Student Life

From Fort Bragg to the Mojave Desert – a group of UC Davis students spent part of their summer analyzing the soils of California ecosystems. For graduate student Yuanxin Ji, the experience inspired him to craft a heartfelt song with lyrics about the intricate world of soils set to a catchy tune.

Red, ripe cherries hide in small clusters amid long leaves in the UC Davis teaching orchard. They’re sweet, juicy, beautiful. In area grocery stores, such delights cost up to $8 a pound, but these would have gone to the birds. They must be harvested by hand, and at the price of labor, they’re too expensive to pick, said orchard manager Victor Serratos of the Department of Plant Sciences.

In the aftermath of a tragedy, the process of healing can be difficult. At UC Davis, there’s a committee that works to ensure support and assistance are provided after a sudden student death.

Sue Ebeler, associate dean of Undergraduate Academic Programs within the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CA&ES), has been a member of the UC Davis Postvention Committee since its inception in 2019, and is reminded of the importance of community, compassion and resilience in the face of adversity.

An aspiring astrobiologist has been awarded a Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, the nation’s leading scholarship for undergraduates pursuing research in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering.

Early signs of spring’s renewal fed by hearty March rains are starting to bloom, adding vibrancy to the campus. These days also provide a chance to welcome the next generation of Aggies after UC Davis formally accepted thousands of new first year students. About 9,400 first year and transfer students are expected to enroll this fall.

Follow the Davis Rewilding Society on Instagram

When UC Davis student Madison “Madi” Burns joined the Davis Rewilding Society during her freshman year, it helped bring her future into focus. The second-year landscape architecture major said she has developed a much better understanding of the importance of native plants from her involvement with the student-run organization.

I was a plant girl. As an undergraduate student at UC Davis, I’ve spent my summers restoring wetlands with native plants, summiting peaks to study alpine cushion plants, and dissecting seeds in labs. Animals were never in the picture, and birds were no exception. So when I kept seeing “Bird ID skills needed” on botany position advertisements, I knew my plant-only class days were over.  

A team of UC Davis doctoral and undergraduate students have something to celebrate as the fall quarter comes to a close. UC Davis sent a team to the Region 6 (southwest) Collegiate Soil Judging Competition, where groups are scored on their ability to describe and classify soils and landscapes.

There’s a type of olive oil that may lift spirits during the cold winter season. It’s called “olio nuovo,” which in Italian means “the new oil.” This oil is immediately bottled after the olives are harvested and milled, making it one of the freshest extra virgin olive oils you can get.

The fall colors are incredibly vibrant this year with their red, orange and yellow leaves glowing against a backdrop of bright blue sky. We have so much to be grateful for this November, and I want to express my gratitude for all of our dedicated faculty, staff and students who remain focused on the mission of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.