Richard Michelmore led the UC Davis Genome Center for 20 years, expanding its influence and spearheading a groundbreaking COVID-19 saliva test. His leadership advanced genomics research, faculty recruitment, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
After chairing the Department of Plant Sciences for seven years, Gail Taylor has taken a new appointment as the dean of Life Sciences, University College London. She will start her new role later this year.
Louise Ferguson and fellow editors published The Fig: Botany, Production and Uses, a comprehensive book on fig cultivation, history, and market growth. It covers everything from fig varieties to postharvest techniques, boosting sector growth.
The University of California strawberry breeding program began at UC Berkeley, led by plant pathologist Harold E. Thomas and breeder Earl V. Goldsmith.
