Posts Tagged: food systems
Apply to become HFC or SFS Strategic Initiative leader
ANR is seeking leaders for two strategic initiatives: Healthy Families and Communities and Sustainable Food Systems. The new Healthy Families and Communities leader will start on Nov. 1, and the new Sustainable Food Systems leader will start on Jan. 1, 2024.
SI leaders work with their panels to help people connect while unifying, communicating and advocating for UC ANR's work internally and across the state. SI leaders seek information from their panel members to help inform discussions related to programmatic resources within ANR.
Panels vary in their frequency and duration of meetings (1 to 2 hours per month on average). The SI leaders meet monthly (2 hours) and represent their panels on Program Council (up to 8 hours/month), which provides input for programmatic policy and direction for the organization. Program Council meets the first Tuesday and subsequent Wednesday of each month (except August).
These meetings may be via Zoom, in person at the UC ANR building in Davis or at a research and extension center. These are mandatory meetings and SI leaders receive a stipend.
To apply for an SI leader position, visit https://surveys.ucanr.edu/survey.cfm?surveynumber=40584 and fill out the brief form. The deadline for applications is Sept. 29.
To learn more about the SI leader role, feel free to reach out to Lynn Schmitt-McQuitty forHealthy Families and Communities or Rachel Surls for Sustainable Food Systems.
[Updated 9/14/23 to revise Program Council meetings from 6 hours to up to 8 hours]
Water Strategic Initiative Conference to be held March 14-17 in Ontario
Mark your calendars for the ANR Water Strategic Initiative Conference, which will be held in collaboration with the Sustainable Food Systems (SFS) Strategic Initiative, on March 14-17 in Ontario at the DoubleTree by Hilton Ontario Airport.
The conference will provide an opportunity for colleagues to learn about the projects, programs and research efforts related to water that are happening throughout the Division. Presentations and discussions will include:
- Climate Change
- Salinity: What are Remediation Steps?
- Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA)
- SGMA Town Hall Discussion: The State of Your Water Resources
- Water Conservation Goals Across the State
Time is reserved for workgroups and program teams to meet on the afternoon and evening of Thursday, March 16, and Friday, March 17. To schedule a meeting, the program team leader or workgroup chair should complete the brief form and the Program Support Unit will respond to you as soon as possible.
Registration and travel fund requests will be available in early-mid January. For conference updates, check http://ucanr.edu/sites/SIconferences/2017_Water_Strategic_Initiative_Conference_.
ANR-affiliated academics including UC Cooperative Extension advisors, UC Cooperative Extension specialists, Agricultural Experiment Station faculty, program directors, academic coordinators and programmatic staff are invited to attend. Programmatic staff should obtain approval from their supervisor and statewide program director.
Contacts for more information:
Program: Doug Parker, Water Strategic Initiative Leader, or David Doll, Sustainable Food Systems Strategic Initiative Leader.
Logistics: ANR Program Support Unit, Lauren McNees, (530) 750-1257, or Danielle Palermini, (530) 750-1328.
4-H teaches kids environmental awareness at inaugural camp
The environmental impact of humans is something children need to be aware of, said Shanna Abatti, UC ANR 4-H Youth Development Program representative. The camp was designed to provide new or different perspectives on how to save water, recycle, use renewable energy and understand the benefits of buying local food.
Preparation for the camp began last July, the article said. Abatti called upon 15 4-H high schoolers to help run and coordinate activities.
“Being the first year, it was a lot of work," said recent Central Union High School graduate and camp council president Natalie Gonzalez. "The camp was originally (designed) for Utah, so we had to change a lot of the games to fit the Valley and what we have here, the weather we have here, the crops that we grow."
The first day centered on recycling, composting, and how waste effects planet earth. The campers did activities on landfills and took home worm composting bins. Day 2 focused on air, with campers learning about air quality and the impact of pollutants. The campers finished the day by harvesting fresh vegetables at the research center. Day 3 the campers learned about food packaging, food origins, and the importance of buying local or regional food. The campers visited a local dairy. Day 4 was focused on energy, with activities involving wind turbines and a solar oven. The campers took part in an (indoor) "camp out" and glow-in-the-dark nature walk. The camp ended with a session on water. Campers tried out water quality testing and took a virtual tour of wetlands. Each of the campers had perfect attendance.
