Volume 32, Number 2 M A G A Z I N E Spring 2015 PIXEL FORESTS • PANDEMIC BUSTERS Building a brighter future is hard. Doing good in the world can seem like a monumental task. Thankfully, giving to UC Davis is easy and helps support very good things, like scholarships for students and support for faculty research that could potentially change the world. And when we come together on the easy part, we help UC Davis do the hard part. Now that’s good for everyone. Learn more about UC Davis scholarship programs for first-generation students, make your gift and find out why good is easy at goodiseasy.ucdavis.edu. MAGAZINE Volume 32, Number 2/Spring 2015 FEATURES Still alive 14 New courses on horror literature are breathing life into English enrollments. by Kathleen Holder From pines to pixels 18 A computer scientist’s simulations of nature could play a key role in protecting the world’s forests and balancing the global carbon budget. by Corinna Fish Pandemic busters 24 About the cover: A UC Davis-led program, funded with Into the woods (actually, the arboretum’s redwood grove) is where $100 million from a federal agency, is student Isabel Fisher and photographers Gregory Urquiaga and working with partners in 31 countries Karin Higgins (wearing werewolf hand) headed to shoot this photo. to detect viruses before they spread. See page 14 for the story about horror literature courses. Cover by Justin Cox design by Russ Thébaud. Departments 2 Letters Coming soon 4 Calendar Your magazine will be getting a new look. We’re working on a 5 News redesign to change the magazine 21 Parents for the better. Watch for the new 32 Sports and improved version this fall. 38 Class Notes RECYCLED • RECYCLABLE UC DAVIS MAGAZINE / Spring 2015 1 LETTERS David the very same day. Because of the distance, UC Davis Magazine Dr. Gandara suggested MANAGING EDITOR that Dave contact a col- Kathleen Holder league, Leona Horn, at ART DIRECTOR Russ Thébaud Vanderbilt University WRITER School of Medicine in Cody Kitaura Nashville, Tennessee, DESIGNERS Jay Leek, Lisa Wells ’03 about a three-hour drive PHOTOGRAPHERS away. Dave did, and he is Karin Higgins, Gregory Urquiaga now Dr. Horn’s patient. MULTIMEDIA SPECIALIST Joe Proudman The treatment she pre- scribed has more than David MacCool kept his cancer in check— A life-extending story his tumors have greatly UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS In August 2013, my brother-in-law, reduced in size. He continues to get one CHANCELLOR Linda P. B. Katehi David MacCool, was diagnosed with heartening CT scan after another. ASSOCIATE CHANCELLOR OF Stage IV lung cancer (a type associated If David had not connected with STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS Dr. Gandara, he would not be alive Luanne Lawrence with nonsmokers). He sought treatment CREATIVE DIRECTOR in Louisville, Kentucky, but the regimen today. The medications Dr. Horn Sunny Teo was failing him by mid-fall of that same administers to him in Nashville are not year. (His oncologist’s verdict: “Well, at available in Louisville. This article UC DAVIS MAGAZINE Published by the University of California, least we got you two months.”) resulted in a who-knows-how-long Davis, for members of the Cal Aggie Alumni Around that time, I received the fall extension of my brother-in-law’s life— Association, members of the Aggie Parent and Family Association, and many donors 2013 issue and read “The master of the art and a life of superb quality to boot (he and other friends of the campus. © 2015 by jogs, among other activities). My grati- The Regents of the University of California, of the possible,” featuring the work of Davis campus. Persons wishing to reprint oncologist David Gandara. I passed the tude is immeasurable. any portion of UC Davis Magazine’s contents are required to write in advance for article on to my sister (Nancy Urbscheit, Laurie Duesing, Ph.D. ’98 permission. his wife), and she passed it on to him. He To update your address: Louisville, Kentucky contacted Dr. Gandara, who got back to Online: www.alumni.ucdavis.edu/get- connected/update-record Email: [email protected] Mail: UC Davis Magazine, Another student mark on UC Davis map University of California, [Re: “A guide to the Aggie-built cam- many groups assigned to plant trees and One Shields Ave., Davis, CA 95616-8687. All other email correspondence should be pus,” fall 2014] When I was at Davis, it outline paths along derelict, often-dry sent to [email protected]. was a tradition to use Feb. 29 every leap Putah Creek to begin what is now the UC Davis Magazine is on the Web at ucdavismagazine.ucdavis.edu. year as a student labor day. Various liv- beautiful arboretum. Phone: 530-752-9607 ing groups were assigned clean-up, Sue Fitzharris Chelini ’61 Twitter: @UCDavisMagazine beautification and construction projects Mill Valley that day, with a whole campus barbecue following. In 1960, I