Big Ideas Symposium
Friday, October 18, 2019 | 8:15 a.m. - Noon | UC Davis Conference Center
Join Chancellor Gary May and university thought leaders for a half-day interactive symposium featuring campaign Big Ideas—these are forward-thinking, interdisciplinary programs and projects that build upon the strengths of the university to positively impact the world. Topic areas include sustainability, food, water, student experience, entrepreneurship, animal and human health, and more.
This free event invites participants to engage with thought leaders as they present their ideas to the university community with a chance to vote for your favorite Big Idea. Breakfast and refreshments will be served. Space is limited!
Symposium Sessions
Session I
9:30 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Choose One:
- Center for Precision Medicine
Champion: Fredrick Meyers, M.D., M.A.C.P.
This center reimagines health care as personalized, predictive, preventative and participatory—empowering patients and communities as partners in their own wellness and training the next generation of data-fluent health professionals.
- Center for Violence Prevention Research
Champion: Garen Wintemute, M.D., M.P.H.
Co-Champions: Hannah Laqueur, Ph.D., M.P.H; Nicole Kravitz-Wirtz Ph.D., M.P.H; and Rose Kagawa Ph.D., M.P.H
Leading national efforts to understand the causes, consequences and prevention of violence, this center translates UC Davis research into evidence-based policies and solutions communities can put to practical use.
- Food Valley
Champion: Justin Siegel, Ph.D.
UC Davis’ vision to transform the Sacramento region into an entrepreneurial ecosystem, Food Valley will accelerate technology-enabled products that unlock our food system’s potential to promote human and animal health.
- Healthy Brain Aging Initiative
Champions: Charles DeCarli, M.D. and Kimberley McAllister, Ph.D.
Uniting UC Davis research and practice, this initiative will transform the science of brain aging and advance early interventions and treatments to optimize brain health across the lifespan.
Session II
10:10 a.m. - 10:40 a.m.
Choose One:
- Aggie Launch
Champions: Kevin Blue, Ph.D. and Marcie Kirk-Holland
Career readiness in a complex world requires a fresh approach. Aggie Launch takes today’s students beyond the classroom through targeted mentorship with alumni and employers committed to preparing tomorrow’s leaders.
- Aggie Square
Champion: Robert Segar
Aggie Square will create an innovation ecosystem where university, community and industry converge, harnessing the power of UC Davis’ partners to build healthier, more resilient communities in Sacramento and beyond.
- Smart Farm
Champion: David Slaughter, Ph.D.
Transforming agriculture through innovations in more resilient crops and more responsible resource use, Smart Farm will create the farm of the future and prepare forward-thinking industry leaders.
- Veterinary Medical Center
Champion: Michael Lairmore, DVM
This comprehensive center will be a nationwide leader in providing compassionate, patient-centered care, where veterinarians work with cutting-edge technology to deliver accurate diagnoses and the most effective treatments.
Session III
10:50 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.
Choose One:
- Autism, Community & Technology
Champion: Len Abbeduto, Ph.D.
By building partnerships with communities, innovating accessible technologies, and training health care providers, employers and families, this consortium will advance science and empower people with autism to connect and thrive.
- Building the Entrepreneurial Mindset
Champion: Andrew Hargadon, Ph.D.
UC Davis is ensuring its graduates have the entrepreneurial mindset, innovation skills and hands-on experiences to lead change in their chosen fields, their organizations and their communities.
- Healthy Aging Digital World
Champion: Thomas Nesbitt, M.D.
Co- Champion: Katherine Kim, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.B.A.
UC Davis’ vision to design technological solutions for independent living, this initiative will accelerate communication and connection across the devices and mobile apps that empower people to optimize their health.
- Sustainable Campus, Sustainable Cities
Champion: Kurt Kornbluth, Ph.D.
Using project-based learning and collaborative testing, this initiative is using UC Davis’ campus as a living lab to develop a model for carbon-neutral cities that can be applied worldwide.
Session IV
11:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Choose One:
- Center for Advancing Pain Relief
Champion: Scott Fishman, M.D.
The center unites multidisciplinary researchers, educators and clinicians with policymakers to develop personalized, integrated and comprehensive pain management therapies and provide policy guidance for California and the nation.
- Global Education for All
Champion: Joanna Regulska, Ph.D.
Committed to educating the next generation of change makers, UC Davis is working towards Global Education for All—a goal aiming to provide 100% of our students with global learning opportunities that change their lives and our world.
- Global Human Rights
Champion: Keith David Watenpaugh, Ph.D.
This initiative will apply UC Davis’ research resources and commitment to public service to critical human rights challenges—from injustices facing California’s undocumented population to the global refugee crisis.
- One Climate Initiative
Champion: Benjamin Houlton, Ph.D.
From carbon farming innovations to training tomorrow’s leaders, One Climate unites UC Davis sustainability experts with industry, government and community partners to guide climate policy and scale solutions to global climate challenges.