News & Events

It’s been less than a month since the students returned to campus, and fall quarter started even more recently. It was my privilege to welcome over 500 transfer students, 1,600 first-year students, and nearly 60 new graduate students to our college this year. In every category, these are substantial incoming classes, and, as I told each group, I cannot wait to see what they accomplish during their time on campus. 

A male fruit fly aspiring to mate faces steep odds. First, he must spend up to 20 minutes maniacally buzzing and dancing. Even then, his success or failure hinges on a single split-second maneuver, when he vaults onto the female, parts her wings, and connects his abdomen to hers. If the gymnastics go awry, the female delivers a powerful mule-kick — sending him tumbling away. 

For Peter Wainwright, the academic path was simple: he simply followed his fascination with fish.

"I dare say there wasn't a lot of deep thought about what direction I should go in my life," he said. "It was more, I like fish, let's see if I can do something with fish. It was all very organic."

A. Kathleen Grey, 86, a recipient of the 2026 UC Davis Medal and a beloved member of the campus community, passed away peacefully at home on September 5. Her death came just four months after the loss of her husband of nearly 65 years, Robert D. “Bob” Grey, a molecular and cellular biologist who served as provost and executive vice chancellor and the inaugural dean of the Division of Biological Sciences.

A new study from UC Davis researchers shows that when oak trees die, it triggers major changes to the community of soil microbes living beneath them. These changes have implications for soil health that could ripple out to impact entire ecosystems, especially given the recent rise in tree deaths due to droughts and wildfires.