UC Davis

Source: https://www.ucdavis.edu/in-focus Parent: https://www.ucdavis.edu/admissions/undergraduate/international

Research. Discover. Solve. Connect.

New discoveries, fresh perspectives

Explore the multidisciplinary, collaborative work of UC Davis researchers. These immersive In Focus stories reveal how we confront pressing problems and connect ideas from the obvious to the unexpected.

[### Students Help Digitize UC Davis Fine Arts Collection

Backstory: Digitizing the Museum Collection, now on view at the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art at the University of California, Davis, sounds like a contradiction. How can anything digital be an art exhibition?

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/student-research/news/students-help-digitize-uc-davis-fine-arts-collection) [### Bird Flight Research Advances Drone Technology and Wild Raptor Care

UC Davis’ new Center for Animal Flight and Innovation studies raptor flight. Researchers use high-speed cameras to improve drone technology and help injured birds.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/curiosity/news/bird-flight-research-advances-technology-care) [### Some Corals Can Stand the Heat — Could They Help Those That Can’t?

UC Davis researchers are studying why some corals can stand heat and heal from bleaching. The answers could help protect coral reefs from climate change.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news/some-corals-can-stand-heat-could-they-help-those-cant) [### Federal Funding Protects California’s Future

Federal grants support UC Davis research in FIP treatment, Alzheimer’s technology and water-efficient farming that protects communities and the environment.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/health/news/federal-funding-protects-californias-future) [### An Extreme Tree Hunt in the Sierra Nevada

Across 24 peaks and 240 miles through the Sierra Nevada, a UC Davis team searches for high-altitude Jeffrey pines to learn how climate change is reshaping forests.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news/extreme-tree-hunt-sierra-nevada) [### What’s at Stake with Federal Research Funding Cuts

Federal research funding cuts threaten UC Davis discoveries in health, agriculture and technology that improve lives worldwide.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/curiosity/news/whats-stake-research-funding-cuts) [### Valley Fever Is Spreading Across the Arid West, Affecting People and Dogs

A soil fungus fuels valley fever, now reaching beyond California and Arizona due to climate change. UC Davis doctors and veterinarians trace the threat.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/health/news/valley-fever-spreading-across-arid-west) [### UC Davis Students Uncover History of a Little-Known Black Community in Woodland

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/student-researcher/news/uc-davis-students-uncover-history-little-known-black-community-woodland) [### The Color Lab Uncovers the Soothing Effects of Light

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/health/news/color-lab-amber-light-eases-stress-anxiety) [### Big Bang! Business Competition Celebrates 25 Years of Empowering Entrepreneurs

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/curiosity/news/big-bang-competition-celebrates-25-years) [### Course Inspires Next Generation of California Naturalists

Students who complete “Wild Davis,” an UC Davis course in wildlife conservation and habitat restoration, can earn California Naturalist Certification.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/student-researcher/news/course-inspires-next-generation-california-naturalists) [### How Aggie Square Is Advancing Innovation in Sacramento

Learn how UC Davis’ Aggie Square is solving pressing challenges through collaborative research and cutting-edge technology.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/curiosity/news/how-aggie-square-is-advancing-innovation) [### What to Know About Processed and Ultra-Processed Food

Scientists explain the difference between whole, processed and ultra-processed foods. Learn how they could affect our health and how the food industry can improve.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/food/news/what-to-know-about-processed-and-ultra-processed-food) [### The Milestones of COVID-19: A Timeline

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/health/news/milestones-covid-19-timeline) [### Improving Indoor Air Quality for Better Public Health

Scientists are unraveling the complex factors that go into indoor air quality and how indoor air pollution and airborne pathogens are affecting public health.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/health/news/improving-indoor-air-quality) [### How Urban Streams, Climate Change and Unhoused People Intertwine

A search for compassionate, sustainable solutions takes researchers to Bay Area streams to investigate the intersections of climate change, urban streams and unhoused people.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news/urban-streams-climate-change-and-unhoused) [### Incorporating Native American Plants into Landscape

When the Gorman Museum of Native American Art relocated to a space adjacent to the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden in 2023, a seed was planted. Why not include Indigenous California plants outside the museum?

