Gözde Göncü-Berk has been named the inaugural Endowed Chair and founding director of the new Maria Manetti Shrem Institute for Sustainable Design, Fashion and Textiles at @ucdavis.bsky.social. Her work explores how wearable tech, responsive textiles, and emerging materials can transform lives.

Personality is more flexible than we think. @ucdavis.bsky.social researchers studied daily behaviors and the Big Five traits over multiple years, showing how our personalities shift with time. Do you know your Big Five? Visit our magazine to find out.

Congratulations to Professor Stacy Fahrenthold, the 2025 winner of The Nikki Keddie Book Award! Given by the Middle East Studies Association of North America, the award recognizes outstanding scholarly work in the area of religion, revolution, and/or society in the Middle East.

At @ucdavis.bsky.social, research knows no bounds. From more treatments to cleaner air and safer communities, our research touches every aspect of life, but funding is crucial for bringing these breakthroughs from our labs to your lives. Learn more: https://www.ucdavis.edu/research/labs-to-lives

As classrooms confront challenging questions about global events, @history-ucdavis.bsky.social scholars are providing resources that foster critical thinking, nuance, and meaningful discussion. Read more at the @ucdavis.bsky.social Letters and Science Magazine:

Looking Inside Icy Moons @ucdlands.bsky.social www.ucdavis.edu/news/looking...

Earth’s biggest extinction didn’t happen all at once; it unfolded region by region over hundreds of thousands of years. @ucdavis.bsky.social research tells us more about a rolling collapse that changed life on Earth forever. Read more at the Letters and Science Magazine:

Check out this article from @theatlantic.com, featuring Professor Janine Wilson from @ucdavis.bsky.social economics!

Thanks to Maria, the institute will build upon on UC Davis’ longstanding leadership in sustainability — expanding that legacy globally through new partnerships and innovation that bridges disciplines and industries. UC Davis will soon become an unparalleled beacon for creativity and expression.

Experience the ocean like never before at UC Davis’ Bodega Marine Lab. This hands-on summer program balances fieldwork and lab research, helping students gain practical skills while contributing to climate change research. Visit the Letters and Science Magazine to read more.

A new era of creativity and sustainability begins. This week, we officially launched the Maria Manetti Shrem Institute for Sustainable Design, Fashion, and Textiles — a first-of-its-kind hub dedicated to innovation, collaboration, and global impact. Visit https://bit.ly/4pbIJTs to read more.

When a sign at Muir Woods National Monument was edited, it sparked a national debate over who gets to tell America’s story. Keith David Watenpaugh writes about the removal of historical context and how it endangers the integrity of public history and our understanding of who we are as a nation.

Deep-space patterns have long shaped Earth’s climate. Researcher Isabel P. Montañez and colleagues discovered that orbital shifts affecting the planet hundreds of millions of years ago continue to influence modern climate cycles. Read more at the Letters and Science Magazine.

From psychology and physics to politics and art, our scholars are shaping global conversations. In October, College of Letters and Science faculty were featured in The New York Times, Bloomberg, Vox, and more, sharing insights that matter.

Sound and scholarship are meeting in this month’s Letters and Science Book Club! Dive in and explore music’s power to shape culture, identity, and connection across the globe.

Federal food assistance is more than a line item; it’s a lifeline. UC Davis economist Marianne Bitler’s research shows how SNAP budget cuts signed into law could threaten the health and well-being of families across the nation. Visit the Letters and Science Magazine to learn more.

Since 1970, Distinguished Professor Emeritus Alan Balch has been a cornerstone of UC Davis chemistry, pushing the boundaries of discovery and uplifting generations of students through mentorship, compassion, and curiosity. Read more about our longest-serving tenured professor:

November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, & a time to recognize @ucdavis.bsky.social leadership in research, treatments, & support for people living with the disease in our community and beyond. Read more in our @chancellormay.bsky.social monthly column. www.ucdavis.edu/news/chancel...

Recently, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, or CASE, honored UC Davis with 36 “Best of District VII” awards. Congratulations to our campus communications community for their continuous outstanding work in storytelling! ucdav.is/3LpAchf

Every year, yellow ribbons are tied around the trees surrounding the Quad in honor of our veterans 🌳🎗️ All students, staff and faculty are welcome to join the event with the UC Davis Veterans Success Center on Monday, November 10 from 12:00-1:30 PM. #OurUCDavis | #VeteransWeek

Arthur Sze, newly named 2025 U.S. Poet Laureate, visited UC Davis to share his love of poetry and translation. From reading his own work to discussing his unique “cascade” form, Sze inspired students and the campus community to slow down, reflect, and connect through poetry. Learn more:

New sounds. New ideas. Endless creativity. Happening now! Join us as UC Davis musicians, composers, and guest artists take creative risks, push boundaries, and invite you to discover new sounds at the 2025 Taproot Festival. Learn more at the Letters and Science Magazine:

Opportunity is closer than you think! For student Jasmine Khdrlaryan, the UC Center Sacramento program became a bridge between classroom learning and real-world policymaking. She learned how research, policy, and collaboration come together to create real change, all while expanding her network.

UC Davis Distinguished Professor Richard Robins has received the 2025 Block Award from the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, recognizing a career spent exploring how people’s personalities evolve over time. Congratulations, Professor Robins!

Check out Letters and Science Economist Giovanni Peri on @mindsovermatters.bsky.social !

