Science & Technology

For several years now, UC Davis’ student portal, MyUCDavis, has been using Geckomail for its e-mail communication purposes. Though the portal itself has gone through many changes and updates, Geckomail has not, and several issues have arisen that make saving and sorting e-mails challenging for students.

New asthma inhaler encounters rough changeover Millions who suffer from asthma and lung disease will have to change inhalers by the end of the year,and it may be difficult for many people.

Today “UC Davis Global Funding Workshop in Science and Engineering“ Evan Notman 206Olson,noonto2p.m. Sponsored byUniversity Outreach and International Programs

What is the philosophy of science? Philosophy of science is the study of science. We try to understand what science is and how it works. Of course, since most of us are academics, we try to explain that to other people and we get into debates about that, so we have scholarly discussions about whether one person is right in their interpretation or not.

Have you ever wondered how inventions get from the minds of researchers to the shelves of stores or to being incorporated into different products? The process is longer and more complicated than one might think, but UC Davis is actually a stepping stone in the process. InnovationAccess,the technology transfer department of UC Davis, helps to connect campus inventors to the patent office and to companies for further development and eventual commercialization.

Today “Fire Ants and Native Ants: A Cautionary Tale” Walter Tschinkel 122 Briggs, 12:10 to 1 p.m. Sponsored by the entomology department

The worldwide food shortage and prices are expected to continue increasing until at least 2010, forcing the United Nations World Food Program to take precautionary measures, according to an article on allheadlinenews.com. Data from the UN program suggest that the prices of some food items have drastically increased by 40 percent last year in some nations. The global food reserves have also decreased from 169 food-aid days in 2007 to 53 days this year, the lowest in 30 years.

The German writer, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, once observed “Knowing is not enough. We must apply.” This ideal could serve for what prompted 207 undergraduate students to go beyond the classroom and share their research discoveries Saturday at the 19th annual Undergraduate Research Conference. The conference provided undergraduates with the unique opportunity to present research in a professional atmosphere either through an oral presentation or poster display. Students from all disciplines including communication, psychology and biochemistry participated. Not only is the conference meant to help students apply what they have learned, but it also serves to give students a taste of what is to come if they wish to pursue graduate or professional degrees.

As the world marvels at non-smelling socks,more effective sunscreens and other products made possible with nanotechnology,researchers are questioning whether this tiny science of the future may have a huge impact on the environment and human health. According to a2007report by Jennifer Sass,a senior scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council,nanoscale silver ions,like the ones used in non-smelling socks,kill the microbes that cause odor.However,such commercial use permits these ions to enter the waste system and eventually the environment,killing beneficial microbes in the soil.

Today “The Epidemiology and Control of Malaria– Updating the Classical Paradigm“ David Smith 122Briggs,noon to1p.m. Sponsored by theentomology department “Australian Weed Eradication Research“ Dane Panetta 3001Plant and Environmental Sciences,12:10to1p.m. Sponsored by theplant sciences department

Name: Gordon Ng Major: Biological Sciences Year: Senior What got you interested in your major? I took a general education course, SAS 20 – Genetics and Society, in my freshman year and that triggered my interest in the sciences. From there on I took more science classes and developed a curiosity for molecular biology and how the human body functions.

Today “Plant-Mediated Indirect Competitionbetween Insect Herbivores – Implications for Weed Biological Control“ James Nechols 122Briggs,noon to1p.m. Sponsored by the entomology department “L-Peach – A Crop Model That Can Be Useful to Horticulturalists,Physiologists,Molecular Biologists and Breeders“ Ted DeJong 3001Plant and Environmental Sciences,12:10to1p.m. Sponsored by the plantsciences department