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/curiosity/news/incorporating-native-american-plants) [### Probiotics and Prebiotics: Hype or Health?

The products often say they “support a healthy gut” or “boost your immune system” by providing good microbes that are often missing from people’s diets. But how can consumers know if these products are really good for them?

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/health/news/probiotics-and-prebiotics-hype-or-health) [### Engineers Find Best Ways to Make Coffee

Engineering experts are finding the best ways to make coffee, from sustainable farming to quality control to taste, improving the global coffee industry.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/food/news/coffee-center) [### Catalyzing Change: Engineering Enzymes to Meet Human Needs

Enzyme engineering is key to the future of human health. The Design2Data program teaches students to solve problems in the food, energy and health industries.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/student-researcher/news/catalyzing-change-engineering-enzymes-meet-human-needs) [### The Promise of Alternative Proteins

UC Davis food scientists are studying how to make beef using cow stem cells.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/food/news/the-promise-of-alternative-proteins) [### Innovative New Technology Helps Seniors Age in Place

I-Care connects older adults with mild cognitive impairment to long-distance family members, providing support for daily tasks and continuing care at home.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/health/news/innovative-new-technology-helps-seniors-age-place) [### The Salmon Diaries: Life Before and After Klamath Dam Removal

From the Klamath River to the lab, to the ear bones of fish, UC Davis scientists are helping to answer a big dam question: How will salmon use the river following the world's largest dam removal project?

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news/salmon-diaries-before-after-klamath-dam-removal) [### Student Entomologists Gain Hands-On Skills in Insect Biology

Discover how student researchers are gaining hands-on biology and entomology skills and protecting pollinators through the Insect Scholars Program.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/student-research/news/insect-scholars-program-provides-undergraduates-with-skills-in-biology-and-entomology) [### Big Data Comes to Dinner

Learn how UC Davis leverages artificial intelligence to transform food and agriculture, ensuring sustainability and health from seeds to stomachs.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/food/news/big-data-comes-to-dinner) [### Understanding How Students Learn Through Virtual Reality

How UC Davis virtual reality research is promoting STEAM learning and helping improve child education.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/student-research/news/understanding-how-students-learn-through-virtual-reality) [### With Flood Risk Rising, Can Community-Based Insurance Fill a Gap?

UC Davis helps Isleton, California, launch the state's first community insurance program focused on flood risk, climate adaptation and sustainability in Sacramento County.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news/flood-risk-rising-can-community-based-insurance-fill-gap) [### A Medical School That Looks More Like California

How does UC Davis School of Medicine make admissions equitable? A holistic review ensures that a diverse group of students enters the medical field.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/health/news/a-medical-school-that-looks-more-like-california) [### Chicago Cafe: California’s Oldest Chinese Restaurant

Learn how the family-owned Chicago Cafe has withstood the test of time and Asian hate to become one of the country's most historic Chinese restaurants.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/curiosity/news/chicago-cafe-is-oldest-chinese-restaurant-in-california) [### Studying Sharks in San Francisco Bay

On a recent day in San Francisco Bay, a team of researchers took to the waters in search of sharks. Led by Meghan Holst, a Ph.D. candidate in conservation ecology, the group set out to collect data on a variety of species for several concurrent studies.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/student-research/news/studying-sharks-in-san-francisco-bay) [### How Students Dive into Marine Science at UC Davis

What’s it like to take a summer session in a marine lab? Explore our undergraduate marine research from mussels’ byssal threads to ocean ecosystem impacts.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/student-research/news/how-students-dive-into-marine-science) [### Parasitic Weeds Threaten Tomato Plants on California Farms

UC Davis leads the way in sustainable agriculture, employing innovative research to combat the invasive broomrape weed threatening California's tomato industry.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/food/news/parasitic-weeds-threaten-tomato-plants-on-california-farms) [### New Drone Research Advances Wildfire Monitoring