New UC Davis study uncovers how cells prevent dangerous blood sugar crashes, offering hope for better ways to avoid hypoglycemia in people with diabetes. ucdav.is/4pV7vIy #FromLabsToLives #DiabetesAwarenessMonth

With an NSF grant, UC Davis mathematician Sameer Iyer is refining Navier-Stokes equations and studying turbulence and boundary layers. His work has applications in multiple disciplines and includes initiatives to make these fields more accessible to students. Read more:

Parenting lessons...from poison frogs? At the next Davis Science Cafe, herpetologist Eva Fischer talks about the home life of small, colorful amphibians. Wed. Nov. 12, 5:30 p.m., G Street Wunderbar @ucdlands.bsky.social

Happy Halloween, Aggies! Remember to stay safe, be kind, bring a sweater, and have fun! 🎃👻

Ever freeze on a trail after spotting something that might be a snake? That instinct comes from deep in our evolutionary past. 🐍 UC Davis research reveals that primate encounters with snakes helped shape our highly developed visual system. Learn more:

Check out this @npr.org article featuring research from our own Associate Professor, Richard Huskey!

Plenty of spooky and Hallowed art events starting today and all weekend. Don't miss out. Read the #UCDavis Arts Blog for all the info. www.ucdavis.edu/arts/blog/we... @ucdlands.bsky.social

Teen mental health is complex, but UC Davis research is illuminating new paths. Amanda Guyer’s research explores how brain development and social interactions shape emotional well-being, providing critical insights into mental health. Learn more about how #UCDavisDelivers: https://bit.ly/47BrJQx

When academic freedom is threatened, universities lose their ability to serve the public. @ucdavis.bsky.social’ Rana Jaleel explains how academic freedom protects the right to teach, research, and question freely – all in service of society. Learn more:

Honor loved ones this Día de Muertos! There are multiple celebrations across our campus community, including public ofrendas, traditional crafts, mariachi, and readings of calveritas. https://ucdav.is/47wtyx4

UC Davis scientists have discovered a new species of trapdoor spider lurking in California’s coastal sand dunes named Aptostichus ramirezae. The scariest part about this discovery isn’t the spider, it’s what could happen if its home is lost for good. Read more: https://ucdav.is/4npQVhx

Drought takes a toll on rice crops, but now farmers have help deciding what to plant. #UCDavis & partners developed a tool that calculates the cost of transitioning to less thirsty crops like dry beans, sunflower or tomato. #UCDavisDelivers…economic stability #UCDD caes.ucdavis.edu/news/new-too...

What do auctions say about a society? UC Davis historian Ellen Hartigan-O’Connor uncovers how auctions influenced not just what people owned, but what it meant to own, shaping the foundations of American capitalism. @history-ucdavis.bsky.social Read more:

Join us TOMORROW for the Majors Fair! Enjoy games and prizes while taking the opportunity to explore over 80 majors and minors spanning across Letters and Science, Agricultural and Environmental Studies, and Engineering! Visit https://lettersandscience.ucdavis.edu/events/majors-fair-2025 for more.

Personality is more flexible than we think. @ucdavis.bsky.social researchers studied daily behaviors and the Big Five traits over multiple years, showing how our personalities shift with time. Do you know your Big Five? Visit our magazine to find out.

Why is the universe expanding faster than predicted? This November, Nobel Laureate Adam Riess visits @ucdavis.bsky.social to share how his team’s research reshaped cosmology, and what dark energy might reveal about our universe’s future. Visit our magazine for more information.

About 85% of elementary schools studied in California experienced some loss of trees between 2018 and 2022, according to a paper from @ucdavis.bsky.social. Learn more. www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news...

Your DNA’s shape matters. Using both math and biology, UC Davis researchers built a computational model to predict R-loops, DNA-RNA hybrids tied to gene expression and disease. Learn more on our Magazine:

From economics to neuroscience, UC Davis scholars are shaping national conversations. September’s media mentions highlight research that extends far beyond campus. Read more:

From folklore to fear, this month's book club explores how monsters both real and imagined reflect what haunts the human mind. Find your next favorite read:

In 1997, two @ucdavisengineering.bsky.social professors and a graduate student changed the game for the internet. They created the wavelength selective switch—a tech breakthrough that helped route internet and phone data around the world: ucdav.is/4qqAhB9 #FromLabsToLives #SpeakUp4Science

Attend a concert, (first one at noon today); see art, celebrate Halloween with a discount coupon that helps UC Davis Children's Hospital: All in the #UCDavis Arts Blog www.ucdavis.edu/arts/blog/we... @ucdlands.bsky.social

AI isn’t just changing technology; it’s changing lives. UC Davis researcher Jingwen Zhang is exploring how chatbots can encourage people to be more active, make healthier choices, and improve their overall well-being. Learn more about how #UCDavisDelivers: https://bit.ly/47BrJQx

With support from a Bilinski Fellowship at Bodega Marine Lab, @ucdavis.bsky.social PhD candidate Elisabeth Sellinger collaborated w/ @farallonesnews.bsky.social & Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuaries to highlight the power of #seagrass to store carbon & sustain coastal life: youtu.be/p3MfEPjE8aw

UC Davis professor and artist Maceo Montoya has received the American Book Award for Imaginative Possibilities, honoring his work amplifying Latinx voices and creativity. Congratulations, Professor Montoya! Read more: