May 2, 2008

LAURELS: Food science, modeling, conservation, communications

Michael Lewis, professor emeritus of brewing science and a predominant member of the brewing community, was awarded the prestigious 2008 Brewers Association Recognition Award at the annual Craft Brewers Conference. The award recognizes his dedication and service to the industry. With more than 30 years of teaching experience, Lewis has taught many of the prominent players in the American brewing industry and has served as the academic director of the UC Davis Extension professional brewing programs for the past 25 years.

Alexander Mogilner, professor of mathematics, has been appointed as chair of the Modeling and Analysis of Biological Systems Study Section by the Center for Scientific Review, part of the National Institutes of Health. Study sections carry out peer review of applications for NIH grants.

The A.W. Mellon Foundation recently chose Benjamin Houlton, an assistant professor in the Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, for a junior faculty research grant in the field of conservation and the environment. The award, to be distributed over three years, will allow Houlton to invest in scholarly activities at UC Davis, including training of undergraduate and graduate students, and postdoctoral scholars.

Charlie Bamforth, professor and chair of the Department of Food Science and Technology, was recently selected to be a fellow of the International Academy of Food Science and Technology. He and other members of the new class of fellows will be formally inducted into the academy in October during the 14th World Food Congress in Shanghai, China. The fellows are distinguished food scientists and technologists who are elected by their peers to the academy, which supports and advises the nonprofit International Union of Food Science and Technology.

Veterinary professor Susan Stover was recently recognized as one of the Outstanding Women in Thoroughbred Horseracing. The honor came in the form of a California legislative resolution presented April 11 during a special ceremony at Santa Anita Race Park. The resolution acknowledged the importance of Stover's research on the horse's muscle and bone structure in identifying potential causes of serious injuries in racehorses. Stover directs the J.D. Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Research Laboratory, one of several centers in the School of Veterinary Medicine dedicated to the health issues of equine athletes.

Kathy Keatley Garvey, communications specialist for the Department of Entomology, won the gold award, the top award in the newswriting category, from the international Association for Communication Excellence (ACE). The annual competition drew 400 entries, with Garvey scoring 99 out of 100 points. A journalist, editor and photographer, Garvey began working at UC Davis in 1986. She co-authored the book, Aquatic Pest Control. Garvey will receive a plaque at the ACE awards banquet June 11 in Traverse City, Mich. ACE is comprised of communicators and information technologists in universities, government and research organizations.