UC Davis’ new fire research utilizes drones and ground sensors for early wildfire detection, enhancing firefighter safety and promoting sustainability.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news/new-drone-research-advances-wildfire-monitoring) [### Winemaking 101

Making wine can take 1-3 years from fermentation to when a product goes to market. UC Davis students are doing it all in 10 weeks.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/food/news/winemaking-101) [### Measuring Meals

Food assistance at UC Davis is making students healthier. Learn how efforts to provide food to students in need is making a measurable impact.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/health/news/measuring-meals) [### A Sustainable Solution: Compostable Wind Turbine Blades

Wind turbine blades are a major source of environmental pollution and waste. Learn how UC Davis is creating an ecologically sound solution for their disposal.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news/a-sustainable-solution-wind-turbine-blades) [### Growing Crops with Less Groundwater

Learn about UC Davis’ innovative approach to growing crops with less groundwater in drought-prone regions like California. Farm sustainably for a better future.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/food/news/growing-crops-less-groundwater) [### How UC Davis Is Growing a Tree Canopy for Tomorrow’s Climate

Discover how UC Davis is planting a canopy of strong shade trees to prepare for the extreme heat waves central California will experience in the next 100 years.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news/tomorrows-trees-today) [### Surprising Benefits of Using Sheep as Lawn Mowers

Discover how UC Davis is using its sheep mowers to not only cut grass on campus, but also to boost sustainability and relieve stress and anxiety for students.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/curiosity/news/surprising-benefits-of-sheep-mowers) [### Clinical Trial Offers Hope for Spina Bifida Cure

Interdisciplinary research leads to historic clinical trial delivering stem cells during fetal surgery to treat spina bifida.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/health/news/spina-bifida-clinical-trial) [### Farms to Fungi to Food: Growing the Next Generation of Alternative Protein

A solution to world hunger might start with boba and caviar. UC Davis explores alternative protein with farms and fungi. Learn more about the future of food.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/food/news/farms-fungi-food-growing-next-generation-alternative-protein) [### Making Prosthetics More Lifelike

See how UC Davis scientists and surgeons are performing better amputations, using AI, and creating smart prosthetic devices to improve the lives of amputees.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/health/news/making-prosthetics-more-life-like) [### California Families Project: Resilience and Community

Landmark UC Davis study of Mexican-origin families looks at vast range of influences on human development from infancy to old age.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/curiosity/news/california-families-project) [### In Another Class: College Corps Expands Service Learning for Students

UC Davis expands paid internship opportunities with community organizations as it leads the Sacramento Valley College Corps.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/student-research/news/college-corps-paid-internships) [### Wellness Check

Veterinary, nursing and medicine researchers at UC Davis aim to create resilience training solutions for health care workers dealing with stress and burnout.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/health/news/wellness-check) [### ‘Confronting Climate Anxiety’ Series Launches

A new UC Davis series asks eight climate scientists how they deal with climate anxiety and still find joy in the job.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news/confronting-climate-anxiety-series-launches) [### Little Fires: Landowners Learn to Burn

Learn about landowners’ efforts to combat climate change and wildfires with prescribed burning and the benefits and challenges of this technique in this UC Davis story.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news/little-fires-landowners-learn-to-burn) [### Program Helps BioSci Students Explore Careers

With $1.75 million in support from the Koret Foundation, the BioLaunch program at UC Davis is helping students in its College of Biological Sciences explore and prepare for careers.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/student-research/news/new-program-provides-career-exploration-cbs-students) [### Learning at the Heart of the Issues

Junior Cristina Lopez is training to lead presentations to help newly arrived refugees settle in — from opening a bank account to accessing health care.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/student-research/news/uc-davis-students-learn-heart-issues) [### UC Davis Launches Major Student Career Initiative

Aggie Launch is ensuring equitable career preparation for every student, fostering social justice and successful, fulfilling post-grad employment.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/student-research/news/uc-davis-launches-major-student-career-initiative) [### UC Davis Introduces the Redwood SEED Scholars

