,000, for a total of $330,000 awarded.

Their work covers a wide range of topics, from the educational experiences of Venezuelan immigrants to a wireless device that monitors for seizures.

A Marine Biologist Down Under

Jocelyn C Anderson — November 18, 2024

Carolyn Lundquist, Ph.D. ’00, prompted by a high school career test, studied communication at UCLA, until an elective completely changed her path, leading her to eventually settle thousands of miles from her native California.

Alumni Books of 2024

Jocelyn C Anderson — November 18, 2024

From sports and history to mystery and comics, this year featured books for everyone. Our annual roundup features even more Aggie authors than ever before and could keep readers busy for the better part of next year.

Check out �ٺ��Ƶ Magazine’s full list for 2024.

FICTION

David Starkey ’84 imagines a scenario in which a jet carrying members of a famous rock band plunges into the backyard of a retired insurance salesman who is mourning his wife’s death from COVID in Poor Ghost (Keylight Books, 2024)

The Music of Comedy

Russell L Thebaud — November 18, 2024

Seeing a JR De Guzman ’12 show is a lot like attending a concert. The comedian walks onstage with his acoustic guitar over his shoulder and starts in on a mix of stories and songs — but all were written for big laughs.

De Guzman ’12 has been bringing his unique blend of music and comedy to audiences around the world on almost constant tour since 2021. For this year’s “Working It Out” tour, he wrote an original song for every city he visited.

Students Explore the Intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Consciousness

Russell L Thebaud — November 18, 2024

In his first-year seminar dubbed “Could a Robot Ever Be Conscious?” Professor Richard Huskey guides students to discuss theories of consciousness. Through a variety of fields ranging from neuroscience to philosophy, students in this first-year seminar have nuanced conversations about artificial intelligence and consciousness, and whether anything distinguishes the two.

A Matter of Opinion

Jocelyn C Anderson — November 18, 2024

When Oxford University Press suggested Matthew Kennedy, M.A. ’92, write a book for its Opinionated Guide series, he said he knew exactly what film star to cover: Elizabeth Taylor.

“I chose Elizabeth Taylor because I've been fascinated by her for so long that it was it was a joy to write and research,” said Kennedy, a film historian and former anthropology instructor.

A Home Field Advantage

Jocelyn C Anderson — November 18, 2024

Former student-athlete Andrew LaCour ’24 landed his dream job in baseball close to home.

The left-handed pitcher spent four years with Aggie baseball before signing a contract in August with the Yolo High Wheelers, a new team in the Pioneer Baseball League, or PBL. The team just completed its inaugural season at a familiar location, on campus at Dobbins Stadium, where LaCour took the mound throughout his collegiate career.

My Summer Internship in New Zealand

Jocelyn C Anderson — November 18, 2024

Over the summer, I spent seven weeks doing an internship, paired with an online writing course, in New Zealand with a group of other University of California undergraduates. My major is environmental science and management, following the soils and biogeochemistry tract, and I hoped to gain experience incorporating soil science and sustainable management. As a student journalist at �ٺ��Ƶ Magazine, I wanted to share my experience spending a summer interning abroad.

A Wild Discovery

Jocelyn C Anderson — November 18, 2024

Lohitashwa Garikipati ’17 just discovered a new species of praying mantis.

The entomologist said his passion for insects ignited during his studies at �ٺ��Ƶ. “It’s hard to pick just one important experience, but being involved in research at the university’s labs was instrumental in shaping my career,” he said. He initially started as a biology major and decided to focus on entomology.

Meet the New University Librarian

Jocelyn C Anderson — November 18, 2024

Bill Garrity

When Bill Garrity was promoted to university librarian in May, he brought with him 10 years of experience as �ٺ��Ƶ’ deputy

The Polo Player

Russell L Thebaud — November 18, 2024

On most days you’ll find Paul Griffin studying the finer points of accounting and financial theory. He’s an emeritus distinguished professor at the Graduate School of Management and an international expert on corporate financial reporting, accounting practices, and other key issues in finance.

The Problem with Microplastics

Russell L Thebaud — November 18, 2024

While photos of littered beaches and floating garbage patches are unsettling, perhaps the most problematic plastic is barely visible to the naked eye. Called microplastics — chunks less than 5 millimeters across — these bits have been detected everywhere from Arctic sea ice to national parks.

Can Butterflies Be Saved from Extinction?

Jocelyn C Anderson — November 18, 2024

Summer is peak butterfly season, but this year many noticed not as many as usual — and that’s due to a decline that’s been in effect for some time.

Contributing factors to this decline include the effects of climate change, land use alterations and agricultural pesticides. A recent study performed in dozens of counties across five states showed an 8% decline in butterflies in fields treated with pesticides, with monarchs declining 33%.

New Center Developing Best Ways to Farm, Roast, Brew Coffee

Tatiana Muniz — November 18, 2024

�ٺ��Ƶ researchers are discovering ways to make coffee more delicious and sustainable in the only university coffee center and lab in the country.

University News

Transparent Worms with Glowing Proteins May Help Fertility Treatments

Making High-yielding Rice Affordable and Sustainable

THE DOWNLOAD: Study Abroad Photo Contest

�ٺ���Ƶ Fall Athletes Are Playoff-Bound

Volunteers Sought for Campus Emergency Response Team

Probiotics and Prebiotics: Hype or Health?

Newest Hellman Fellows Have Wide Range of Expertise

A Marine Biologist Down Under

Alumni Books of 2024

The Music of Comedy

Students Explore the Intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Consciousness

A Matter of Opinion

A Home Field Advantage

My Summer Internship in New Zealand

A Wild Discovery

Meet the New University Librarian

The Polo Player

The Problem with Microplastics

Can Butterflies Be Saved from Extinction?

New Center Developing Best Ways to Farm, Roast, Brew Coffee

�ٺ��Ƶ Fall Athletes Are Playoff-Bound