July • 2010

inside this issue

Of the 118 known elements included in the Periodic Table, 16 were discovered at UC Berkeley and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. They include berkelium (Bk), discovered in 1949; californium (Cf), discovered in 1950; lawrencium (Lr), discovered in 1961 and named for lab founder and Nobel physicist Ernest O. Lawrence; and seaborgium (Sg), discovered in 1974 and named after the Nobel chemist Glenn Seaborg who was involved with the discovery of many of these elements.

In times of crisis, UC steps up

When a crisis hits, UC’s problem-solving capabilities advance to the front line. The Gulf oil spill is the most recent example of the many ways our university’s vast research knowledge and on-the-ground expertise serves national and international needs.

From the first days following the Deepwater Horizon blowout on April 20, UC researchers, faculty, students and staff have been engaged in the assessment and cleanup efforts.

Six UC-affiliated researchers served on the government panel that first determined that the amount of oil spilling into the Gulf was far greater than originally reported.

When U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu formed a scientific panel to advise BP on stopping the spill, he tapped UC Berkeley civil engineering professor George Cooper as a member.

The UC Davis-based Oiled Wildlife Care Network has had a presence in the Gulf for more than two months. Center Director Michael Ziccardi is spearheading the rescue and rehabilitation of marine mammals and lending expertise to the seabird rescue operation.

At UC Irvine, researchers, including Nobel chemist F. Sherwood Rowland, are analyzing air samples collected from the spill area to determine the presence of harmful chemicals. These are just a few of our response efforts.

It is clear that the world looks to UC for leadership in solving our most critical problems, whether they involve disasters, disease or environmental challenges.

Recently, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine showed its confidence in UC stem cell research by giving $11 million in grants to nine UC scientists. To date, the stem cell agency has awarded more than $1 billion, with more than half the funding going to UC-affiliated researchers exploring revolutionary disease therapies.

Last month, the Global Green organization gave UC an environmental leadership award. The nonprofit honored our commitment to environmental research, academic programs and transformative sustainability initiatives. We practice what we teach about climate change and energy efficiencies, and our successes are providing a global model for green tech advances.

At a time when we’re struggling for adequate state funding, it’s good to remind the world of the tangible value UC provides.

Help us remind our lawmakers to make higher education a priority in the 2010-11 state budget. Find out how at UCforCA.org.

Contact me at president@ucop.edu.

Although I will read all your e-mails, I am not able to personally respond to every one. I encourage you to follow me on Facebook and Twitter, where you can share your ideas and look for answers to many of your questions.

Your University is produced 10 times per year by the Strategic Communications department of the University of California Office of the President. For suggestions or comments about this report, contact: , editor, 1111 Franklin St. 12th Floor, Oakland, Calif. 94607, 510.987.0793.