Summertime is officially here! We're so proud of all the graduates honored at commencement ceremonies this month. The campus is quiet now, and we'll take time to plan our events for the next academic year, develop our strategic plan, and prepare for a busy fall.
This Saturday, UC Davis will host the 110th Picnic Day! It's a fantastic day to visit campus for the biggest open house you've ever seen. Visit the Picnic Day website to see the complete schedule. The Robert Mondavi Institute will host hundreds of visitors to taste olive oil, honey, and ice cream. There will also be winery tours, grapevine giveaways, and wine barrel-making demonstrations. I invite you to visit us!
Spring has sprung at UC Davis, with the winter quarter ending and students finishing up finals before their spring break. Personally, I'm happy to transition into the new quarter, with many events to look forward to, longer days, and sunny weather.
It's hard to tell if it's winter or spring in Davis these days, with a mix of sunny and stormy days, but we are gearing up for the busy season right around the corner!
The new year brings the beginning of the winter quarter for students, and even in dreary weather, you can feel their energy on campus.
Many fantastic student organizations are on campus and within the RMI academic departments. Over the coming year, we'll share their activities and other student projects with events inviting you to see their innovative work. For now, I'd like to highlight three student-led organizations.
The UC Davis campus is quiet again for winter break, and the new year is approaching quickly. Reflecting on 2023, it has been a year of both consistency and transition.
I was honored to have the opportunity to travel to Japan in November 2023 to participate in the 6th Annual Sakeology event hosted by Niigata University, Niigata Prefecture, and the Niigata Sake Brewers Association. Niigata is located about 150 miles northwest of Tokyo, bordering the Sea of Japan. The region is known for its rice cultivation and high-quality spring water that flows down from the neighboring mountains — two critical ingredients for producing sake!
The end of this year is approaching quickly, and the holiday season is here. Over the next month, students will prepare for finals, and we will continue planning our 2024 events while reflecting on the year with gratitude.
Instead of spending this past Halloween dispensing candy to trick-or-treaters, I traveled to Seattle to participate in the Google Food Lab. The Google Food Lab is a community of invited members working in the food and beverage space that meet biannually to discuss the sector's future, including pathways toward developing more healthful, environmentally beneficial, and socially responsible products and processes. It is always an engaging event that offers opportunities to learn about innovations and make connections with inspiring individuals worldwide.
