Campus & Community

Our nation is reckoning with unprecedented threats to the future of discovery, advancement, and innovation. But we are not without hope. 

Though the scientific and research landscape has weathered significant upheavals lately, scientists persevere. Necessity is the mother of invention, after all, and with changing circumstances comes the need to innovate in new and different ways. And that’s just what researchers in the college have been doing. 

Sadly, as of this writing, there is much turmoil here in California. Many here on campus have been affected by the fires ravaging the southern parts of our state, and the scenes of devastation are heartrending. But we’re remaining strong, and we’re supporting those in need.

As ever, Aggies help Aggies.

Graduate student Nathaniel (Nate) Herrera has used his last year at UC Davis to springboard a career in STEM teaching. Herrera, who joined UC Davis in 2021, studies sex differences in cardiac physiology within the Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology Graduate Group.

Well, we’ve come to the end of the year—and it feels sudden. That’s what happens on campus. Summer is hot, then fall arrives with the return of our students, and as soon as we’re done welcoming them, it’s midterms and then finals, which just concluded last week.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that this fall has seen a great many things come to pass. Whether events on the national stage, or advances in the life sciences, you’ve no doubt had a lot to watch.

If you’ve ever walked by tables of College of Biological Sciences apparel, including soft hoodies, baseball caps, t-shirts, and quarter-zips, chances are you’ve just passed by BioBoosters. The longstanding and popular student club responsible for pop-up swag sales of CBS apparel is back for the 2024-25 year with a slate of student activities, including, of course, more swag sales. 

A bumblebee’s brain is smaller than a sesame seed. But it can still accomplish quite a bit.

“You don’t need a big brain to learn well,” said Felicity Muth, an assistant professor in the Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior and a National Geographic Explorer who studies cognition in bees and other animals. “Bumblebees are capable of many of the same cognitive feats as many vertebrates.”

Sam Arcement—Director of Graduate Academic Programs for the College of Biological Sciences, and the program coordinator for the Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology (MCIP) Graduate Group—has been honored with the 2024 Outstanding Graduate Program Coordinator Award from the Office of Graduate Studies. This year saw a record number of nominations. “Sam tirelessly ensures that our needs and concerns are heard and addressed,” said one MCIP student, who praised Arcement’s dedication to student advocacy.

It wasn’t long ago that the college welcomed over 2,000 new first-year and transfer students. They joined me on the BioSci lawn to meet one another, their faculty and receive a warm welcome to the college and to UC Davis. Each year, the incoming first-year and transfer classes bring energy, enthusiasm and excitement to the college.

The college was pleased to welcome five new faculty members to its ranks during the 2023-24 academic year. Joining the Departments of Plant Biology, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, and the Center for Neuroscience, each faculty adds breadth and depth to the college’s research and teaching portfolio.