Learn how the Redwood SEED Scholar Program is working to diversify the workforce and provide meaningful employment for students with intellectual disabilities.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/health/news/uc-davis-introduces-the-redwood-seed-scholar-program) [### Crude Awakenings: An Oil Spill, a Tiny Bird and a Big Care Network

Learn how UC Davis’ Oiled Wildlife Care Network responders carefully wash, treat and rehabilitate endangered birds for their survival and conservation efforts.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news/crude-awakenings-oil-spill-plovers-owcn) [### Native Girl’s Remains Returned to Alaska After More Than a Century

A UC Davis doctoral student and her son returned their ancestor to her Native Alaska. They are among the hundreds of Native families rematriating children from "Indian Schools."

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/curiosity/news/uc-davis-family-rematriates-their-ancestor-alaska-native-school) [### Common Floral Bacteria Can Induce Pollen Germination

Despite the essential nutritional role of pollen for bees and other pollinators, we still know very little about how pollen is digested by anything.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/curiosity/news/common-floral-bacteria-can-induce-pollen-germination) [### The House That Doesn’t Burn

Discover how UC Davis researchers are exploring the use of compressed earth blocks to construct affordable, fire-resistant homes for wildfire-prone areas.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news/wildfire-resistant-housing) [### Artificial Intelligence: Can We Trust Machines to Make Fair Decisions?

Discover how bias in artificial intelligence can affect important decisions. Learn about UC Davis’ ongoing efforts to create fair and unbiased AI systems.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/curiosity/news/ais-race-and-gender-problem) [### Prioritizing Who Gets Vaccinated for COVID-19 Saves Lives

UC Davis experts discuss how to prioritize vaccine distribution and address health disparities. Learn about their recommendations and public health efforts.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/vaccine-priorities-work) [### When Smoke Gets In Your Wine

Read about how UC Davis is taking on climate challenges facing the wine industry and discovering new smoke taint solutions in grapes for improved production.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news/wine-climate-taint-solutions) [### Rethinking Wildfire

The Indigenous practice of cultural burning views fire as restorative, not destructive. A UC Davis class takes a renewed approach to understanding wildfire.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news/rethinking-wildfire) [### Is the Food Supply Strong Enough to Weather the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Is the food supply chain strong enough to withstand the COVID-19 pandemic? UC Davis researchers address the impact on prices, hoarding and future solutions.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/food/news/is-food-supply-strong-enough-to-weather-covid-19-pandemic) [### Becoming Arizona: Sacramento’s Urban Heat Island Divide

Explore the role of trees in combating urban heat islands in Sacramento and promoting climate justice. Learn how trees cool neighborhoods and improve health.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news/sacramentos-urban-heat-island-divide) [### Becoming Arizona: Lessons from Phoenix

Discover the lessons from Phoenix on living with extreme heat and its impact on human health. Learn how cities like Sacramento can prepare for a hotter future.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news/becoming-arizona-lessons-from-phoenix) [### Agricultural Innovations Help Cambodian Farmers Thrive

Learn how Cambodian farmers benefit from agricultural innovations, growing nutritious crops and increasing income with support from researchers at UC Davis.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/food/news/agricultural-innovations-help-cambodian-farmers-thrive) [### Becoming Arizona: This Arid Life

Explore Sacramento's hotter future and how to prepare for it. Learn from Phoenix's experience and build climate-resilient communities for the changes ahead.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news/becoming-arizona) [### Can Science Save Citrus?

Explore the impact of citrus greening on California's citrus groves. Learn about UC Davis’ efforts to save the industry and its role in health and economy.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/food/news/can-science-solve-citrus-greening-disease) [### Cows and Climate Change

Cattle are the No. 1 agricultural source of greenhouse gasses worldwide. One cow belches 220 pounds of methane yearly. Fortunately, UC Davis has solutions.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/food/news/making-cattle-more-sustainable) [### A Sojourner’s Path: From a Temporary Building to the World and Back

Explore the history of UC Davis’ art department and the birthplace of a movement. Discover the creative space at TB 9 and the renowned artists who started there.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/curiosity/news/a-sojourners-path) [### Small Towns, Big Flood Waters

