The Tracy and Ruth Storer Lectureship in the Life Sciences is the most prestigious of the endowed seminars at UC Davis. Established in 1960, the Storer Endowment makes it is possible to invite distinguished biological scientists to campus to present two lectures and meet with faculty members and graduate students in their field of interest, as well as members of the broader campus and city of Davis communities.
Every speaker delivers a pair of presentations. The initial one is a public lecture designed for a diverse audience. During this lecture, the speaker's topic is explained in a manner that makes it more accessible to a wider range of people. The second presentation, typically held the day after the public lecture, is a technical discourse tailored for faculty members, graduate students, and fellow researchers. Both lectures are open to everyone, free of charge.
About the Storers
Tracy I. Storer and Ruth Risdon Storer were alumni of the University of California. They began their affiliation with the Davis campus in 1923 when Tracy I. Storer was appointed assistant professor and assistant zoologist and taught the first campus course in zoology. He became the founding chair of the Department of Zoology. His long and devoted service to science and the University ended with his death in 1973.
Ruth Risdon Storer shared her husband's commitment to furthering scholarship in the life sciences. She was the only woman graduate in the University Medical School class of 1913 and was the first woman pediatrician in Yolo County. She remained active in the Davis community and the University until her death in 1986.
The Tracy and Ruth Storer Lectureship in the Life Sciences serves as a memorial to the Storers' lifetime of service to the University and fulfills their desire that members of the University community continue to enjoy the benefits of association with distinguished visiting scientists.