The past few weeks have been marked by unprecedented uncertainty for the future of research and scientific discovery. As a land grant institution, it has always been our mission to educate, research and serve the public. In the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, this is our ethos, the foundational core of our work and the reason we are so dedicated to our students, partnerships and the common good. This commitment to our mission extends beyond the borders of our great state of California and is documented in the many decades of expert scientific excellence at the national and international level. 

For more than a century, we have done this important work, and we will continue well into the future with this mission of dedicated public stewardship, under the guiding Principles of Community, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary with several activities and events. The Principles of Community begins with the quote, “We affirm the dignity inherent in all of us, and we strive to maintain a climate of equity and justice demonstrated by respect for one another.”

This message is integral to our community and will remain as the bedrock of our work. I continue to be inspired by your commitment to your colleagues, the students and our college. The variety of experience you bring to the college and your multitude of voices strengthens our collective whole.

Building connections and partnerships

Earlier this month, several of us attended the World Ag Expo to connect with industry leaders and prospective students. Associate Dean of Agricultural Sciences Jason Bond and I attended the Ag Leadership breakfast, connected with alums and met with students interested in applying to UC Davis. The Clear Center and several faculty members were on hand to talk with attendees, and our Aggie Ambassadors and undergraduate student advisors welcomed visitors and answered questions about UC Davis majors and campus life. We enjoyed the opportunity to connect with old friends and meet new prospective students!

UC Rangelands hosted the 2025 Rustici Rangeland Science Symposium this month to discuss California’s changing landscapes with presentations about climate, wildfire and predators. UC Rangelands is an excellent example of the positive change that can happen when ranchers, land managers, conservationists, policymakers and scientists gather together under a common goal. 

Field Day is coming up soon on March 7-8. Every year we welcome high school FFA and 4-H members from all over the state to compete in more than 20 different contests ranging from milk judging to agricultural welding. Come watch these future ag leaders compete and witness our undergraduate students giving back to our community!

The latest Highlights

This month’s edition of Highlights continues to showcase many examples of our college’s excellence. Our researchers have developed a sweet molasses test that could help ranchers better understand cattle grazing habits and improve land management. There’s an article about how UC Davis is leading efforts to create the California Center for Food Safety, supporting growers to meet industry food safety standards. We have an up-close look at the university’s Oakville Station, where wine experiments meet high-quality production in Napa Valley. And we share helpful tips for building healthy habits that last, with expert advice on making nutrition and exercise sustainable. 

We have some fun visual storytelling about our landscape architecture students who are exploring the Delta’s past to inspire future restoration, and others who are building skills and creating standout designs that are transforming our campus.

I’d like to congratulate some outstanding faculty members who are being praised for their stellar teaching and expertise, including Associate Professor David de la Peña in the Department of Human Ecology for receiving an Excellence in Teaching for Global Learning Award.

Kudos to Maria Marco in the Department of Food Science and Technology for her election to the 2025 class of fellows for the American Academy of Microbiology, and to ecology Ph.D. candidate Tara Pozzi, who is among this year’s winners of the UC Davis Library Graduate Student Prize for her research project that studies how environmental justice groups in the Delta work together to strengthen their efforts.

To echo President Drake’s recent message to the UC community, “Your work is important, and it matters. You matter. And together we make a difference in our state, in our country and in our world.” When facing uncertainty, connection and community sustains us and helps provide a way forward. CA&ES has always placed high value on outreach, academic excellence and building relationships, and we will continue to show up and do what we do best—seek solutions to our world’s most pressing issues, provide support for our communities, and celebrate the vibrancy that each of you bring to our mission and vision. 

Thank you for continuing your outstanding work and remaining dedicated to our mission.

Go Ags!