News
Jay Stachowicz named Interim Director of Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute, Succeeds Founding Director Rick Grosberg
Jay Stachowicz, a professor in the Department of Evolution and Ecology, has been named the interim director of the Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute (CMSI). Stachowicz succeeds the institute’s founding director, Rick Grosberg, a distinguished professor emeritus of evolution and ecology who retired from the university earlier this year.
Longtime colleagues, Stachowicz, who studies the biodiversity and resilience of coastal ecosystems, and Grosberg, a leading researcher on the ways marine invertebrates recognize and interact with one another, share a common passion for fostering community and collaboration in marine sciences.
Eric Sanford chosen as Naturalist of the Year by the Western Society of Naturalists
Congratulations to Professor Eric Sanford, a professor in the Department of Evolution and Ecology in the College of Biological Sciences at UC Davis, who was recently chosen by the Western Society of Naturalists as their Naturalist of the Year.
What Shells Tell: Studying Abalone with Meghan Zulian
White abalone shells are magnificent structures. Translucent during the marine snail’s juvenile days, the extremely durable shell increases in opacity as the organism ages, gaining its paint-splatter-esque red, brown and white coloring from the algae it eats.
CMSI Announces the Appointment of a New Interim Director
The Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute (CMSI) is thrilled to announce that Professor Jay Stachowicz has accepted the role of interim Director of CMSI.
With Jay at the helm, CMSI launches into the second decade of its exciting journey. His vision and dedication will be pivotal in cementing CMSI’s leadership of coastal and marine science at @ucdavis; we look forward to stronger connections and collaborations between researchers and students across our campus and beyond.
The Founding Director of the Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute Retires
With heartfelt thanks, we reflect on the transformative era that Dr. Rick Grosberg has led at the helm of the Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute (CMSI). As Rick embarks on a well-deserved journey into retirement after 40+ years at UC Davis, including a decade as the Director of CMSI, we recognize his indelible contributions and the countless students he has inspired.
Under Rick's stewardship, CMSI forged connections across UC Davis that continue to expand the reach of marine and coastal sciences throughout the university. Rick's ability to bring us together over great food and thoughtful conversations has allowed us to envision how UC Davis can make a lasting impact "from the Sierras to the sea." His leadership solidified partnerships with numerous federal and state agencies, ensuring a robust foundation for the continued success of CMSI for the next decade and beyond.
How Students Dive into Marine Science at UC Davis
UC Davis junior Caroline Donohew watched the everyday power of biology in just five minutes during her summer session class at UC Davis’ Bodega Marine Laboratory, or BML, a coastal research and education facility about 100 miles west of campus.
While observing a mussel’s muscle through a microscope, “I saw it create a byssal thread in real time,” said Donohew, who is from San Anselmo. “And it was just so cool.”
Mussels have an actual muscle called a foot that secretes a “liquid that hardens when it comes into contact with seawater,” Donohew explained. “They stick their little foot down on the rock, pull it back and there’s a thread.”