Introduction to the University of California
Instructor: Raul Piedrahita, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, College of Engineering
Description: Based on Clark Kerr´s book, The Gold and the Blue: A Personal Memoir of the University of California (1949-1967), volume 1 (Berkeley, Los Angeles, London: University of California Press, 2001), this course will provide a comprehensive introduction to the University of California, its history and its culture. In addition, the course will review the wealth of resources offered by the Davis campus, including academic programs and support services, as well as put students in touch with other members of the university.
Format: The course will meet for fifty minutes each week for ten weeks. There will be a number of guest speakers. Grading: Students will be required to write reports and give presentations based on interviews with various members of the university, including lower division, upper division, masters and doctoral students and postdoctoral scholars. Final grades will be based on the quality of reports and class participation.
About the Instructor: Professor Piedrahita has been with the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering for over 20 years. He is the director of the Center for Aquatic Biology and Aquaculture. His research area is aquacultural engineering with a special interest in water quality.