Department news

Eviner contributes to NAS report on Owens Valley dust

 

Is dust inevitable in southeastern California’s Owens Valley? A new federal report says “no,” supported by work from Valerie Eviner, a professor in the Department of Plant Sciences.

Dust blowing into nearby communities – and the health problems it causes for people who breathe it – can be greatly reduced, the report says. Solutions include planting native plants in dust-producing areas above the largely dry lakebed, agencies and landowners working together, and including local Native America tribes in the entire process.

Wainwright wins Van Alfen-MacDonald award

 

Fourth-year doctoral student Brooke Wainwright has received the Neal Van Alfen and James MacDonald Graduate Student Award. The award recognizes outstanding academic performance, service and leadership, and comes with a $7,500 grant.

Wainwright is a plant ecologist in the lab of Jennifer Funk, a professor in the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences. The Van Alfen-MacDonald award is given by the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Pokhrel’s passion for pistachio earns FFAR Rockey Fellowship

 

Graduate student Amrit Pokhrel has secured a place in the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research Fellows program. He is one of 30 students across the United States and Canada this year to become an FFAR fellow.

FFAR’s Rockey Fellowship program is an opportunity for up-and-coming food and agricultural scientists to develop leadership and professional skills. Students will also receive two mentors from the foundation, which is a non-profit, public-private partnership established by the U.S. Congress.