The camp was made possible by support from the Vesper Society.
Plan to attend the first Joint Strategic Initiative Conference
The 2015 UC ANR Joint Strategic Initiative Conference will be held October 5-7 at the Sheraton Grand Hotel, 1230 J Street, in Sacramento.
Who should attend: Academics affiliated with ANR – UCCE Advisors, UCCE Specialists, AES Faculty, Program Directors and Academic Coordinators.
Submit a poster abstract to participate in a poster session. To be given priority consideration, please submit poster abstracts by June 1. For details, see http://ucanr.edu/sites/2015jointsiconference/Call_for_Posters.
At the conference, you'll have the opportunity to
- Meet the new Vice President (to be invited) at the Monday evening reception.
- Participate in planning sessions for the Strategic Initiatives.
- Learn about successful research projects.
- Take advantage of free training sessions.
- Request space for your Program Team or Workgroups to meet.
- Network at the Stakeholders' Reception on Tuesday evening.
The conference is being coordinated through the five UC ANR Strategic Initiatives:
- Endemic and Invasive Pests and Diseases (EIPD)
- Healthy Families and Communities (HFC)
- Sustainable Food Systems (SFS)
- Sustainable Natural Ecosystems (SNE)
- Water Quality, Quantity and Security (Water)
For more information, visit http://ucanr.edu/sites/2015jointsiconference or contact conference co-chairs Doug Parker, (510) 987-0036, and David Doll, (209) 385-7403. For logistics, contact UC ANR Program Support Unit, Sherry Cooper, (530) 750-1256, or Saundra Wais, (530) 750-1260.
View or leave comments for ANR Leadership at http://ucanr.edu/sites/ANRUpdate/Comments.
This announcement is also posted and archived on the ANR Update pages.
Sign up for program team and grant-writing meetings
In September, the Youth Science Literacy Program Team and the California Communities and Food Systems Program Team will meet and grant writing seminars will be offered. Travel funds are available for all of these meetings.
Program team leaders and workgroup chairs can schedule meetings by completing a short online request at http://ucanr.edu/sites/programteams.
The Youth Science Literacy Program Team will meet on Sept. 10 and 11 at Moss Landing Marine Lab. For more information, visit http://ucanr.edu/sites/programteams/Sept_10-11_2014_Youth_Science_Literacy_PT_Meeting.
The California Communities and Food Systems Program Team will meet at Mountain Home Ranch Resort in Calistoga on Sept. 22 and 23. For more information, visit http://ucanr.edu/sites/programteams/Sept_22-23_California_Communities_and_Food_Systems_PT_Meeting.
“Write Winning Grant Proposals” seminars will be offered by UC ANR Contracts and Grants in collaboration with Grant Writers' Seminars and Workshops, LLC. The free seminars will held in Davis on Sept. 10 and in San Diego on Sept. 12. Both run from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This widely acclaimed seminar comprehensively addresses both practical and conceptual aspects that are important to the proposal-writing process. Each presentation is tailored to meet the needs of the audience, i.e., to emphasize the funding agencies that are of greatest interest to the attendees. Emphasis is given to such things as idea development, identification of the most appropriate granting agency, how to write for reviewers, and tips and strategies that are of proven value in presenting an applicant's case to reviewers.
Please register for “Write Winning Grant Proposals” at http://ucanr.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=13333 before July 25 so workshop books can be pre-ordered. Travel expenses will be reimbursed if you attend the seminar closest to your work location.
If you have questions or concerns, email the ANR Program Support Unit at anrprogramsupport@ucanr.edu.
View or leave comments for ANR Leadership at http://ucanr.edu/sites/ANRUpdate/Comments.
This announcement is also posted and archived on the ANR Update pages.