IN CASE YOU MISSED IT UC President Tours UC Merced, First Campus Visit University of California President Janet Napolitano toured UC Merced this fall, her first visit to a campus upon being named the system’s leader. “I came here first because this campus is really important — not only for the UC system as a whole but for the Valley and for the state,” Napolitano said. “We want to do everything we can to make sure it not only succeeds but thrives moving forward.” Napolitano met with various people including faculty and students, toured labs, classrooms, the library and other
President Napolitano huddles with the UC Merced women’s basketball team.
campus buildings and facilities.
VIDEO ALERT: Burning Biomass for Energy. An Impact video, created for KVIE public television, shows researchers at UC Merced working to increase efficiency and reduce emissions from the burning of biomass for energy. Check it out at bit.ly/1cnGk14.
New Blum Center at UC Merced to Focus on Valley Prosperity
UC Merced Professor’s Research Helping People Get Well
Thanks to a $400,000, two-year seed grant from the Universi-
using her many years of research
ty of California Office of the
on antibiotic resistance to help
President, UC Merced is forging
people get well. She started
the newest branch of the Blum
Project Protect, a Facebook and
Center for Developing Econ-
Twitter campaign that allows
omies, focusing on “Global
her to funnel information about
California: The World at Home.”
the latest news on antibiotic re-
The initiative is affiliated with
search to the public, and allows
the Blum Center at UC Berkeley,
the public to directly ask her
which was founded by a gift
questions.
from investment banker and UC Regent Richard C. Blum. Many of the developing world’s challenges can be seen right here in the San Joaquin Valley, and researchers will work on three main goals: y Community-inspired innovation – examining ways to engage communities and the region in their own long-term success; y Sustainable solutions – taking environmentally, economically and socially sound approaches to growing prosperity; y The analytics of prosperity – using scientific measures to ensure that our activities actually improve quality of life.
8
Professor Miriam Barlow is
FALL 2013 | UC MERCED MAGAZINE
Bacteria are evolving antibiotic resistance so quickly – and pharmaceutical companies are not inventing new antibiotics – soon, none will be effective. Barlow helped one woman avoid foot amputation, and has helped many others recover from infections faster. Project Protect participants also better understand about taking antibiotics, which are over-prescribed or given for illnesses they cannot cure; and antibiotics can actually make people sick by killing all the bacteria in our intestines – including the ones that fight illness – and allowing other bacteria to invade.