Policy

What does the science say? Students learn to translate research

Graduate student Paige Kouba discussed her research with California legislators as part of a program to train scientists to better communicate with policy-makers. Kouba met with Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar Curry (D-Winters) and other legislative leaders at the state Capitol recently. Her goal is to inform science policy coming out of Sacramento.

China can both reduce nitrogen pollution and feed its people

China’s small-scale rice farmers hold the key to both feeding their nation and reducing nitrogen pollution by 2030, benefiting soil, water and air quality and slowing climate change. A research team, including Cameron Pittelkow of the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences, has published a strategy for how to do that, in the March 2 edition of Nature.

Which trees will keep on shading us?

Trees in our towns give us shade and relief from the heat, but how long can they keep that up as our climate warms and water becomes scarcer? Scientists at UC Davis are figuring that out and hope to create guides for homeowners, landscapers, nursery managers, parklands officials, urban planners and others trying to preserve islands of refuge within our hot-and-hotter urban centers.

Crump addresses UN Association gathering

Amanda Crump is an associate professor of teaching for international agricultural development in the Department of Plant Sciences. She recently spoke at a gathering of the United Nations Association in Sacramento.

Good afternoon. Thank you so much for inviting me to celebrate United Nations Day and talk about nourishing peace. I’d like to start with a story.

Conservation Agriculture Key in Meeting UN Sustainable Development Goals

Conservation agriculture is key in meeting UN Sustainable Development Goals. A new analysis shows benefits of conservation agriculture to crop performance, water efficiency, and climate action in South Asia. JK Ladha, an adjunct professor in Plant Sciences, UC Davis, is co-author of the Nature Sustainability article.

Effectiveness and Impacts of Dust Control Measures for Owens Lake

A new NAS report finds innovative approaches for dust control are needed at Owens Lake, California, to improve air quality, reduce water use, and preserve habitats. Professor Valerie Eviner, Plant Sciences, UC Davis, serves on the Owens Lake Scientific Advisory Panel (OLSAP) to assess how to manage Owens Lake.

Plant Adaptation and California’s Changing Environment

Gail Taylor, professor and department chair, spoke to a packed meeting at UC Center Sacramento on “Plant Adaptation to Climate Change in California,” focusing on potential climate change impacts on agriculture. The center educates future policy-makers and leaders in the craft of politics and policy-making.

Fields on Fire: Alternatives to Crop Residue Burning in India

A new article in the journal Science – Fields on Fire: Alternatives to Crop Residue Burning in India – addresses the environmental problems associated with crop burning in India, and presents alternatives such as changing cropping systems and adopting different management practices. J.K. Ladha, Plant Sciences, UC Davis, is a co-author.

The California Tree Mortality Data Collection Network — Enhanced communication and collaboration among scientists and stakeholders

An article in California Agriculture addresses how critical research is underway to understand the consequences of the massive wave of tree mortality in the Sierra Nevada. Urgent dialogue has started among UC scientists, forest managers, and public agencies to manage the consequences of the unprecedented tree die-off and increase the resiliency of forests to future droughts.