Towns are escaping rising waters and protecting their communities from the impacts of climate change. Read this gripping story of resilience and adaptation.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news/small-towns-big-flood-waters) [### The Many Flavors of Cacao

Explore the fascinating journey of cacao from farm to chocolate production. UC Davis research empowers smallholder farmers and ensures the future of cacao.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/food/news/envisioning-future-for-cacao-amid-changing-climate) [### Protecting Small Farms in Mozambique from Drought

A team of agricultural economists tested whether these insured seeds can increase food security for farmers who regularly risk losing crops to extreme weather.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/food/news/protecting-small-farms-in-mozambique-from-drought) [### Moringa: The next superfood?

Discover the incredible benefits of moringa, a nutrient-packed plant that has the potential to address food security and fight chronic health conditions.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/food/news/moringa-next-superfood) [### Researchers have forged a path from UC Davis to space

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/curiosity/news/researchers-forged-path-from-uc-davis-to-space) [### Fruit Flies Raised in Space by UC Davis Researcher Show Weakened Immunity

In 2006, Professor Deborah Kimbrell and a group of university researchers were selected by NASA to send fruit flies up on a space shuttle to test their immune response.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/curiosity/news/fruit-flies-raised-space-uc-davis-researcher-show-weakened-immune-system) [### Healing Burned Animals with Fish Skins

UC Davis vet hospital is using fish skins to treat animal burns. Learn about this innovative approach to healing animals and its potential for human medicine.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/health/news/healing-animals-with-fish-skins) [### Can Solar Energy and Wildlife Coexist?

UC Davis explores the coexistence of solar energy, wildlife and sensitive lands. Learn about the latest research on renewable energy and conservation efforts.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news/can-solar-energy-and-wildlife-coexist) [### Can We Grow One of the World's Largest Food Crops Without Fertilizer?

Read how UC Davis researchers found a special kind of corn in Mexico that can absorb nitrogen from the air, reducing fertilizer use and improving crop yields.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/food/news/can-we-grow-one-worlds-largest-food-crops-without-fertilizer) [### Closing the loop on sustainable aquaculture

Take the eco-friendly journey of Tsar Nicoulai Caviar — from award-winning sustainable caviar to butter lettuce grown in a revolutionary aquaponics system.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/food/news/closing-loop-sustainable-aquaculture) [### Smart Farm

Discover how UC Davis' Smart Farm Initiative is using new tech to increase food production, conserve resources and create careers for the future of agriculture.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/food/news/smart-farm) [### Protecting California’s Farmworkers as Temperatures Climb

How can we protect California's farmworkers in a deadly hot environment? Learn about the latest solutions and technological advancements to keep people cool.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news/protecting-californias-farmworkers-as-temperatures-climb) [### A Climate Change Solution Beneath Our Feet

Healthy soils can be a climate solution, helping farmers, ranchers and UC Davis scientists flip the picture of too much carbon in the atmosphere and not enough in the ground.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news/climate-change-solution-beneath-our-feet) [### Wildlife Experience High Price of Oil

A UC Davis study reveals the high price of oil on wildlife. Learn how UC Davis rescued oiled animals, the impacts of oil extraction, and potential solutions.

Read the story](https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/wildlife-experience-high-price-oil)

Our focus areas

[### Advancing Health Worldwide

Advancing the study of medicine as a worldwide leader in human health and veterinary sciences.](https://www.ucdavis.edu/health)

[### Science & Climate

UC Davis is applying its collective strengths in science, engineering, art and design to the problem of climate change and a warming planet.](https://ucdavis.edu/climate)

[### Feeding a Growing Population

Connecting our research and expertise to the effort to feed a growing population under a changing climate.](https://www.ucdavis.edu/food)

[### Driven by Curiosity

Answering foundational questions about our world, showcasing research that transcends science, technology, arts and humanities, and social sciences.](https://www.ucdavis.edu/curiosity)

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[### The Student Researcher

Students getting hands-on research experience — and charting their paths to success.](https://www.ucdavis.edu/student-research)