pelican rescue

There’s a WHAT on the lawn?

An unexpected visitor used the grass outside of Sproul Hall as a landing field one day in early April.  Safely on the ground, the flyer, a full-grown pelican of indeterminate age, ignored the humans streaming by, who were heading off to home and dinner. The main rush was over, and most didn't notice the grey ball of feathers, hunkered down and unmoving, as they hurried along.

family-friendly commencement

A walk with mom

Six-and-a-half-month-old twins Thomas and Camille shared the spotlight at the Public Health commencement in Zellerbach Auditorium while their mother, Mi-Suk Kang Dufour,…

Senator Simitian

What UC Berkeley is worth to California

In the course of a March discussion in the State Capitol about the Berkeley Center for Green Chemistry, which is exploring the development and use of safe chemicals as well as ways to impact public policy, State Senator Joe Simitian had some specific things to say about UC Berkeley’s immense value to California’s economy.

newt-at-botanical-garden

Newts are cavorting in the Botanical Garden

It's what they do in spring: two species of western newt --- the California and rough-skin varieties --- flock to the UC Botanical Garden's scenic Japanese Pool (where they probably were born) to swim, socialize, have amphibious sex, and watch the people who pause to observe them.

Yuan T. Lee with family

Chemistry, 1980 or thereabouts

The trip back to 1980 (or so) in this photo is fascinating enough. It takes us right into the clothing and hair styles of the era, and the equipment, and the scientists' oneness with with the apparatus. But a lot has happened since then.

Optometry’s cheerful greeter

This jolly bronze of optometry pioneer Meredith Morgan, seasonally attired at the end of last year, is normally capless — but equally genial — as it stands at eye level, day in and day out, in the lobby/reception area of the School of Optometry's Minor Hall clinic.

Sather Gate with Cal Colors

And Lo, there was light

The ostensible reason was to help boost spirit during Big Game Week, but given the outcome in the stadium we’ll maintain the illusion that the special lighting on the Campanile, the University Library, and Sather Gate was there to foreshadow holiday cheer.