UC Davis distinguished professor Richard "Rick" Karban, retiring in June after a 42-year career with the Department of Entomology and Nematology, is an international authority on plant communication, a noted author and an exemplary mentor, Professor Neal Williams told the crowd attending the department's June 11th retirement luncheon at the UC Davis Alumni Center.

The date is set for the recently postponed Thomas and Nina Leigh Distinguished Alumni Award Seminar. Noted entomologist and climate change author Michael Hoffmann, emeritus professor of Cornell University, will deliver the seminar on Monday, Oct. 14 in the Putah Creek Lodge.

The event, to include a social, lecture and dinner, begins at 4 p.m. The lodge is located at 685 Putah Creek Lodge Drive.

UC Davis distinguished professor emerita Lynn Kimsey, entomologist, taxonomist and 34-year director of the Bohart Museum of Entomology,  is "an amazing scientist, science communicator and friend."

Forensic entomologist Robert Kimsey, an associate adjunct professor and continuing lecturer since 1990 with the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, received appreciation, accolades and applause at the department's recent retirement celebration on the Moss Patio, UC Davis Alumni Center.

Microbes found in the immature stages of a solitary bee that nests in sand cliffs along Pacific Coast beaches may be helping the bee defend itself from pathogens and protect it from cold stress, according to newly published research led by microbiologist Shawn Christensen of the Rachel Vannette Lab, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology.

UC Davis Distinguished Professor Diane Ullman, a 29-year member of the Department of Entomology and Nematology faculty, drew accolades and applause at the department's retirement event on June 11 at the UC Davis Alumni Center.

"Everything she does is world class," urban landscape entomologist and assistant professor Emily Meineke told the crowd.

"A giant in our department" and "a scholar in every sense of the word."

That's how UC Davis distinguished professor emeritus Frank Zalom characterized  retiring faculty member James R. Carey at the Department of Entomology and Nematology's retirement event on June 11 at the UC Davis Alumni Center.

(Editor's Note: This is the first in a series of articles featuring the seven retiring faculty honored at the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology's Retirement Event on Tuesday, June 11, 2024  at the UC Davis Alumni Center. Their length of service totals 248 years.)

“Just like in a honey bee colony, it takes a team to win an award.”

So commented UC Davis distinguished professor Walter Leal, recipient of the UC Davis Academic Senate’s 2024 Faculty Distinguished Research Award, when he delivered his seminar at the Academic Senate’s recent research award lecture luncheon in the UC Davis Conference Center.

It was a gathering of scientific giants.

Five UC Davis distinguished professors, all members of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS),  recently gathered at the home of UC Davis distinguished professor Walter Leal, newly elected member of NAS, to congratulate him, to orient him to NAS, to recommend committee memberships and to detail how the NAS election works.

Picture perfect!

Ceremonies recently took place to celebrate faculty who received the highly competitive UC Davis Academic Senate awards, and staff who received the inaugural Chancellor's Outstanding Staff Awards. Among the recipients:

(See June 3rd presentation on YouTube at:
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa2eHuvPLHQ)

California's fruit fly invasion is in crisis mode, says UC Davis distinguished professor James R. Carey, a noted authority on the invasion of tropical fruit flies.

It was a day to meet UC Davis bee researchers and learn about the lives of bees when the Bohart Museum of Entomology hosted an open house featuring wild bees and managed bees.

More than 300 attended the May 19th event, noted Tabatha Yang, education and outreach coordinator. They included residents of Yolo, Marin, Solano and Sacramento counties.  

UC Davis distinguished professor Bruce Hammock, described as “an incredible mentor and legendary scientist,” is a newly announced recipient of the 2024 Graduate Studies Distinguished Graduate and Postdoctoral Mentoring Award. 

UC Davis bee researchers will be featured when the Bohart Museum of Entomology hosts an open house themed "Bees: Both Wild and Managed" from 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday, May 19 in Room 1124 of the Academic Surge Building, 455 Crocker Lane.

“It should be a great event!” said Tabatha Yang, education and outreach coordinator. “There is a lot of interest in bees this time of year. The format will be tabling with direct conversations with visitors.” The event is free and family friendly. Parking is also free.