was one of the 2 UC DAVIS MAGAZINE / Spring 2015 Instagram More Freeborn Hall memories ‘Positive vibrations’ claimed our square foot of floor Best show: Bob Marley [Dec. 1, 1979]. space. Nursing mothers brought Freeborn was not known for great their children, and [tickets were] so acoustics. The sound would bounce affordable on a student income. around, and fast-tempo guitar bands Forty years later I had the pleasure of like “Big Country” would create a dense seeing the Steve Miller Band at Raley cacophony with minimal clarity. Field [in West Sacramento] with space- With Bob Marley, the length of the cowboy backdrop, joker mask and hall was in sync with the style of music. reflecting Pegasus—so different from Similar to a reverb effects unit which can his three-piece band at Freeborn. My Alex Abelsmith be set for different “hall sizes,” the length son, who interned at Raley Field in 2010, of Freeborn was perfect for the reggae was their shuttle driver. I never imag- Facebook pulse. The beat would echo off the back ined that the next generation would be “We are the top UC period!!!!” wall before the next pulse hit the wall. listening to the same music. The packed crowd helped absorb the —Paul Beckworth, commenting on a Juli (Palacio) Harris ’73, Cred. ’74 sound, and the smoke-filled air undoubt- post about UC Davis being the Courtland edly helped the “positive vibrations.” northern-most UC campus. Bill Fairfield ’81 Opening for RFK Twitter Davis The fall 2014 edition [“Freeborn Hall restrospective”] mentioned the May 16, The beat goes on 1968, visit of Robert Kennedy to campus Whoever was responsible for the great and his speech in Freeborn Hall. I was concerts in 1969–70 did an amazing job “the opening act,” so to speak—I sang . Ike & Tina Turner, the Steve Miller and played the guitar. Band, Bobby Womack, Sons of Chaplin, As for rock concerts, I heard Mannheim Beautiful Day, just to name a few. Steamroller there, an amazing event. E Perez @eaperez20 I can remember lining up 10 deep @ucdavis I show my #AggiePride by Marion Froehlich, M.A. ’74 with pillows and blankets, no matter the wearing my alumni pin to work! San Diego weather, as the doors opened and we #aggiepridefriday #GoAgs Incomprehension over a senseless act As a Jewish alumnus, I am extremely and heritage were never issues during my shocked and upset at the attack on the undergraduate work, my graduate work fraternity [Alpha Epsilon Pi, which was and my military service. defaced with swastikas in February]. I Howard Egerman ’68 was just graduating from Davis when the Jon Endsley @jbendsley Oakland fraternity was starting. My religious faith @ucdavis #aggiepridefriday #goags UC DAVIS MAGAZINE / Spring 2015 3 CALENDAR Spoken word Exhibition Farewell Reading Artworks by M.F.A. candidates Masters in Creative Writing graduating Nelson Gallery students read from their works. May 30–June 21 Arboretum, Wyatt Deck June 10 Outdoors Wild Family Day Music Games, activities, educational displays UC Davis Symphony Orchestra and live animals. Sponsored by student Featuring the winner of concerto organization Wild Campus and the competition. Christian Baldini, music UC Davis Arboretum. director and conductor. Arboretum GATEway Garden Mondavi Center, Jackson Hall May 31 May 31 Empyrean Ensemble Dance New works by graduate student composers and alumnus Ramteen Ballet BC Sazegari ’07. Matilda Hofman, Mondavi Center, Jackson Hall conductor. Mika Pelo and Kurt June 19 Rohde, directors. Mondavi Center, Theater Vanderhoef Studio Theatre Football June 1 Home opener vs. University of The Light And Dark Arts: South Dakota A Radical Magic Show University Chorus Sept. 12 Directed by Granada Artist-In- Mondavi Center, Jackson Hall Homecoming game vs. Residence Aaron Gach. Northern Arizona University June 5 Wright Hall, Main Theatre Oct. 10 May 29-31, June 4-7 More events Mondavi Center Visitor Services Design Museum The Art Lounge mondaviarts.org visit.ucdavis.edu designmuseum.ucdavis.edu campusunions.ucdavis.edu Department of Music Arboretum Athletics Richard L. Nelson Gallery music.ucdavis.edu arboretum.ucdavis.edu ucdavisaggies.com & Fine Arts Collection Department of Craft Center Gallery C.N. Gorman Museum nelsongallery.ucdavis.edu Theatre and Dance cru.ucdavis.edu, click on gormanmuseum.ucdavis.edu theatredance.ucdavis.edu Recreation & Activities More event information at ucdavis.edu/calendar. 4 UC DAVIS MAGAZINE / Spring 2015 NEWS THE HEALING Veterinary professor POWER John Madigan uses a rope harness to mimic OF A the pressure of the birth- ing process and treat an GENTLE autism-like disorder in newborn horses. SQUEEZE JOE PROUDMAN/UC Davis Newborn horses give clues to autism. by Pat Bailey JUST A FEW HOURS AFTER ITS BIRTH, the long- The maladjustment syndrome in foals also caught legged brown foal appears at first glance to be sturdy the attention of Isaac Pessah, a professor of molecular and sound.