UC Davis General Catalog, 2006-2008 - General Catalog - UC Davis

22 Introduction
Center for Geotechnical Modeling
Brooks Road
(530) 752-7929; http://nees.ucdavis.edu
At the Center for Geotechnical Modeling, students and faculty
from various departments and other universities conduct research
in physical and numerical modeling of geotechnical problems. The
center operates two centrifuges including the 9-m radius, 4,500-kg
payload, 80-g National Geotechnical Centrifuge. These centrifuges
are used to study a variety of topics including groundwater, deformations
of foundations of bridges and large buildings and the
effects of earthquakes on earth structures. The large centrifuge has
undergone a $5 million upgrade funded by the National Science
Foundation’s George E. Brown, Jr., Network for Earthquake Engineering
Simulation (NEES; http://nees.ucdavis.edu). The upgrades
include installation of a biaxial shaker, a robot, a network of wireless
sensors and the ability for researchers to actively participate in
earthquake research using the Internet.
Center for Health and the Environment
(formerly Institute of Toxicology and Environmental Health)
(530) 752-1340
The Center for Health and the Environment (CHE) coordinates
interdisciplinary research on the effect of environmental agents,
including chemicals and radiation, on the health of humans, animals
and other organisms. Researchers conduct epidemiologic
studies in human populations and experiments are performed
with whole animals as well as organisms, cells and molecules to
measure environmental exposures and health outcomes associated
with them. Research on the development of agents for population
control of humans and wildlife seek to mitigate the adverse effects
of overabundance on the environment. Studies on toxic, radioactive,
mutagenic, carcinogenic and teratogenic compounds are carried
out in special animal holding facilities. Laboratories are
equipped for studies in analytical chemistry, biochemical toxicology,
cell and molecular biology, endocrinology, inhalation toxicology,
morphology and reproductive and developmental biology. The
center houses a major universitywide program and federally
funded center in occupational medicine and a School of Medicine
program in reproductive biology.
Crocker Nuclear Laboratory
(530) 752-1460
This facility is an interdepartmental laboratory for the application
of nuclear science to a variety of disciplines. The laboratory has
research programs in nuclear physics and chemistry, air pollution
analysis, use of pulsed ultra-violet light as an alternative to pesticides
and insecticides, biology, material damage studies, the effect
of background radiation on computers and historical studies. Isotopes
produced by the variable-energy 76-inch cyclotron are used
in clinical and research applications, including pioneering work in
brain imaging.
Institute for Data Analysis and Visualization
Kenneth Joy and David Rocke
(530) 752-6298; Fax (530) 752-8894; http://idav.ucdavis.edu
The Institute for Data Analysis and Visualization focuses on data
analysis, visualization, computer graphics, optimization and electronic
imaging. The central emphasis is the investigation of techniques
for the study of large-scale, multi-dimensional data sets.
These techniques may be applied to the analysis and visualization
of environmental, geophysical, astrophysical, biological, fluid flow
and satellite data. The center seeks to solve complex data analysis
and visualization problems in a cross-disciplinary environment,
working with researchers in academia, national research laboratories
and industry.
Institute of Governmental Affairs
Alan L. Olmstead, Director
360 Shields Library
(530) 752-2042; Fax (530) 752-2835; http://www.iga.ucdavis.edu
The Institute of Governmental Affairs (IGA) serves as a research
base for social science faculty at UC Davis. IGA serves approximately
60 faculty from 10 campus departments as well as visiting
scholars from throughout the United States and around the world.
Located in the core of the Davis campus, IGA houses eight formal
research programs: Asian Economic Panel; Center for International
Data; Center for State and Local Taxation; Center on Rural
Economies of the Americas and Pacific Rim; Center on Quantitative
Social Science Research; Migration Dialogue; Economy, Justice
and Society (EJS); and Program on Decision-making, Communication
and Uncertainty.
Specialized services include grant advising, preparation and
administration; research program development; library and data
services; social science computing, programming and statistical
consulting; seminar, workshop and conference organization; and
much more. The institute also enhances the education of students
by providing research opportunities. The institute sponsors an
active public affairs program. IGA serves as the UC Davis liaison to
the systemwide program, Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation
(IGCC) and the All-UC Group in Economic History.
Institute of Transportation Studies
Daniel Sperling
(530) 752-6548; Fax (530) 752-6572;
dsperling@ucdavis.edu; http://www.its.ucdavis.edu
The institute conducts multidisciplinary research on complex
problems related to traffic congestion and local and global pollution
and disseminates research results to the broader academic and
professional community. Research priorities are travel behavior,
alternative-fueled vehicle technology and policy, energy and environmental
projects and advanced vehicle and highway systems.
About 55 faculty members and 90 students from more than 13 academic
disciplines, including four Engineering departments, Economics,
Environmental Science and Policy, Ecology, Agricultural
and Resource Economics, and the Graduate School of Management,
participate in the research activities of the institute. The
institute houses a University of Transportation Center of the US
Department of Transportation, Graduate Automotive Technology
Education center of the US Department of Energy, the Hydrogen
Pathways program, and the Graduate Group in Transportation
Technology and Policy.
John Muir Institute of the Environment
Deb A. Niemeier, Director
(530) 754-8396
The John Muir Institute of the Environment (JMIE) is a center of
excellence for interdisciplinary research and education on complex
environmental problems. The JMIE works closely with policy
makers, resource agencies, academic scientists and the public to
integrate science with environmental decision making. The Institute
is the administrative home to more than 100 active faculty
involved in research ranging from watershed science, air pollution