Study Examines Impact of Greenhouse Gases on Marine Life

A study by UC Merced marine biologist Michael Beman shows the prolonged, extensive emission of greenhouse gases over the next several decades could have significant impacts on ocean life.

Increases in carbon dioxide emissions — exacerbated by the burning of fossil fuels and other human activities — are making ocean water more acidic, and Beman’s study shows that the increased acidity will fundamentally alter the way nitrogen cycles throughout the sea.

Because nitrogen is an important nutrient for all organisms, this could ultimately have significant impacts for all forms of marine life.

“There is growing concern about this issue because human activities are modifying ocean pH so rapidly,” Beman said. “While we do not know what the full effects of changing the nitrogen cycle will be, we performed experiments all over the world and believe that these changes will be global in extent.”

Beman’s study — funded by the National Science Foundation and co-authored by a team of researchers from the University of Hawaii, University of Southern California and the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences — will be published this week in the prestigious journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Beman conducted the studies while at the University of Hawaii, before coming to UC Merced in 2009.

Paramount Farms to Offer Scholarships to South Valley UC Merced Students

Paramount Farms has pledged $1 million to a scholarship fund at the University of California, Merced, in an effort to help low-income students from the south San Joaquin Valley pursue their higher education dreams.

"The Resnicks and the leadership of Paramount Farms are demonstrably committed to access to education in the Valley," said David Hosley, interim vice chancellor for University Relations. "This leadership gift is a great investment in our growing university and young people, many of whom will be the first in their families to attend college. The Paramount Farms Scholarship Fund will give students from the region the opportunity for a life-transforming experience."

Paramount Farms, owned by Lynda and Stewart Resnick, is the largest farmer of tree crops in the world. The company processes almonds, lemons, oranges and pistachios.

Azucena Robles, a mechanical engineering major from Bakersfield who will graduate in May 2013, is among the students who have been helped by Paramount Farms' past scholarships.

"This scholarship has helped me begin to achieve my long-term goal, which is to obtain higher education, find a great job and be a successful woman," Robles said.

Brochure Highlights Inventions by UC Merced Faculty

UC Merced's Office of Research has released a publication that showcases a number of inventions by campus researchers, from technologies that increase the efficiency of solar energy collectors to medical developments that could limit the reproduction of the hepatitis C virus or the spread of HIV to materials that could improve the performance of lithium-ion batteries.

“Inventions” (view PDF here) is a 64-page, full-color document that includes detailed descriptions and stunning photographs illustrating 55 inventions processed from January 2007 to July 2010. The selection includes 16 inventions related to solar energy technology and 12 related to health research.

Sam Traina, UC Merced's vice chancellor for research, said “Inventions” is a testament to the quality of research being conducted at UC Merced and is even more impressive given the campus’ relatively brief period of existence.

“Our progress compares favorably with that of larger, more established campuses,” Traina said, “especially when you consider that a high percentage of our faculty are assistant professors who are early in their careers.”

UC Merced Alumni Launch Solar Thermal Company

Alumni Kevin Rico, Heather Poiry and Kevin Balkoski have started a new company called SunTherm Energy, with the goal of providing solar thermal technology and service to companies in the San Joaquin Valley and beyond.

The trio met at UC Merced while studying under Professor Roland Winston, a founding faculty member and a pioneer in non-imaging optics, a science concerned with collecting, concentrating, transporting and distributing light energy.

Undergraduate Finds UC Merced Experience Rewarding

Senior mechanical engineering major Edirin Egbikuadje is enjoying opportunities such as engaging classes, hands-on research, soccer and much more.

“My experience has been amazing," Egbikuadje said. “I really like the community here. Small feel, everybody knows your name.”

The ability to conduct research as an undergraduate has been the most important experience at UC Merced, he explained. Students at other campuses have not gotten the same opportunities to work side-by-side with renowned faculty as he has.

UC Merced Professor Earns Sigma Xi's Young Investigator Award

University of California, Merced, cognitive science Professor Teenie Matlock has been given Sigma Xi's 2011 Young Investigator Award for excellence in research.

Matlock is the 14th recipient of the award. Past recipients include biochemist Brandt F. Eichman of Vanderbilt University and biologist Laura F. Landweber of Princeton University.

Matlock has published more than 50 articles to date. Her research combines theory from cognitive linguistics and methods from experimental psychology. Many of her projects address the understanding of meaning, especially spatial language and, more recently, political language.

A recent paper, co-authored with Indiana University psycholinguist Caitlin Fausey, will appear in the journal Political Psychology. The paper discusses how even the subtle linguistic details in political messages can have an impact on how political candidates' past actions are perceived by voters. In addition to being well received in the academic community, the work has been reported in several national media outlets, including Science and The Washington Post, bringing it to a larger audience.

Sigma Xi is an international research organization founded in 1886 to honor excellence in scientific investigation and to encourage a sense of companionship and cooperation among researchers in all fields of science and engineering.