Welcome to our new web site of the Department of Land, Air and Water Resources (LAWR) at UC Davis. After the retirement of Dr. Mike Singer as LAWR Chair, I have assumed the Chair’s responsibilities, starting September 2005. This past year has been a year of many changes. Among the most important one, faculty initiated a department-wide strategic planning process to better position ourselves for the next 5-10 years regarding curriculum/teaching, research, and outreach. This past year we had three faculty retirements in our department: Drs. Rolston, Zazoski, and Lauchli. The coming 5 years, we expect some 5 more retirements. Good planning is needed to anticipate future teaching needs and research directions.

It is becoming increasingly clear that the department’s future is changing. The land grant budget of our College has been significantly reduced in the past years, thus impacting faculty numbers and departmental resources. In response, we collectively agreed to increase teaching expectations, specifically to develop curricula and courses that will attract many more students with a broad interest in environmental sciences. We now teach many courses that enroll 50-100 students, such as Crises in the Environment, Water and Power, California Geography and Severe and Unusual Weather.

We decided to improve LAWR’s image and to develop more recognition for what we represent. Specifically, our research programs in LAWR are increasingly Connecting the Environment through interdisciplinary research in Climate Change, Environmental Quality, Sustainable Agriculture, and Landscape Interfaces. Faculty are identifying new faculty positions in these four main areas for future funding.

The Department decided to hire an outreach coordinator, so that we will better serve our stakeholders, our courses will attract more undergraduate students, and future income from research and teaching funding will increase.

Also, to ensure successful research, teaching and outreach programs in the future, it is likely that LAWR must increasingly rely on private funds, either through gifts, student scholarships or endowments. For that reason we have added a Giving Opportunities section to our webpage, for your information. We also like to keep in touch with you. For that reason, may I ask you to give us your contact information using the Contact Information Sheet. When you meet friends and colleagues, please let them know of our plans and activities. I appreciate your continuing interest in our department.

Thanks,
Jan W. Hopmans - Chair Land, Air and Water Resources